kickstarter

I was recently invited to review a kickstarter page for a project that’s releasing soon.  I checked out the page and then went back to comment on it and look at some other comments.  The biggest issue in the comments was about the different pledge levels.  The options where to pledge at $5 and then $65 and that was it.  I understand you don’t want too many options – but people felt that this was too limited.  Other people commented that there should be something in between so that you don’t have to go as high as the top level.  I this case the top level was for the base game – what if it can’t be made for less?  What do you offer people at a lower amount that makes sense?

On the one hand I love customisation and lots of options but on the other I understand that each of those has to be manufactured and shipped individually to the backer.  How do you balance these?

One time at brunch the waitress asked my son how he wanted his eggs and with great enthusiasm  and excitement he declared he would really like them cooked.  He had a low level of expectation when it came to customisation or options.

What’s an acceptable level of customisation – If I offer a base game and then an upgraded version is that sufficient or should I offer all the options in between?

What are your expectations as far as option go?  What do you think are the public’s expectations?  Should the company have something between $5 and $65 to offer?

You launched the campaign and the crowd went wild and jumped on board!  Great! In those early days there was lots to talk about and tons of questions.  You answered them all and posted all you could think people might want to know.

 

Now it’s week two drifting into week three and you haven’t posted in a few days.  Your evangelists in the group answer most questions before you even see them and the new investors have slowed to a crawl.  And then the complaining starts – you haven’t posted or communicated – you must have forgotten the campaign and worse – you no longer care!

 

Both the investors (me) and you the creator want to stop that before it happens.  Some of the information that people may want or find interesting can be kept for this time period.  An entire update that talks about paper stock and finishes on cards and boards and playing pieces is great filler for this period.   OK so maybe not a full update – some people say use the updates for news that’s actionable by investors and put everything else in the comments sections.  This would be great to see in the comments.  There are some other items that a few investors will be interested in and keep the communication open –

•         Introduce and talk about how you found your artist(s).
•         Where did you playtest your game – any big conventions? (You did playtest it right?)
•         Introduce the company – is this the first kickstarter, the first game, how many employees are there?  Yes – this can all be found on a website, or the information kickstarter sets up on the front page but investors want to build that relationship and hear about this in your own words.
•         Go over all the locations to find you.  Where are you in BGG?  Twitter? Facebook? Webpage(s).  Also show and talk about checking the campaign on Kicktraq.
•         Ask questions and encourage people to post in the comments – the dialog should be two way.
•         There was a great comment by Christopher on the Spy Fight kickstarter  –

 

Originally posted by Christopher (Superbacker) on the https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/645394152/spy-fighttm/description

Slightly edited –

@everyone – here are some QUICK and EASY things YOU can do to support this campaign!

1) send a short email or add a comment to a video of your favourite youtube boardgamer (Dice Tower, Bearded Meeple, etc.) asking them to cover the Kickstarter before it ends.

2) go to the Kicktraq page for the campaign and click on the “visit project” button. Feels redundant, I know but it’ll bump up higher in the ranking on Kickstarter. You can do this up to 3 times a day. Here’s the link:

http://www.kicktraq.com/

3) Post a comment here! It will also bump this campaign on Kickstarter!

4) Ask your friends to back by $1, it will bump us up on Kickstarter by adding backers. (ask those friends who have pledged $1 to share on their social media as well to spread the word)

5) Increase your pledge by $1 (or more if you want) to help reach the stretch goals.

6) Share the campaign on social media to get more backers AND help hit those social media stretch goals!

(Insert the link to the Facebook page for the game)

I warned him I would steal it and if anyone knows how to attribute this to him better than what I’ve done here please let me know.  This should be posted often to the comments section of your campaign – I originally suggested every week to remind people.

 

Let me know what you think people should do to communicate in this period?  Also can I steal the post from Christopher or is that too evil?   Let me know in the comments.

Thanks

PJ