Born to an underprivileged family, Robert Maposa (43) from Mamelodi East, Pretoria, learned to make the most out of his limited opportunities.
Determined to build a better life for his wife, Hitahlula, and their two sons, Wonderful and Timothy, Robert worked as a gardener and did odd jobs to put himself through matric at the age of 28 and then went on to study a law degree.
Despite the obstacles in his path, Robert exceeded all expectations, passing his LLB degree from UNISA with distinction.
As finding a job has proven difficult without a vehicle of his own, Jonathan Smith (23), who has known Robert for the past 15 years, as he has worked for his family, launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to surprise Robert with a second hand car to expand his work opportunities as he prepares for his board exams.
“I have been so fortunate to grow up around Robert, when I was younger he would tell me stories and let me help in the garden. As I’ve grown, I’ve learned to appreciate his kind spirit even more and I couldn’t be prouder of what he has achieved. I know given the slightest chance that he will be a major success” – says Jonathan.
Jonathan Smith
Overwhelmed with support, Jonathan’s campaign to purchase a set of wheels for Robert has raised over R40 000 towards the fundraising target of R60 000 with contributions from 85 donors.
“We are so excited to read Robert the messages of support he has received and let him know that we have been raising funds for a car for him in ‘secret’. He has worked so hard and so diligently for so long, he really deserves all the praise” – says Jonathan.
Jonathan says additional funds raised by the campaign will be used to purchase Robert a laptop and smart work clothes as he begins his new journey.
Donors have started to respond with kind messages of support:
“Most inspiring story. Blown away by your commitment and dedication. Wish you nothing but all the success you deserve. ” – Caz Lea
“You are one of the few who build a door when there are none to knock on. Well done!! Good luck ” – Christine
“Thank you for all your hard work and for looking after me. You deserve this! Im so proud of you!” – Ina smith
“Every setback is a set up for a come back, and your comeback is nothing short of exceptional. To a man who defied circumstances, I wish you nothing but the best. ” – Tatton
“Robert, you are an inspiration! I’m grateful for the opportunity to support your dream ” – Leah Scholtz
In July 2020, Shaun and Bianca Pretorius from Benoni, Johannesburg, learned the devastating news that their son, Shaunie (11), a bright and happy young boy, was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive, and terminal type of brain cancer called Brainstem Glioma.
A devastatingdiagnosis
At the beginning of lockdown, Shaunie was struggling with fatigue and constant vomiting. Thinking that his condition was perhaps brought on by school stress and adapting to online learning, his parents took him to a number of doctors to see what was wrong.
Matters soon got worse when the antibiotics he was given did little to remedy his condition. Shaunie began struggling with his eyesight, had difficulty moving around and battled to communicate.
Shaunie having a CT scan at Linmed Hospital
To determine the cause of Shaunie’s rapid decline, he was taken for CT scan at Linmed Hospital in Johannesburg. The heartbreaking results of the x-ray determined that Shaunie has a cancerous tumour in his brain stem, a fatal condition known as Brainstem Glioma, which has a median survivalrate of only 9 months.
With doctors unable to operate on Shaunie, he underwent 12 aggressive Radiation Therapy sessions to shrink his tumour and alleviate some of his pain.
To shelter Shaunie from the severity of his condition, his parents haven’t told him that his tumour is cancerous, but he understands why he has begun losing his hair and that he is unwell.
“Hearing that your child, who has always been perfectly healthy, is fighting a deadly disease and only has a few months left to live is devastating. We don’t know how to tell Shaunie that he is dying. We still have hope that God will hear our prayers and that he will make it through” – says Bianca
As there is no cure for Shaunie’s condition, he is currently being treated symptomatically with cannabis oil and steroids to help the swelling on his brain and increase his appetite.
Shaunie’s Birthday Wish
As only 1% of children diagnosed with Brainstem Glioma live up to 5 years, the Pretorius family are focused on keeping Shaunie as healthy, as pain free and as comfortable as possible so he can enjoy the time he has left with his parents and his little brother, Mattie (3).
Shaunie with his little brother, Mattie.
