Search
Close this search box.

10 Kickstarter Tips from Crowdfunding Experts

three-guys-smiling-by-the-success

Building a Community on Social Media

Building a community on social media is a crucial aspect of running a successful Kickstarter campaign. It helps spread brand awareness and reach a wider audience beyond Kickstarter. By utilizing different social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest, creators can connect with potential backers and engage with their followers.

Spread Brand Awareness on Social Media

Social media platforms provide an opportunity to share your campaign’s message and increase brand awareness. By creating compelling content and sharing it across various channels, you can attract the attention of potential backers who might not have discovered your project on Kickstarter.

Utilize Different Social Media Channels

Each social media channel has its own unique features and audience. By diversifying your presence across multiple platforms, you can reach a wider range of people and cater to different demographics. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest all offer different engagement opportunities and allow you to tailor your content to specific audiences.

Highlight the Importance of Building a Community

Building a community around your Kickstarter campaign is crucial for its success. A strong community of engaged supporters can help spread the word about your project, share it with their networks, and even offer suggestions and feedback. They become advocates for your campaign and help drive its momentum.

Emphasize the Need for Active Engagement with Followers

Active engagement with your social media followers is essential to building a community. Responding to comments, answering questions, and acknowledging suggestions shows that you value your audience’s input. By actively engaging with your followers, you foster a sense of connection and loyalty.

Explain Why Building a Community is Crucial for a Successful Kickstarter Campaign

Building a community is crucial for a successful Kickstarter campaign because it amplifies your reach and increases the chances of meeting your funding goal. A supportive and engaged community can help generate buzz, attract new backers, and create a sense of urgency. Additionally, having an active community can attract the attention of Kickstarter’s algorithms, leading to greater visibility on the platform.

Creating an Engaging Video Pitch

Including a video in a Kickstarter campaign offers several benefits. It helps to create a personal connection with potential backers, allowing them to see the project creator and understand their passion. Videos also tend to generate more funding, with campaigns that include videos raising an average of 114% more money than those without. Therefore, it is highly recommended to include a video in your Kickstarter campaign.

The ideal length for a video pitch is between 2-3 minutes. While shorter videos are generally better, the most important factor is that the video is engaging. Rather than focusing on selling or begging for funds, the emphasis should be on storytelling. The video should explain what the project aims to accomplish, how much funding is needed, what backers can expect to receive, and most importantly, showcase the project creator’s authenticity and passion.

Authenticity is key in creating an engaging video pitch. Backers want to connect with the project creator on a personal level and understand the story behind the project. By showing genuine passion and enthusiasm, the project creator can inspire potential backers to get involved and support the campaign.

Highlighting the significance of the story behind the project is essential. Backers are not only interested in the product or idea itself, but also the story and motivation behind it. By sharing the story, the project creator can create a deeper emotional connection with potential backers, making them more likely to support the campaign.

Building a Crowd, Not Just Funding

Crowdfunding is not just about raising funds, but also about building a crowd of engaged supporters. Before launching a Kickstarter campaign, it is important to focus on audience building. This involves spreading brand awareness and reaching a wider audience beyond Kickstarter.

Explaining the Concept of Crowdfunding as Building a Crowd

Crowdfunding is more than just a funding mechanism. It is about building a community of supporters who believe in your project and are willing to contribute. By understanding this concept, creators can approach crowdfunding as a way to create a loyal fan base and build lasting relationships.

Importance of Audience Building Before Launching a Campaign

Building an audience before launching a Kickstarter campaign is crucial for success. By utilizing social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest, creators can connect with potential backers and engage with their followers. This helps to create brand awareness and generate buzz.

Sharing Personal Experience of Building an Audience Through Social Media

One effective strategy for building an audience is through social media. By consistently sharing updates, behind-the-scenes content, and engaging with followers, creators can create a sense of community and excitement around their project. Personal experiences and authenticity can also help in connecting with potential backers on a deeper level.

