You will get spammed by self-proclaimed “Kickstarter marketing experts”. A word of warning to those starting a Kickstarter campaign. It’s the bridge between your product and your potential backers. …but make sure that you can still finish your project. } Don’t get greedy and here’s why: Big-budget projects with a huge goal set by a creator merely trying to turn a profit are rarely as successful as creators with a modest goal and a great idea, because the backers in the first example are gambling on whether or not the goal will be met. bottom: 0px; display: flex; While we highly recommend straightforward product-centric rewards, you can offer multiple units of your product or even an experience reward where backers can have a unique interaction with you or your product. Since you’re already committing to the time and effort to run a Kickstarter campaign, you may as well lay as much groundwork as possible so you can capitalize on every opportunity your crowdfunding period may have in store! Create a high-level structure of the page. The Sparkboard’s campaign is already 95% funded! } } If it’s your first campaign, I … Pick Great Rewards. Can your product give them the confidence to set bigger goals and share their vision with the company (generating a deeper satisfaction in their working life)? height: auto; To prepare for the worst, that’s where the 20-30% rule comes in. Switch to InDemand. border-bottom: 10px solid #f68e20; Prepare for long hours. Consider the angle the journalist(s) used when sharing the product with their readers. It’s an all or nothing situation – if you don’t reach your target you don’t get a penny. Come out and ask for people's support, explaining why you need it and what you'll do with their money. Most of these people are not experts, as a read through the Kickstarter … Adding these “SWAG” rewards also pushes your main offerings (aka your product) further down the page. border-radius: 0px 10px 0px 0px; 6. So, you’re thinking of launching a Kickstarter campaign. 1. Establish your project’s timeline. } flex-flow: column wrap; While this may help some projects, it won’t rocket your project to huge success. Will delaying improve your chances of successfully raising money? Check out our case studies and learn more about how we’ve achieved stellar results for our clients. If you’ve spent any time on Kickstarter, you know that a stretch goal is basically an informal second funding goal at which the creator will add new accessories, colors, features, et cetera. Facebook Ads are great for getting the word out, driving traffic to your page and building your fanbase on Facebook. Determine how your product adds value to their life. The average amount a Film project raises on Kickstarter hovers around $12,000, with the average short film raising $5,600. It’s imperative to establish your project's timeline because that will … .blogcard:hover h3.blogtitle { Repeatedly remind them to visit your Kickstarter page the day your campaign launches, offer early rewards. Shoot for 2-6 months of prep... 2. Thanks to the magic of cinematography and the incredibly talented filmmaker, Dan Jones, I now have this video that perfectly encapsulates the product and the message for my own campaign. width: 100%; All Rights Reserved. Find someone who … Kickstarter markets itself as a place for artists and creatives to come together and make great things, but the biggest Kickstarter campaigns typically fall in the Games, design and technology categories. Take time to shoot a great a video. Create several bite-sized visuals to share with friends, family and your extended network so they can simply turn around and share the excitement with others with little to no fuss. What many people fail to realize (and dooms so many campaigns) is the importance of … Jump to the table of contents Your Kickstarter campaign page is your business card. A call to action at the end to back the campaign also tells backers what to do after they watch the video. This has become increasingly important over the years as Kickstarter continues to adapt to the ebb-and-flow of the crowdfunding sensation. Lock Down Your Logistics ASAP. Price your rewards correctly. Dollars-to-donuts, good PR outweighs good social media for financial impact – especially if you don’t have a large following on social media. For instance, in the case of Fuell, we start… You may be hesitant to commit another 2-6 months of preparation to your Kickstarter, but the truth is the more thought and attention you give your Kickstarter “pre-launch” the more likely your chances are for a successful campaign. Once the goal is met in the modest example, the project becomes guaranteed to be made, which will draw an additional audience of backers that were waiting for just that guarantee. This is the simplest explanation I’ve been able to come up with to verbally explain my product. It will typically perform better as an upsell than if you had added it initially, as you have a captive audience to market it to using Kickstarter updates. Have you decided to raise funding and/or pre-sell your product on Kickstarter? People will decide within the … It’s a customizable, framed cork board or magnetic whiteboard that comes with a piece of art to cover the cork or whiteboard workspace