Focusing on all the things that spark joy for a young boy, Shaunie’s uncle Juandre Botha has launched a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, to fulfil Shaunie’s ultimate dream of owning a Playstation 5, just in time for his 12th birthday on the 9th of March.
“Sadly we do not know exactly how much time we have left with our little man, so we really want to make every single day as special and as comfortable as possible for him. As I’m sure anyone can imagine this battle is really hard on him but he’s a very strong-willed little fighter and we are so proud of him.” – says Jaundre
With generous support, Shaunie’s campaign has already raised over R 9000 towards his fundraising target of R12 000, with contributions from 16 donors across the country.
Additional funds raised will be used to cover Shaunie’s additional medical expenses, specialized food and living expenses.
Using instant messaging apps such as Whatsapp, Facebook messenger and WeChat is a great way to launch your crowdfunding campaign to your immediate network, share positive updates, thank donors, and promote your campaign in a creative way.
In this guide, we will discuss the power of Whatsapp Marketing and walk you through some practical tips that you can use to promote your cause.
Why use WhatsApp to promote your crowdfunding campaign?
90% of internet users in South Africans are active users of WhatsApp, according to a report by Hoodsuite.
98% of WhatsApp messages are both opened and read according to Dynmark. Hoodsuite also reports that Whatsapp messages are opened within the first 3 seconds.
Over 450 million Whatsapp users make use of WhatsApp stories, surpassing even Snapchat, a report by Business Of Apps finds.
84% of online sharing now takes place through instant messaging according to RadiumOne.
Constructing your message
When putting together a WhatsApp message, make sure to keep your message short (no longer than 80 characters), personal and informative.
Remember to introduce your campaign in a friendly way to attract donors, make sure to summarize what you’re crowdfunding for and mention the positive impact donations will have on your beneficiary.
Don’t forget to include your BackaBuddy link at the end of your message, so potential donors will be able to make a contribution. It is also a good idea to ask your contacts to share your campaign with 5-10 of their contacts to help you reach a wider audience.
An example,
Hi Monique, I hope you are well!
I have created a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to feed 100 families in Pietermaritzburg who are unable to provide for their families during the lockdown.
We have so far raised R 15 000 towards our fundraising target! Funds raisedwill be used to purchase digital food vouchers for those in need.
Please support us by making a small donation on BackaBuddy. If you’re unable to contribute, please be so kind as to share our campaign with your friends and loved ones. https://www.backabuddy.co.za/feeding-pietermaritzburg
Remember to add a Photo or Video to accompany your message.
Support your message with media
As they say, a picture says a thousand words. Support your introductory message with a few hi-quality images that illustrate what your campaign is about. Sharing videos or voice notes is also a great way to engage and share more information about your campaign!
Practical ways to use WhatsApp to share your crowdfunding campaign
Forward a message
Create a short message to introduce your campaign and forward your campaign privately to 5 friends at the same time.
Here’s how:
In an individual or group chat, tap and hold the message you want to forward, then tap Forward.
To forward multiple messages, you can select additional messages after you select the first message.
Tap Forward.
Search for or select the individual or group chats you want to forward the messages to.
Tap Forward.
Create a broadcast list
Create a broadcast list to share your campaign as mass message to an unlimited number of contacts. Once the list as been created, you will be able to revisit it to share more messages with the same group of people.
Search for or select the contacts you want to add.
Tap the check mark .
Create a group
Create a group chat to share your campaign with your WhatsApp contacts. Smaller groups are recommended, but if you have a big network, you are able to add up to 256 contacts in a single group.
Use WhatsApp groups to send campaign updates and motivate your immediate network to promote your campaign and find new potential donors.
When you have created a group, all participants will be able to interact with each other and will be notified of incoming messages.
Search for or select contacts to add to the group. Then tap the green arrow.
Enter a group subject. This will be the name of the group that all participants will see.
Optionally, add a group icon by tapping the Camera icon.
Tap the green check mark when you’re finished.
Create a WhatsApp Story/Status
WhatsApp Stories are a great way to share updates, engage with your close network of supporters and ensure your campaign maintains momentum throughout your crowdfunding journey.
Here’s How:
Tap Status.
