{"id":53662,"date":"2018-07-18T04:25:28","date_gmt":"2018-07-18T11:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ponoko.com\/blog\/?p=53662"},"modified":"2018-11-22T10:37:14","modified_gmt":"2018-11-22T18:37:14","slug":"how-to-start-a-kickstarter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ponoko.com\/blog\/business-tips\/how-to-start-a-kickstarter\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Start A Kickstarter Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Understand Crowdfunding Basics So You Can Launch Your Project With Confidence<\/h2>\n

Crowdfunding: It may seem like a relatively new approach of financing business endeavors. Sure, the current internet iteration really started kickin\u2019 when Indigogo, Kickstarter and GoFundMe came on the scene in 2008, 2009 and 2010 respectively.<\/p>\n

But the concept goes back, waaaaay back, to funding war bonds in the 1730s or supporting artists and philosophers in the 1800s. In fact, when government sources failed to provide funding to build a monumental base for the Statue of Liberty in 1885, a newspaper-led campaign collected small contributions from 160,000 donors. And today, Lady Liberty continues to shine her light of freedom across New York Harbor.<\/p>\n

At its foundation, the crowdfunding approach is pretty simple. To illustrate, let\u2019s use an example everyone can get behind: Pies. (Because, seriously, who doesn\u2019t love pie<\/a>!)<\/p>\n

Imagine a baker begins to shout out that she will make a boysenberry pie for $10 and give out the slices a day later. Ten pastry lovers gladly pledge $1 for a slice and hand their money to a mediator, who ensures the $10 goal has been met and disburses the cash to the baker who can then get to work.<\/p>\n

This greatly oversimplified model generally represents the core of how a Kickstarter-style crowdfunding campaign operates, but it is also the least likely outcome. More commonly, the baker will start a Kickstarter, only raise $3.47 and have to try again later. If it turns out that 56,782 people love boysenberry pies, the baker has to bear the burden of unchecked success and figure out how to produce more than 5,000 pies in a day.<\/p>\n

While you\u2019re probably not baking pies (there are rules<\/a> on the kinds of food can be made, plus shipping fresh pie is a bit tricky!), but if you\u2019re reading this then it\u2019s likely that you have a product idea that you want to launch.<\/p>\n

Whatever you hope to bring to life, there are a lot of challenges ahead. What\u2019s the best way to go to market that will not only guarantee your product will be a success but will also generate a profit, too? What makes or, more importantly, breaks a crowdfunding campaign and how can you be prepared? This Kickstarter guide will answer these questions and more.<\/p>\n

How Does Kickstarter Work And What Is A Kickstarter Campaign?<\/h2>\n

To understand what Kickstarter is all about, let\u2019s begin with the basics (including some all-important terminology):<\/p>\n

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A Kickstarter project<\/em> must be a finite work with a clear goal, so works such as paintings, comics, tech gadgets, games and music are all fair game whereas a help-me-go-to-Italy-for-a-month adventure is a no-go.<\/p>\n

A creator<\/em> is the person (you, baby!) or team that will bring this project to life, and you will determine the funding goal<\/em> (a.k.a. the threshold of success) necessary to complete the project. Once the campaign<\/em> is active, backers<\/em> have the opportunity to pledge<\/em> money toward your funding goal within the timeframe that you set (up to 60 days).<\/p>\n

Keep in mind that your funding goal can be as modest or ridiculously high as you wish, but you must match or exceed this goal in order to receive anything. You read that right: Kickstarter is all-or-nothing funding.<\/p>\n

For example, let\u2019s say you have set your funding goal at $2,500. Even if you were to receive $2,499 in pledges, this is under goal. Thus, you get $0, the campaign ends, no backers are charged and we all metaphorically go home. At first glance this may seem unfair, but it\u2019s not. This format protects both the creators the backers because it ensures you have done the homework on the finances involved to actually be able to make and deliver the project as promised.<\/p>\n

