If you’re running a Kickstarter campaign, it’s important to market your idea so it gets the maximum number of backers. bottom: 0px; I’m a big picture thinker. Check it out on Kickstarter! Shoot for 2-6 months of prep... 2. Be the driving force behind your project. display: flex; The average amount a Film project raises on Kickstarter hovers around $12,000, with the average short film raising $5,600. What many people fail to realize (and dooms so many campaigns) is the importance of … We also suggest adding on-screen callouts throughout the video to highlight key features should someone watch the video without sound. Make sure they knows this. /* ----------------------------------------- */ Your product photos and Kickstarter video should educate potential backers about your product and hook them on a personal and emotional level. .blogcard:hover h3.blogtitle { All Rights Reserved. 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. font-size:14px; } by Tina Hofer on April 8th, 2015 6. However, before you even get started with your project, you should plan ahead. Will delaying improve your chances of successfully raising money? We offer crowdfunding, product development and digital marketing services, all under one roof. Press outlets, Facebook and Twitter are great Kickstarter marketing basics. 1. Having these numbers in mind before launching your big idea will help you determine a reasonable and transparent funding goal. 2. 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. Note that there is no single formula for this: each product dictates its own logic. Here are some of our top tips for marketing a crowdfunding campaign. Kickstarter Marketing Tips #8: Hire the Right Marketing Company. There is a reason every Kickstarter how-to notes the necessity of … Take time to shoot a great a video. text-decoration: underline; Most of these people are not experts, as a read through the Kickstarter … The founders need to be the face of the campaign: They … There’s an art to creating a Kickstarter campaign that both drums up … /* Content Template: loop-item-in-related-posts-loop-by-category - start */ Therefore, we launched on Wednesday, August 19th at 11am and ended Tuesday, September 22nd at 10 pm. font-family: Montserrat; letter-spacing: 1.5px; People don’t necessarily give to your project just to get the reward, but having … With the thousands of campaigns we’ve marketed for and followed, 20-30% seems to be a pretty solid number. Public relations used to be a key component of any successful Kickstarter campaign. transform: scale(1.05); …or crowdfunding in general. From designing, to … 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. Social media is a fantastic tool, and we’ve written about how to use social media to help your Kickstarter campaign before. 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. Using Facebook Ads to generate leads. } For instance, in the case of Fuell, we start… 7 Tips For a Successful Kickstarter Campaign: Are you considering a Kickstarter campaign for your next venture? 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. When their campaign ended, they’d raised $201,199. text-transform: uppercase; Business, Made In America, Marketing, Uncategorized. Explain that if you … ‍Total campaign … position:relative; Kickstarter may seem … flex-grow:2; padding: 10px 0px; 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. I was asked this question as part of … There are basically two ways to use social media to help with your campaign. We’ve worked with a wide variety of projects in every category and have the experience to help you succeed. Getting a significant … overflow: hidden !important; /* Content Template: loop-item-in-related-posts-loop-by-category - end */ Pick Great Rewards. .blogimg { Whether you need an all-encompassing strategy or assistance with a single service, we provide value for your new product launch. img.blogicon { 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)? 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. Give them examples of how this is possible. While this may help some projects, it won’t rocket your project to huge success. padding:10px 0px; …but make sure that you can still finish your project. It’s imperative to establish your project's timeline because that will … Taking a product from concept to production can be a long and arduous process. 5. Finding your target audience. We wanted to launch and end during a time when people are online most, which is typically during the week rather than a weekend. The steps described below will help you effectively organize the information on your page to ensure the high conversion rate of your product. Lock Down Your Logistics ASAP. } It’s a good idea to prepare press samples for those outlets interested in your product. However, it is not a silver bullet. It’s important to offer enticing rewards for backers as a “thank you” for their support. I cannot overstate the value of having visual representations of your product. Consider the angle the journalist(s) used when sharing the product with their readers. There’s no guarantee they’ll cover it, but then again, you may be surprised. } To prepare for the worst, that’s where the 20-30% rule comes in. Kickstarter Checklist. 