{"id":19221,"date":"2020-10-28T16:38:41","date_gmt":"2020-10-28T23:38:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.backerkit.com\/blog\/?p=19221"},"modified":"2024-09-27T10:56:54","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T17:56:54","slug":"kickstarter-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backerkit.com\/blog\/kickstarter-checklist","title":{"rendered":"Kickstarter Checklist: Create a Plan for Success"},"content":{"rendered":"

Managing a crowdfunding campaign may be time-intensive, but it doesn\u2019t have to be overwhelming.<\/span> To understand everything that goes into a crowdfunding campaign and keep yourself on track, here is a basic overview and checklist of steps you\u2019ll need to take to set yourself up for a successful crowdfunding campaign. <\/span><\/p>\n

Pre-Launch Kickstarter checklist<\/h2>\n

If you plan to launch a crowdfunding campaign on a crowdfunding platform like BackerKit<\/a>, Kickstarter, or Indiegogo, the work you do before launch day will be a major factor in whether or not you hit your funding goal. This is why you should take your time during this stage. It may take six months to 1 year to get ready. It could take longer. Regardless, don\u2019t cut corners, ask for help from experts or other crowdfunding creators if you\u2019re confused, and do your research.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There may be things <\/span>that you don\u2019t know that you don\u2019t know, <\/span><\/a>so carve out some time to just read about crowdfunding best practices or watch crowdfunding <\/span>webinars<\/span><\/a> while completing the following essential pre-launch steps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(It should be noted that some of the steps below will be happening concurrently and that you may have a reason to change the order based on your project’s needs. While the order is by no means set in stone, it is crucial that you complete these tasks before you launch.)<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

1. Create a separate Kickstarter checklist for personal goals and expectations<\/h3>\n

Down the line, you\u2019ll need to <\/span>set a funding goal<\/span><\/a>. But well before you start crunching those numbers, you should be writing out your personal expectations for your campaign. If, for example, you were to break even by the end of your campaign, some people might not see that as a success. However, if you\u2019re looking at your campaign in terms of growing a lifetime audience, the campaign could be extraordinarily successful in your eyes if you\u2019ve built a large, engaged community by the end of it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what do you want to accomplish? Aside from hitting your funding goal, how will you measure success? You may find it helpful to create a separate crowdfunding checklist for those personal campaign goals and expectations, and then check your progress as you go.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Identify your team members and team roles<\/h3>\n

Who will handle social media and marketing<\/a>, create campaign assets, and write all of the copy on your campaign page? Will you be hiring a professional agency? Will you do it yourself?<\/span><\/p>\n

While research shows that crowdfunding <\/span>campaigns with teams raise over three times as much as solo creators<\/span><\/a>, if the scope of your project is relatively small, you may be able to handle everything on your own or with a group of dedicated friends at your side. But, as your project scales, you\u2019ll likely need a larger <\/span>team of professionals<\/span> and crowdfunding services to market and help manage your campaign. When selecting your team, consider partners who have worked with projects like yours, can share verifiable results from their past work, and who have different areas of expertise than your own.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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3. Create a teaser page<\/h3>\n

Get started by creating a teaser page, also referred to as a landing page, where you can collect emails from prospects. You can build your page free using BackerKit Launch<\/a><\/span>. Drive people to that landing page by networking at online or in-person conventions, engaging with Facebook groups and other online communities, connecting with influencers, hosting giveaways, and using <\/span>lead ads<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Build your community and email list<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s important to recognize that the number of people you have on your <\/span>email list will correspond to the number of backers and pledges you receive<\/span><\/a>. Experts generally say that 5% of the people on a high-quality email list will become backers. If you end up having a $10,000 goal and an average pledge of $100, you\u2019ll need 100 backers to get your project funded. With a 5% conversion rate, you\u2019ll need 2000 people on your list. That number may seem daunting, but list-building is an ongoing process and you should give yourself enough time to grow the community you\u2019ll need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A random list of email addresses won\u2019t help you much. It\u2019s the quality of your list that\u2019s important, and not the sheer number.\u00a0<\/span>Remember, it\u2019s 5% of people on a\u00a0high-quality<\/em> list that converts.<\/span>\u00a0You want to connect with people who are excited about what you\u2019re creating and not just looking to get something free in a giveaway.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you have your list, test its strength using <\/span>BackerKit Launch<\/span><\/a>. This tool lets you see how many people on your list have pledged to BackerKit, Kickstarter, or Indiegogo campaigns in the past, and are more likely to pledge to your campaign.<\/span><\/p>\n

5. Create your prototype<\/h3>\n

Start visualizing your product idea by designing a <\/span>prototype<\/span><\/a>. Your design will undoubtedly change as you get more feedback and start testing, but the earlier you begin that iteration process, the sooner you can make those changes. You want to start validating your idea as soon as possible. With a prototype \u2014 even if it\u2019s very rough and DIY \u2014 you\u2019ll be able to see what\u2019s possible and what\u2019s still needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

6. Develop and price your product<\/a><\/h3>\n

Figure out what it will take to bring your cool idea to life. Start by conducting <\/span>market research<\/span><\/a>, asking yourself questions like:<\/span><\/p>\n