How to launch a successful Kickstarter campaign in less than 3 months

Are you planning to launch a Kickstarter campaign but don’t know where to start? With a success rate of only 39%, this might seem like a daunting task (Source: www.kickstarter.com). But don’t get discouraged! With 220,821 successful projects so far, there must be a place for your product. Think big.

Our expertise comes from our personal experience with the crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter. So a short introduction may be in order. We are LulleVibes, the creators of the ultimate eco-friendly towel for all your beach vacations, travels and adventures. Made from 17 recycled plastic bottles and designed by artists from around the world, the LulleVibes Travel Towel is jam-packed with 10+ amazing features. We spontaneously decided to go down the Kickstarter route and launch our first ever crowdfunding campaign…all within 2 months. We reached our goal within the first two hours and have gone as far as raising over €20k during the campaign. So…if we can do it then you certainly can too! Check out our campaign here: LulleVibes - The Eco Travel Towel by LulleVibes — Kickstarter

Let’s talk about crowdfunding. The famous platforms are not only a means to raise money anymore. They have become an important and reputable pathway to becoming a successful company. Like a badge of honor, if you will (a green one in Kickstarter’s case). Apart from the obvious financial advantage it brings, websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo are now takeoff runways for out-of-the-box products and services. And while it may look easy and effortless, there’s a lot of preparation and strategy that goes into it. We’ll focus on Kickstarter for now. What does the process look like and what are the important items to look out for? We put together a list of steps to consider, if you’re looking for a professional outcome in record time.

1. Assess your idea/product

You must be wondering if your idea is special enough or too crazy. Well in both cases you might be right! Physical products definitely own the place, with games proudly wearing the crown in the performance section. But don’t forget there are countless highly ranked projects in other categories as well; tech being one of the favorites. Regardless of your choice, think about how your product appeals to the Kickstarter community and why backers will support you. If you’re offering a service, there might be other more suitable ways of getting your product out there.

2. Be dedicated

You MUST believe in your idea, as cheesy as it may sound. You have to be ready to commit and stick to it throughout the entire process. Once you do that, prepare for the ups and downs from a mental point of view. Unfortunately it’s not always rainbows and butterflies. Oh but how rewarding it is in the end… “flexibility” and “adaptability” are the keywords here. During the initial preparation phase and the campaign itself, slow days are inevitable. Figure out a way to get out of this rut and approach the project from a different angle. Here lies the trickiest challenge, because we all know how easy it is to give up. So change the narrative and you’ll see magic happen.

3. Do your research

We can’t stress this enough: research, research, research! This is the single, most underrated part of the process. We get the boring aspect of it. However research opens the door to valuable insights about the industry, the crowdfunding platform, and other do’s and don’ts that may prove vital during your campaign. Start with Kickstarter’s website. The FAQ page provides you with tips you can put in practice right away. And since you have internet connection, nothing stands in your way. No excuses.

4. Set realistic goals

Be optimistic, but don’t get overconfident. Realistic goals will keep you grounded and ensure all your expectations are met (why set yourself up for disappointment, right?). You can achieve this by creating a timeline that aligns with your desired launch date. This allows you to follow each step of your campaign with a clear mind and avoids panic situations where you find out there’s maybe too much to be done prior to your deadline.

5. Create impressive assets

We are all visual creatures. So we dedicate this next paragraph to a fundamental part of the preparation process: your assets. They include your pictures and videos (and even GIFs). If you want to stand out, go all out on these! Pictures you will need anyway sooner or later, but the video? That takes your project to the next level and it’s by far the best way to gain attention and convince people of supporting your campaign. Don’t believe us? Here’s the stats: “projects with a video succeed at a much higher rate than those without (50% vs. 30%).” (Source: www.kickstarter.com).

It’s THAT important. Invest in these and you won’t regret it. At the end, it’s the way people will get to meet your product. And don’t just create a video. Kickstarter is a special case with a particular audience. The generic ad won’t stand a chance (notice the importance of research). Get creative and don’t be afraid to address the community and communicate your needs and ideas loud and clear.

6. Build momentum

Prioritize marketing. Regular people are not JUST going to find out about your product. Kickstarter is a specific community and not all your friends and family will be familiar with it (which is also fine, by the way). That just means you have to put in the work and effort to do it right. Prepare your close contacts in advance and provide them with details on how exactly they can support you. And don’t forget to contact everyone in advance. You will be surprised by how many people resonate with your idea once your product is online.

Another way to build momentum and get people excited is by maintaining an active presence on all your social media accounts. Although time-consuming, it is the way to go and engaging with your audience will help you improve and further develop your product. Go the extra mile and create a pre-launch landing page. This will serve as your go-to-tool whenever you get asked about the project before the launch (keep the visual part in mind). And last, but not least, craft a killer presentation to pitch your product.

7. Have a plan Post-Kickstarter

Your campaign is live. Now what? Exactly! You need a plan for the campaign and especially for when it’s over. That’s where the real challenge begins. Create a plan on how to go about it and be honest with your backers. Update them every step of the way with behind the scenes, milestones reached and shipment details. They were interested enough to get your product, so they’ll appreciate you staying in touch with them.

Looking back

Kickstarter projects provide an abrupt learning curve for any entrepreneur and creator. There’s so much happening within a short period of time that it can get overwhelming. But looking back at such an achievement is rewarding and it sets you up for success. It has lately become the Sinatra test for business (“If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere”). It’s the first stage in getting to know your idea better and to understand its applicability in the business world. The crowdfunding universe has many structural layers to be considered. That can be an amazing thing depending on your viewpoint. Explore these layers and adapt to the “NEW”. One thing is certain: it’s worth a try.