when they’re not in use…a mouthful, I know! Copyright © Enventys Partners. transform: scale(1.05); You can find all the detail in his article: Hacking Kickstarter: How to Raise $100,000 in 10 Days. Social proof is an important part of any product launch, especially if you have … But if you have the time to use additional avenues, take part in online conversations in LinkedIn Groups, on Quora, private Facebook groups, and in forums for your niche as well as for crowdfunding. Using Facebook Ads to generate leads. Press outlets, Facebook and Twitter are great Kickstarter marketing basics. Kickstarter uses an all-or-nothing funding model, meaning you have to hit your funding goal by the end of your campaign … But, I also know that you’ll … It requires only your name, email, and password and takes about 30 seconds to set up. There are basically two ways to use social media to help with your campaign. Reaching out to bloggers and journalists to get press for your project. Make sure they knows this. p.blogcat { max-height:300px; Find someone who has done what you’re trying to do and learn from them. Give them examples of how this is possible. …or crowdfunding in general. Kickstarter may seem … Using influencer marketing to connect with new audiences. The founders need to be the face of the campaign: They … Draft the Kickstarter campaign page. text-decoration: underline; p.blogdate { Read on for more information about what to do when your Kickstarter or Indiegogo campaign ends. In fact, I wish I’d given myself more time to really dive into each one. From designing, to … Tell people in an update that you’re maintaining a Facebook Page and that they can follow you there for exclusive updates on your project. Press coverage has been harder to secure for crowdfunding campaigns due to the uncertainty of fulfillment. I was asked this question as part of … Trust me, I get it, but I want you to consider that properly preparing ahead of your Kickstarter launch could mean the difference between a successfully funded campaign…or one that fails. } That’s changed over the years. There’s no guarantee they’ll cover it, but then again, you may be surprised. } When their campaign ended, they’d raised $201,199. …or crowdfunding in general. There is a reason every Kickstarter how-to notes the necessity of … There is a reason why success and brand development are closely linked. But, how long should you prepare for the launch? If you’re running a Kickstarter campaign, it’s important to market your idea so it gets the maximum number of backers. flex-grow:2; Get crystal clear on your target market. Prepare a page for your campaign A web page for your campaign is a key point of contact with customers. Mike Del Ponte, founder of Soma Water, goes into painstaking detail about how they researched and connected with the right media outlets and bloggers going into their Kickstarter campaign. If you’ve been at this a while, you’re probably dying to get your vision out into the world and get feedback from your target market or even start taking pre-orders. Make sure your idea is a good fit for Kickstarter. Instant Startup 3 Surefire Ways to Prepare a Successful Kickstarter Campaign Here are three preparation hacks before your Kickstarter campaign starts to guarantee a successful campaign. img.blogicon { font-family: Montserrat; text-transform: uppercase; margin: 30px; “Kickstarter is a marathon, not a sprint” - Someone, sometime, probably said this. padding:10px 0px; There’s an art to creating a Kickstarter campaign that both drums up … display: flex; h3.blogtitle { position: absolute; in font-weight:700; font-family: 'Norwester',Helvetica,Arial,Lucida,sans-serif; Therefore, we launched on Wednesday, August 19th at 11am and ended Tuesday, September 22nd at 10 pm. Seek out a mentorship with them, take one of their classes or simply study their tactics and utilize what feels relevant for your project. transition: transform .8s ease-in-out; Talk about how awesome your rewards are, using any images you can. .blogcat a { It’s a good idea to prepare press samples for those outlets interested in your product. When someone fitting this description comes across your campaign, it will resonate in a more meaningful way. Alternatively, you can engage your new community of backers by asking them what they’d like to see. } padding: 10px 0px; Pinpoint the right bloggers and prime your personal network. But if you’re already in the middle of your campaign… To help protect creators and backers, Kickstarter has a number of rules prior to launching a campaign and holds project creators responsible for communicating important milestones, especially potential delays, to their backers. Remember: people come to Kickstarter to be a part of something great from the very beginning and get something cool in return. That being said, the time and effort I did manage to put forth leading up to my launch has already paid off immensely and continues to help me navigate the unknown waters each day of this campaign. transition: text-decoration 1s ease-in-out; Nowadays, you can print almost…, Q1 :  So you went from being a brand to now owning a factory, tell us about that transition. Many projects may offer lower-level rewards with novelty items such as stickers, t-shirts, hats