What is the best way to incentivize tiers on your kickstarter campaign?

Monique Morrison Communications and International Studies Major

June 1st, 2016

What is the best way to incentivize people to fund your kickstarter campaign when you are not offering a product that has been created yet, nor will the product be needed by everyone?

Scott McGregor Advisor, co-founder, consultant and part time executive to Tech Start-ups. Based in Silicon Valley.

June 1st, 2016

Before your campaign starts, find a bunch of users who have been waiting for you to release your product. Tell them that you are about to do so on Kickstarter, and that because they have been waiting, you will tell them when it goes live, because there are a limited number of special discounts (e.g. 25% off) for those who have been waiting from before the campaign. Point out that these are available on a first come, first serve basis so that they should grab them as soon as you tell them the campaign is live, because otherwise others might grab them and there won't be enough. Now you have just developed a cadre of people who will act quickly, as soon as you go live. Set your "threshold" so as soon as you sell out this limited edition, you will already have achieved your threshold. With this strategy, chances are that you will have achieved your threshold in the first few days because of the existing pent-up demand. And now that you hit your threshold so quickly, follow on backers know that your campaign WILL be funded, AND you will likely be on the front page and a media darling for your quick adoption.

If you launch without already having secured sufficient pent up demand in advance, your campaign will likely fizzle. Kickstarter is a place to monetize existing unsatisfied demand, but not so good at building that demand.

B Cavello Product Development and Community Director

June 1st, 2016

Humor and play are great motivators!

People will come on board for your campaign if the act of participating in the campaign is a reward in and of itself. This also encourages people to share your campaign with their friends because people want their friends to have fun. We used this to our advantage in the Exploding Kittens Kickstarter campaign.

You might also have success if your actual goal is something so incredible (or ridiculous) that people just want to see it come true. This one is a bit more of a reach, but it can be done. (Look to the Hendo campaign on that.) This can also apply on other crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo that allow for charitable campaigns.

Carolina Fonseca Team Performance for Tech Startups

June 2nd, 2016

Offering a discount as Scott suggested is great.

You can also have a tier where instead of getting the product for themselves, they can donate it to an organization who might need it. This is a way of people who don't need your product being able to get it as well.

I've also seen some people simply offering a monthly report in some tears. I'm not sure if it applies to you, but you might consider it.

Chris Gorges Managing Director, Infinia Group // Founder, Biddlist

June 1st, 2016

This is for / from Indiegogo, but probably helpful: https://learn.indiegogo.com/marketing-crowdfunding-field-guide-a/

Richard Tucci Freelance Project Manager & Line Producer at Freelance

June 1st, 2016

Focus on small, manageable tiers for digital deliverables under the $50 mark. Then focus on packages above that, but also make sure you have enough profit margin.