Harnessing Crowdfunding to Market and Fund a Business, with Brandon T. Adams

Crowdfunding maestro, Brandon T. Adams has raised tens of millions of dollars collectively for celebrities, entrepreneurs, and established organizations. As a TV host, producer, prolific podcaster, and speaker, Adams motivates and educates audiences worldwide on how they can build the platform and raise funds they need to create the legacy they want. Adams is the creator of the Arctic stick, a beverage cooler available on Amazon.com.

SPEAKING.COM:Why do you believe that anyone can become “the most successful person the world has seen” regardless of their background or circumstances?

ADAMS: Anything is truly possible if you set your mind to it and surround yourself with others who push you to achieve your goals. Our circumstances can be turned into opportunities and advantages that help us go farther. Some of the most successful people over the past 150 years had far more challenging circumstances than the average person but they didn’t let that define them; they used their circumstances to fuel them towards their success.

SPEAKING.COM: What did your dad’s ice service teach you about running a business that still holds true today?

ADAMS: Being in the ice business with my father taught me how to build a business from the ground up. From a young age I saw the struggles that come with being an entrepreneur and starting a business. At one point when I was kid, my dad almost lost everything, and he had to go to the bank to get a loan so his business wouldn’t go under. The banker at that time lent him the money himself because he believed in my dad so much. That put fire inside my dad and allowed him to grow that much faster. He paid the banker back soon after and grew his business substantially.

Regarding the ice business, I also learned the importance of providing high quality customer service and staying true to your word. When you shake a person’s hand and say you are going to do something, you do it. There are no excuses in business.

SPEAKING.COM: What were some unexpected challenges you had in getting the Arctic Stick to market?

ADAMS: I made many mistakes taking Arctic Stick to market because it was my first time taking a product to market. One of the best things I did was getting help from a mentor, Cactus Jack Barringer, one of the greatest inventors and infomercials pitchmen of his time. He helped guide me through the process. The major obstacle I had while taking it to market was not having enough money, which is what led me to crowdfunding.

SPEAKING.COM: Why did you choose to make crowdfunding your niche?

ADAMS: When I did my first crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter in 2014 for Arctic Stick, I learned fast and saw how hard it was to raise money. I also realized that many other people were lacking the skills to raise money. I saw an opportunity to fill that need and be the crowdfunding expert to help others raise money for their idea.

SPEAKING.COM: What are the main mistakes people make when doing a crowdfunding campaign?

ADAMS: People expect others to give them money for their idea and think they will just be throwing money at them. This is far from the truth. You have to work for that money and show the value you are providing your audience.

In the first 48 hours of launching your campaign you must reach 40-50% of your funding goal; otherwise, your chances of success are slim. Most people, though, don’t put in the work for the campaign and prepare for their launch effectively.

People don’t create the planned out and high-quality video necessary for the crowdfunding campaign. You need to create a video that gets your point across, captures the audience’s attention in 3-4 seconds, informs them about what you are doing, and gets them engaged enough to do what you ask of them, which in this case is getting them to pledge money to your campaign.

The video side of crowdfunding campaigns is what got me into creating more videos for myself and other clients and eventually starting Accelerant Media Group.

SPEAKING.COM: What are ways unknown companies/individuals can build celebrity status in order to make their crowdfunding campaigns a success?

ADAMS: Go on TV morning shows, promote yourself on social media, write and publish a book, write regular blogs, speak to audiences, and even put on your own events. Creating and Publishing Video content on Social Media is the quickest way to build your brand and influence online today.

SPEAKING.COM: It has been said that orchestrating a crowdfunding campaign is essentially a full-time job. What insights do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs/artists who want to do a campaign but need to balance it with their day job/personal responsibilities?

ADAMS: I would say don’t do it or hire a team to help you do it. It is a full-time job and there is no easy way to raise the money. It takes a team that is willing to put the work in.

SPEAKING.COM: Unfortunately, with the success of crowdfunding, we have seen the rise of crowdfunding scams (ie the high-profile case of the New Jersey couple and a homeless man who scammed donors out of $400,000 on GoFundMe). How can crowdfunding campaigns build trust with potential donors?

ADAMS: You build trust with your audience by showing your authenticity and the quality of your product. If your campaign aligns with all the other things people find out about you online, you are going to be trusted. Make sure your social media handles and websites communicate a similar message to what you portray on your campaign.

SPEAKING.COM: What are your thoughts on the future of crowdfunding?

ADAMS: Crowdfunding and Crowdsourcing is how society is raising money for their ideas and getting the feedback needed to create them. With social media and the power of the Internet, crowdfunding is becoming the norm. You don’t have to put your project on Kickstarter or Indiegogo to run a crowdfunding campaign. The greatest crowdfunding campaigns in history have been run by politicians who are raising money for their campaigns. They are marketing to potential donors who give them small and large donations towards their campaign success.

To bring entrepreneur and crowdfunding speaker, Brandon T. Adams, to your organization, please contact Michael Frick at: Mike@Speaking.com