and other SWAG. Getting a significant … flex-flow: row wrap; 4. Check it out on Kickstarter! Look at the outlets they were covered in. Give yourself enough time to develop and begin implementing your Kickstarter strategy. Management of the campaign from day 1 to the last day #1, 2, and 3 you obviously need to take care of before launch. font-size: 16px; If you have an accessory that you can easily add, think about offering it mid-campaign as an upsell for your existing backers. My introduction into the fashion industry was through LEOPARDËT, the clothing brand that I started…, 5 Key Positions to Fill That Will Save You Money in the Long Run, Lessons Learned from a Fashion Designer Turned Apparel Manufacturer, “Shoot for 2-6 months of prep time before launching your @Kickstarter campaign.” @Thesparkboard via @Makersrow, “Having a clear picture of your ideal customer and how your product fulfills their desires will help your @Kickstarter campaign.” @Makersrow, “Determining how your product adds value to a customer’s life is incredibly impactful for your @Kickstarter.” @Thesparkboard via @Makersrow, “Your product photos & @Kickstarter video should educate potential backers about your product & hook them on an emotional level.” @Makersrow, 5 Tips for Launching Your Product Through Kickstarter, Need $15,000 For Your Brand: Try These 11 Tips. Note that there is no single formula for this: each product dictates its own logic. Show them how.Will the quality of your product allow him/her to save money in the long run because it won’t fall apart after the fourth time he/she wears it? I cannot overstate the value of having visual representations of your product. 3. In order to use Kickstarter, you must create a simple account. Every little bit helps, so leave no stone unturned. What’s his/her name, age, occupation, relationship status, favorite blog, book, tv show, website, or hobby? Knowing your ideal customer is critical to your success. Tell a compelling story. I think it’s a brilliant move. /* ----------------------------------------- */, Post-Crowdfunding Google/Bing Advertising, how to use social media to help your Kickstarter campaign. Prepare for a Pre-Launch (AKA Soft Launch) Firstly you should be reaching out to friends, family, co-workers, acquaintances etc., basically anyone you think would be supportive of your pre … Figuring out what desires your product can fulfill and crafting your message to demonstrate this will be a total game changer. padding: 10px; .imgcontainer { Be the driving force behind your project. Determining how your product adds value to a customer’s life or satisfies a personal desire is incredibly impactful for your Kickstarter: Does your product streamline their workday giving them extra time to spend with family and friends? It’s important to offer enticing rewards for backers as a “thank you” for their support. Your backers already love your product so their ideas may be worth considering. Taking a product from concept to production can be a long and arduous process. We wanted to launch and end during a time when people are online most, which is typically during the week rather than a weekend. Shoot for 2-6 months of prep time before you launch the campaign. Investing in a great video is an absolute must! Whether you need an all-encompassing strategy or assistance with a single service, we provide value for your new product launch. /* ----------------------------------------- */ Research campaigns in the same space and look at what their key differentiators are. There is a multitude of factors to consider before, during and after your crowdfunding campaign. Having a clear picture of your ideal customer and how your product fulfills one or more of their desires gives you a compass to navigate the decisions you’ll be making about your Kickstarter (e.g., copy,  images, video and rewards). color:#f68e20; font-size:14px; position:relative; There is a lot of advice on how to prepare for a successful crowdfunding campaign, but there isn’t a lot of information about how to keep your campaign prep organized. In the name of transparency, I want you to know that I have not done all of these steps perfectly. With the thousands of campaigns we’ve marketed for and followed, 20-30% seems to be a pretty solid number. letter-spacing: 1.5px; Here are some of our top tips for marketing a crowdfunding campaign. ‍Total campaign … We offer crowdfunding, product development and digital marketing services, all under one roof. He also explains how they segmented their personal networks and empowered people to become ambassadors for their brand. When you’re doing your initial research and development, think of your “phase 2” ahead of time and plan to release this as a stretch goal if your campaign takes off. Social media is a fantastic tool, and we’ve written about how to use social media to help your Kickstarter campaign before. However, it is not a silver bullet. When you create content from here on out bring, this person to mind and write as if you are speaking to them! Do market research, figure out your ideal margin and set a price. People don’t necessarily give to your project just to get the reward, but having … .blogcard:hover .imgcontainer .blogimg { Carefully plan the initial order of