Kickstarter is how thousands of creators earn an income. It’s one of the most popular rewards-based crowdfunding platforms out there.
Kickstarter’s a place where creators and entrepreneurs can get funding for their projects from people who are excited about new ideas. If you know how to put together a good Kickstarter campaign, you can turn your product idea into a lucrative business!
The best way to be successful on Kickstarter is to market aggressively. You need to start spreading the word about your project before you even launch your campaign.
If you want to grow your Kickstarter campaign and get more backers, you should use every avenue available for promotion. But where to begin?
Here are our best places to promote a Kickstarter or crowdfunding campaign.
If you’re interested in learning how to get more funding and grow your Kickstarter or Indiegogo, read on for some of our top Kickstarter tricks and tips!
1. Your Website
A website is a must-have for Kickstarter creators looking for funding. This is also true of Indiegogo creators!
In addition to serving as a homebase, your site will let you showcase your product ideas and feature a link to your Kickstarter so that people can find it easily.
Your website is also a great place to start building an email list of contacts who are interested in your work. Leave a spot for visitors to provide their email addresses so that you can reach out to them.
If you’re new to web design, check out our best advice for building a strong website here.
2. Email Blasts
Speaking of email marketing, it’s one of the best ways to attract backers for your Kickstarter!
If someone gives you their email address, it’s a pretty good sign they might be interested in funding you, so make sure they know how to do that.
Generate hype for your project by sending out announcements and dropping the link to all of your contacts through an email blast as soon as your Kickstarter page goes live.
3. Podcasts
Podcasts are great places to promote Kickstarter campaigns and network with other members of the community.
If you have a podcast of your own, don’t hesitate to mention your project and let people know how they can support you on Kickstarter.
You can also reach out to existing podcasts that are looking for guests and will allow you to promote your campaign.
This works especially well with podcasts in your niche, where you’re more likely to reach audience members that are excited about your ideas.
4. Blogs
Some blogs encourage creators to submit guest posts to help them reach a wider audience.
Find blogs that seek submissions from guest writers and write some strong copy to generate interest in your campaign.
You can also try searching for blogs specifically in your niche that feature work from independent creators.
For instance, if you have an exciting idea for a tabletop game, you could search for a site like BoardGameGeek, which is geared towards board game fans and takes submissions for startup ideas to feature!
5. Facebook
If you want to be successful on Kickstarter, social media marketing is a top priority, and when it comes to social media, Facebook is still leading the charge!
Make a public page for your campaign that includes a link to your Kickstarter or Indiegogo and some information about your project. You can also post a link on your personal profile for friends to access.
6. Facebook Groups
In addition to posting on your own pages, there are plenty of groups on Facebook that will let you promote your crowdfunding campaign.
You can search for groups in your niche or join groups that are specifically set up for creators to market their Kickstarters.
Check out our list of Facebook groups to promote your Kickstarter for more resources!
7. LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a social media site geared towards a professional audience, and it’s great for connecting with potential backers.
Like Facebook, LinkedIn has several groups set up to allow creators to promote their ideas. You can also feature a link to your Kickstarter page at the top of your public profile.
8. Twitter
Twitter has a massive user base, and if you’re looking to reach as many people as possible with your campaign, it’s an ideal venue.
A few brief Tweets with links to your Kickstarter can go a long way towards getting you the funding you need.
9. Instagram
Instagram is an image-sharing platform that’s very popular with social media influencers, and it’s a great place to grow your Kickstarter.
You can curate your Instagram account with posts that advertise your product and generate excitement for your campaign. Once you’ve amassed a few followers, let them know how they can support you on Kickstarter.
10. TikTok
Thanks to its powerful algorithm, the video-sharing site TikTok is great at helping users find content that interests them.
A TikTok post teasing your product and announcing your Kickstarter or Indiegogo can help connect you with your target audience and get your more backers.
Consider setting up an account so that you can show off your ideas to the people who want to see them and start growing your Kickstarter.
11. Google Ads
Google ads are a popular way of promoting content, and that’s because they’re good at reaching a wide audience.
Once you buy an ad spot, Google can feature your promotional content on videos, apps, search results, and webpages.
This a powerful way to get your campaign on backers’ radar, but be aware: Google has strict rules about soliciting funds through ads, so make sure to represent your content appropriately.
12. In-app Banner Ads
Google isn’t the only place to run your ad. You can also invest in in-app banner ads to appear in mobile apps.
This works best if you focus on apps in your niche – that is, apps that relate to your product – so you are more likely to reach your target market.
13. PR Media
Press releases that get the word out to the media can potentially generate a lot of traffic for your campaign.
Catching the attention of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, or CNN can get a lot of eyes on your Kickstarter, and even features from smaller companies like Buzzfeed can go a long way in getting you more backers.
14. Crowdfunding PR
If the idea of submitting a press release seems intimidating to you, our partner site, Crowdfunding PR, can help.
You can submit your own press release for free, or pay to have it enhanced by professionals.