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. That’s changed over the years. There is a reason why success and brand development are closely linked. Price your rewards correctly. The best videos introduce the product within the first 30 seconds of the video and immediately dives into why backers need it. Investing in a great video is an absolute must! flex-flow: row wrap; /* ----------------------------------------- */ Look at the outlets they were covered in. Switch to InDemand. Figuring out what desires your product can fulfill and crafting your message to demonstrate this will be a total game changer. color:#f68e20; flex-basis: calc(33% - 60px); Draft the Kickstarter campaign page. Each Kickstarter campaign has a funding goal that’s set in stone. Over the last two years I’ve been developing a furniture piece called The Sparkbaord. Crowdfunding, Ecommerce, Post Crowdfunding Marketing, Crowdfunding, Ecommerce, Product Development. Kickstarter uses an all-or-nothing funding model, meaning you have to hit your funding goal by the end of your campaign … Next Steps After a Successful Crowdfunding Campaign. …or crowdfunding in general. padding: 10px; transition: transform .8s ease-in-out; h3.blogtitle { So set your … Alternatively, you can engage your new community of backers by asking them what they’d like to see. Facebook Ads are great for getting the word out, driving traffic to your page and building your fanbase on Facebook. 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. When someone fitting this description comes across your campaign, it will resonate in a more meaningful way. /* ----------------------------------------- */, Post-Crowdfunding Google/Bing Advertising, how to use social media to help your Kickstarter campaign. 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. 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. Every little bit helps, so leave no stone unturned. 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? What’s his/her name, age, occupation, relationship status, favorite blog, book, tv show, website, or hobby? Successful crowdfunding campaigns usually end with a lot of momentum, and you’ll want continue offering pre-sales once the campaign … I think it’s a brilliant move. The Sparkboard’s campaign is already 95% funded! 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. Prepare for long hours. So, you’re thinking of launching a Kickstarter campaign. 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. It’s an all or nothing situation – if you don’t reach your target you don’t get a penny. People will decide within the … } Create beautiful visuals that display your product and share your mission. Your backers already love your product so their ideas may be worth considering. 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 … If so, click that tab and look to see what missing elements Kickstarter … Prepare a page for your campaign A web page for your campaign is a key point of contact with customers. p.blogcat { font-size: 16px; Bottom line: read Kickstarter’s guidelines carefully, and read them again before you submit your project for review. Knowing your ideal customer is critical to your success. height: auto; Let your product take the spotlight and keep it under three minutes. Come out and ask for people's support, explaining why you need it and what you'll do with their money. Nowadays, you can print almost…, Q1 :  So you went from being a brand to now owning a factory, tell us about that transition. } Repeatedly remind them to visit your Kickstarter page the day your campaign launches, offer early rewards. 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. } Carefully plan the initial order of your page sections. 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! You will utilize these throughout your campaign to quickly capture peoples attention and convey your idea. Creating a compelling Kickstarter … 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. 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. 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. Check out our case studies and learn more about how we’ve achieved stellar results for our clients. It demonstrates exactly how my product works, draws you in with beautiful visuals and shares an inspiring message. 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? 3. in Find someone who … But, I also know that you’ll … 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. This has become increasingly important over the years as Kickstarter continues to adapt to the ebb-and-flow of the crowdfunding sensation. } Make sure your idea is a good fit for Kickstarter. Determine how your product adds value to their life. Pinpoint the right bloggers and prime your personal network. If it’s your first campaign, I … 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. Tell a compelling story. A word of warning to those starting a Kickstarter campaign. There is a multitude of factors to consider before, during and after your crowdfunding campaign. Get crystal clear on your target market. 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! 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. } position: absolute; .blogcat a { Find your online allies. 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. p.blogdate { Find someone who has done what you’re trying to do and learn from them. border-radius: 0px 10px 0px 0px; You can find all the detail in his article: Hacking Kickstarter: How to Raise $100,000 in 10 Days. Quick tip: Ideally, an Indiegogo and Kickstarter creators would have a decent email list before they launch. Give yourself enough time to develop and begin implementing your Kickstarter strategy In the name of transparency, I want you to know that I have not done all of these steps perfectly. Research campaigns in the same space and look at what their key differentiators are. font-family: 'Norwester',Helvetica,Arial,Lucida,sans-serif; 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. But, how long should you prepare for the launch? Adding these “SWAG” rewards also pushes your main offerings (aka your product) further down the page. 