Career Kickstart

Kickstarter and other “crowdfunding” platforms have become extremely popular, taking the fundraising and social media scene by storm. This site is already even part of Time Magazine's Best Websites of 2011. That's because every week, thousands of people upload their creative projects to the website and pledge money with the hope of getting their dream project funded. The catch is that on Kickstarter, a project must reach its funding goal before its deadline or the money is not given to the user.

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The imminent benefit of using this platform is, of course, getting the necessary funds to kick-start projects. Yet, Kickstarter is about more than just money; I find this website to have a superb underlying public relations power. Kickstarter allows the user to share their stories, their hopes and dreams. Since most people love compelling stories that exhibit genuineness and passion, and feel good supporting a captivating cause, if it’s a good idea, communicated in an attractive fashion, it’ll spread exponentially. Therefore, the buzz-generating power of this platform is surreal.

Even if the project doesn’t get funded, the storytelling aspect of Kickstarter provides space for people to discover creative ideas, identify with the storyteller, and for the user to get free exposure. Ultimately, this is what publicists want.

As publicists, we usually have to spend months and months securing spots on national TV shows to get our clients the right exposure to the right audience. Now we have platforms like this, where exposure is at no cost and almost hassle free. Additionally, it lets the artist/user to connect directly with the people that ultimately will buy their products. In a world where fans value individuality and stories they can identify with, Kickstarter sounds like the ideal tool to incorporate into Public Relations campaigns.

Therefore, Kickstarter has not only financial potential but also it has great public relations potential. Kickstarter allows the user to showcase their work to prospective investors while building a fan or clientele base. It wouldn’t surprise me if the next big hit will be discovered through new platforms like Kickstarter instead of mainstream outlets such as reality TV shows or saturated channels like Youtube. I not only encourage managers, producers and talent seekers to be on the lookout for Kickstarter’s stars but also for public relations professionals to incorporate fundraising platforms like Kickstarter in their public relations campaigns. In the fast-paced world we live in, our client’s communication strategies have to fit in with the new sociocultural trends, be extremely cost effective and provide long lasting benefits. Seems like incorporating Kickstarter into their public relations campaigns guarantees this.