Advice on Finding an Audience for a Kickstarter Campaign

Finding an audience for a Kickstarter campaign requires strategic targeting and outreach. Identify individuals or communities that align with your project’s theme or niche. Reach out to bloggers, media outlets, and influencers in your space to help spread the word. Utilize email marketing and create a mailing list to keep potential backers informed about your project’s progress.

Emphasize the Need to Focus on Building a Community

While funding is important, creators should prioritize building a community of engaged supporters. These supporters not only contribute financially but also become advocates for the campaign. By fostering a sense of connection and actively engaging with followers, creators can build a loyal community that extends beyond the duration of the Kickstarter campaign.

Spreading the Word and Gaining Exposure

When running a Kickstarter campaign, spreading the word and gaining exposure is essential for success. Utilizing various mediums for promotion, such as blogs and media outlets, can significantly increase your campaign’s visibility.

Utilizing Various Mediums for Promotion

One effective way to gain exposure is by utilizing various mediums for promotion. Writing guest posts for relevant blogs in your industry can help you reach a wider audience and establish credibility. By providing valuable content instead of spamming, you can attract readers who are genuinely interested in your project.

The Impact of Positive Media Coverage and Blog Mentions

Positive media coverage and blog mentions can have a significant impact on the success of your Kickstarter campaign. When reputable media outlets or influential blogs mention your project, it not only increases your visibility but also creates a sense of credibility and trust among potential backers.

Reaching Out to Influencers in the Industry

Another effective way to spread the word about your campaign is by reaching out to influencers in your industry. These influencers have a strong following and can help increase your campaign’s visibility through their endorsement or promotion. Building relationships with influencers can be mutually beneficial and help you reach a wider audience.

Overall, when attempting to gain exposure for your Kickstarter campaign, it is essential to utilize various mediums for promotion, provide valuable content, and focus on building a community. Positive media coverage, blog mentions, and influencer endorsements can significantly impact the success of your campaign. By implementing these strategies, you can increase your chances of reaching your funding goal and creating a loyal community of backers.

Utilizing Mailing Lists for Success

Building a mailing list is an essential step in running a successful Kickstarter campaign. While social media followers are important, having a mailing list provides a more direct and personal way to connect with potential backers. Here are the key reasons why a mailing list is crucial:

  • Repeat Customers: A mailing list allows you to capture visitor emails and turn them into repeat customers. These customers are already interested in your project and are more likely to support future campaigns or projects.
  • Difference from Social Media: Unlike social media followers, mailing list subscribers have willingly shared their email addresses and have shown a higher level of engagement. This makes them more valuable and more likely to convert into backers.
  • Call-to-Action: Encourage visitors to your website to sign up for your mailing list by providing a compelling call-to-action. This can include exclusive updates, special offers, or early access to future projects.
  • Future Projects: Having a mailing list gives you a built-in audience for future projects. Instead of starting from scratch every time, you can leverage your existing list to generate buzz, attract backers, and increase your chances of success.

By starting a mailing list, you can cultivate a community of engaged supporters who are invested in your projects. This community can help spread the word about your campaign, offer valuable feedback, and contribute to your funding goal. Don’t underestimate the power of a mailing list in building a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Engaging Backers and Building a Tribe

When it comes to running a successful Kickstarter campaign, understanding why people contribute is key. Backers are motivated by personal satisfaction, the desire to be part of a successful project, and the opportunity to receive rewards.

To engage backers, it’s important to actively involve them in the campaign. Encourage them to offer suggestions, share their feedback, and participate in discussions. By valuing their input, you build a sense of community and loyalty.

Planning ahead is crucial for a successful campaign. Start building your audience and spreading brand awareness months in advance. Utilize social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to connect with potential backers and generate buzz.

Engagement with your backers also has a direct impact on ranking algorithms. Platforms like Kickstarter take into account the number of comments and the overall engagement of a campaign. The more active and engaged your backers are, the higher your campaign may rank, increasing its visibility.

Setting Stretch Goals and Pricing

Setting stretch goals is a crucial part of running a successful Kickstarter campaign. Stretch goals are additional funding targets that go beyond the initial campaign goal. By setting stretch goals, creators can make the campaign feel dynamic and exciting, encouraging backers to continue supporting the project.