Tap:
Camera or My Status to take a photo, record a video or GIF or choose an existing photo, video or GIF from your gallery. Remember to include a caption to introduce your campaign. Tap send .
After you have posted a photo in your status, the next steps is to share your BackaBuddy link using the Text icon.
Tap on to write a short message about your campaign and copy to your BackaBuddy link for donations. Tap send .
This will allow your contacts to click from your status onto your BackaBuddy campaign to make a donation.
We hope you enjoyed our tips for WhatsApp Marketing! While WhatsApp is a great tool to use to reach a wider audience, it should not be used in isolation.
Click Below for more tips on how to run a successful crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy:
With the number of Facebook users in South Africa to reach over 19.8 million by 2023, according to Statista, there is ample opportunity for your crowdfunding campaign to reach a wide network of supporters on the social network.
In this guide, we will discuss the power of Facebook Marketing and walk you through some practical tips that you can use to promote your cause.
Why use Facebook to promote your crowdfunding campaign?
According to Hoodsuite.
82% of internet users in South Africans are active users of Facebook and 57% also use Facebook Messenger
Recent statistics have revealed that Facebook users spend an average of about 40 minutes daily on Facebook.
How to post on Facebook
To share a post on Facebook:
From the top of your News Feed, click What’s on your mind, [Name]?
Write a short message to introduce your crowdfunding campaign (following the guidelines below) and remember to include your BackaBuddy Link.
Once you have created your post. Share it your Facebook Story
On the post you have just created, Click Share
Select Share to Your Story Now.
When to post on Facebook
When it comes to posting on Facebook, research shows Thursday and Friday to be the best days. Here’s what we found:
According to World Wide Worx, the best time to post on Facebook in South Africa to maximise the number of people who see it, is on a Thursday between 09:00 and 10:00.
Hubspot determined Thursdays and Fridays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. are the best times to post.
Please note: You can post your campaign on any day, see what works the best for you! We recommend sharing your campaign at least 2/3 times a week across your social media platforms for the best possible result.
Writing your campaign post
The purpose of posting your campaign on Facebook is to reach as many people on your friends list as possible, as well as other Facebook users who might not know you.
Before posting on Facebook, consider these key factors:
1. Keep your message short and specific
According Express Writers, Facebook posts with 40-80 Characters result in 86% more interaction (likes, comments, shares, link clicks).
2. Provide enough information
Make sure your post answers these questions:
Whoare you raising funds for? (name, age, location)
Why are they in need of funds? (what has lead you to crowdfunding?)
What will funds raised be used for? (in a tangible way mention how funds will be used, for example “We are raising funds to purchase 100 pairs of shoes for 50 children”
When will funds be needed? (ie. is there a sense of urgency or is your campaign time-sensitive?)
Where can people make a donation? (Include the call to action: Please support my crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy, by making a donation here: [copy and paste BackaBuddy Link)]
Take a look at these examples:
You can use this template as a guideline:
Hi everyone,
I have created a crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy to raise funds [to/for].
We are hoping to raise [fundraising target] by [time period] that will allow us to [positive impact].
Please be so kind as to support our crowdfunding campaign by making a donation here: [BackaBuddy link]
If you are unable to donate, please share our campaign with your friends and family.
Instead of posting your BackaBuddy link by itself, upload your message with a positive, yet emotive photo or video.
Photo:
According to Post Planner, posts with photos receive 84% more link clicks, this means more Facebook users will click onto your BackaBuddy campaign if you have great visual content.
Where possible include hi-quality images that tell a positive story, avoid shocking or graphic content, as this might discourage Facebook users engaging with your content. You can load a single image, or add a series of images that tell your story.
Video:
It is in your best interest to share your post with a short, informative and emotive video that’s between 1-3 minutes long. While a strong image will make your followers take notice, a video will increase your engagement by 7 times and your campaign has an opportunity to raise 4 times more funds.
Make use of these Facebook tools to promote your crowdfunding campaign
Facebook Messenger
Posting a status update about your campaign will help you reach friends and friends of friends on Facebook, but when engaging with close friends and family on Facebook, it is always better to send a short/personal message directly via Facebook Messenger.