your page sections. From development to planning to promotion to fulfillment, it will be one of the busiest periods in your product’s lifecycle. Over the last two years I’ve been developing a furniture piece called The Sparkbaord. Do some research, thoughtfully choose a few top tier outlets to pitch and offer them a sample to test out for themselves. Quick tip: Ideally, an Indiegogo and Kickstarter creators would have a decent email list before they launch. Consider creating an imaginary bio for your ideal customer. } Consider a few different funding goals: a minimum goal to produce (on the campaign page), an aspirational goal that would be nice to hit, and a maximum goal where you can no longer handle the pre-order volume. by Tina Hofer on April 8th, 2015 Your product photos and Kickstarter video should educate potential backers about your product and hook them on a personal and emotional level. Give yourself enough time to develop and begin implementing your Kickstarter strategy Explain that if you … We also suggest adding on-screen callouts throughout the video to highlight key features should someone watch the video without sound. But if you leave it that, you’ll be represented by an … Create beautiful visuals that display your product and share your mission. You need to have a version … Sharing your project on Kickstarter is an excellent way to create brand awareness, test the market, and begin building a community who appreciates your products and your mission. Crowdfunding, Ecommerce, Post Crowdfunding Marketing, Crowdfunding, Ecommerce, Product Development. That’s because…, 3D printing is also known as additive manufacturing (AM), as a reference to making three-dimensional objects, with multiple layers being laid upon each other. min-width: 250px; Let your product take the spotlight and keep it under three minutes. If so, click that tab and look to see what missing elements Kickstarter … Kickstarter Checklist. Next Steps After a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign. 5. We’ve worked with a wide variety of projects in every category and have the experience to help you succeed. overflow: hidden !important; How to double-check your Kickstarter campaign uploads. A) If you have a huge following going into the campaign, or you built up a good following by running targeted Facebook Ads, leverage these numbers to announce the campaign milestones and get your audience to share interesting and engaging posts about your project with their friends. .blogimg { /* ----------------------------------------- */ Kickstarter Marketing Tips #8: Hire the Right Marketing Company. li.blogcard { Amazing. Bottom line: read Kickstarter’s guidelines carefully, and read them again before you submit your project for review. Each Kickstarter campaign has a funding goal that’s set in stone. I’m an idea guy. B) If you’re starting from scratch, you’ll need to build a fanbase by driving people to your social media channels from your Kickstarter project. When you look at the average amount raised per successful project in each category, you can begin to see that well-designed products raise more money and attract more attention than the multitude of people rushing to Kickstarter to raise money for intangibles. Having these numbers in mind before launching your big idea will help you determine a reasonable and transparent funding goal. background-color: #f68e20; 2. The best videos introduce the product within the first 30 seconds of the video and immediately dives into why backers need it. How to Prepare for a Successful Kickstarter Campaign 1. Before you move to the Kickstarter Review tab, be sure to check the following: Take a moment to look at the seven tabs: Are any of them red or do they indicate an X? Tip #48. Visual content performs light years ahead of plain text on most social media platforms, so aim to create images that encapsulate your brand identity and demonstrate your product’s functionality! I’m a big picture thinker. Do your research beforehand on sites like Kicktraq or BiggerCake to see if other people in your niche have had success on any of the big crowdfunding sites. So set your … /* Content Template: loop-item-in-related-posts-loop-by-category - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ Business, Made In America, Marketing, Uncategorized. It demonstrates exactly how my product works, draws you in with beautiful visuals and shares an inspiring message. If you need help with your Kickstarter marketing initiatives, reach out to Enventys Partners. Public relations used to be a key component of any successful Kickstarter campaign. If you have to pick something to focus on, focus on your PR efforts. You will utilize these throughout your campaign to quickly capture peoples attention and convey your idea. Find your online allies. Use the areas Kickstarter has given to you to create additional calls to action – add “back now” buttons throughout your page and include social sharing links at the bottom of your project. We typically advise against adding these but it may be appropriate for some campaigns. /* Content Template: loop-item-in-related-posts-loop-by-category - start */ .blogloop { flex-basis: calc(33% - 60px); The steps described below will help you effectively organize the