KickstarterForum.org

Hey everyone,

How many people are familiar with KickingItForward (http://kickingitforward.org)?

Would you like to see something like that on this forum or on CrowdCrux or CrowdfundingPR.org?

Sal

I am very familiar with KickingItForward and am part of helping many Kickstarters online, including on LinkedIn, but mostly I just go to Kickstarter and back people I think are trying hard, whether I'm that interested in their project or not, though I've liked most of the ones I've backed well enough to do so, but I was originally planning on posting the KickingItForward logo on my Kickstarter and decided not to. The reason is, I've heard from people that regularly back on Kickstarter say they won't back a project that bears the logo.

Their thought is that you should just do it and not say anything and therefore if you say anything (show the logo), it's like you are just doing it to get backed by others for your "humanitarian efforts". While I don't agree with them, I went ahead and left it off my current one. After all, some will do it for that reason and regardless, you don't need the logo to be doing it anyway. I do like the concept and love helping people, however, even though I'm quite strained financially, so I can only help so much.

One thing Creators should note, however, is the way their campaigns come off. Some people won't want to back a campaign because what they back says something about themselves, so if they back just anyone, they are to some degree aligning with that person's beliefs, at least a little. For example, if a Creator is pushing a softcore porn Kickstarter (and I've seen 'em), I will not be backing them, even if I like the person personally, because I don't want anyone thinking I'm pro porn. If a Creator is pushing the envelope, there will be some who won't feel comfortable backing them, so that's something to consider - how we present ourselves (there are more and less effective ways to present your ideas, but that's another topic altogether.

Very interesting. Thanks for giving a creator's perspective. I think I might write about this in a blog post.

It is basically just a huge honor system to give money to other campaigns.

Sal,
I think QT has awesome viewpoints and is another Creator trying to help us build an actual community. I think the idea would be a great blog post for you to write.

I worried I would be burned out after my campaign ended in regards to KS and crowdfunding in general. I told myself to not drop off the forums and KS and still support campaigns and post and try to help. I worried I would have to motivate myself to do so--nope!! Although the exciting terror--feels like clicking and clacking up the slow incline of a rollercoaster as you make your way to the first, big drop, but it takes a month to climb!--is over, I still feel as connected to the community as when I first dove in.

Good to see you around, Uly!

I've met a lot of great people within the Kickstarter community. While the campaign itself is exhausting, I've tried to continue helping other Creators and like the community that has been building.

There's too many Creators who are trying to go it alone (or don't realize there is a community). Hopefully many Creators like Uly, myself and others will keep giving back into the community. Frankly Creators can use all the help we can get. I've done a lot of very challenging things in my life, but I honestly feel that a Kickstarter campaign is the hardest thing I've ever done. I've poured everything I've got into it for 6 months, full time, and spent a good, I dunno 6-9 months as a hobby before that researching and reading to death about it all, asking questions, talking with people, but hard core for 6 months and it's so hard.

My own campaign is in the traditional slump period, but we still have a long way to go to reach our goals. I'm not worried, but it is tiring and time-consuming, so if we can all keep the community growing both in size and friendships, that would be great!

Sal, I'd love to read another one of your great blog posts. I've been following you for quite some time now and appreciate all you've done for the Kickstarter community!

Have a great week, all!

By the way, KickStarter is now discouraging people from using K.I.F in their campaign as it may confuse people.

Really? Interesting. Can you link me to the article or communication where they said that? Would like to make people aware of it.

I plan on doing this and feel its a great way to feed the kickstarter ecosystem.

I love the idea! I wonder if there were some way that kickstarter would create a small account for the Kickingitfwd money to go. This money could not be deposited, but could only be used to back others. I don't know. Cool idea though.