"Projects We Love" on Kickstarter. How to join the "Most Funded" List

This is just about every Kickstarter project creator's public intention. Their dream.

You can hire consultants or buy courses on how to win with Kickstarter projects. How to do this is just a matter of preparation and attention to detail. Of course having a great product is essential to win on Kickstarter.

Kickstarter is simply a multiplier. If your product is great, you can effectively borrow the kickstarter customer base. There are millions of early adopters on Kickstarter. People who often back new products/projcts. That is priceless. So invest time in learning how.

None of these guarantee you any Kickstarter success. True success may take several attempts. Having some audience is important to winning on Kickstarter, so the real answer it to plan ahead. Start now to build your kickstarter seeding community. You need a list. A seed set of fan who will back your project.

How your project fairs on day 1 influences eveything.

At Deckible we love Kickstarter. We know we have much to learn, but this is a topic of deep fascination. We do have a lot of crowdsourcing skills. It's a unique mindset.

A little bit of context

My background is in crowdsourcing. I published my award winning board game GiftTRAP in 2007 and went on to sell 100k units and win 20+ awards including a Spiel des Jahres prize. We crowdsourced the art for the game before it was even a term or before Kickstarter was born. Crowdsourcing is an art, it's counter intuitive.

We saw Jones Soda's contests to featured customer art on their bottles. Pro photographers were all over this. This defined user generated content. GiftTRAP took inspiration from that.

This was all pre-twitter, pre-instagram. It was hard back then to source user-generated content.

Later, I went on to join List.ly as co-founder, which was all about crowdsourcing and collaboration. We ook List.ly to 1 million users and a top 5k site globally on Alexa. It made total sense to me because of my board-game success.

Yes crowdfunding is different than crowdsourcing, but the intentions and engagement/motivations come from the same place. A human connection to the problem.

"Pre-Kickstarting" - You heard it here first.

At Deckible coined the phrase "Pre-Kickstarting" which is something that we enable with Deckibe, but that is important enough to warrant its own post. People talk about pre-campaigns but this is something much more tangible

While we can't guarantee your project becoming the "Most Funded" card deck on Kickstarter, we can definitely offer some valuable insights on getting featured as a "Project We Love" and increasing your chances of a successful campaign:

Getting Featured as a Kickstarter "Projects We Love":

• There's no secret formula: Kickstarter doesn't accept submissions for featured projects or the "Project We Love" tag. Their team actively scouts for projects showcasing originality, creativity, and a strong potential to resonate with their audience. This is something you earn.
• Focus on a unique and compelling concept for Kickstarter: Your card deck should offer something fresh and exciting, whether it's innovative gameplay, stunning artwork, or a unique theme. Show how it fills a gap in the market or solves a problem in a new way. Explain your "from" and "to" - help customers connect with the transformation your deck will enable.
• Let people test your product for free before they purchase: The key is to demonstrate value ahead of time. Let people play with the deck before they purchase. This is Why Tickle Elmo went from $70m to $350m in 1 year when it was introduced. You could tickle elmo. And that sold. People knew what they are getting. Deckible is no different. Deckible enables your customer to try the deck for free (or it will from the end of Jan 2024). that is a ground breaker. A game changer for your Kickstarter Card Deck.

Hear directly from Alex Hermosi about this idea

Tickle Elmo Tactics

• Polish your Kickstarter project page: Make sure your page is visually appealing, well-organized, and informative. Provide high-quality images and videos showcasing your cards, gameplay (if applicable), and the team behind the project. Write a clear and engaging project description that highlights the benefits and explains why people should back it.
• Build pre-launch buzz for your Kickstarter project: Create a community around your project before launch. Engage with potential backers on social media, relevant forums, and communities. Start gathering press interest and influencer support.
• Launch strong on Kickstarter: Have a well-defined launch strategy to hit the ground running. Prepare pre-launch emails, social media blasts, and press releases. Consider offering early bird discounts and limited-edition rewards.

Becoming the Most Funded Card Deck on Kickstarter:

• Set realistic goals for Kickstarter: While aiming for the top can be motivating, set achievable funding goals based on your target audience and market research.
• Price smartly for Kickstarter: Consider the production costs, reward tiers, and perceived value of your deck. Offer attractive reward packages that provide backers with good value for their money.
• Offer stretch goals on Kickstarter: Set additional funding goals with exciting new rewards to incentivize backers to increase their pledges.
• Run an engaging campaign on Kickstarter: Regularly update your backers, share behind-the-scenes content, and respond to comments and questions. Build a sense of community and excitement around your project.
• Utilize marketing and PR alongside your Kickstarter project: Continue your pre-launch efforts and expand your reach with targeted advertising, influencer partnerships, and media outreach.

Additional Tips for Card Deck Success on Kickstarter:

• Playtest and refine your experience: Ensure your card deck is fun and engaging to play. Get feedback from playtesters and make necessary adjustments before launching.
• Partner with complementary projects: Collaborate with other Kickstarter creators in related categories for cross-promotion and access to a wider audience.
• Provide excellent customer service: Deliver your rewards on time and address any concerns or issues promptly and professionally. This builds trust and encourages repeat backers for future projects.

Remember, success on Kickstarter requires dedication, hard work, and a bit of luck. By focusing on creating a high-quality project, building a strong community, and executing a well-planned campaign, you can significantly increase your chances of having a thriving Kickstarter campaign, regardless of the "Most Funded" title.