But before backers will part with their cold hard cash, you must give them a reason. You may go into a Kickstarter campaign thinking you\u2019re a maker, engineer or designer, but you\u2019ll need to be an equally good marketer so that backers will choose your project over another. And that\u2019s the challenge.<\/p>\n

First, you must offer a stellar product that meets a need for your target audience and fills a void not being addressed by anyone else. Then you\u2019ve gotta sell potential backers on why you\u2019re the best bet. And a little friendly bribery doesn\u2019t hurt. That\u2019s where rewards <\/em>come in.<\/p>\n

In addition to the actual product you\u2019re selling, rewards can include extra perks that complement your project. These add-ons can be anything from custom packaging to limited editions or one-of-a-kind experiences, etc.<\/p>\n

Offering additional rewards beyond the product allows you to set up tiers of pledge values. While you\u2019d love for every backer to pledge heavily to your idea, that\u2019s not realistic. Having multiple opportunities to buy into your experience means you\u2019ll have more potential backers from all budget levels.<\/p>\n

Everything needed to convince these potential backers to fund your great idea lives on the project page. Front and center is the project title and imagery. While a still photo is fine, video is much more persuasive<\/a>\u2014and successful.<\/p>\n

\u201cVideo is the best way to communicate the emotions, motivations and character of a project, as well as the sincerity and seriousness of the creator,\u201d says Kickstarter co-founder Yancey Strickler. He also notes that a good video can shift the focus from the idea itself to the creator\u2019s dedication to the idea. This kind of personal story piques your interest and draws you in, ultimately getting you to care about a project that you may not have considered before.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s see what all this looks like with a real example: Out of Sorts<\/a>, a laser-engraved mix-n-match game designed to encourage creativity, imagination and tons of fun for kids of all ages.<\/p>\n

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At the top right (conveniently next to the photo\/video section if you\u2019re immediately moved to donate), you can \u201cback this project\u201d as see how much has been pledged. Continue down the right sidebar, and you\u2019ll see the various reward levels.<\/p>\n

The creators behind Out of Sorts offered eight different rewards\u2014everything from the basic game tiles to a custom one-of-a-kind design of your own.<\/p>\n

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Continue scrolling and you\u2019ll see the bulk of the page is dedicated to describing the project\u2014sharing the inspiration behind the idea, explaining how it will be made, preemptively answering any questions, and addressing any potential risks or challenges\u2014and including lots of photos and videos. There\u2019s also an updates section where creators can keep their audience informed of the progress being made.<\/p>\n

If the campaign succeeds, backers are immediately charged, and after some time and minus some transaction fees (more on this later), creators receive the remaining funds as well as the order fulfillment information so they can get to work. Since Kickstarter brokers the financial dealings, customer payment information is always protected and isolated from creators.<\/p>\n

At this point the campaign is technically over, but only after the last box is shipped and received is the project finally complete.<\/p>\n

Kickstarter Tips And Tricks<\/h2>\n

Every campaign is unique, and what works for one product category or specific creator may or may not be successful for you. To get a sense of what works from a general perspective, Forbes<\/a> has seven tips for success, and this post<\/a> features sage advice from three Ponoko makers who have successfully launched their laser cut products via Kickstarter.<\/p>\n

Launching A Successful Kickstarter Campaign<\/h3>\n

Before you click that launch button, heck, before you even make a user account, do your due diligence and figure out if you are really ready to hit \u201cgo.\u201d The most funded<\/a> and successful Kickstarter campaigns may not seem similar at first glace, but they in fact have much in common at the start: They were ready. Let\u2019s examine what worked for these campaigns:<\/p>\n

Mine Kafon Landmine Detonator<\/h4>\n

Massoud Hassani\u2019s Mine Kafon is a campaign with a cause. Growing up in Afghanistan, Massoud recognized that the current means of land mine removal is still a laborious, dangerous, slow and expensive operation.<\/p>\n

