Reply To: What makes you fund a kickstarter?
I’ve backed over 100 Kickstarters to date. Here is my approach.
I generally don’t bother with the video. I watched some at first, but they rarely had anything that swayed me in a positive manner – generally, I felt less likely to back the project after watching the video. If I watch the video, I usually do so to review after I’ve already backed to see if I want to increase the amount.
I am much more willing to back a project if there is a reward at $1. Even if it is a simple e-mail saying thanks or credit on a website. Even if I’m not otherwise interested in the project, I may go ahead with a small amount.
I am much more willing to increase my pledge if there is a reasonable gap between levels. $1 to $5 to $10 to $15 rather than $20 to $100 to $1000.
I am much more willing to increase my pledge if there are regular updates. Every couple days, or at least once a week. Daily is too much – with so many projects, it gets spammy unless you really do have some content to share. Show some pictures of production-in-process or prototypes or concepts – anything to show me you are working on the project. And take your time with the updates – craft them. I’m giving you money, show me that you appreciate it by giving me good updates.
I am much more willing to increase my pledge if stretch goals are added, rather than being set up front. The idea is to be interactive with your backers (see updates above) – if you set your stretch goals up front, then you are not responding to backer suggestions.
I am much more willing to back projects that have an all-digital level. You have the potential to reach the world – and shipping/customs to deal with if you do. Having an all-digital level shows you have thought about that problem, and provided at least one solution.
Don’t nickel and dime for shipping – include shipping to US at least, and have your rates for the rest listed from day one. There is a recent project that I supported on the first go round that I am not this time because of this (and other) issue.
I am a collector, so have a level where I get everything. That is, everything you are offering with your current project as well as a level with everything you have done previously. I may never have heard of you before, and getting all of your work digitally at one low price is the easiest way for me to potentially become a fan.
The basics – link to your site and other sites that have reviewed your work. I primarily back games and gadgets, so I want to see play sessions, rules, how-to’s, customer experiences, different uses, and those sorts of things. I want to know how others react to your work, not just what you say about it.
Pictures and text. Show me both nice written descriptions of you and your work and pictures that convey what it is that I’m helping with. Detail all the reward levels, use info-graphics to help me decipher differences between levels.