Is Indiegogo a Safe and Reliable Platform

Indiegogo has been around since 2008, making it a well-established platform for crowdfunding.

Over the years, they've handled over $2 billion in funds raised for more than 9 million projects.

While that's a lot of money and projects, it's worth noting that not all of them have been successful.

Indiegogo's escrow service holds funds until a project's deadline, ensuring that backers get their rewards.

Indiegogo is a crowdfunding platform that allows anyone to raise funds for their projects, and it's free to create a campaign.

You can start by creating an account on Indiegogo's website, which only takes a few minutes.

Indiegogo has a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to navigate and create a campaign.

To create a campaign, you'll need to provide some basic information about your project, such as its title, description, and funding goal.

Indiegogo charges a 4% fee on the amount raised, plus a payment processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.

You can set your campaign to be either "Flexible" or "Fixed", depending on your funding goals and requirements.

Indiegogo has a team of experts who review all campaigns to ensure they meet the platform's guidelines and are legitimate.

Indiegogo has a strong track record of successfully funded projects, with over 9 million backers worldwide.

Setting up payment methods is a crucial step in getting your Indiegogo campaign up and running.

Indiegogo has partnered with PayPal for payment processing, allowing transactions to be made in any currency. Backers must sign up with PayPal before donating to the campaign if they're not already registered.

To collect all backed funds directly into your bank account, you can use the IndieGoGo bank account feature. However, the linked bank account must be in the same currency as your campaign.

Indiegogo charges a platform fee of 5% from the overall amount of funds raised, with no change whether you're in the InDemand program or not. The platform fee also depends on the type of crowdfunding campaign you choose.

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Here are the payment processing fees you should be aware of:

These fees are charged on top of the platform fee, and you should consult with your bank before entering your bank information for the campaign.

Running a campaign on Indiegogo can be a straightforward process. All you need to do is create an account, provide some details about your project, and set a fundraising goal.

To ensure success, it's essential to understand the basics of how Indiegogo works. This includes setting up your account, creating a campaign page, and setting a funding goal. Consider these tips when promoting your campaign:

Indiegogo allows you to run campaigns even if you don’t have a working prototype yet. However, they have a strict policy regarding the launch of made-up campaigns.

IndieGoGo offers four different types of campaigns: fixed funding or flexible funding. These options allow project creators to tailor their fundraising approach to their specific needs.

For another approach, see: Crowd Sourced Funding

Fixed funding campaigns set a goal amount and deadline, and if that goal isn't reached by the deadline, all pledges are refunded. This type of campaign is best for projects with specific goals that can realistically be reached within a certain timeline.

Flexible funding campaigns allow project creators to keep whatever funds have been raised, even if their goal isn't fully funded. This type works well for projects where there isn't necessarily an exact amount needed to achieve success.

With a flexible funding campaign, a 5% platform fee is charged on the amount raised, and the funds are available immediately to the project creator.

To run a successful campaign on Indiegogo, you'll want to understand the basics of how the platform works. First, you need to set up your account, which is a straightforward process.

Create a compelling campaign page that showcases your project and sets a realistic funding goal. This will help attract potential backers and increase your chances of success.

To promote your campaign, consider leveraging social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and others. Share engaging content, link to your campaign page, and create eye-catching visuals to encourage donations.

You can also reach out to influencers, bloggers, and other stakeholders who may be interested in supporting your cause. Invite them to join your campaign by sharing individual stories or hosting virtual events.

Email campaign supporters, such as company contacts and fellow employees, to invite them to join the campaign. This can help spread the word and attract more backers.

Traditional media can also be effective in promoting your campaign. Consider using paid placement opportunities in print or radio ads to reach a wider audience.

To ensure transparency and communication with your backers, provide detailed information about your team, qualifications, and track record. Be open about the risks and challenges involved in your project.

Engage with your backers by commenting, direct communication, and frequent updates. This will help establish trust and keep your backers informed about your progress.

Here are some key campaign requirements to keep in mind:

Indiegogo supports various types of crowdfunding campaigns, including:

If you're looking to raise money for a personal cause, consider using a platform like GoFundMe instead.

Perks are a crucial part of a successful IndieGoGo campaign. They're essentially rewards you give to your backers as a thank-you for their contribution.

Campaigns that feature perks get 143% more funding on the platform. That's a no-brainer, right? If you were going to back a project, wouldn't it be amazing to get something back?

IndieGoGo allows you to offer 20 levels of perks to your backers. You can use perks to reward your loyal backers or give influencers a special deal. It's exciting to think of the possibilities you'll get with this perk.

You can set up a featured perk that appears at the top of the page with a "Featured Perk" label. This perk is one of the main attractions for your campaign. It's a great way to showcase your best perk and grab the attention of potential backers.

IndieGoGo also offers a Secret Perk that's visible at the top of the page only through a special link. This perk can be used to reward your most loyal backers or give them a special deal.

Perk add-ons can be added to any existing perk, giving backers a custom perk of their own. This is a great way to offer more value to your backers and increase your conversion rates.

Keeping your supply of rewards low can increase your conversion rates by up to 30%. This is because it creates a sense of urgency and scarcity, encouraging backers to make a decision sooner rather than later.

Indiegogo is a safe platform, with the company tolerating no scam projects and making sure your rights are protected.

You can find virtually all the answers to your questions through Indiegogo's extensive "Help & Support" section, which includes information for backers, campaigns, payments, and more.

If you're unable to find the answers you need, Indiegogo's customer support is available as a last resort, although it's worth noting that they don't offer live chat or phone support.

Safety is a top priority on Indiegogo. The platform makes sure that your rights are protected.

Indiegogo has a strict policy of not tolerating scam projects, so you can feel safe funding or getting funded on the platform.

