ICO / STO / IEO Marketing Guide and Services
ICO / STO / IEO Marketing Services – raise funds:
Our scope of services is tailored to each client’s needs and may include:
-
PR -
Digital Assets -
Creative -
Media -
Bounty Program -
Data harvesting -
Analytics -
Branding
Post ICO / STO / IEO Marketing - support for your token:
-
Media -
Email marketing -
Creative -
PR -
Investor relations strategy
Challenges Facing ICO / STO / IEO Marketing Strategies
Successful Initial Coin Offering (ICO), Security Token Offering (STO), and Initial Exchange Offering (IEO) marketing campaigns rely on fusing conventional marketing and PR. To be effective, the ICO / STO / IEO marketing campaign needs to put forth a fully harmonized and collaborative effort. This includes social media blasts, innovative leadership, intensive research, and a high degree of credibility. Armed with the requisite knowledge, an ICO / STO / IEO marketing campaign can be an instant hit. It is important to choose an ICO / STO / IEO manager that knows which crypto community events you should attend in order to network with the right people. Excellent ICO / STO / IEO marketing managers will also have the connections to get you into these events at a reduced cost.
From a cursory perspective, there are four tenets of successful ICO / STO / IEO marketing campaigns:
-
Outreach Initiatives through the cryptocurrency community, PRs, social media and conventional press -
The Strength of Media Channels plays a big part in optimizing the ICO / STO / IEO marketing strategy. -
Generating Quality Content is an essential task that must appear on every ICO / STO / IEO marketing checklist. The competitive nature of ICOs, STOs, and IEOs requires more than simple white papers and glorified content formats – it’s all about compelling content that generates enthusiasm within the community. -
Strategy-Based Research entails differentiating between demographics and target markets, and understanding the core strengths of the cryptocurrency community, as well as the ICO / STO / IEO marketing team.
What ICO / STO / IEO Resources Are Valuable to Your Marketing Campaign?
Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), Security Token Offerings (STOs), and Initial Exchange Offerings (IEOs) are the hottest fundraising and investment option on the market right now. This token-based business model is facilitated through the blockchain technology. Multiple businesses, cryptocurrency websites, and token offerings are making their way to market. ICO / STO / IEO marketing experts are quickly learning how to separate the crème de la crème from the crème de la phlegm. ICO / STO / IEO marketing strategists can learn a lot about the cryptocurrency market by consulting with leading digital currency websites such as Cointelligence, the Bitcointalk forum, CoinSchedule, ICO / STO /IEO lists, ICO Tracker, Week in Ethereum, Newbium, Token Market, Token Investor, and Smith + Crown.
How Are ICOs, STOs, and IEOs Raising Money in Markets?
Initial Coin Offerings, Security Token Offerings, and Initial Exchange Offerings (aka ICOs, STOs, and IEOs) all rely on tokens, not cash. There is a fundamental difference between the two from an investment perspective. If an investor buys into a start-up for a set amount and then the company generates additional equity through multiple rounds of funding, the investor’s stake in the company is diluted. With tokens, the investor can exit at any time. The tokens offered by cryptocurrency companies are just that – their product – not shares in their company. This product has a tangible resale value. Tokens are not expressly designed for raising funds. Many companies can leverage cryptocurrency blockchains, such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Dash, to facilitate rapid delivery of wages and salaries across borders. This increased momentum in P2P (peer to peer) platforms can incentivize company employees to build a community.
Marketing professionals are using blockchains in ways never thought possible. It is difficult to define the blockchain technology. Suffice it to say, it is blocks of data that are pieced together on a public (decentralized) ledger running on a peer to peer network. This network safeguards the data and authenticates it. Marketers are using this technology for multiple purposes. Today, many consumers and marketers associate the blockchain technology with Bitcoin. While the two are indivisible, the blockchain has innumerable applications on the World Wide Web. For marketing professionals, the blockchain technology can be used to ensure the following:
- Minimizing fraud and maximizing cyber security.
- Full authentication and control mechanisms over contracts.
- Transparency in how data is utilized for marketing purposes
- Verification of advertising performance, delivery and engagement.
- Storage of digital assets as a feasible alternative to cloud-based storage.
- Security protocols with respect to agencies and employees, as well as client data.
- Verification of sponsored contests and awards shows by ensuring that voters meet eligibility criteria.
- Payment of all stakeholders involved in the performance, creation or delivery of an advertisement.
- Payments and rewards for consumers vis-à-vis content creation (uploads), contributions etc.
For marketing professionals, the blockchain technology can be used to ensure the following:
- Minimizing fraud and maximizing cyber security.
