How to Start a Kickstarter: Tutorial for Beginners (WATCH FIRST)

Kickstarter Project Launch: A Step-by-Step Guide

Key Concepts:

• Kickstarter project setup
• Category and subcategory selection
• Project Basics (title, subtitle, image, video, duration, funding goal)
• Rewards (items, reward tiers, add-ons)
• Campaign page (story, risks, FAQs)
• Project planning
• Team/People section
• Payment setup (bank account, identity verification)
• Promotion (pre-launch page, tracking, analytics)
• Project review and launch

1. Initial Project Setup

• Category Selection: Choose a primary category (e.g., Design, Games, Technology) and a subcategory relevant to your project. Design, Games, and Technology are the largest categories in terms of funds raised. Category impacts discoverability on Kickstarter.
• Project Location: Specifies the location of your bank account, not necessarily your residence. This is where funds will be collected.

2. Project Basics

• Review Rules: Read and understand Kickstarter's rules, especially the prohibited items list.
• Project Title and Subtitle: These appear at the top of the campaign page and are crucial for attracting attention.
• Project Image: Use dimensions of at least 1024x576 pixels. Canva is recommended for easy image creation.
• Project Video: Essential for successful campaigns. Include file formats.
• Target Launch Date: Optional; used by Kickstarter to provide timeline recommendations.
• Campaign Duration: Choose between a fixed number of days (1-60) or ending on a specific date and time. Ending on a Thursday at 11:59 PM in your time zone is recommended to maximize selling time on the final day.
• Late Pledges: Enable this to allow backers to pledge after the campaign ends, adding to the total funds raised.
• Funding Goal: Set the minimum amount needed to make your project happen. Use the project budget tool or calculator to determine this.

3. Rewards

• Items: Individual components included in reward tiers or add-ons (e.g., "party game," "carrying case").
• Reward Tiers: Different pledge levels offering specific items or combinations of items.
  • Include a title (e.g., "Early Bird"), description, image, pledge amount, and estimated delivery date.
  • Set a limited quantity to create scarcity.
  • Specify whether the reward includes physical goods for shipping calculation purposes.
  • Shipping costs can be set per country or as zero, with shipping charged post-campaign using a pledge management tool for accurate rates.
• Add-ons: Optional upsells that backers can add to their reward tiers.

Example:

• Reward Tier: "Early Bird - $10 Off"
  • Description: "Get an early copy for $10 off retail."
  • Retail Price: $30
  • Pledge Amount: $20 (Late Pledge: $22)
  • Quantity: Limited to 10
  • Items: 1 x Party Game, 1 x Carrying Case
  • Estimated Delivery: February 2026
  • Shipping: $0 to all countries (shipping charged post-campaign)

4. Story (Campaign Page)

• Use a mixture of text and images to present your project.
• Headlines created using the text editor will appear in the left-hand navigation. Use sparingly to avoid a messy look.
• Refer to successful campaigns for inspiration on style and content.

5. Risks and Challenges

• Be transparent about potential risks related to manufacturing, fulfillment, etc.
• Disclose if AI was used in the project.

6. FAQs

• Add frequently asked questions to address potential backer concerns.

7. Plan

• Indicate the current stage of your project development (e.g., proof of concept, working prototype, pre-production).
• A working prototype is generally required for Kickstarter approval.

8. People

• Set up your profile with an image and information about yourself.
• Add collaborators to the project with specific permissions.

9. Payment

• Verify your contact email.
• Choose your entity type (individual, business, nonprofit).
• Verify your identity with Stripe (Kickstarter's payment processor).
• Provide your bank account information for receiving funds.
• Provide a payment source (credit/debit card) for chargeback situations.

10. Promotion

• Project URL: Generated after project approval.
• Pre-Launch Page: Create a page to collect followers before launch.
• Custom Referral Tags: For advanced referral tracking.
• Google Analytics: Set up tracking using your Google Analytics tracking ID and API secret.
• Meta Pixel: Implement for advertising tracking. Follow the help article to get the pixel ID.

11. Project Review and Launch

• Once all sections are complete (green checkmarks), submit your project for review.
• The review process takes 1-3 business days (allow at least a week).
• After approval, you can launch your campaign.

Conclusion

Launching a Kickstarter project involves a series of well-defined steps, from setting up the basics to crafting compelling rewards and promoting the campaign. While the process itself is not overly complicated, success hinges on careful planning, transparent communication, and effective marketing. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding each section of the Kickstarter project builder and utilizing available tools for tracking and promotion.