How To Run A Successful Kickstarter Campaign for Children's Books | $13K Kickstarter Campaign Story

Summary

In this video, Rob shares his journey of running a successful Kickstarter campaign for his children's book. He explains how to strategically price rewards, especially higher tiers that encourage backers to pledge more. Rob highlights the importance of early momentum and influencer partnerships to boost visibility. He also dives into effective marketing on social media, how to set stretch goals, and the psychological tactics to keep the campaign moving. Ultimately, Rob’s campaign exceeded its funding goal, reaching over $13,000 and providing valuable insights for authors looking to crowdfund their own projects.

Takeaways

• 😀 Offering higher-priced reward tiers can help drive bigger pledges, especially if backers feel like they are getting more value with each tier.
• 😀 Donating books to schools and libraries can be a strong incentive, as it allows backers to feel good about supporting a charitable cause without the logistics of distribution.
• 😀 Influencers can be leveraged for pre-launch support by offering them a chance to include something from their brand in your project, creating a sense of ownership and encouraging promotion.
• 😀 The first few days of a Kickstarter campaign are crucial for generating momentum. Securing early pledges helps with visibility and encourages others to back the project.
• 😀 Regular social media marketing, such as posting frequently on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, can build anticipation and ensure that your campaign reaches a wider audience.
• 😀 Stretch goals are a great way to maintain momentum once the initial funding goal is met, offering backers additional rewards as the campaign exceeds its targets.
• 😀 Keep the stretch goals achievable and spaced out to maintain a sense of success. For example, offering smaller rewards like bookmarks before moving to bigger ones like audiobooks.
• 😀 A successful Kickstarter campaign can exceed its initial funding goal, but maintaining excitement for additional funding goals is important to keep backers engaged.
• 😀 Collaborating with influencers and aligning your project with brands they support can help you reach a wider audience and secure bigger pledges.
• 😀 Transparency in campaign updates, like revealing how the funds will be spent (e.g., for marketing and fulfillment), is important for maintaining trust with backers.

Q & A

What was the main goal of the Kickstarter campaign?

The main goal of the Kickstarter campaign was to raise funds for the production and distribution of a children's book on personal finance, while also donating books to Title 1 schools and public libraries.

How did the creator encourage backers to opt for higher-priced reward tiers?

The creator offered additional value in higher-priced tiers, such as donating more books to schools and libraries, including backers' brands in the book, and offering experiences like virtual school visits. These tiers provided a 'better deal' or unique perks for a slightly higher price.

What was the concept behind the 'secret reward tier'?

The 'secret reward tier' was a way to involve influencers and brands in the campaign by allowing them to place something from their brand within the book. This incentivized larger pledges while also helping backers feel personally invested in the book's success.

Why did the campaign aim for early momentum?

Early momentum was crucial to create a psychological effect where backers would see the growing support for the campaign and be more inclined to join in. This was also important for Kickstarter's algorithm, which prioritized campaigns with higher early engagement.

What was the role of influencers in the campaign?

Influencers played a key role by backing the campaign at higher reward tiers and having their brands featured in the book. This helped generate credibility and attracted more backers through their networks and support.

What are stretch goals, and how were they used in this campaign?

Stretch goals are additional rewards that backers can unlock once a campaign surpasses its initial funding goal. In this case, the creator offered rewards like bookmarks, fridge magnets, and a free audiobook if the campaign raised more money.

What was the funding target for the campaign, and when was it reached?

The initial funding goal was $6,000, which was reached on day nine of the campaign. This early success helped to build momentum and encouraged further pledges.

How did the creator keep backers engaged throughout the campaign?

The creator kept backers engaged by regularly updating them on the progress of the campaign and offering new incentives through stretch goals. They also used consistent marketing across social media platforms to maintain visibility.

What was the final amount raised, and how did it compare to the initial goal?

The final amount raised was $13,749, surpassing the initial goal of $6,000. This success was due in part to early backer engagement, stretch goals, and influencer marketing.

What did the creator plan to do with the funds raised from the Kickstarter campaign?

The funds raised were primarily used for marketing, fulfillment costs, and the production of the book, not for personal profit. The campaign's success allowed the creator to cover these expenses and continue promoting the project.