According to RadiumOne, 84% of online sharing now takes place through instant messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook messenger and WeChat, this is because messages are both opened and read, typically within the first 3 seconds.
To send a direct message on Facebook on a computer:
Click in the top right of the screen.
Click to start a new message.
Start typing a name into the To field. Names of friends will appear in a dropdown.
Select the person or people you want to message.
Type your message, then press enter or to send.
You can also click Message at the top of someone’s profile to message them.
Facebook Stories
Facebook stories are a great way to create awareness about your campaign, share updates and ensure your campaign maintains momentum.
Stories are typically about 20 seconds long and stay on your profile for only 24 hours, but it is an effective way to encourage Facebook users to engage with your cause and send you direct messages.
To share a story on Facebook:
Click + Add to Story at the top of your News Feed..
Click Photo/Video to add a photo or video from your computer.
Next to Your Story, you can click the audience selector (example: Public or Friends) to choose who can see your story.
Click Post.
Facebook groups
Once you have managed to interact with your close networks via posting status updates, posting stories and sending direct messages via Facebook messenger, it is time to have a look at Facebook groups in your area that are relevant to your cause.
Joining groups with a higher following, will help you reach a wider audience of potential supporters.
By seeing your posts, users will be able to share your campaign, donate via your BackaBuddy link, interact with you via the comments section or directly via Facebook messenger..
This new feature from Facebook is quickly gaining popularity. Now instead of simply sharing a video on Facebook, you can invite friends to watch videos with you in real-time.
This is a great opportunity to engage with potential donors as you are able to comment and interact with your audience.
Don’t forget to include your BackaBuddy campaign link in the comments section for anyone who would like to support your cause.
Facebook Live
According to Vimeo, 78% of online audiences watched a live video on Facebook in 2018.
Live videos are great for sharing quick updates, conducting short interviews or answering questions your audience might have relating to your campaign. Facebook recommends that live videos should be at least 10 minutes long.
Your followers will be notified when you’re broadcasting live on Facebook, so it is a great way to create awareness around your crowdfunding campaign.
Remember to include your BackaBuddy campaign link in the description as your video will still be available to watch after the live stream has ended.
To go live on Facebook:
Click What’s on your mind, [Name]? at the top of your News Feed.
Click then click Live Video.
Write a short description of your campaign and include your BackaBuddy link for donations.
Click Go Live in the bottom left.
We hope you enjoyed our tips for Facebook Marketing! While Facebook is a great tool to use to reach a wider audience, it should not be used in isolation.
Click Below for more tips on how to run a successful crowdfunding campaign on BackaBuddy:
According to BusinessTech, over 3.8 million South Africans use Instagram.
With over 1 Billion users globally, Instagram allows you to reach a wide audience of supporters through sharing beautiful photos, engaging videos and trending hashtags.
In this guide, we will discuss the power of sharing your crowdfunding campaign on Instagram and share practical tips you can use to promote your cause.
Why use Instagram to share your crowdfunding campaign?
Instagram boasts 58 times more engagement per follower than Facebook, According to ecommerceCEO
60% of Instagram users use the platform once a day, according to Sprout Social
Before posting on Instagram, consider these key factors:
Put your crowdfunding campaign link In your bio
Whether you are creating posts, stories or IGTV videos to promote your campaign, it’s important to give your followers a call to action to donate to your campaign.
How to post a link in your Instagram Bio
When posting on Instagram, direct your audience to click on the link in your bio for more information and to make a donation!
When to post on Instagram
According to Hubspot, the best time to post on Instagram is between 2pm-3pm. There is also an increase in engagements on Thursdays 5am, 11am and between 3pm-4pm.
Quintly also states that interactions are 22.29% higher on Saturday and Sunday.
Please note: You can post your campaign on any day, see what works the best for you! We recommend sharing your campaign at least 2/3 times a week across your social media platforms for the best possible result.
Visual content
Photos and videos are the language on Instagram, you will need to upload visual content in order to create a post with a caption.
Photo
Instagram images get on average, 23% more engagement than Facebook images, according to Business of Apps.
Post hi-quality photos that tell your crowdfunding story. Avoid shocking or graphic content, as this might discourage Instagram users engaging with your content.
