If you have a project you’re just dying to do but don’t have the capital to pull it off, KickStarter just might be the answer for you. If you’re thinking KickStarter will be the easy answer for you, you are so very wrong.
You’ve likely seen the headlines of people pulling off million dollar campaigns and making their dreams a reality. What you didn’t see in those reports was the massive amount of work that went into that million dollar campaign. But they now have a million dollars, so I’m gonna have to say it was worth the effort.
Even if you’re not looking to make a million dollars for a giant undertaking, if you’re successful and hit your goal, you’ll likely be just as happy as the people who made a million dollars.
Since the site launched in 2009, more than 4.3 million people have pledged over $663 million, funding more than 43,000 creative projects. So, how do you become one of the thousands of people who find success on KickStarter?
1. Have a story
People love stories. And if you’re trying for a KickStarter campaign, you obviously have a story to tell. You have a passion for whatever your project is, so convey that passion on your KickStarter page. Tell the story of why you’re passionate about the project. Having a back story will help you resonate with potential backers.
2. Have a video
While it’s not required by KickStarter, your campaign page should have a video. Most projects that don’t have videos ultimately fail. But don’t go out and hire an expensive video production company to produce your video. Quality is not as important as the message you’re trying to convey. It doesn’t look good to potential backers to have an obviously expensive video telling them how you need money.
3. Have a good reward
Depending on what your project is, this can be hard or easy to accomplish. You’ll have to put the thought into your own project as to what a good reward will be, but we do have one piece of advice. Don’t overdo it. If you offer a reward that’s expensive or labor intensive on your part, you’re just shooting yourself in the foot. The trick is to find something potential backers may want that won’t kill your project in the process.
4. Have a marketing plan
If your marketing plan is hoping that people will magically find your project among the thousands, you seriously need a better marketing plan. You must actively promote your project and convince others to promote it, too. Social media is your campaign’s best friend.
5. Have the time
Devoting the necessary time to a KickStarter campaign might be the biggest step – or hurdle – to finding success. However long you think it’ll take you to get your campaign page up and running, multiple it by two. It’s a time-consuming process, and if you’re not prepared or able to put the necessary time in, you’ll not find success, not matter how many steps we give you.
Thanks for reading,
