Kickstarter and direct sales offer indie authors more control over their IP and income.
Launching a Kickstarter campaign should start small as a learning opportunity and gradually expand over subsequent campaigns.
Using Kickstarter allows authors to have ownership of their audience, providing direct contact and avoiding limitations on platforms.
Deep dives
The Rise of Kickstarter and Direct Sales
Kickstarter and direct sales have gained popularity in the indie author community as authors seek more control and autonomy over their intellectual property and income. The maturity of the retailer-centric model has led to a shift towards being independent authors rather than publishers tied to specific platforms. Kickstarter and direct sales provide opportunities to build new audiences and offer unique products beyond traditional novels.
Learning and Scaling with Kickstarter
Launching a Kickstarter campaign requires learning through experience. The first campaign should be treated as a learning opportunity, starting small with a digital-only offering, short duration, and quick fulfillment. The focus is on gaining familiarity with the platform and building an audience. Subsequent campaigns can be expanded with higher expectations, additional products, and increased funding. Each campaign contributes to growing an audience and establishing a presence in the Kickstarter community.
Considerations for Merchandise and Manufacturing
When creating merchandise for Kickstarter campaigns, authors have options for print-on-demand or custom manufacturing. Print-on-demand services are suitable for smaller quantities, while custom manufacturing requires sourcing manufacturers based on specific products. Consolidating manufacturing in one location streamlines shipping and fulfillment processes. Starting with a smaller range of products and gradually expanding in subsequent campaigns allows authors to manage logistics effectively and avoid overwhelming themselves with multiple moving parts.
The Benefits of Kickstarter and Direct Sales
One of the main advantages of using Kickstarter and direct sales is the ability to have ownership of your audience. Unlike selling through retailers, where customer data is hidden behind their systems, using Kickstarter allows you to have access to your customers' email addresses, physical addresses, and contact numbers. This ownership provides the opportunity to maintain direct contact with your audience, even if there are changes or limitations on the platform. This visibility and audience ownership are especially important in today's world, where platforms may change algorithms or limit reach, impacting your business.
Maximizing Kickstarter Campaign Success
One of the most common mistakes authors make when running Kickstarter campaigns is not taking advantage of the pre-launch phase. This phase, which can be set up months in advance, allows you to build interest and excitement for your campaign before it even goes live. By utilizing the pre-launch page, backers can follow your campaign, receive notifications on launch day, and contribute to its success. Failing to leverage this powerful tool often leads to campaigns falling short of funding goals. Understanding the unique nature of Kickstarter as a platform for backers to be part of something bigger than a simple purchase is key to creating engaging campaigns.
What are the benefits — and the challenges — of crowdfunding on Kickstarter? How can you fund successfully, as well as make a profit with your campaign? Paddy Finn gives his tips. In the intro, you can find more selling direct resources here; Streaming due for a streamlining [FT]; Authors Guild explores AI licensing deal […]