- Full authentication and control mechanisms over contracts.
- Transparency in how data is utilized for marketing purposes
- Verification of advertising performance, delivery and engagement.
- Storage of digital assets as a feasible alternative to cloud-based storage.
- Security protocols with respect to agencies and employees, as well as client data.
- Verification of sponsored contests and awards shows by ensuring that voters meet eligibility criteria.
- Payment of all stakeholders involved in the performance, creation or delivery of an advertisement.
- Payments and rewards for consumers vis-à-vis content creation (uploads), contributions etc.
Marketing ICOs, STOs, and IEOs – A Comprehensive Guide to Success
Initial Coin Offerings have picked up where IPOs dropped off. Everybody understands that digital currency, and the blockchain technology that makes it all possible, is the way of the future. People around the world are rushing to add investments in cryptocurrency to their financial portfolios. Consider that in Q2 2017, some $210 million was raised via ICO, versus $180 million raised for blockchain companies through venture capital funding. The success of an Initial Coin Offering launch hinges upon the quality of the preparation that goes into the marketing campaign. Different standards are required when marketing traditional startups and Initial Coin Offerings, or their cousins, Security Token Offerings and Initial Exchange Offerings.
For starters, time is a critical component of a successful ICO / STO / IEO marketing campaign. Plenty of lead time should be worked into the marketing campaign timeline. All the while, business operations should be allowed to run smoothly. ICO / STO / IEO marketing consultants recommend at least 30 to 90 days of lead time to create a robust, dynamic, and effective ICO / STO / IEO marketing campaign. The duration of the ICO / STO / IEO campaign is another point worthy of consideration. For the most part, the most important time frames in the ICO / STO / IEO model are the first 24 hours and the last 24 hours. The rapidly changing financial markets focus almost exclusively on these periods. The reason being that there are so many ICO launches that it’s nearly impossible to pay attention to all of them, and while there are currently less STOs and IEOs than ICOs, they still all have to compete against each other for investor attention.
The ICO / STO / IEO marketing campaign should also focus on media channels, such as blogs, forums, cryptocurrency websites, and niche communities. The efficacy of an ICO / STO / IEO marketing campaign will be boosted or hamstrung by the choice of forum that is used. Qualitative audiences use specialized platforms to satiate their investment needs. These include ranking cryptocurrency websites, such as Bitcointalk and CryptocurrencyTALK. Highly interactive communities allow for robust debate on the strengths and weaknesses of new blockchain technologies and token offerings. Once news of an imminent ICO, STO, or IEO breaks through to these ranking platforms, cryptocurrency traders and aficionados will start talking. Reviews will be generated, and valuable traffic to the blockchain website will start flowing.
It is important to choose an ICO / STO / IEO marketing agency that has strong working relationships with the right translators in order to help you reach your target audience. It is imperative to reach your target audience in their native language, and that all material written in another language be a high-quality translation. With the right marketing agency, you will have access to the translation services needed to launch your Initial Coin Offering, Security Token Offering, or Initial Exchange Offering in the market that you choose.
PPC Campaigns
When a PPC campaign is introduced, it is another way to raise awareness for your ICO / STO / IEO and bring a larger audience to your token’s website. A PPC campaign launched on the right targeted websites can lead to more support and investment, which can be helpful both for the initial phases and the progression of the coin. However, you need to choose the targeted websites carefully. Keep in mind that Facebook, Twitter, and even Google, are currently not approving PPC campaigns for the crypto industry. This should not deter you, though, as there are many other platforms that can be used.
It is key that your marketing strategy does not lapse after the initial sales. While that first phase is important, there is no currency that can survive if it is still not known after the first few months. While you might be tempted to limit the funding and only support the PPC during the ICO / STO / IEO, the lack of recognition after that period could lead to a drop in investment and a drop in value.
By working with a marketing company that has put together successful PPC campaigns before, you will see more success before you even reach the date of your ICO, STO, or IEO. PPC campaigns, when done well, are great for generating leads with individuals such as ICO / STO investors. The more publicity your currency gets before it reaches its ICO / STO / IEO, the more likely the ICO / STO / IEO will be successful.
