KickstarterForum.org

Informative talk, Thanks for sharing!

I’m looking at crowdfunding a software product. I’m not seeing much for software anywhere. Most things are physical products. That’s fine, but too many of them end up being one-shot wonders, which doesn’t make much sense to me. Even software. I’m looking at a way to “prime the pump” so to speak, on something with a recurring revenue model. I also need some content.

So the “perks” I’m thinking about are 3, 2, and 1 year discounted memberships, as well as deals for people who want to help with content.

The revenues will be used to fund development, although a prototype is working and can be used to deliver member perks immediately, just at a somewhat reduced “fidelity” (ie, not as many options as the final software will offer).

The challenge is that preselling too many long-term memberships will hurt our recurring revenues. But these people will be “VIPs” or “charter members” and can get further perks over time.

I don’t see many CF projects doing this. Any reason why?

My project is a product, so I think maybe allowing the backers to access the CAD file (or 3D pdf) would be quite interesting.

An exclusive PDF of making the project

Or questions in a live transmission

Someone posted this to me in a PM ...

I think you would be better with an appsumo type arrangement where you give lifetime to early supporters. From what you are saying it would seem you are too early day yet to launch?

Yes, it's too early for me to launch, but not too early to refine my business model. It's software-based, but not just a standalone app; everywhere I turn I read that crowdfunding campaigns don't work for software things, but nobody can offer an explanation why. The ones I've seen are for open source projects, meaning they're free. So how you incentivize something that's already free is beyond me.

This is in a space that has numerous participants with very similar business models. They're all monthly subscriptions that cost under $10/mo, with annual and lifetime payment options. So my business model will reflect theirs because they seem to be doing extremely well with their existing models.

AppSumo is its own business model. It's similar to DealNews (which is mainly products and credit card offers), only AppSumo is mainly SaaS (online membership) products. They arrange for special deals to promote an offer to their HUGE list at a substantial discount, mostly for multi-year or "lifetime" access. In that respect, they're a lot like Groupon for SaaS sites.

I think AppSumo might be a viable option as a launch vehicle versus crowdfunding, because of the sheer size of their list. Just putting something up on Kickstarter or IGG does not guarantee anybody will see it; you need to generate the traffic yourself. AppSumo brings the traffic and exposure together.

Yes I posted that re appsumo, I had meant to post it here as a quote but somehow sent it as a pm. Apologies.

My understanding of appsumo is limited, but I understand they take a large chunk of the money raised, but exposure and suppor can be huge.

You might find approaching influencers in your product field with a free trial and then an affiliate link scheme, for them to promote it; if they like the software, would be a good way to start getting noticed?

My recollection is that KS was set up for (apart from making money) tangible product based ideas,that required access to production facilities or manufacturing techniques ordinarily unaffordable o in accessible, without capital support.

Your product is less about building it more about marketing it.

Maybe, perhaps what your research is telling you, that possibly the market is to first write code to build a software onl version of KS and then you can float your software product through it?

Perhaps others have ideas for software. I have a friend who has also written an application, he has been busy promoting it via offers and subscriptions, he’s won some plaudits for his application, good reviews and mentoring support. It is a hard struggle check it out reach out to him he maybe can offer some advice, https://metri.net/

well, I am just planning to sigin up in kickstarter. But if ever I have to choose a reward I'd go for the cryptocurrency coins from euncoin.com I really felt that it would be hassle free and of course cheap to give since the site promised to give free coins to my donors upon registration. Kewl!

The first rule of thumb I like to apply is to give more back then what you got. I thought about providing coaching/consulting.

Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/16 ... ct-preview