How to Start a Kickstarter Campaign

by Emily Heaslip
U.S Chamber of Commerce

Kicking off a Kickstarter? Start by setting realistic expectations and building a community to support your idea.

Data shows that only 37% of business owners who launch a Kickstarter campaign reach their funding goal. If you’re seeking to raise funding for a big purchase, like expanding to a new location or launching a new business, crowdfunding can be a tough grind. But, Kickstarter offers more than just a space to raise money.

The true value in a Kickstarter campaign lies in the platform’s ability to gain publicity, reach new customers and fund a specific project. A Kickstarter campaign can allow you to test a new product idea, supplement extra funding and formalize fundraising to friends and family. Here are some steps to start a Kickstarter campaign and make the platform work for you.

Before you put the time and effort into setting up your Kickstarter, make sure to set realistic expectations for what you can achieve on the platform. Remember, Kickstarter is all-or-nothing, meaning that if you don’t reach your funding goal, you won’t get anything.

“The best way to estimate how much you could raise is to count the people you know who are likely to donate. Go through your phone and email contacts, tally up an estimate of likely backers, guesstimate that they’ll give $25 each, and calculate your possible total. Then drop that total by 15-20%,” Kira Simon-Kennedy, a filmmaker and Kickstarter veteran, told The Muse.

Ludenso, another company that has successfully executed Kickstarter fundraisers, suggested building an audience before going to Kickstarter. That way, you’ll have a strong community backing your campaign, helping it gain visibility on the platform and reach your goal faster.

Set up your campaign

To start setting up your campaign, you will need to create a free account on Kickstarter with a username and password. Then, you will start a new project, which is the same as a fundraising campaign. This includes..[MORE]

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To read the entire article by Emily Heaslip at the U.S Chamber of Commerce website, visit: How to Start a Kickstarter Campaign