Inspired in part by childhood toys he crafted, this land mine detonator is designed as a low cost solution to the problem of old, but still active, land mines. Like a giant tumbleweed, Mine Kafon uses the wind to blow itself across land mine fields. It is heavy enough to set off any anti-personnel land mines in its path, and durable enough to withstand up to four detonations.<\/p>\n

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Not only is it attractive as a humanitarian project that is explicitly out to save lives, but the concept is so clearly explained on the project page that there is little uncertainty for backers. While an exception to the usual pattern of Kickstarter rewards, Massoud created multiple low-tier pledge values so that anyone could contribute, no matter his or her budget. It worked. More than 4,100 backers pledged \u00a3119,456.<\/p>\n

Read all about the project here<\/a> and see how the Kickstarter campaign was put together here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Electric Eel Wheel<\/h4>\n

If you think knitting and crocheting are only for grandmas or that macram\u00e9 and woven wall hangings were just a fad in the 1970s, think again. Thanks in part to festival fashion, yarn arts are alive and well\u2026and growing.<\/p>\n

For master crafters, making your own yarn adds another layer of depth and control to the creative process. The problem: Electric spinning wheels are expensive. Maurice Ribble saw an opportunity in the marketplace, and the Electric Eel Wheel (EEW) was born.<\/p>\n

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For his 2015 Kickstarter campaign<\/a>, Maurice set a modest goal of $5,000 that was reached in three HOURS! During the one-month funding period, backers pledged $53,931 to bring the project to life\u2014rolling over his initial goal by 979%.<\/p>\n

A year later, Maurice was back for a 2016 Kickstarter campaign<\/a>, which had even more improvements and enhancements over the previous models. He again began with a $5,000 goal. This time, funding was achieved in 1.5 HOURS! In the first two days of the campaign, he was at 600% over goal, completely exceeding expectations. During the 28-day funding period, he received $92,201 in pledges from 428 backers, exceeding goals by 1,744%.<\/p>\n

His Kickstarter worked because he found a niche that wasn\u2019t properly being served by other products on the market. Get a behind-the-scenes look at how he created this laser cut phenom here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rope Braiding Machine<\/h4>\n

Speaking of spinning yarns, Mixed Media Engineering\u2019s Rope Braiding Machine<\/a> campaign succeeded for similar reasons.<\/p>\n

This first-of-its-kind rope braiding machine kit features a 16-bobbin machine that produces a variety of rope weights to make bracelets and jewelry; sailing, fishing and kite lines; parachord; and even super-fine rope for models.<\/p>\n

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By opting for simple laser cut acrylic construction, costs were kept low enough to offer a practical $2K goal. In total, 189 backers pledged $14,709 to help bring this project<\/a> to life.<\/p>\n

PennyPult<\/h4>\n

The Pennypult<\/a>, a miniature siege weapon, is a physics experiment, toy and a piece of art all rolled into one. Use it to stage small-scale medieval battles, or bring it to the office and lay siege to a coworker’s desk. All you need is a flat surface and 16 pennies to let the fun begin.<\/p>\n

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This gravity-powered catapult gets its special look from the stacked counterweight design. Unlike a traditional trebuchet, the counterweight is positioned above the throwing arm giving a unique throwing action plus increasing the penny projectile distance. In fact, the Pennypult can launch up to 35 feet!<\/p>\n

This feat alone would have made this Kickstarter campaign a success. Add in that the Pennypult is super easy to put together\u2014less than 15 minutes and without the use of tools because the precision laser-cut pieces will simply snap together (smartly shown with great photos and gifs)\u2014and backers knew this catapult would crush the competition. With 968 backers pledging $48,003 (original goal was $2,000), they were right.<\/p>\n

The Proportioner<\/h4>\n

From great works of art down to the credit card in your wallet, the golden ratio is everywhere. In mathematical terms, the ratio is 1:1.618.<\/p>\n

