10 Ways to Promote Your IndieGoGo Project OFF-Line

Last week we examined ten ways you can harness the power of the Internet to get the word out about your IndieGoGo project (and hopefully secure some additional funding in the process).

This week let's snap our laptops shut for a few minutes and look at some additional ways of raising awareness for your IndieGoGo project in real life.

Business Cards
Put a link to your IndieGoGo campaign on your business card, or have additional business cards made up solely to promote your campaign, so you can hand them to contacts and other people you meet. Check out Moo for eye-catching custom business cards.

Flyers
Nothing like a good old-fashioned flyer. You can print fancy flyers or go the copy machine route. Post flyers in places people who are likely to take an interest in your project might find them.

Letter
Perhaps your organization already has a mailing list, or maybe you already send an ask each year for donations to an annual campaign. Include a link to your IndieGoGo campaign on any ask letters you already send, or, if you don't already send a regular donation letter, consider sending a brief, friendly note to your mailing list with information about your online campaign.

Postcards
Create a quick, eye-catching postcard for your project and send it by mail to your list or distribute it in your town or to places you're likely to find potential funders. Mail stacks to like-minded organizations who might be able to display them in their lobbies or storefronts. (Theater companies do this all the time.)

Events
Attend events related to your project — readings, signings, lectures, gallery events, screenings, meet-ups — and talk up your campaign. Bring your business cards and postcards with you.

Conferences and Trade Shows
Why not table at a conference or trade show to try and drum up support for your campaign? Keep in mind the overhead, of course, but some small industry trade shows are reasonably priced and are a great way to reach out to potential supporters.

Fundraisers & Benefits
Throw a low-cost fundraiser and invite people to come out and hear about your project in the flesh.

PR Campaigns
Tell the news! Of course you may have to use ON-line tactics (like email) to get your story into the right hands, but don't underestimate the power of the printed word (people still read newspapers), television, and radio to get your story heard. Write up a press release, create a short, targeted list of media outlets that might take an interest in your story, and get yourself out there.

Give it to Your Parents
Remember when you were a kid and you had to sell chocolate bars to fund your school sports team? The best way to sell the candy wasn't door-to-door — it was to let your parents take the box to work and sell it to their co-workers. Our parents (or grandparents, or siblings, or mentors) are our most unabashed supporters. Give those people some postcards or flyers they can take to their networks to ask for support on your behalf.

Real-Life Social Networks
Where do you regularly go each week to meet people? Are you part of any clubs or groups? Ask to make a short announcement at the end of your next meeting and tell people about your project. "Hey, I'm doing this online fundraiser and I wanted to let you guys know. Here is a postcard." It's amazing how well people respond when they're not protected by the anonymity of Facebook.

Those were just a few ideas — we want to hear from YOU. Have you had any success drumming up support for your IndieGoGo project outside of the Internet? How did you do it? Do you have any advice for others?

Image courtesy Flickr user doyoubleedlikeme and licensed by Creative Commons.