A bit off topic from our usual line-up of subjects to touch upon on this blog, but since we just successfully ran our very first Kickstarter Campaign for our debut book Tooth Be Told we thought we'd give you a little insight into what we thought are our top 5 recommendations to run a successful Kickstarter Campaign.
Launching a Kickstarter campaign for your children's book is an exciting venture that allows you to engage with readers, showcase your creativity, and bring your story to life. However, it's important to approach this endeavor with careful planning and strategy to ensure success. In this blog post, we'll explore the top five recommendations for running a fruitful Kickstarter campaign for your children's book. Additionally, we'll touch upon the fulfillment phase and the anticipation of seeing your books printed and shipped to your eager readers.
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Prepare a Compelling Campaign Page: The foundation of a successful Kickstarter campaign is a well-crafted campaign page. Make sure to provide a concise and engaging description of your book, highlighting its unique features and why it appeals to children and parents alike. Include high-quality visuals such as illustrations, cover art, or sample pages to captivate potential backers. Craft a compelling video that showcases your passion for the project, shares your creative process, and communicates your book's value.
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Set a Realistic Funding Goal: Determining the right funding goal is crucial to the success of your campaign. Consider the costs associated with producing and printing your children's book, as well as shipping, marketing, and any additional expenses. Set a realistic funding target that covers these costs without discouraging potential backers. Remember, it's better to exceed your goal than to fall short, so don't be afraid to aim a bit higher if necessary.
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Offer Enticing Rewards: Rewards play a significant role in attracting backers to your campaign. Brainstorm a variety of enticing and age-appropriate rewards that resonate with your target audience. For example, you could offer signed copies of your book, exclusive merchandise, personalized illustrations, or even the opportunity for a backer's child to become a character in the story. The more unique and valuable the rewards, the more likely you'll capture the interest of potential backers. Here's a link to our Kickstarter Campaign in case you'd like to visit the sort of rewards we set up: Tooth Be Told on Kickstarter
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Build an Engaged Community: Before launching your Kickstarter campaign, focus on building a community around your children's book. Utilize social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter, to share sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes content, and updates on your progress. Engage with your followers, respond to comments and messages promptly, and involve them in the creative journey. By fostering a community of supporters, you'll have a solid base of individuals who are excited to back your campaign and spread the word. We had a goal of posting on all the platforms we are most active in at least once a day in our feeds and in our stories leading up to the campaign and during the length of it as well. Visit us on Instagram for an example of our posts: @20MomentsOfTooth
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Promote, Promote, Promote: Promotion is key to the success of any Kickstarter campaign. Create a comprehensive marketing strategy that encompasses various channels and approaches. Leverage your existing networks, reach out to parenting blogs and influencers, participate in relevant online communities, and consider running targeted ads to expand your reach. Regularly update your campaign page with fresh content and encourage your backers and community to share your campaign with their networks.
So where are we at right now post Kickstarter?
The Fulfillment Phase: We are currently awaiting the printing and shipping of the books!
After the exhilaration of a successful Kickstarter campaign, it's time for the fulfillment phase. This is when you ensure that your backers receive the rewards they pledged for. As you await the printing and shipping of your children's books, be transparent with your backers about the process and keep them informed of any delays or updates. Maintain open lines of communication, answer queries promptly, and provide regular progress updates. This phase is a perfect opportunity to express your gratitude for the support received and reinforce your commitment to delivering a high-quality product.
You can keep in touch with backers via updates directly on Kickstarter.
Running a Kickstarter campaign for your children's book is a thrilling experience that allows you to connect with readers, showcase your creativity, and bring your vision to life. By following these top five recommendations, including preparing a compelling campaign page, setting a realistic funding goal, offering enticing rewards, building an engaged community, and promoting your campaign effectively, you'll increase your chances of success. As you wait for your books to be printed and shipped, remember to stay engaged with your backers and continue fostering the excitement and anticipation for the arrival of your delightful children's book.
We hope you'll continue to follow our children's book, Tooth Be Told, and the journey now to get it sold everywhere where books are sold. We would love for you to join our book launch team. To do that, please visit this link to sign up!