As an author of seven books on the golden ratio, Scott Onstott wanted a way for people to discover the golden ratio in the natural world, in human-made artifacts surrounding them, and to purposefully encode the golden ratio in the things people make. So he set out to create a unique set of golden ratio calipers called The Proportioner<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Like many makers, Scott wanted to test the demand for his product before going into full production. So he started a Kickstarter campaign<\/a> with a modest goal\u2014$1,618\u2014a nod to the number that started it all. In a brief 33-day funding period, he raised $33,772 from 543 backers\u2014totally crushing the original goal by 2,087%.<\/p>\n

Clearly this product spoke to a niche of designers and engineers as demonstrated by the demand, as there wasn\u2019t anything quite like it on the market. But Scott\u2019s success story is a bit of a cautionary tale. Come to find out, it was extremely labor intensive to assemble all of the Proportioner\u2019s laser cut parts because of the level of accuracy required. This isn\u2019t a big deal for a handful of pieces, but for the quantity sold is was more than he bargained for.<\/p>\n

After the completion of his first campaign, even though it was highly successful, Scott decided not to go for another round until he finds a way of manufacturing and assembling the product that maintains the accuracy and the price point without the massive commitment of manhours. Being able to scale production is an important consideration if you find you\u2019re idea is a big hit.<\/p>\n

Wild Gears<\/h4>\n

Inspired by the infamous Spirograph but not satisfied with its quality, precision or design options, maker Aaron Bleackley set out to make his own geared drawing set. And his Wild Gears<\/a> project spun out of control, but that\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n

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Turns out, Aaron isn\u2019t the only one who loves drawing with these tools, as he\u2019s funded two successful Kickstarter campaigns. This first attracted 46 backers who pledged $3,889, while the second more than doubled with 132 backers pledging $9,622.<\/p>\n

This campaign is an excellent example of selling a simple idea. Not only is the product exceedingly easy to manufacture via laser cutting clear acrylic, but the pitch was also framed by plenty of images of the final artwork it can produce.<\/p>\n

Animatronic Head<\/h4>\n

Jeff Kessler\u2019s campaign speaks for itself, literally. TJ*, a customizable robot performer, has movable eyes and mouth via servos over Arduino<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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What made this campaign appealing to backers? The design of his robotic platform is efficient and easy to assemble. There are also various levels of \u201ccompletion\u201d for kits, which is particularly important to attract backers of various DIY skill level and interest. In total, 355 backers pledged $40,281 to bring TJ* to life.<\/p>\n

And these are just a few of the examples of successful campaigns worthy of study. If you want a thorough breakdown of the cr\u00e8me de la cr\u00e8me of Kickstarters, Entrepreneur<\/a> has an excellent write up of some of the best products<\/a> to go above and beyond their goals.<\/p>\n

Learning From Kickstarter Failures<\/h3>\n

Beneath the shining examples of campaigns that skyrocketed beyond their creators\u2019 ambitions lay heaps upon heaps of failed ideas. Some were mere cents away from their goal, while others would need an Amex Platinum (or three) to get off the ground. Take a stroll through this list of the worst projects<\/a> and you\u2019ll see some commonalities on why they failed to deliver.<\/p>\n

Poor Market Research<\/h4>\n

This is one of the most complex variables affecting the success of any campaign. Is your project a good idea? Even if it is, are you releasing it at the right time? Do you have a well-defined target audience? Do you already have an established enough brand that it doesn\u2019t even matter what you\u2019re selling as long as you\u2019re<\/em> the one selling it?<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the competitive landscape? Are you solving a real problem? If not, it doesn\u2019t matter if you have a cool product or a slick pitch. To determine if you\u2019re on the right path, this guide<\/a> will walk you through the basics to ensure you are creating a product you can actually sell.<\/p>\n

Pricing<\/h4>\n

Of all the Four P\u2019s of Marketing, pricing is often the most difficult. Too expensive, and backers are turned off. Too cheap, and you may not break even, let alone make a profit. Many a failed campaign comes from simple greed or naivet\u00e9 in setting a project goal. This is particularly unique to Kickstarter due to the all-or-nothing campaign style.<\/p>\n

