You've got a project!
Maybe it's an idea you've been tossing around for months, or maybe it just came to you last night before you fell asleep... Lucky for you, you stumble on Ulule and decide to post your project on the site so you can raise the funds you need to bring your great idea to life.
So you create your project page and are about to write your project description...
But you don't know where to start.
What do you say? How do you say it? What more do you need than a summary?
To help you get started, here are...
Some tips for writing the description
At Ulule, you're among friends. So just say no to the formal style of a press release. People will respond better if your tone is natural, direct and sincere. Of course, you don't want to go too far, so don't overdo it with LOLs, smileys and text speak.
1/ Tell us about your project!
Don't hesitate to share how it came about too. Did the idea just come to you out of the blue? Or did you do some research? Is it something you've been thinking about for years?
Also, your project surely meets some need, so describe this need to make it clear just how interesting your project is.
For example, rather than saying:
- "I'm creating a nonprofit organization to make it easier for the handicapped to access public transportation."
It would be better to be specific:
- "In our region, only 20% of public transportation is adequately equipped for easy access by the handicapped. The process of achieving improved access takes time and a great deal of effort. So we decided to create this organization to combine our efforts and move things along more quickly."
The two descriptions say the same thing, but the second one details the problem and the ways to solve it, and it ends by proposing the organization as a solution.
2/ Specify how funds will be used!
Because you're asking for funding for your project, the best way to motivate people to provide their support is to explain to them how you'll be using the money.
If you request funding without specifying how you plan to use the money, you might miss out on some donors because they aren't clear on exactly how the amount you've requested relates to your project.
Let's say you're asking for 5,000 Euros to finish an animated short film that you're creating on your own. Explain to your readers that this money will be used to cover your expenses because you will have to refuse other job offers for the next two months while you wrap up your project.
If you're contracting out part of the work on a particular sequence to an animation specialist, say so! Provide links to his or her site, blog, previous work, etc., so your donors will feel adequately informed about your project.
3/ Tell us about yourself!
Your project is the star, of course, but you'll inspire confidence in more people if you include a few words about yourself. You're the project owner and that means you're the secret to its success. Your potential donors know this, and will be curious about the person behind the project... Your motivations, your experience, your state of mind.
Are you a musician seeking funds so you can rent a concert venue? Provide a brief bio of your band, include links to pages where people can listen to your music, list where you've played in the past...
The more information you provide, the easier it will be to get people interested in your project or your universe, and the more likely it is they'll help you.
4/ Offer rewards!
Are you a musician seeking funds so you can rent a concert venue? Provide a brief bio of your band, include links to pages where people can listen to your music, list where you've played in the past...
The more information you provide, the easier it will be to get people interested in your project or your universe, and the more likely it is they'll help you.
You've told us about your idea. You've explained what you need funding for. You've introduced yourself.
That's great. Now you have to get your donors on board. And this is where rewards come in.
Essentially, you can offer "gifts" based on level of contribution (from 1 to 15 to 100 Euros...) as a way to thank your donors.
You can motivate potential donors by offering them these rewards, which they'll receive if your project reaches its funding goal. Offering rewards that are directly related to your project is an excellent way to create a donor community.
Here are some examples of rewards:
> By donating 1€ donors receive "for donors only" updates on your project (see the FAQ on this topic).
> By donating 20€ donors get a project t-shirt (goodies with project logos, names etc. are good promotional tools).
> by donating 50€ donors get all that plus a poster or printed photo of your project or a wardrobe item used in the film or an item from the exhibit, etc. You can limit the quantity of this reward to 20.
> By donating 100€ donors get all that plus a one-hour personal interview (or lesson) with you in your area of expertise: this could be a one-on-one cooking lesson, or an audit of your site or personal project. You can limit the quantity of this reward to 3.
These are just some examples of possible rewards. Your resources and imagination are your only limits.
You can choose to specify a limited quantity for any or all of your rewards. This means the reward will not be available to donors who donate after this number is reached.
Keep in mind that most of your donors won't have the means to make three-digit donations. On average, they'll donate between 15 and 30 €, so be sure to offer cool rewards for this donation range.
5/ Illustrate your project!
Words are fine. Words are magical. They're the stuff of novels and poetry, they're beautiful things that can bring your project to life with all the grace and intelligence it deserves.
But pictures are important too. They add impact and create a universe that will accentuate your project. So get visual. Use photos, slideshows and videos. You can integrate this kind of content into your project description along with audio players. It's an excellent way to give potential donors a more sensory experience of your project.
Ulule will also ask you to select a primary image or video to display at the top of your project page. You can add these from the project editing page by clicking this image:
5/ Illustrate your project!
Words are fine. Words are magical. They're the stuff of novels and poetry, they're beautiful things that can bring your project to life with all the grace and intelligence it deserves.
But pictures are important too. They add impact and create a universe that will accentuate your project. So get visual. Use photos, slideshows and videos. You can integrate this kind of content into your project description along with audio players. It's an excellent way to give potential donors a more sensory experience of your project.
Ulule will also ask you to select a primary image or video to display at the top of your project page. You can add these from the project editing page by clicking this image:
Don't skip this part! Your video or other image will make a real difference when it comes to the first impression visitors get of your project page... Get the most out of your project page by carefully selecting your primary image or video.
There you have it, our tips for writing your Ulule project description. Our team is at your service, of course, so don't hesitate to chime in right here and share your own suggestions.
Happy ulule-ing !
Happy ulule-ing !