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How much is too much? The effects of information quantity on crowdfunding performance

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  • Naomi Moy
  • Ho Fai Chan
  • Benno Torgler

Abstract

We explore the effects of the quantity of information on the tendency to contribute to crowdfunding campaigns. Using the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, we analyze the campaign descriptions and the performance of over 70,000 projects. We look empirically at the effect of information quantity (word count) on funding success (as measure by amount raised and number of backers). Within this empirical approach, we test whether an excessive amount of information will affect funding success. To do so, we test for the non-linearity (quadratic) effect of our independent variable (word count) using regression analysis. Consistent with the hypothesis that excess information will negatively affect funds raised and number of contributors, we observe a consistent U-shaped relationship between campaign text length and overall success which suggest that an optimal number of words exists within crowdfunding texts and that going over this point will reduce a project’s chance of fundraising success.

Suggested Citation

  • Naomi Moy & Ho Fai Chan & Benno Torgler, 2018. "How much is too much? The effects of information quantity on crowdfunding performance," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(3), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0192012
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0192012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kolbe, Maura & Mansouri, Sasan & Momtaz, Paul P., 2022. "Why do video pitches matter in crowdfunding?," Journal of Economics and Business, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    2. Xiang Yuan & Luyao Wang & Xicheng Yin & Hongwei Wang, 2021. "How text sentiment moderates the impact of motivational cues on crowdfunding campaigns," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 7(1), pages 1-26, December.
    3. Meg Elkins & Tim R. L. Fry, 2022. "Beyond the realm of cash: street performers and payments in the online world," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 46(2), pages 231-248, June.
    4. Moy, Naomi & Chan, Ho Fai & Septianto, Felix & Mathmann, Frank & Torgler, Benno, 2024. "Confidence is Good? too Much, not so Much: Exploring the effects on crowdfunding success," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    5. Chan, Ho Fai & Moy, Naomi & Schaffner, Markus & Torgler, Benno, 2021. "The effects of money saliency and sustainability orientation on reward based crowdfunding success," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 443-455.
    6. Xiaobei Liang & Xiaojuan Hu & Jiang Jiang, 2020. "Research on the Effects of Information Description on Crowdfunding Success within a Sustainable Economy—The Perspective of Information Communication," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-36, January.
    7. Naomi Moy & Ho Fai Chan & Frank Mathmann & Markus Schaffner & Benno Torgler, 2021. "Confidence is good; too much, not so much: Exploring the effects on reward-based crowdfunding success," CREMA Working Paper Series 2021-18, Center for Research in Economics, Management and the Arts (CREMA).
    8. Moradi, Masoud & Badrinarayanan, Vishag, 2021. "The effects of brand prominence and narrative features on crowdfunding success for entrepreneurial aftermarket enterprises," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 286-298.
    9. Sven Siebeneicher & Ilker Yenice & Carolin Bock, 2022. "Financial-Return Crowdfunding for Energy and Sustainability in the German-Speaking Realm," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-23, September.
    10. Oo, Pyayt P. & Creek, Steven A. & Sheppard, Leah D., 2022. "Perceived warmth and competence in crowdfunding: Which matters more and for whom?," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 17(C).
    11. Li, Baoku & Nan, Yafeng & Yao, Ruoxi, 2024. "The inverted U-shaped relationship between information entropy of keyword combinations and sales of digital products: Evidence from China Tmall," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    12. Uwe Dulleck, 2019. "Financial Decisions and Financial Regulation: Three Concepts of Performance Based Regulation," CESifo Working Paper Series 8006, CESifo.

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