In crowdfunding, there\u2019s also psychology involved. People like to back winners. By calculating a smaller minimum goal for practical profitability, you can often drive the campaign into becoming<\/em> a smashing success.<\/p>\n

Because Kickstarter likes to promote wild successes, the simple psychological effect of seeing a project that\u2019s already a runaway hit entices even more people to get on board. It\u2019s about positioning. Consider: 1,050% of a thousand dollar goal sounds a lot more impressive than 105% of ten thousand dollars, despite the total amount raised being equal.<\/p>\n

Video Quality<\/h4>\n

If a creator can\u2019t be bothered to make a decent promo video, how can he or she be trusted to make a hundred pieces of art or thousands of complex gadgets? You don\u2019t need the next J.J. Abrams to shoot your pitch, but basic videography techniques such as good lighting, balanced audio and properly framed shots make a world of difference in drawing potential backers in and convincing them to give you a shot.<\/p>\n

Also, a little background music goes a long way, but you don\u2019t need to contract Hans Zimmer to score your project.<\/p>\n

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On the flip side, overproduced videos can be just as damaging. Parody Kickstarter videos<\/a> are easily made because far too many campaigns pitch in the same overwrought, hip-trendy-modern style that seems phony. You\u2019re no phony, so do yourself a favor: Skip the unnecessary expense on an overly slick video and put those funds into product development.<\/p>\n

Too Few Or Too Many Rewards<\/h4>\n

There\u2019s a fine line between too few and too many reward levels. On one hand, sales 101 drives home KISS (Keep It Simple, Silly) for a reason. Having unnecessary complexity is no good for backers or creators. On the other hand, you want to have a variety of price points to attract the most potential investors.<\/p>\n

Base the number of rewards available upon the kind of product you offer + what\u2019s reasonable to add real value. To get an idea of what potential backers expect, check out other successful campaigns in your product category to see what competitors are doing right. This Kickstarter Q&A<\/a> provides some perspective, as does this post<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Unreasonable Deadlines<\/h4>\n

While deadlines don\u2019t necessarily impact the financial feasibility of the campaign from the backers\u2019 perspective, they will seriously bite you in the behind post-funding if you don\u2019t consider supply chain management, quality control, proper packaging and any unexpected design issues that could eat away at your planned profits.<\/p>\n

Unlimited Pledges<\/h4>\n

On the flipside of running a lean campaign, unchecked excess could crush the dreams of any small project. This overlaps with unreasonable deadlines as you now face larger logistical issues if you must deliver 10 times (or more!) products than anticipated.<\/p>\n

Technicalities<\/h4>\n

While the vetting is minimal, Kickstarter does have an approval process. Follow the Kickstarter rules<\/a> so your project is not shut down for an avoidable reason.<\/p>\n

Developing A Kickstarter Campaign Strategy<\/h2>\n

What does it take to develop a Kickstarter strategy for your project? Hint: a lot, and you can\u2019t run a successful one<\/a> alone. Launching a successful Kickstarter campaign is as much a social challenge as it is a technical one. Only at the very beginning are you evaluated by an algorithm to see if your project meets the criteria for a legitimate campaign, after that everyone who will be looking at your work will be a real human, judging whether or not yours is a good idea.<\/p>\n

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The Pitch<\/h4>\n

Your video is the very first thing potential backers will see and is the main shareable aspect of your campaign. While many Kickstarters opt to hire a professional video crew to shoot their campaign pitch, it is far from a necessity. As long as your video is well lit (hint: the sun is free), the audio quality is decent and free of pops and noise, people and your product are presented in frame and in focus, that\u2019ll be just fine. Also, a little background music goes a long way, but you don\u2019t need to contract Hans Zimmer to score your project.<\/p>\n

