How to run a successful book Kickstarter
I don’t know if this will work for everyone, but this is what worked for me. And I found that there just weren’t a ton of resources on how to run a successful Kickstarter available online when I started, or even the logistics of it.
So here is a bit about my process.
Get your timeline in order. When will your Kickstarter begin and end? They say it shouldn’t be longer than 30 days. Work in time before the launch to get your marketing materials together and to really start marketing your book. Be realistic in the amount of time it will take you to complete the book’s design and revisions, sampling with the manufacturer, and the final production and shipping times.
Determine your costs, fees, shipping, all ahead of time. You have to build it before they come, or else you could get yourself into an upside boat.
One other thing to consider is that the shipping fees you collect are included in the displayed total funded. Be sure to not only include your packaging fees, but the shipping fees, in your final total goal.
This also means you need to be pretty darn accurate in the cost your books will be to produce. Make sure when you price out your book’s production that you ask them to quote all the pages, size, book style, and shipping that will be required.
I used Alibaba to find my book printer and requested sample books to check their quality. Don’t settle. If you don’t know a lot about the physical side of book publishing, I recommend doing your research before conducting your pricing. Binding style, page weight, bleed requirements - you need to know this stuff before starting.
be transparent about where the money will go and plan ahead for all fees you’ll need to cover.
3. You’re a marketer now. Pay for ads. Run your social media like a pro. Get good photography and have a complete social media plan for the duration of your campaign. I also texted everyone I knew all the information the day before launch, giving it that extra push. I emailed. I dmed. I had a post almost every day for the whole campaign, all talking about a different part of the journey.
have your social media posts ready to go, so it’s less overwhelming.
4. Make your Kickstarter page memorable and professional-looking. I know I turn away from pages that look amateur or rushed. People are investing in the idea of you and your book. Give them a reason to trust you and for them to get excited. Here is a link to mine.
You’re going to want to ensure that your story, your process, and your stretch goals are outlined from the beginning in a visually interesting, easy-to-navigate page.
5. This is fun. Having a solid plan, creating most of your social media content ahead of time, and showing up every day to talk about your campaign is essential to your success. It’s also how you can share your excitement and passion with your friends and new audience.
