How to Boost Your Kickstarter Campaign with a Digital Preview

Who doesn't love a free sample of a Kickstarter project? Especially when it can make or break your campaign.

Cosma Zhang

November 14, 2023

No matter the nature of your Kickstarter project, providing a digital preview to potential backers is a strategy worth considering. Whether you're penning a novel, designing a game, or filming a movie, sharing a snippet of your work can be a game-changer. Let's delve into why this approach is crucial by addressing three common concerns: theft of ideas, negative feedback, and the presentation of unpolished work.

Fear of Idea Theft

The fear of idea theft is common among creators. However, remember this: producing a physical copy of your project, such as a book or a game, is expensive. Therefore, even if you share a sample chapter or a demo version of your game, most people would prefer to purchase the finished product rather than print it themselves.

Moreover, if you are worried about intellectual property infringement, publicizing your work is the best way to establish your ownership. Posting your content publicly gives you a timestamp that can validate your claim of creation.

Fear of Negative Feedback

Not everyone will like your work, and that's okay. People are more likely to support your project if they have the opportunity to invest their time in it. By sharing a sample and asking for feedback, you're engaging potential backers in your journey. Even if they don't like what they see initially, their feedback could be invaluable, and their engagement could turn them from potential backers to enthusiastic supporters.

Fear of Presenting Unpolished Work

It's natural to worry about presenting an unpolished version of your work. However, backers understand that you're raising funds to create a final, polished project. Thus, even a sample chapter with a few typos or a game with placeholder art is acceptable.

Benefits of Sharing a Preview

Sharing a preview of your Kickstarter project can have many benefits for both you and your backers. Here are some of them:

•  It can generate interest and excitement for your project, as well as word-of-mouth marketing.

•  It can showcase your skills and talents, as well as your passion and dedication.

•  It can increase the trust and confidence of your backers, as they can see what they are getting for their money.

•  It can help you test and improve your product or service, as you can get feedback and suggestions from your backers.

•  It can create a sense of anticipation and urgency, as backers can see the progress and potential of your project.

Methods to Share a Preview

You could offer a preview to those who express interest, allowing you to know exactly who is sampling your work. Alternatively, you could post a link to the sample file directly on your project page.

Another option is to include the preview with every pledge, effective as soon as the backer makes their pledge. This way, you can track who is sampling your work and follow up with them for feedback.

Act Sharp

Sharing a preview of your Kickstarter project can be a powerful strategy to engage potential backers and gain valuable feedback. It addresses common fears and provides a platform for interaction. So, why not give it a shot?