Technical aspects aside, what should the content of your video be? At the very start, be sure to introduce yourself and any other creators behind the project. Life stories aren\u2019t required, a simple \u201cHi, I\u2019m Sarah and this is Waldo. We\u2019re two artists from Smalltown, Somewhere and today we\u2019re here to talk to you about our passion for Thing XYZ<\/i>.\u201d Now is the time to talk about your plan and, if your product already exists, go over the design and show off any features that can\u2019t be captured in still images. Reassure people that you can execute on your project and you need the money for specific<\/i> goals. There\u2019s a fine line between arrogance and confidence that you\u2019ll have to walk, but just be honest about your intentions. It is very much like a job interview in that you might not check off all of the boxes for 100% certainty of future success, but because of your past and commitment to future dedication, you\u2019ll do your best. You\u2019re not only building trust in your product, but trust in you, the creator. Unless your product is so basic as to speak for itself, \u00a0you have to demonstrate technical proficiency as well as social accountability.<\/p>\n

Towards the end a simple thanks followed by a call to action is enough. You definitely want to remind people that, even if they can\u2019t commit money to your project, sharing your page with others would be very much appreciated.<\/p>\n

Overall, keep it brief. If you can\u2019t explain your idea in one minute, then an additional five won\u2019t make it better. Backers are likely already browsing through multiple projects, so if you make it more digestible, well, the more likely they are to hear you out. On this note, it\u2019s also just as important to have a thumbnail from your video that clearly represents your project with your product front and center and minimal text.<\/p>\n

The Description<\/h4>\n

The video is for covering the core of your campaign in a few minutes. Your project description is where you ought to dive a bit deeper to tell your story and explain the rewards you\u2019re offering.<\/p>\n

For artist Joshua Harker, this mean having plenty of macro photos of his intricate anatomic 3D prints <\/a>from his campaign. This kind of detail is essential (especially for artist projects) where the video just can\u2019t quite capture what you\u2019re offering. You should also link to your product website near the top for people who want to learn more outside of Kickstarter.<\/p>\n

Stretch Goals<\/h4>\n

Many projects toss in the concept of stretch goals as an additional incentive for pledging beyond your main goal. Oftentimes, these include additional rewards for \u201cearly\u201d backers and unique content or goodies that you would not have otherwise been able to produce. Poligon created a series of beautiful low poly sculptures<\/a> of animals for their campaign and offered a unique polar bear design as a stretch goal. Simple and effective.<\/p>\n

Updates & Comments<\/h4>\n

Throughout and after your campaign you\u2019ll have the opportunity to post updates on your project page. While you can technically edit these into the description at any time, posting as updates provides an easier progression of information for backers to follow and keeps your description page concise. Regular updates will keep your backers aware of your campaign more often, presumably making it more likely they\u2019ll share it more, in addition to just being a regular courtesy.<\/p>\n

Every project page also has a separate comments tab for user discussion. Often backers will ask questions, and while you may be tempted simply answer there (as you should), I\u2019d recommend updating your project page to reflect the new information. People who are browsing projects, and your own backers, shouldn\u2019t need to check the comments section to find critical information. Having everything on the main page is better for overall user experience. Also, every comment is an opportunity to learn why it is you\u2019re connecting with your backers. Why do they support you? While things are certainly full steam ahead at this point, it\u2019s never too late to adjust your campaign\u2019s direction if commenters are willing to tell you how they are responding to your project.<\/p>\n

Answer questions! Especially the uncomfortable ones. Like it or not, silence allows backers and prospective supporters the opportunity to fill in the blank with their doubts, and since this is the internet, they\u2019re likely to do it loudly and publicly. Nipping their fears in the bud is an assertive way to build trust with your backers. Some people want 100% certainty that you will succeed and won\u2019t settle for anything less, while others will have reasonable faith (that you may or may not have rightly earned) that you\u2019ll accomplish your goal. While getting funded is certainly the bottom line, it\u2019s those latter folks who will more likely have the patience and understanding if, and most likely when, you encounter difficulties in fulfilling your rewards.<\/p>\n

Outreach<\/h4>\n

After you hit go, you\u2019ll be spinning plates the entire length of your campaign to keep sustained interest. Press releases make it easier for people to talk about you (especially if it can be packed in a tweet) so have one ready beforehand. It\u2019s an extra step, which basically comes down to reformatting your project description, that also demonstrates more professionalism.<\/p>\n

