There are a number of PledgeManager-type platforms on the market that may suit the needs of specific crowdfunding campaign developers well. In this article, we will look at the popular and available Pledge Manager solutions and discuss their key functionalities.
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What is a Pledge Manager and why is it important?
Pledge Manager is a tool that allows you to organise your orders, add-ons and manage shipping after your crowdfunding campaign. It is extremely useful for creators as it allows them to optimise logistics, increase revenue and make it easier for backers to select and customise rewards.
The most popular Pledge Managers
BackerKit - the leader among Pledge Managers
BackerKit is one of the oldest and most established Pledge Manager platforms, particularly popular with campaigns on Kickstarter.
Key functionalities:
- Automatic synchronisation with Kickstarter and Indiegogo
- Ability to add add-ons
- Advanced order and shipment management
- Personalised surveys for backers
- Marketing tools to generate additional sales
Advantages:
- Very powerful functionality
- Support for large-scale campaigns
- Intuitive user interface
Disadvantages:
- High commission per transaction
- Can be complicated for smaller projects
CrowdOx - a flexible Pledge Manager for creatives
CrowdOx, now part of BackerKit, is another popular platform that allows you to effectively manage your campaign once it has been completed.
Key functionalities:
- Intuitive Pledge Manager system
- Support for various crowdfunding platforms
- Automatic allocation of rewards
- Ability to sell add-ons
- Support for different currencies
Advantages:
- Ease of configuration
- Extensive integration with various platforms
- Low barriers to entry for developers
Disadvantages:
- Limited analytics features
- Lack of full customisation of the order page
Gamefound - Pledge Manager for board game developers
Gamefound is a Pledge Manager platform created specifically for board game projects. It has now also developed as a standalone crowdfunding platform.
Key functionalities:
- Full integration with gaming campaigns
- Advanced add-on sales system
- Support for multiple currencies and languages
- Marketing tools
- Module for managing the backer community
Advantages:
- Dedicated to the board game industry
- Intuitive interface
- Comprehensive sales support tools
Disadvantages:
- Less flexibility for campaigns outside the games industry
- Limited number of available integrations
- Significant commissions.
PledgeBox - modern order management in Pledge Manager
PledgeBox is a relatively new but rapidly developing solution that offers modern order management tools after a crowdfunding campaign.
Key functionalities:
- Integration with Kickstarter and Indiegogo
- Ability to edit orders in bulk
- Advanced reporting options
- Flexible delivery and shipping options
Pros:
- Affordable pricing
- Fast implementation and intuitive interface
- Extensive reporting
Disadvantages:
- Lack of full page customisation for backers
- Limited support for smaller scale campaigns
Alternative approaches to the Pledge Manager
In addition to dedicated Pledge Manager platforms, some developers are opting for alternative solutions that may be more cost-effective or tailored to their unique needs:
Own e-commerce platform (e.g. ICEberg CMS 5 with PledgeManager modules)
Developers are increasingly using off-the-shelf e-commerce platforms such as ICEberg CMS 5 to create their own Pledge Manager system.
Advantages:
- Full control over design and functionality. That is, full branding, full control over the user path. Users registered / imported you have in your own database.
- No commission for the PM (owner of the Pledge Manager platform). Only a one-off fee for implementation plus possibly for support. If you are implementing further campaigns and have higher revenues, you must consider this solution, as it can save you tens or even hundreds of thousands (PLN or euros) :)
- The possibility of selling additional products independently of the campaign. Your own PM can also be an online shop in addition - expanded, dedicated, customised to your needs. It can also be connected to your website. In one panel you will manage the Pledge Manager and order processing from it, orders from the shop and the content of the company website. All this in a secure, friendly, easy-to-use interface that is constantly being developed.
Write to us and we'll arrange a demo and show you the details. You'll quickly see that it's worth it :)
Disadvantages:
- More work to set up (but this is done by the implementation team - you can implement the PM yourself, but you can also outsource it). Setting up the first campaign itself requires a similar effort as implementing it in the PM you are using now, or it is simpler - many steps are automated. Setting up the second and subsequent campaigns is already much faster and simpler.
- Higher start-up costs. Pledge Managers available in the cloud operate mainly on commission. It is a high percentage and in large campaigns it can be higher per campaign than the cost of implementing your own PM. But it's still just a commission that depends on the result.
Google Forms + Stripe/PayPal
The simplest solution, mainly used for small campaigns. Developers use Google Forms to collect orders and process payments via Stripe or PayPal.
Advantages:
- No costs for the Pledge Manager platform
- Simple to use
Disadvantages:
- Lack of automation
- Cumbersome for larger campaigns
- Causes a lot of stress and human error, and requires a very large amount of time from the team
Which Pledge Manager platform will be best?
Choosing the right Pledge Manager depends on several factors, such as the size of the campaign, budget, logistical needs and project specifics.
- For large campaigns - BackerKit will be the best choice due to its extensive features and support. An alternative solution is to implement an in-house Pledge Manager platform based on ICEberg CMS 5 - high start-up costs and low costs in subsequent campaigns.
- For board game projects - Gamefound is an ideal option due to its specialisation in board games. An alternative is ICEberg CMS 5.
- For smaller campaigns - CrowdOx or PledgeBox offer flexibility and ease of use. Alternatively, consider implementing your PM, but with ready-made functionality, no customisation, no custom design and with PM configuration on your side (studio team).
- For creatives wanting full control - Your own e-commerce platform is the best option. Its implementation pays for itself after 2-3-4 campaigns. If you want to know the costs and get advice - write to us.
Summary
There are many alternatives to GameFund on the market that can better meet the needs of crowdfunding campaign developers. BackerKit, CrowdOx, Gamefound and PledgeBox are the most popular options, but in-house e-commerce solutions or simple form systems with payments are also worth considering. The key is to tailor the Pledge Manager to the specifics of the campaign and the capabilities of the creators to optimise sales and delivery logistics.
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