What's a GoGoWidget and How do I Use it?

Hey Folks,

I wanted to do a special blog on widgets based on questions I've been getting from folks.  First I'll discuss what widgets are in general and then get into GoGoWidgets - the custom widgets we've built for every IndieGoGo project.

What's a Widget?

Wikipedia defines a widget as: "a portable chunk of code that can be installed and executed within any separate HTML-based web page by an end user without requiring additional compilation."

Hmmm. Does that help?  If not, no worries.  Here's my definition.  A widget is like a clickable bumper sticker that:

• reflects real-time information from a website
• can be pasted almost anywhere on the web (including websites, blogs, and emails) 
• is small, digital and can have images on it (not just text) and have interactivity built in just like a website  

Is that better?  If not?  Maybe an example will help.  A common widget is a weather widget that I have pulled into my iGoogle page, for example. The weather widget below:

• reflects the current weather from www.weather.com in my selected location
  
• is posted in my igoogle 
• is 2 inches by 3 inches and lets me click into other views for more detail

In a way, my iGoogle screen is just a bunch of different widgets nicely organized onto one webpage.  As you can see, I have a Wikipedia widget and a Google Maps widget on my igoogle webpage too. So technically I'm looking at a bunch of websites all at once, or rather I'm looking at relevant and real-time information from a bunch of different websites all at once.  Make sense?  (Note, Google calls the widgets they make "gadgets.") 

So what's a GoGoWidget?

A GoGoWidget is a widget for an individual project on IndieGoGo.  It:

• reflects the current fundraising status, title and tagline.  As folks contribute to a project on IndieGoGo.com, the funding bar in its GoGoWidget updates (no matter where the GoGoWidget rests on the web)
• can be posted on websites, blogs, newsletters and emails by both filmmakers, fans, bloggers, organizations and others 
• is about 2 inches by 2 inches (but can be adjusted according to the preferences set by the person or organization sharing the widget.  A new skinny GoGoWidget was just released.)

Here's an example GoGoWidget for the IndieGoGo project: Co-Ed. 

How do I create a GoGoWidget?

No need!  We've done that for all projects on IndieGoGo.

Where do I find a project's GoGoWidget?

Head to the IndieGoGo profile of the project whose GoGoWidget you'd like to share on a website, blog or email.  In the "Share" section of the profile, click on the GoGoWidget icon (a bullhorn).  You'll be taken to the GoGoWidget page.

 

How do I paste a GoGoWidget to a website, blog or email?

For websites and blogs, you can copy the html code that we provide and paste it in the html source for the website or blog. Detailed instructions are included in each project's GoGoWidget page.

 

For emails, copy and paste the image first and then the url code we provide.  Again, detailed instructions are included in each project's GoGoWidget page.

What happens when someone clicks a GoGoWidget?
Clickers are immediately taken to the project's profile page where the can learn about the project and take action (contribute, endorse, friends, follow, etc.)  The GoGoWidget is a great marketing tool to draw in new fans.  A click-through shows up in your Stats section as a referral.

Who can share GoGoWidgets?

Everyone!  Projects, funders, fans, bloggers, organizations promoting a project to their members on their website or in their newsletter, and any one else can share a project's GoGoWidget.  The more the merrier.

If you have a project and you'd like to get your fans more involved: ask them to share your GoGoWidget via email or on their websites and blogs.  Check out: Turn Viewers into Promoters.  Also read How to Market to Bloggers.

Questions? 
Let me know or dial-in for DIWO Live! each week.  I also recommend Audience-Building 101 and Turn On Your Recommendation Engine for more on IndieGoGo's Share tools. 

Cheers,

GoGoDanae