{"id":3684,"date":"2012-04-03T13:38:36","date_gmt":"2012-04-03T20:38:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beanleafpress.com\/?p=3684"},"modified":"2012-04-03T13:49:38","modified_gmt":"2012-04-03T20:49:38","slug":"shop-talk-running-a-successful-kickstarter-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/localhost:821\/shop-talk-running-a-successful-kickstarter-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Shop Talk: Running a successful kickstarter project"},"content":{"rendered":"

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So you want to run a successful kickstarter project?<\/h3>\n

Independent comic book creators and artist are finding an wonderful new funding platform for their projects these days. Kickstarter was the first really successful crowd funding platform to go main stream. It’s an incredible tool, especially in an industry that looks down on indy creators.<\/p>\n

As many of you know, I myself have funded two very successful kickstarter projects. I am in the process of preparing a third. I hope that I can pass on some advice to help other creators, find success in their projects as well. I’ll be honest it is a great funding tool for art projects, yet it can also be quite stressful and frustrating. Especially if you miss your goal.<\/p>\n

The key element about kickstarter is really based on trust. Trust that the creator will finish the project and make good on his rewards. So let’s get into it.<\/p>\n

What is kickstarter?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kickstarter in a nut shell is a crowd funding platform for creators. It is an all or nothing deal. You set a financial goal to work towards with a tangible reward of your creation and people, pledge money to one support you and two to receive the product you created in some form. If your product overfunds you get to keep\u00a0 the money that comes in to help improve and better the product. If your goal does not fund, then you get nothing and you have an opportunity to re-evaluate if it is worth continuing. It’s a fantastic program.<\/p>\n

So how do you make it work for you?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Well first you need a project. Since I am dealing with graphic novels and comics, I am really focusing on that aspect. I find that it is best to talk about what I know about, so if you want to do a movie project I would recommend looking at movie kickstarter projects that were successful and follow them. Some of the same applications are the same but in the end each product is unique.<\/p>\n

Once you figure out your project – how much do you need to fund it?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

This is important. Don’t look at kickstarter as way to pay all your bills. It is to fund your project<\/strong><\/span>. So make the goal reasonable. Also figure out the following<\/p>\n

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  1. Design-<\/strong><\/em> Are you having outside help- this isn’t always cheap. Since I do all the art and stories myself, I only have to rely and pay me. (helps keep the cost down.)<\/li>\n
  2. Production cost-<\/strong><\/em> printing and shipping to you. This will be the bulk of the cost<\/li>\n
  3. Shipping and packaging –<\/strong> A lot of people don’t realize this and forget to add this in. Shipping for our first project ran up to $1400 dollars. So you should ad this in. International shipping is really expensive. You will need to decide if you want to add more or not. (I chose not to)<\/li>\n
  4. Swag-<\/strong><\/em> Any swag you offer in your reward tiers. If you are offering t-shirts etc… you still have production costs added to your goal. This can get expensive as well.\u00a0 I kept my rewards tied to the book.<\/li>\n
  5. Fees<\/strong><\/em>– There are fees to kickstarter and amazon bank (which you have to use). 10% of your pledges received will go to cover kickstarters operating costs and amazon charges. Be prepared for that.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    So you have your costs set up and you set up your goal and accounts. You then create the reward structure. This allows people to pledge what they feel comfortable with. Not everyone can pledge $50 but a lot will pledge $10, $15, or $25. May those rewards enticing as well. Don’t get greedy. People are there to support you. Not because you deserve it, but because they want to see you succeed, plain and simple.<\/p>\n

    I offered at the lowest level a book with a free sketch (we did 350 in the first run) as well as their name printed in the back of the book. The higher the pledge, the more the reward was. (it is worth it). Make it fun for them.<\/p>\n

    A movie? Crud I have to make a movie?<\/strong><\/em>
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