If the project is not very popular, then you need to conduct IEO on exchanges with a good reputation ( Binance, BitMax, Cucoin) this will greatly increase the chances to raise the hard cap.
it will be a big support from the exchange community. but to list IEO in large exchanges such as binance is not easy, especially for projects that you say are lacking in promotion.
Binance is the best place to do an IEO but any top exchange in the market that does IEO in their platform is ok, I'm sure they have stringent criteria for projects to hold IEO many small exchanges are doing it now like IDAX and Bitforex so expect many more to follow.