Reach out to your fans! \u00a0If someone seems to be particularly enthusiastic about your campaign, reach out to them not only share thanks, but to encourage them to share it even more. Here\u2019s a sobering fact: You\u2019re building a bridge to that elusive funding goal and even if you do brilliant work, your 100% of effort can only ever build 50% of that bridge. The rest of that path is built by the backers, and the influencers who encouraged people to build towards your idea.<\/p>\n

There are two opportunities where influencers are incentivized to talk about your project: at the start, where your project is fresh and exciting content, and at the end, just days before that elusive funding goal where backers have a limited opportunity. Take advantage of these two hype periods for promotion, while being sure to remain respectful to whomever you\u2019re marketing. You\u2019re reaching out for support, not lunging.<\/p>\n

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And the secret sauce? As soon as you have your product idea, start building your own email lists of potential backers and promotional channels (EG – bloggers & social influencers in your niche). Then make sure you contact your lists at least 1 month before your campaign launches – to let them know something is coming. Then 2 weeks before launch, remind them you’re really close to launch. Then 24 hours out, let them know again. And perhaps on launch day, etc. In this way you will bring a warm crowd to your Kickstarter from day 1. Don’t rely on Kickstarter traffic. Seed the start yourself to give yourself more of a chance of getting promoted by Kickstarter. Of course, when you’re emailing your lists from a month out, give them something that’s unique to them for being first \/ create a sense of urgency for them to want to get in early before everyone else.<\/p>\n

Getting Kickstarter Funding<\/h2>\n

You\u2019re not just designing and making one project, you\u2019re preparing a dozen. Kickstarter rewards are their own beast, and even the most well received and executed project can fall flat on its face if the rewards aren\u2019t as exciting.\"rewards\"<\/p>\n

Kickstarter Reward Ideas<\/h3>\n

For Kickstarter, pledge rewards are some of the best crowdfunding perks. The range of reward ideas depends on your type of project, but their are many creative opportunities that work for nearly any campaign.<\/p>\n

While no size fits all, most rewards fall into these categories:<\/p>\n

Rewards For The Supporter<\/h4>\n

Some backers just want to help. This is often the swag tier that doesn\u2019t limit the number of backers, is typically priced less than $20 and offers inexpensive rewards or non-physical signs of gratitude. Many projects include \u201cThanks\u201d pages that list all supporters starting at this level, and some creators even personalized thank you notes. Now\u2019s the time to call up your buddy with the screen printing service and make yourself a hundred t-shirts or hats.<\/p>\n

Rewards For The Individual<\/h4>\n

This is the main crop of backers that want the actual project advertised and will likely be the bulk of your funding. This level of rewards typically includes delivery of one (or more) of the final product. Depending on your ability to supply for the demand, leaving this level open to unlimited backers allows for the most pledges. Providing a limited set of \u201cearly backer\u201d rewards with an extra gift can entice your first backers and get the ball rolling.<\/p>\n

Rewards For The Group<\/h4>\n

Rewards for backers who want a package deal of your product are always attractive. There are many backers who are teachers, community organizers, et al. who want a bulk reward tier (which is also slightly cheaper for you to offer) and would be more incentivized to pledge if this tier is available. At this level, many campaigns often offer slightly cheaper versions than at the individual level, so you may want to limit the number of pledges to prevent offering too much at the smaller margin.<\/p>\n

Rewards For The Superfan<\/h4>\n

While not always appropriate for every campaign, it\u2019s a fun and potentially lucrative idea to offer (usually less than 10) rewards that are more expensive. Rewards are capped at $10,000 USD, so there are limits to what can be offered, but this kind of high-level pledge allows creators to be more personal. Perks such as paying for travel to local events, personalized products, and exclusive communication or thanks from the creators (if well known or considered \u201ccelebrity\u201d within their niche) are great opportunities to attract superfans.<\/p>\n

Random Tips<\/h4>\n