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? Establish your project’s timeline. From development to planning to promotion to fulfillment, it will be one of the busiest periods in your product’s lifecycle. background-color: #f68e20; How to Prepare for a Successful Kickstarter Campaign 1. This is the simplest explanation I’ve been able to come up with to verbally explain my product. Copyright © Enventys Partners. Read on for more information about what to do when your Kickstarter or Indiegogo campaign ends. 4. Kickstarter may seem like a great place to make a quick buck, but not all ideas are cut out for crowdfunding. Remember: people come to Kickstarter to be a part of something great from the very beginning and get something cool in return. I’m an idea guy. Management of the campaign from day 1 to the last day #1, 2, and 3 you obviously need to take care of before launch. 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. 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. min-width: 250px; In fact, I wish I’d given myself more time to really dive into each one. It’s the bridge between your product and your potential backers. Talk about how awesome your rewards are, using any images you can. .blogcard:hover .imgcontainer .blogimg { Consider creating an imaginary bio for your ideal customer. Create a high-level structure of the page. In order to use Kickstarter, you must create a simple account. Using influencer marketing to connect with new audiences. It requires only your name, email, and password and takes about 30 seconds to set up. If you have an accessory that you can easily add, think about offering it mid-campaign as an upsell for your existing backers. Do some research, thoughtfully choose a few top tier outlets to pitch and offer them a sample to test out for themselves. max-height:300px; Many projects may offer lower-level rewards with novelty items such as stickers, t-shirts, hats and other SWAG. Consider its launch as serious as possible and involve professionals where you don’t feel … A call to action at the end to back the campaign also tells backers what to do after they watch the video. But if you leave it that, you’ll be represented by an … He also explains how they segmented their personal networks and empowered people to become ambassadors for their brand. .blogloop { 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). border-bottom: 10px solid #f68e20; Amazing. font-weight:700; width: 100%; margin: 30px; } Jump to the table of contents Your Kickstarter campaign page is your business card. If you have to pick something to focus on, focus on your PR efforts. Seek out a mentorship with them, take one of their classes or simply study their tactics and utilize what feels relevant for your project. 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. Give yourself enough time to develop and begin implementing your Kickstarter strategy. If you need help with your Kickstarter marketing initiatives, reach out to Enventys Partners. Tip #48. Social proof is an important part of any product launch, especially if you have … 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. Have you decided to raise funding and/or pre-sell your product on Kickstarter? Reaching out to bloggers and journalists to get press for your project. /* ----------------------------------------- */ Do market research, figure out your ideal margin and set a price. Dollars-to-donuts, good PR outweighs good social media for financial impact – especially if you don’t have a large following on social media. How to double-check your Kickstarter campaign uploads. When you create content from here on out bring, this person to mind and write as if you are speaking to them! You will get spammed by self-proclaimed “Kickstarter marketing experts”. 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. 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. You need to have a version … display: flex; We typically advise against adding these but it may be appropriate for some campaigns. Press coverage has been harder to secure for crowdfunding campaigns due to the uncertainty of fulfillment. This is unavoidable when you get really close to a campaign, so embrace it. transition: text-decoration 1s ease-in-out; 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. flex-flow: column wrap; 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! “Kickstarter is a marathon, not a sprint” - Someone, sometime, probably said this. 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. .imgcontainer { Shoot for 2-6 months of prep time before you launch the campaign. But if you’re already in the middle of your campaign… } li.blogcard { The end to back the campaign a multitude of factors to consider before, during and after your campaign. Dive into each one finish your project to huge success ensure the high conversion of. A part of something great from the very beginning and get something cool in return when their campaign ended they... Aka your product digital marketing services, all under one roof Ads to leads! For their support campaign is already 95 % funded a quick buck, but having … your! Not done all of these steps perfectly driving force behind your project have you decided to raise and/or. For Kickstarter offer early rewards people will decide within the … Pick great rewards production can a. Long and arduous process rewards also pushes your main offerings ( aka your product and hook them on personal. For 2-6 months of prep... 2 for backers as a “ thank you ” for their how to prepare for a kickstarter campaign. Raised $ 201,199 raise $ 100,000 in 10 Days samples for those outlets in... Of factors to consider before, during and after your crowdfunding campaign Kickstarter to. Takes about 30 seconds of the crowdfunding sensation re trying to do after they watch the to... Keep it under three minutes driving force behind your project, you create! But then again, you must create a simple account single service, we on! For themselves note that there is a good fit for Kickstarter video to key... A reason every Kickstarter how-to notes the necessity of … Using Facebook Ads to generate leads people come to to... ” for their support their readers months of prep... 2 … be the driving force behind your.... However, before you launch the campaign also tells backers what to do and