How To Start A Successful Kickstarter Campaign
So you have a brilliant idea, but you need some extra capital to get it started. You’re a startup, so don’t have loads of cash to splash, but you do have a neat product idea that you’re pretty sure is going to revolutionize consumers lives. You’ve got a financial goal in mind, and you’re currently working your way through the rewards structure.
You know there are plenty of crowdfunding campaign platforms out there but what you really need is a roadmap for success. You’ve decided to launch an outdoor Kickstarter campaign and have been closely monitoring other successful tech, Kickstarter models.
You’re looking for some stellar advise on how to execute your own campaign to ensure it doesn’t fall flat on its face at the very first hurdle. Step forth, then our top tips to funding a super successful Kickstarter campaign because a brilliant idea isn’t enough. You need to know how to execute that campaign to really reap the rewards.
Get Your Hands Dirty And Put Yourself Firmly In The Driver’s Seat
Nobody knows your product or idea better than you so as a founder, make sure that you are highly visible and hands-on in everything that you do. People connect with people and especially if you are launching a tech Kickstarter campaign, let the backers know who you are and what journey you’ve been on so far. You are the engine that’s driving this campaign forwards, so make sure you are firmly at the center of everything that happens. Be passionate, genuine, energetic, and authentic, and you will be surprised at just how much more generous your backers are prepared to be. Don’t shy away from any and all publicity opportunities, no matter how big or small. You need visibility to push out your campaign to a broader audience. After all, you’ve probably already exhausted your circle of family and friends!
Give Backers A Tangible Reason To Get Involved Above And Beyond A Great Product Idea
If you are launching an outdoor Kickstarter campaign, is there an environmental element that you can leverage? Remember that you aren’t such selling a product, you’re selling yourself, but you’re also selling a way of life, an opportunity to be part of something bigger and potentially even groundbreaking. You might be surprised at just how many people are motivated by being involved in something cool and topical, rather than it being about the product itself. A chance to be part of the adventure and endeavor of cultivating and launching a market first. Make sure that your story is compelling and that it really grabs and demands attention and offers up genuine and authentic reasons for backers to support your venture.
Use All Your Social Media Channels And Fully Engage With Your Community
The people you already know and the larger community that you are a part of are going to be your biggest asset so connect and engage with them. Be honest about what you’re trying to achieve and get them on board. Share frequent details about your campaign and where you’re at and encourage them to do the same with their own wider audiences and social platforms. Make sure that you stay on top of responding to messages and queries in as pro-active and positive a way as possible. If you already have a subscriber list, send them regular and informative newsletters packed with value and special offers that will pique their interest and provide them with access to VIP rewards incentives. Write weekly campaign updates and also consider using cross promotions. Let them know how you’re getting on with manufacturing, for example. Is your product going to be available in any new and exclusive colors? Little tidbits of information like this really help to drive engagement and foster better relationships.
Don’t Be Shy About A Little Bit Of Self-Promotion
It’s time to well and truly step out of your comfort zone! This is the bit that many introverts struggle with. After all, you’re a tech-head, not an influencer! Exposing yourself is daunting and can feel overwhelming, even intimidating, but you need to get over yourself if you are going to be truly successful. Short and informative videos work really well and needn’t have high production values or require you to have presenter training. Keep it real, warm, engaging, and genuine. Use video sound bites to explain what your campaign is all about. What you’re hoping to achieve and why? Be transparent and open and show everyone just how passionate you are about your Kickstarter campaign. We recommend that you limit your video to no more than 2 minutes. Try your best to get all the important information into the first 30 seconds as this is typically the point at which most people drop off. If you’ve not grabbed their attention in those crucial first 10 seconds then sad to say, you’re probably on a hiding to nothing! Remember, the more you engage and connect with your backers, the better. Which leads us onto the next top tip.
Treat Your Backers As Your Close And Intimate Friends
Be open and generous, sincere, and authentic and treat them all with a friendly attitude. The more your backers like you and resonate with your project, the more likely they are to spread the word and to really get behind your campaign and push it out to their own friends. It’s this positive snowball effect that you are looking to capture.
Don’t Scrimp On The Incentives!
Make sure that your rewards and price points are attractive, compelling, and really deliver value. Quality matters and pricing things appropriately is essential. You can’t expect someone to pledge $50 for something that later down the line you intend selling for just $20. Make sure that everyone feels like what they are buying into represents real value. Don’t offer rewards for the sake of rewards either. That just looks disingenuous. Your incentives should be related to your campaign and no, putting your name and logo on a mug and thinking that’s going to hit the mark isn’t good enough!
Get Organized And Approach Everything You Do Professionally
Campaigns live and fall because of their planning and execution. The best-laid plans don’t just exist in someone’s head. They need to be brought into being through a series of well thought out and cohesive action points. Logistics matter as much as marketing communications so to ensure that your Kickstarter campaign runs like a well-oiled machine, account for everything and write down all the vital information in one place. Consider having a project management tool and always ensure that you keep up to date with your correspondence. Ensure that all your commutations both look and sound professional. This way, you will inspire confidence from your supporters and backers.
Make It Personal
While utilizing your social media platforms and an e-mail subscriber list you might have is a great way to get mass communications out there, make sure that you do so correctly and that you are making each and every one of your backers feel valued and unique. If you are expecting people to invest heavily in your campaign, they deserve to be treated in a personal and hands-on way. That’s not to stop you from planning correspondence head of time and setting up a range of responses but going that extra mile by personalizing them, will really stand you in good stead with your supporters and ensure that you have their full and unequivocal backing.
Make It Visually Engaging, Compelling, And Attractive
People love highly engaging and visual content, and that’s just the same when it comes to a successful Kickstarter campaign. You need to grab attention and create the best possible impression, so make sure that you use highly professional and stylish, relevant imagery to accompany your campaign. Use evocative and attention, grabbing headlines and statements alongside clear and attractive pictures that really help to tell the story for you.
Be Authentic And Make Sure That You Have A Bloody Great Product!!!
You will never know unless you try, so don’t be afraid to fail but do everything you can to ensure success. If you follow our top tips to funding a super successful Kickstarter campaign, you could literally be just a few short steps away from that vision you had turning into a successful reality.
So, be bold, be brave, and go ahead and push that launch button! The world is waiting for your latest invention, but they won’t ever know that unless you commit to launching your Kickstarter campaign. So stop sitting on the sidelines, read and then re-read our top tips and then get yourself ready to go stellar!
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