Adventures in crowdfunding...

[Pako]

Who's heard of crowdfunding before? Well we were interested in seeing whether or not these things are actually legit so we posted up a really simple product page on indiegogo.

Wipebook!

To promote the campaign I'm drawing a doodle with our wipebook for anyone who posts a comment on the campaign page. The comment can be about anything really. It can be legit feedback about the product or even comments about the amazing doodles we're drawing every day of our adventure. I'll post the doodle here in this thread, and even in the indiegogo gallery if you want.

The goal here is not actually to raise 10000$ as the campaign suggests, but it's really to see how far anyone can really get with these things. We have a suspicion that these crowdfunding platforms are very misleading by showing all these amazing success stories without showing all the failures. By documenting every day through our amazing comic, we'll be able to tell an interesting story to validate some of our assumptions.

I'm curious, has anyone had experience with crowdfunding? Any lessons learnt?

[BumFodder]

crowdfunding is shit ideas funded by idiots

[TheColourAwesome]

Are you serious? $10,000? Are you serious?

[Pako]

At 2/9/13 11:36 AM, TheColourAwesome wrote: Are you serious? $10,000? Are you serious?

We don't actually plan to move forward with the idea (unless we actually did meet this crazy ass goal). It's just a class project so we put a ridiculous amount to see how far we could get without committing ourselves completely. We're more interested in the analytics of the page like how many people actually visit the page, follow it, comment etc.

[Cyberdevil]

At 2/9/13 11:12 AM, Pako wrote: To promote the campaign I'm drawing a doodle with our wipebook for anyone who posts a comment on the campaign page.

Do personal comments count? Cause it seems like you need to contribute to post a public one. Also, the $1 Online Thank You award would be a lot more intriguing if all the names were doodled manually onto one big (if there's a lot of names) page, like a poster.

We have a suspicion that these crowdfunding platforms are very misleading by showing all these amazing success stories without showing all the failures. By documenting every day through our amazing comic, we'll be able to tell an interesting story to validate some of our assumptions.

And you'll get a lot of free advertising for the product, good idea! :D

I'm curious, has anyone had experience with crowdfunding? Any lessons learnt?

I haven't crowdfunded anything myself, but I've seen a few projects that did work, like recently the TPB AFK documentary ($51,424 pledged of $25,000 goal). Probably one of the most succesful cases I know of because so many people are interested about the people behind TPB.

It's a simple idea though. If you have something that people want, they'll give you money for it. If you provide entertaining or useful rewards, they'll give you more. I think crowdfunding requires a more entertaining approach than regular projects since the people buying aren't looking to invest but rather to have fun and/or help at the same time. It's like street performing, a good act gets a tip. Good luck with the project.

[Pako]

Wasn't actually aware that you had to contribute to actually post a public comment :P So yes private ones will count as well. Thanks for the feedback!

[Cyberdevil]

At 2/9/13 11:45 AM, Pako wrote: Wasn't actually aware that you had to contribute to actually post a public comment :P So yes private ones will count as well. Thanks for the feedback!

Will leave a comment then, interesting to see how this'll go. Btw, the poster idea, I meant a poster in the form of a webpage, not one that users will actually be given. Maybe they could print it out themselves if they like.

[Pako]

At 2/9/13 11:52 AM, Cyberdevil wrote:

Will leave a comment then, interesting to see how this'll go. Btw, the poster idea, I meant a poster in the form of a webpage, not one that users will actually be given. Maybe they could print it out themselves if they like.

Voila CyberDevil :)

[Cyberdevil]

At 2/9/13 11:57 AM, Pako wrote: Voila CyberDevil :)

Haha, awesome. :) That's going on my userpage...

[PsychoZoid]

I would love have one of those Wipebook! I love to doodle!

[Pako]

I love doodling too Psych

[Cyberdevil]

At 2/9/13 12:54 PM, dragoswrath wrote: I will buy one and draw many cats on it.

Then you can have a catscan.

lol

[Pako]

At 2/9/13 12:54 PM, dragoswrath wrote: Actually, this seems like a really interesting product. It's perfect for doodlers.

Meow

[TheColourAwesome]

What's the reasoning behind the $1,000 40 notebook deal? Is that at a discount?

[Pako]

At 2/9/13 01:12 PM, TheColourAwesome wrote: What's the reasoning behind the $1,000 40 notebook deal? Is that at a discount?

It's discounted if you consider shipping costs and the added costs associated with the custom books. But really if your compare them one one with the regular books it's about 5$ more. We weren't really expecting anyone to select the 1000$ option anyways, it's just there to make the double wipebook kit look more reasonable of an offer.

[dymck1]

That's actually not a bad idea.

[Pako]

At 2/9/13 05:16 PM, EnnuiEngram wrote: Honestly, I don't really trust crowdfunding, as for almost all the times I've seen it used successfully, the only projects I see get fully funded are the ones by someone who was already famous for some reason or another.

I have a feeling that your 100% right. I think the media blows the whole thing out of proportion.

[Gimmick]

At 2/9/13 05:46 PM, Pako wrote:

At 2/9/13 05:16 PM, EnnuiEngram wrote: Honestly, I don't really trust crowdfunding, as for almost all the times I've seen it used successfully, the only projects I see get fully funded are the ones by someone who was already famous for some reason or another.

I have a feeling that your 100% right. I think the media blows the whole thing out of proportion.

Is there going to be a cover page for the wipebook like any notebook? Also, looks sweet, but can I use a normal pen on this? Is this just paper coated with plastic or something?

[KnightOnTheSun]

This is a good idea. I hope it gets funded.

[Cyberdevil]

At 2/10/13 11:24 AM, KnightOnTheSun wrote: This is a good idea. I hope it gets funded.

Same here. 39 days left...

[BumFodder]

At 2/9/13 11:34 AM, BumFodder wrote: crowdfunding is shit ideas funded by idiots

Atleast this one is a really good idea though, especially compared to most of the crap that goes through

[Pako]

At 2/9/13 09:33 PM, Gimmick wrote:

At 2/9/13 05:46 PM, Pako wrote:

At 2/9/13 05:16 PM, EnnuiEngram wrote: Honestly, I don't really trust crowdfunding, as for almost all the times I've seen it used successfully, the only projects I see get fully funded are the ones by someone who was already famous for some reason or another.

I have a feeling that your 100% right. I think the media blows the whole thing out of proportion.

Is there going to be a cover page for the wipebook like any notebook? Also, looks sweet, but can I use a normal pen on this? Is this just paper coated with plastic or something?

It's laminated with a special coating we played around with over and over to see which one was better. You can use a variety of markers on it like dry erase, water soluble and permanent, but pens don't flow enough to drop the ink on the pages. The only thing is with permanent markers, you'll need to dab your cloth or whatever in some isopropyl alcohol to wipe off the pages.

[scoutthesoldier]

I should advertise this. This looks like a product that can save the trees.

[Pako]

We're trying to go viral too.. lol

WIPEBOOK HARLEM SHAKE

[BumFodder]

At 2/21/13 08:34 PM, Pako wrote: We're trying to go viral too.. lol

WIPEBOOK HARLEM SHAKE

I hope your kickstarter fails and you lose all your money

[Pako]

At 2/21/13 08:47 PM, shitposter wrote:

At 2/21/13 08:34 PM, Pako wrote: We're trying to go viral too.. lol

WIPEBOOK HARLEM SHAKE

from mild support to intense hate in 30 seconds

welcome to the general forum

BAAAAHH NOOO

[Pako]

Alright, so look what happened in 3 fucking days..after we started a new campaign through kickstarter....

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1470156778/wipebook

My mind is fucking blown right now....