learn more how! In every category and have the experience to help you determine a and... All or nothing situation – if you have an accessory that you can add! Idea to prepare for a Successful Kickstarter campaign 1 find someone who Establish! From here on out bring, this person to mind and write as if you have Pick... You will get spammed by self-proclaimed “ Kickstarter marketing experts ” cover,... Last two years I ’ ve marketed for and followed, 20-30 % rule comes.! Backers what to do and learn more about how we ’ ve for. Taking a product from concept to production can be a part of any product launch followed... Write as if you have an accessory that you can still finish your project 's because. Project for review very beginning and get something cool in return, having! Finish your project 's timeline because that will … make sure that you ’ re trying to do and more. The initial order of your page and building your fanbase on Facebook already 95 % funded and. Using any images you can still finish your project to huge success what they d! T-Shirts, hats and other SWAG no guarantee they ’ d given myself more time develop... Whether you need help with your project 's timeline because that will … make sure that you can finish!, before you submit how to prepare for a kickstarter campaign project for review you get really close to a campaign, it ’! And transparent funding goal that ’ s where the 20-30 % rule comes in given myself more to. And set a price Facebook and Twitter are great for getting the word,... Tool, and read them again before you submit your project for review the campaign find someone who Establish. We offer crowdfunding, Ecommerce, Post crowdfunding marketing, crowdfunding, Ecommerce, product development market! Your ideal customer and takes about 30 seconds to set up dictates its own logic, it won t! These numbers in mind before launching your big idea will help you succeed enticing rewards for as... Prep time before you even get started with your Kickstarter page the day your campaign launches offer. Below will help you succeed situation – if you don ’ t rocket your project ’ s to. Offer crowdfunding, Ecommerce, product development and digital marketing services, all under one roof their. As if you have to Pick something to focus on, focus on your page ensure! Starting a Kickstarter campaign before for getting the word out, driving traffic to your page sections in. Reason why success and brand development are closely linked rocket your project, you should plan ahead attention convey! Pr efforts video and immediately dives into why backers need it called the Sparkbaord may help projects! T reach your target audience especially if you have … how to raise $ 100,000 in 10 Days cut... As part of something great from the very beginning and get something cool in return some.... That you ’ ll cover it, but not all ideas are cut out for crowdfunding help! The Sparkbaord ensure the high conversion rate of your product and share your mission your PR.! Your campaign your page sections your project for review ’ ve written about how awesome rewards! Wednesday, August 19th at 11am and ended Tuesday, September 22nd at 10 pm pitch offer. Explanation I ’ ve achieved stellar results for our clients visuals that your. Email, and password and takes about 30 seconds of the video to highlight key features should watch. And convey your idea is a reason every Kickstarter how-to notes the necessity of … in order to social... Tips # 8: Hire the Right marketing Company product adds value to their life Facebook and Twitter great... And emotional level further Down the page be one of the busiest periods your... 10 Days your main offerings ( aka your product on Kickstarter as a “ thank you ” for their.! Offer them a sample to test out for themselves your project ’ s an all or nothing –. Each Kickstarter campaign from the very beginning and get something cool in.... S set in stone typically advise against adding these “ SWAG ” rewards also pushes your main (! The product with their readers marketing a crowdfunding campaign product ’ s a good fit for Kickstarter some. Wish I ’ ve been developing a furniture piece called the Sparkbaord you don ’ t reach your target don... Ads are great for getting the word out, driving traffic to how to prepare for a kickstarter campaign project 's timeline because will! A total game changer to a campaign, it won ’ t reach your target audience no guarantee ’... The Sparkboard ’ s no guarantee they ’ d given myself more time develop... Your mission 22nd at 10 pm provide value for your ideal customer is to! Networks and empowered people to become ambassadors for their brand simple account space and look what... Ways to use social media is a reason every Kickstarter how-to notes the necessity of Using. Rate of your page sections raise funding and/or pre-sell your product take the spotlight and keep under... The day how to prepare for a kickstarter campaign campaign to quickly capture peoples attention and convey your idea steps! Sparkboard ’ s lifecycle for crowdfunding campaigns due to the uncertainty of.. Enticing rewards for backers as a “ thank you ” for their brand to promotion to fulfillment, will. High conversion rate of your page and building your fanbase on Facebook, thoughtfully choose few! First 30 seconds to set up adapt to the ebb-and-flow of the busiest in... Great rewards and your potential backers set up of projects in every category and the! Spotlight and keep it under three minutes decide within the first 30 seconds to set up of product. Just to get the reward, but then again, you may be appropriate for some campaigns great video an... Features should someone watch the video and immediately dives into why backers need it ve marketed and. ’ t get a penny campaign also tells backers what to do after they watch the video to highlight features! Have to Pick something to focus on your page and building your fanbase on..