You're safe to use Indiegogo because the platform takes the necessary steps to ensure a secure experience for all users.

Indiegogo's safety features and strict policies give you peace of mind when backing or launching a campaign.

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Indiegogo has a thorough "Help & Support" section where you can find answers to most questions through their articles and FAQs.

They cover a wide range of topics, including information for backers, campaigns, payments, trust operations, accounts, legal, and more.

If you can't find the answers you're looking for, you can contact their customer support as a last resort.

Unfortunately, they don't offer live chat or phone support services, which might be a drawback for some users.

Indiegogo takes transparency and communication very seriously. They expect both backers and campaigners to comply with their Terms of Use and keep the lines of communication open and honest.

For backers, it's essential to do your research and review the project and team profiles, including the "Risks and Challenges" section. This will give you a good sense of what you're backing and help you feel confident in your decision.

Transparency is key to building trust with backers. Campaigners should include detailed information about their team, qualifications, and track record, as well as be open about the risks and challenges. This will help potential backers understand that you're trustworthy and committed to seeing your project through.

If you have concerns or notice something suspicious, don't hesitate to report it to Indiegogo's Trust & Safety team via the Contact Us page or the "Let us know" link on every campaign.

Indiegogo also encourages campaigners to engage with backers through commenting, direct communication, and frequent updates. Substantive updates are required at least once per month by their Terms of Use. This will help establish trust and prevent backers from losing faith, requesting a refund, or making a chargeback.

Here's a summary of the key takeaways for campaigners:

By following these best practices, you can build trust with your backers and increase your chances of a successful campaign.

Indiegogo has a mixed bag of user reviews, with a 3.1/5 rating on G2 based on 35 reviews.

Many users have complained about the platform's fees and processing fees, which can cut into profits. These fees are pretty standard across the industry, but it's still worth considering when launching a campaign.

The majority of negative reviews come from angry backers who didn't receive promised perks or received defective items. This is a common issue across crowdfunding platforms.

Despite the complaints, Indiegogo has its fans. Users praise the platform for its flexible funding options, including fixed and flexible campaigns. Some even appreciate that there's no extensive prescreening process.

Some users have reported good customer service, which is a plus for those raising funds on the platform. However, backers have complained about unresponsive support, especially when they feel scammed.

Here's a breakdown of Indiegogo's ratings on various review platforms:

Indiegogo's user reviews are not exactly glowing, but they're not all bad either. The majority of negative reviews come from backers who didn't receive their promised perks or received defective items.

The platform's limited communication between campaigners and backers is a major issue. Users fault Indiegogo for not facilitating better communication, which can lead to frustration and disappointment.

Some users complain about the platform fees and processing fees, which can cut into profits. This is a common issue among crowdfunding platforms, but it's worth noting.

Backers also report issues with unresponsive support, particularly when they feel they've been scammed. This can be a major concern for those considering backing a project on Indiegogo.

Here are some of the common complaints about Indiegogo:

It's essential to have realistic expectations when backing a project on Indiegogo. You're contributing to a project or cause, not making a purchase or investment, and there's no guarantee you'll receive anything in return.

Indiegogo is a crowdfunding platform that allows users to raise funds from individual backers for business and community projects.

You can choose from various categories when launching a fundraising campaign on Indiegogo, including those for business and community projects.

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The platform offers a range of services to support these campaigns, including the ability to raise funds from individual backers.

Indiegogo's services are designed to help entrepreneurs and community leaders bring their ideas to life.

By choosing from these categories, users can tailor their campaigns to meet their specific needs and goals.

Indiegogo's services are available to anyone with an idea they want to bring to life, regardless of their background or experience.

Additional reading: Comparison of Crowdfunding Services

Our team at Merchant Maverick spends hours researching and evaluating each crowdfunding platform, including Indiegogo, to provide accurate and helpful reviews.

We use a weighted rating breakdown to calculate the total star rating, with each section assigned a different percentage of the total. Here's a breakdown of the sections and their corresponding weights:

Indiegogo has a 1.4-star rating based on 129 customer reviews, indicating that consumers are mostly dissatisfied with their experience.

Indiegogo has a 1.4-star rating based on 129 customer reviews, with consumers mostly dissatisfied. This is a red flag for potential users.

The rating distribution shows that the majority of customers have had a negative experience with Indiegogo. The pros mentioned include innovative products and good ideas, but these are often overshadowed by the cons.

Dishonesty, no responsibility, and poor responsibility are some of the common complaints against Indiegogo. Many users have reported promises made but not kept, leading to frustration and disappointment.

According to customer reviews, the most common solution to issues with Indiegogo is to ask for a refund. This suggests that customers are often dissatisfied with the service they receive.

Here are some key issues that customers have raised about Indiegogo:

On the other hand, Indiegogo has been praised for its transparency in sales and advertising. It's rated 4.6 out of 5 stars for its transparency, which is a positive aspect of the platform.

However, some users have reported negative experiences with Indiegogo, including non-shipment and poor communication. One user even reported losing $249 on a product that was never delivered.

It's worth noting that some users have been able to resolve issues with Indiegogo, such as one user who received a full refund after requesting it before the 9-day grace period.

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We spend hours researching and evaluating each crowdfunding platform we review, focusing on key characteristics to generate our product ratings.

Our weighted rating breakdown gives each section a different weight, with terms and fees accounting for 25% of the total star rating, followed by project qualifications and application process, each also making up 25% of the total star rating.

To calculate the total star rating, we use a rubric that looks at terms and fees, project qualifications, application process, sales and advertising transparency, customer service, and user reviews, with each section weighted differently.

We break down each section into granular, weighted subsections, where we examine specific attributes such as campaign durations, supported project types, time to funding, application processing times, and platform fees.

Here's a breakdown of how we weigh each section: