DAY 2: LEARNING FROM OTHER CAMPAIGNS
Time to dive into research, but don't get overwhelmed - this is actually the fun part. Use Kickstarter's search function and filter for the "Publishing" category. Then narrow it down to your specific genre (fantasy, romance, etc.). You can also search "special edition" if you're planning to crowdfund a new version of an existing book.
Back a few current book campaigns at the $1-5 level. This isn't just about supporting other creators - you'll get to experience their campaign updates firsthand and see how they communicate with backers. Pay attention to how often they post updates and what they share.
While you're browsing, find 5 successful campaigns in your genre. Look for ones that align with your goals - if you're aiming for a $2,000 campaign, don't entirely focus on studying $50,000 ones. Those ones are great for inspiration still and you can learn a lot from them, but sometimes they are coming in with an audience that would back them no matter what they were putting up or how well it was put together. So feel free to still look at the big ones, but make sure that it's a mix of small and large campaigns you are looking at. Funding big also comes with its own complications. Fulfillment can become more overwhelming and complicated with a large campaign.
Note down:
Their funding goal and final amount raised
Number of backers (this helps calculate average pledge amounts)
How they structured their reward tiers
Their page layout
Project graphics (was it themed and branded feeling?)
How they presented their story
Whether they used video (not a requirement to run a successful campaign)
The structure of how they shared the story and characters in order
What the reward tiers were and pricing
Their estimated delivery dates
Their author bio
Any disclaimer given to backers
Stretch goals used
Don't ignore failed campaigns - they're valuable learning tools. Find 2-3 that didn't fund and try to spot why. Common issues include unclear project descriptions, poor images, confusing reward tiers, lack of marketing, or unrealistic goals.
Create a simple spreadsheet with columns for:
Project name
Goal amount
Amount raised
Number of backers
Average pledge
Notable reward tiers
What caught your attention
What didn't work
Delivery timeline
Take screenshots of layouts you like - they'll be helpful when designing your page. Pay special attention to how successful campaigns showcase their books, especially their header images and reward tier graphics.
The Kickstarter for Authors Facebook group has a search function - use it to find discussions about campaigns similar to what you're planning. You'll often find creators sharing what worked and what they'd do differently.
Remember: your goal isn't to copy anyone's campaign, but to understand what resonates with backers in your genre and what pledge levels they're comfortable with.
Is there a campaign that blew you out of the water? Feel free to share it with us! We love to see them too.
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