Video
Video posts get up to 38% more engagements than image posts, according to Mention.
Post short, informative videos on your Instagram timeline to introduce the aim and importance of your crowdfunding campaign and direct users to your campaign link in your bio.
For videos longer than 60 seconds, you will need to upload your video to IGTV (more information below)
Writing your Instagram post caption
Keep your message short and specific
While you have more than 2000 characters at your disposal when writing your post caption, Sprout Social, suggests 138-150 characters will get you the most engagement (shares, likes, comments)
If you want to ensure that your full caption is visible and is not cut off by the “see more” tab, keep your post within 125 characters.
What information should your post include?
To introduce your crowdfunding campaign, make sure you answer the following questions in your post.
Whoare you raising funds for? (name, age, location)
Why are they in need of funds? (what has lead you to crowdfunding?)
What will funds raised be used for? (in a tangible way mention how funds will be used, for example “We are raising funds to purchase 100 pairs of shoes for 50 children”
Where can people make a donation? (Direct your audience to click on the link in your bio to make a donation to support your cause)
#Hashtags
Make use of hashtags to make your post more discoverable – this will allow you to reach more people who are interested in your topic.
Instagram allows users to post 30 hashtags in a single caption, to avoid your post looking like spam, it’s recommended to use no more than 10 relevant hashtags in your post.
Even including one hashtag in your post can increase your engagement by 12.6% according to PR Daily.
Creating a hashtag
To Create a hashtag, simply type # and your keyword in your post caption.
Popular hashtags to use when sharing your crowdfunding campaign
When creating a post, Instagram allows users to mention/tag other users and influencers, their location, organisations and businesses. This will notify other users to view and interact with your post.
Location is key
By tagging your area location in your Instagram post can increase your engagement by 79% according to PR Daily.
Research also shows that crowdfunding campaigns are typically supported locally – be sure to let Instagram users know where you are from!
Not sure what to say? Use this template:
We have created a crowdfunding campaign on @backabuddy to raise funds [to/for]. Funds raised will allow us to [positive impact]. Click on the link in my bio to make a donation. #crowdfunding #backabuddy #donations #fundraising #southafrica
Include:
Other relevant/trending hashtags
Tag your location
Tag Instagram users/organizations that relate to your cause
Post multiple images/videos
By creating a carousel on Instagram, you can post up to 10 images to tell your crowdfunding story and increase engagement.
Make use of these Facebook tools to promote your crowdfunding campaign
Direct Message
Make use of Instagram’s direct message option to reach out to close friends and family, influencers and organisations who might be interested in supporting your cause.
With Instagram Direct, you can send messages, photos and videos to one or more people. Messages won’t appear in Feed, search or your profile.
Instagram Stories
Posting stories is a great way to create awareness about your campaign, share updates and ensure your campaign maintains momentum.
Instagram stories are typically about 15 seconds long and stay on your profile for only 24 hours.
Why post Instagram stories to share your crowdfunding campaign?
According to The Mobile Media Lab, Instagram stories receive 2-3 times more engagement than regular posts.
According to Social Media Today Instagram stories boast over 300 million active daily users.
Before posting a story on Instagram, consider these key factors:
Place your text toward the center and bottom of the screen and keep your message short and clear.
Mention other Instagram users and organizations in your story, to allow your story to be re-posted.
Use 1 or 2 relevant Hashtags on your Instagram story to increase your visibility.
Save your story to your highlight reel, so your campaign updates can be viewed longer than 24 hours.
Share your Instagram story to Facebook
Add your story to your highlights
IGTV
With the introduction of IGTV, Instagram users can post 10 minute long videos and increase their visibility by appearing on the “Explore” tab on the platform.
Need advice for putting together your video? Read Our Guide.
GO Live on Instagram
Instagram now allows users to post 60 minute live videos. Just like Facebook live, your followers will be notified when you’re live and will be able to interact with you in real-time.
Sharing live videos is a great way to introduce your campaign, share campaign updates and milestones, conduct short interviews and provide additional information about your project.
We hope you enjoyed our tips for sharing your crowdfunding campaign on Instagram!
While Instagram is a great tool to use to reach a wider audience, it should not be used in isolation.’
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