Build An Audience First Before Launching Campaign

There are so many success stories on Kickstarter, yet the failed ones never make the news and are forgotten. What did they do wrong? Was it the product? or campaign that failed? Kickstarter and Indiegogo have a trending algorithm they use to determine the more “popular” campaigns. It is the smart thing for them to do because they get a 5% commission on your raised capital on their platform. It makes perfect business sense, they will boost the campaigns that are projected to do well once it kicks off. This strategy helps them capitalize on earning and control the platform better.

In order to become a up and coming looks like its going to be successful campaign, you need to drive a good volume of the initial backers to your page with your own resources. In order to have social proof that it can add value to the platform, the platform determines that worth boosting. So keep in mind, in order to become successful, you have got to raise a certain amount in the first few days after you launch. When you hit that certain amount, the algorithm will pick your campaign up, and you will get boosted to the front page and become a part of the campaigns that made it to the “Recommended for you”.

Do not depend on these crowdfunding platforms to drive you traffic.

If you are able to raise 30%-40% of your goal within the first few days to a week, Kickstarter will deem you eligible and throw your page in the front as a recommendation to its users. Only when you reach that stage, they will really funnel traffic to your page. The biggest mistake is assuming that just because Kickstarter and Indiegogo have their own user base, that you do not need your own. You actually need your own audience in order to kickstart your project on kickstarter. Without your own audience and social proof that your campaign may be sucessful, Kickstarter would not rank you and get you momentum to take it to the next level. Without Kickstarters help, you would probably fail.

Do not ever think about launching without a nice sized email list, advertising budget and rock solid strategy that can get you 30%-40% funded within the first 36 to 72 hour. Otherwise you may just end up like the rest of the 50%+ failed campaigns that were inadequately prepared.

We have worked on multiple Kickstarter project’s product development, and the prepared clients are the ones that always launch viral campaigns. When launching your campaign, be prepared for the worst, and hope for the best.

Have other thoughts or have your say in talking Kickstarter, Let us know in the comments below.