Stretch goals create a sense of progression and achievement. They give backers something to look forward to and provide an incentive to continue pledging. It’s important to clearly explain the concept of stretch goals to backers, emphasizing the additional features, rewards, or enhancements that will be unlocked when each stretch goal is reached.

One effective way to engage backers and encourage interaction is to invite them to participate in the comment page. Encourage backers to share their thoughts, suggestions, and ideas. This fosters a sense of community and involvement, making backers feel like they are part of something bigger.

Hitting and exceeding the campaign goal is a significant milestone. It demonstrates the project’s viability and market demand. It also creates a sense of urgency and excitement, encouraging potential backers to join in and contribute before the campaign ends.

Pricing the campaign goal and incentives is a critical aspect of a Kickstarter campaign. The goal should be set realistically, taking into consideration the costs of production, manufacturing, fulfillment, and any other associated expenses. It’s important to strike a balance between setting a goal that is achievable and challenging enough to motivate backers.

When pricing incentives, creators should carefully consider the perceived value of each reward. Backers want to feel like they are getting a good deal or receiving something special for their contribution. It’s important to offer a range of rewards at different price points to cater to different backers’ budgets and preferences.

Delivering a Premium Product and Commitment

Delivering a high-quality product is of utmost importance when running a Kickstarter campaign. Backers expect to receive a product that meets or exceeds their expectations, and failure to do so can lead to negative reviews and a loss of trust.

Transparency and commitment are key factors in ensuring the delivery of a premium product. Project creators should communicate openly about the progress of the campaign, any setbacks or delays, and the steps being taken to address them. This level of transparency helps to build trust with backers and shows a commitment to delivering on promises.

When launching a Kickstarter campaign, it’s essential to start with a minimal viable product (MVP). The MVP is the core version of the product that fulfills its basic functions and provides value to backers. By starting with an MVP, project creators can validate their idea, gather feedback, and make improvements based on backer input.

Gaining backers’ trust is crucial for the success of a Kickstarter campaign. Backers need to believe that the creators will deliver on their promises and that their money is being used responsibly. Clear communication, regular updates, and a track record of delivering on past projects can help establish this trust.

Project creators must fully commit to their Kickstarter campaign. This means dedicating the necessary time, resources, and effort to ensure its success. A half-hearted approach can lead to delays, poor-quality products, and a loss of trust from backers.

In conclusion, delivering a high-quality product and demonstrating commitment are essential for running a successful Kickstarter campaign. By emphasizing transparency, starting with an MVP, gaining backers’ trust, and fully committing to the project, creators can increase their chances of meeting their funding goals and building a loyal community of supporters.

Maintaining Regular Communication

When running a Kickstarter campaign, maintaining regular communication with backers is crucial for success. Here are some key points to consider:

Creating a Posting and Communication Schedule

It’s important to create a schedule for posting and communicating with your audience. This will help you stay organized and ensure that you consistently engage with your backers throughout the duration of your campaign. Determine how often you want to communicate (weekly, bi-weekly, etc.) and stick to your schedule.

Discussing the Frequency of Communication with Backers

Consider how often you will communicate with your backers. This will depend on the length of your campaign and the amount of updates you have to share. It’s important to strike a balance between keeping backers informed and not overwhelming them with too many updates.

Highlighting the Types of Content to be Pushed Out

Think about the types of content you will share with your backers. This can include updates on the progress of your project, behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with team members, or exclusive sneak peeks. Variety is key to keeping backers engaged and interested in your campaign.

Encouraging Behind-the-Scenes Updates and Interviews

Backers love to feel involved and connected to the project. By providing behind-the-scenes updates and interviews, you give them an inside look into your creative process and make them feel like part of the journey. This can foster a sense of excitement and loyalty among your backers.

Emphasizing the Importance of a Call-to-Action in Every Communication

Every communication with your backers should include a call-to-action. This can be asking them to share your campaign on social media, encourage others to back your project, or provide feedback and suggestions. Including a call-to-action helps to drive engagement and encourages backers to take action.