KickstarterForum.org

[sbriggman]

This is an important question and unfortunately the answer is specific to each campaign and also depends on your category.

For instance, I personally notice more campaigns coming from the technology/gaming/tabletop categories that attract more strangers from the actual Kickstarter platform than campaigns in the publishing or art category.

I've already taught you how to reverse engineer Kickstarter campaigns. I'd recommend using the tactics I described earlier to determine the level of traffic that came from the founder's social network along with the types of backers that supported the campaign.

That being said, these are the general sources I usually see backers discovering campaigns:

1. Kickstarter Itself

2. Direct outreach via the project team to their social network (emails, direct facebook messages, calls)

3. Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest, Tumblr).

4. Online groups (Forums, Social media groups)

5. In-person events (Meetup.com, networking groups, giveaways, trade shows, conventions)

6. Social Bookmarking websites (usually articles shared about the campaign that have been written) - Reddit, StumbleUpon, Delicious, Digg, SlashDot, Scoop.it)

7. Blogs and publications (media coverage)

8. Youtube/Radio.

9. Cross promotion with other creators.

10. Existing email lists (from your blog or business).

Where have people found your campaign? Leave a comment below.

[InfiniteHorizonsUly]

Thanks for this post, Sal. I think it is vital for new creators to understand that Kickstarter is not a "field of dreams." Many build it and nobody comes. Yes, some first time creators are bathed in fairy dust and go viral on Kickstarter, but for any campaign to be successful, the creator has to hustle and sale and network and treat everyday like it is the last day of the campaign.

[sbriggman]

Agreed - Have you considered trying Patreon btw?

[ian]

My campaign isn't finished, but the general stats have stayed fairly proportional so far:
40% from communities I've been invested in for a long time
15% from my promotion outside those communities
45% from strangers (Kickstarter, KickTraq, backers sharing)

[Gecko_clothing]

I am a complete newby and although i thought i did decent research into how i would promote it i now see how woefully under prepared i was!!

I launched on Tuesday afternoon, a 20 day project and feel really deflated by the response.

Firstly i knew i wouldn't make it on the support of our friends and family, but barely any have pledged! I have tried to get some genuine feedback and dig find that alot that were completely knew to Kickstarter were really confused by the reward system. Hopefully i have clarified this. I expected a much higher rate to pledge £1!

I am in the process of trying to connect with blogs and press. Going to add some more final product shots on there too to see if that helps. Basically any one else have any other ideas?

I also know that the video could be better and shorter. On the plus everyone has commented about hw our passion has come through, so that's a big tick right?

I was so naive about what running a Kickstarter entails!

[ZeroSnake]

I'm learning this the hard way, I have over 6,000 facebook fans but finding supporters is no easy task.

[fhdefineyourhustle]

I have received 99% pledges from direct emails. My Facebook network knows about my project and have viewed the video 162 times. I only have 22 pledges and 21 were from direct emails to people I know. I have sent out at least 100 direct emails and most people say they will back but have not so I have to wait patiently and not re-post to their timeline which I have not done.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/19 ... edition-fh

[Gecko_clothing]

I have had a couple of backers from posts i have done on Linked In groups for local businesses if that helps anyone.

[movieshowtheater]

Great information, everyone! I have 11 days left, and about $400 still to raise. I've exhausted my facebook friends/family, and kickstarter backers are pretty random. It's a film podcast tackling highly respected films taken from AFI's Top 100. I'd love any feedback.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/32 ... ow-theater

[sbriggman]

@ian "40% from communities I've been invested in for a long time" - great info.

@fhdefineyourhustle - Yes, I usually see direct email as the highest ROI for time spent.