Top-Tier Cryptocurrency Platforms
Many companies have had remarkable results by using platforms like Bitcointalk. Lampix is a case in point. Their announcement was posted on July 25th 2017, and the token crowd sale began on August 9th. The exposé on Bitcointalk featured a wealth of data on the company, such as how it impacts the ecosystem, its communication channels on social media platforms, technology specifications, the Lampix token, team members and the like. Early adopters of ICO / STO / IEO technology are but one component of the greater blockchain macrocosm. Others include general investors, business journalists, and financiers. To generate the publicity to reach this global audience, the following marketing media can be utilized:
- Conferences and meetups
- Pictures, videos, and podcasts that can go viral
- Comprehensive interviews, press releases, Q&A, and the like
- Social media channels, such as YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter
- YouTube videos with commentary from the CEOs, directors, and company management
- Chat applications, especially Telegram and Discord
Ready to go public? Send us a message to learn more about how
Online Performance can provide you with the right ICO / STO / IEO marketing guidance.
How Connected Are You?
Companies that have connections to journalists and reporters may find it much easier to generate traditional PR in the press. There are paid press release services which can also provide data and analytics of the people who read the content. Marketing consultants can make a convincing case to journalists by telling them why the ICO / STO / IEO is important, and provide reasons why the story should be reported. The technology is largely uniform across the digital currency industry, but the back story of the company, the trials and tribulations, or the expectations of the founders are typically newsworthy.
An SEO company can provide that support. By promoting the right keywords and producing both internal content, such as blog articles, and external articles for other sites, your token will gain exposure more quickly and in more relevant places.
For a successful SEO campaign, whether for a token or for anything else, content is king. The more places your token is mentioned, the better. With a surefire strategy combining multiple campaigns for promotion, including both SEO and PPC, the more knowledge the public will have of your token before your ICO / STO / IEO. Publicity is critical, and therefore working with a company that understands how to best promote your token is critical, as well.
The ICO / STO / IEO launch should be neatly tied in with the PR campaign to ensure that maximum traction is gained from a well-timed, coordinated marketing effort. Of course, many other factors need to be taken into consideration, such as budgetary constraints, free versus paid press coverage, and the level of clout that the ICO / STO / IEO marketing agency has with the media. If the journalist’s point of view is such that the ICO / STO / IEO is worth covering, this is an added bonus for the start-up.
Videos and Influencer Marketing Initiatives
YouTube videos are effective multimedia options for promoting ICOs, STOs, and IEOs. Third-party videos have greater credibility with investors than videos created by the start-up. The Blockchain Investors Community is a valuable resource to consider. Sometimes, it may be beneficial to incentivize customers/investors with tokens as a reward for promotional activities. Things like bounty campaigns for blog posts, subscriptions, avatar campaigns, and the like can be effective.
The more coverage you can generate through bounty campaigns, the further you cast your net into the community of potential investors. Many companies believe that a viral campaign is the best way to generate the publicity they seek. However, users must have a reason to share articles, guides, PRs, videos and the like. A company with a unique idea that is beneficial to the end-user has a natural advantage over a generic company with an ICO / STO / IEO launch. By encouraging active registration, and downloads of pertinent information, the investment community can be prepared for the crowdsale.
Influencer marketing plays a big part in promoting the ICO / STO / IEO launch. The cryptocurrency community is a niche group of well-connected individuals. By building successful relationships within this community, it is possible to determine where maximum engagement is possible. Paid advertisements may be one channel worth considering on high-powered social media platforms like LinkedIn, or Facebook. However, careful planning and preparation is needed to determine which social media campaigns will best serve the marketing purposes of the ICO / STO / IEO. Google Analytics is a great tool to use to determine organic traffic flow and paid advertising. By having hard data at your fingertips, you can quickly shift resources where they will be most effective in promoting token sales.
The Final Word
Community marketing is equally important. It should be determined whether commercial marketing is permitted within the community before posting. The last thing that an ICO / STO / IEO launch can handle is being banned on platforms for commercial marketing purposes, as community influencers can provide important information.
While the aforementioned activities are taking place, it’s important to participate in professional events and conferences where industry leaders, delegates, and investors can learn about your company’s blockchain technology.
The costs and benefits of participating in events must be weighed to determine whether they are worthwhile. These marketing channels, strategies, and resources should be combined in a synergistic way with precisely the right balance of resources allocated to each. Professional agencies can assist with ICO / STO / IEO marketing and generate much better returns, publicity, and strategic success for the company.
Cryptocurrencies are so common right now that it’s important to work with a company that understands the importance of carrying out the best SEO and PPC campaigns for your token. The industry is currently in the middle of a mass rat race, via which everyone is hoping to get in on the action. To succeed, you need a way to make your company and your token stand out.
Online Performance’s experience with ICOs, STOs, IEOs, SEO, and PPC campaigns means that your token will get the attention it deserves and will continue to get the support it needs following the initial phases. As a trusted provider of these services, Online Performance has a reliable team of SEO and PPC experts who know how to amplify and specify their services for your needs.