Within the next couple of days, Crowdfunding PR will do the rest to ensure your press release ends up in the right hands
15. YouTube
Why are videos so popular? Because they’re good at delivering messages, and the best place for online videos is YouTube!
If you have a YouTube channel, try making a video to show off your product and really sell your audience on what it can do for them. Then direct everyone to Kickstarter so they know how to support you.
16. Reddit
With millions of users and thousands of forums, Reddit has a community for everyone, and Kickstarter is no exception.
A post on reddit’s Kickstarter forum, r/kickstarter, can get your campaign some exposure.
Here, Reddit users gather to share their thoughts on Kickstarter marketing strategy and promote their projects, so if you decide to check it out, you’ll also have the added bonus of hearing other users’ feedback and advice.
(By the way, you can’t go wrong by seeking out a little education to steer your campaign in the right direction!
Check out our free Kickstarter email course for all the best tricks, tips, and crowdfunding secrets for Kickstarter success.)
17. Kickstarter Forum
Kickstarter Forum is a whole site dedicated to discussing Kickstarter.
It has message boards for users to share their experiences with Kickstarter campaigns, as well as channels for self-promotion, and you can post info on your campaign for free.
There’s a lot you can learn from Kickstarter Forum, and if you’re a beginner, it’s worth taking a look at!
18. Kicktraq
Kicktraq is a tool for driving SEO and getting insights into your campaign’s progress.
The site allows you to view analytics and data for all existing Kickstarter pages, so it’s a perfect place to start crunching the numbers.
It also has its uses for marketing. By posting there, you might drum up some interest from bloggers and fellow creators and gain more exposure.
19. Cool Backer
Cool Backer is a site that showcases all the coolest products that are waiting for funding, as well as products that have been successfully funded through crowdfunding.
They’ll allow you to submit your project for inclusion, and if they’re impressed, they might feature it on their page.
20. The Startup Pitch
The purpose of The Startup Pitch is to give up and coming entrepreneurs a venue to post pitches for their startups.
Once your pitch has been submitted and approved, visitors to the site can browse ideas and find your Kickstarter. Getting featured on The Startup Pitch is also a great way to drive SEO for your campaign.
21. Killer Startups
Killer Startups is designed to help independent creators and entrepreneurs like you gain exposure for their ideas, and this includes promoting Kickstarter campaigns.
Fill out a quick form with the name of your campaign and get ready to reach a new audience. They’ve helped tons of budding businesses find success (including Uber – ever heard of them?), and yours could be next!
22. Product Hunt
Product Hunt shares news about emerging tech products daily, and they accept submissions from independent creators with inventive, problem-solving ideas.
It’s worth noting that they tend to be very selective, you may want to wait until you’ve established some credibility with your campaign and have already generated some interest. Regardless, they’re a great resource for anyone interested in breaking into the tech world!
23. Thrillist
Thrillist describes themselves as “an online website covering food, drink, travel and entertainment,” and if that sounds like your campaign, it’s worth reaching out to them.
Get in touch with the staff and introduce yourself and your idea. If they think it’s a good fit for the site, you might get a write-up!
24. Werd
Werd is a blog site oriented around unique items for men. The Werd staff is always on the hunt for the next big thing, especially from independent creators with original ideas.
If you have a product you think guys will enjoy, you can submit it to Werd and it might be listed on the site to reach more potential backers.
25. Bless This Stuff
Similar to Werd, Bless This Stuff is an online magazine that features high-quality products for a mostly male audience, including technology, fashion, media, and more.
They offer advertising opportunities for creators, so reach out via the contact page. Let them know what your idea is all about and see if they’re willing to give your campaign a spotlight.
26. Gadget Flow
Gadget Flow is an online tech magazine that advertises creative and innovative gadgets from all around the world, and they love helping out crowdfunders with unique ideas.
If you have a cool gadget you want to get out into the world, you can submit it to Gadget Flow, and if you’re selected, they’ll give you a shoutout.
27. Oddity Central
Oddity Central is the home for all things weird, and that includes wacky products.
If you’ve got a crazy idea that just needs some backers, they might be interested in featuring you. Submit your campaign as a potential topic for an article.
Remember, on this site, the weirder, the better, so don’t be shy about letting your freak flag fly!
Conclusion
Good marketing strategy is at the heart of every successful Kickstarter campaign. Afterall, you can’t expect to find backers if you don’t spread the word about your great idea!
Fortunately, there are tons of places online that will help you connect with potential backers, and most of them are well within your reach.
You don’t have to use all of these resources, but if you pick a few platforms that work for you and start putting together some promotional material, you’re on the right track to getting funded.
The bottom line is, while Kickstarter success can be very rewarding, it doesn’t come automatically. There’s a lot that goes into putting together an effective Kickstarter campaign.
If you’re really passionate about your work and want to make sure your Kickstarter doesn’t sell you short, we have a book for you.
The Kickstarter Launch Formula will tell you everything you need to know about running a successful Kickstarter campaign. It’s the culmination of years of research into the crowdfunding world, and it really is the definitive guide to Kickstarter, especially if you’re just starting out!