information on your page to ensure the high conversion rate of your product. Finding your target audience. This is unavoidable when you get really close to a campaign, so embrace it. Successful crowdfunding campaigns usually end with a lot of momentum, and you’ll want continue offering pre-sales once the campaign … Creating a compelling Kickstarter … Kickstarter may seem like a great place to make a quick buck, but not all ideas are cut out for crowdfunding. } Consider its launch as serious as possible and involve professionals where you don’t feel … } However, before you even get started with your project, you should plan ahead. How to start a wave of support for your Kickstarter campaign The first 48 hours of a campaign can give creators the early push they need to reach their funding goal. Additionally, Google Ads is a way to remarket to people who’ve been to your page or to people who’ve seen you elsewhere and are searching for your product/brand. } 7 Tips For a Successful Kickstarter Campaign: Are you considering a Kickstarter campaign for your next venture? Raising money t rocket your project ’ s guidelines carefully, and password takes... Periods in your product s the bridge between your product on Kickstarter …! To raise funding and/or pre-sell your product the 20-30 % seems to be pretty. Offerings ( aka your product adds value to their life think about offering it mid-campaign as an upsell for new. Not done all of these steps perfectly people come to Kickstarter to be a key of... Backers as a “ thank you ” for their support have you decided to raise funding and/or your... And learn from them for getting the word out, driving traffic to your project to huge success order. Quickly capture peoples attention and convey your idea is a reason why success and brand development are closely.!, focus on your PR efforts and digital marketing services, all under one roof ideal..: Hacking Kickstarter: how to use social media to help your strategy! Out your ideal how to prepare for a kickstarter campaign and set a price – if you are speaking to them will spammed! Adds value to their life reaching out to Enventys Partners like a great video is an part! Adding on-screen callouts throughout the video to highlight key features should someone watch the.... Are basically two ways to use social media to help your Kickstarter strategy Shoot for 2-6 of... Sharing the product with their readers … make sure that you can find all the detail in his article Hacking! How awesome your rewards are, Using any images you can easily add, think about it. Funding and/or pre-sell your product no guarantee they ’ d given myself more time really. Research campaigns in the name of transparency, I want you to know that have. Part of something great from the very beginning and get something cool in return idea to press! You don ’ t reach your target audience s no guarantee they ’ d given myself more to! You ” for their support on-screen callouts throughout the video without sound of great! T get a penny here on out bring, this person to mind and write as if you to! Exactly how my product works, draws you in with beautiful visuals that display your product ) further the... Results for our clients, Using any images you can still finish your project 's timeline because that will make. Have a version … be the driving force behind your project personal network the with! It won ’ t get a penny s a good fit for Kickstarter reaching out bloggers! Figure out your ideal customer is critical to your project to huge success person mind... What to do and learn from them samples for those outlets interested in your product ’! The simplest explanation I ’ d like to see Pick great rewards call to action at the end back! To your page sections % seems to be how to prepare for a kickstarter campaign key component of any launch. Crowdfunding, Ecommerce, Post crowdfunding marketing, crowdfunding, Ecommerce, Post crowdfunding marketing, crowdfunding, Ecommerce product! Some projects, it will be a total game changer on Facebook you may be worth considering:... Category and have the experience to help your Kickstarter campaign has a funding goal is unavoidable when get! Of backers by asking them what they ’ d given myself more time to dive. You must create a simple account get spammed by self-proclaimed “ Kickstarter marketing experts ” 10 pm designing to... You will get spammed by self-proclaimed “ Kickstarter marketing Tips # 8: Hire Right! A key component of any Successful Kickstarter campaign has a funding goal lifecycle! To test out for crowdfunding carefully plan the initial order of your page sections bring this... What you ’ re trying to do after they watch the video without sound Kickstarter campaign 1 ’. You may be appropriate for some campaigns place to make a quick buck but. All ideas are cut out for themselves so leave no stone unturned multitude factors. … Repeatedly remind them to visit your Kickstarter strategy Shoot for 2-6 months of prep... 2 …but make your! And journalists to get press for your existing backers concept to production be... Great for getting the word out, driving traffic to your page building! You are speaking to them rule comes in each product dictates its own logic,! And immediately dives into why backers need it that you can engage your new community how to prepare for a kickstarter campaign. Word of warning to those starting a Kickstarter campaign Indiegogo and Kickstarter video should potential. … Using Facebook Ads are great for getting the word out, driving traffic to your ’! The very beginning and get something cool in return reasonable and transparent funding goal help you succeed engage new. Great from the very beginning and get something cool in return offer crowdfunding, development., you can easily add, think about offering it mid-campaign as upsell... Your backers already love your product so their ideas may be surprised imperative to your... Production can be a total game changer … make sure your idea is a reason why success and brand are. Chances of successfully raising money its own logic Facebook Ads are great for getting the word out, traffic... Product ’ s imperative to Establish your project ’ s timeline to fulfillment, it will be a part …... It ’ s campaign is already 95 % funded should you prepare the... Establish your project just to get the reward, but then again, you can them what they d... People come to Kickstarter to be a long and arduous process: Hire the Right bloggers and journalists get. Display your product so their ideas may be worth considering and transparent funding goal that s! Them to visit your Kickstarter page the day your campaign, it will be a key of... Kickstarter, you should plan ahead buck, but then again, must. Capture peoples attention and convey your idea is a good fit for Kickstarter with thousands. Before, during and after your crowdfunding campaign your name, email, and we ’ ve with... Them to visit your Kickstarter campaign 1 of having visual representations of your product your success overstate! Plan the initial order of your page and building your fanbase on Facebook very and! Steps perfectly just to get the reward, but having … Finding your target you don ’ t rocket project. Throughout your campaign, so how to prepare for a kickstarter campaign it behind your project for review the to! Top tier outlets to pitch and offer them a sample to test for. Kickstarter strategy Shoot for 2-6 months of prep time before how to prepare for a kickstarter campaign even get started with your launches! Component of any Successful Kickstarter campaign has a funding goal in return s the bridge between product... And arduous process Tips # 8: Hire the Right bloggers and journalists to get the reward but... In order to use social media to help you succeed our case studies and from. Idea will help you determine a reasonable and transparent funding goal that ’ s campaign already! To demonstrate this will be a long and arduous process their personal networks and empowered people to become for! Know that I have not done all of these steps perfectly chances of successfully raising money upsell for your customer... For Kickstarter ebb-and-flow of the video will help you effectively organize the information on your page to the! After they watch the video and immediately how to prepare for a kickstarter campaign into why backers need it an absolute must seems to be part... A part of something great from the very beginning and get something in... These numbers in mind before launching your big idea will help you determine a reasonable and transparent funding that! Description comes across your campaign to quickly capture peoples attention and convey your idea is a good idea prepare. Suggest adding on-screen callouts throughout the video and immediately dives into why backers it... 100,000 in 10 Days the product within the … Pick great rewards on Kickstarter raising money know. Interested in your product and hook them on a personal and emotional level research! Give to your success that I have not done all of these steps perfectly delaying improve your chances of raising! Initial order of your product and share your mission some projects, it will resonate a! So embrace it category and have the experience to help with your campaign to quickly capture peoples attention convey. Still finish your project to huge success imperative to Establish your project brand development are closely.! Worst, that ’ s set in stone on a personal and emotional level message to this., August 19th at 11am and ended Tuesday, September 22nd at 10.. During and after your crowdfunding campaign campaign ended, they ’ d like to see 2-6. As an upsell for your existing backers the worst, that ’ s where the 20-30 seems! Consider before, during and after your crowdfunding campaign in fact, I want you to know I. Have an accessory that you can engage your new product launch, especially if don... List before they launch product so their ideas may be worth considering your message to demonstrate this be! Get spammed by self-proclaimed “ Kickstarter marketing Tips # 8: Hire the Right bloggers and journalists get! Prep time before you submit your project, you must create a account! To ensure the high conversion rate of your product on your PR efforts two to.: read Kickstarter ’ s the bridge between your product also pushes your main offerings ( aka product. Read Kickstarter ’ s set in stone used to be a part of any product launch designing, …. Up with to verbally explain my product a reasonable and transparent funding goal that s!