Sometimes the first steps are the hardest. Stay informed and learn about crowdfunding in our weekly newsletters, get inspiration and ask questions in our welcoming Facebook group, and start drafting a project timeline to keep yourself accountable. And it’s never too soon to sign up for a Kickstarter account and to start creating your project draft. This is the best way to get familiar with the campaign page layout and will serve as a great blueprint to help prepare you for your launch.

• ✦ Join our Community Newsletter
• ✦ Join our Facebook Group
• ✦ Create a Kickstarter Account
• ✦ Start a Kickstarter project
• ✦ View our Crowdfunding Timeline
• ✦ Learn about how BackerKit can help

Getting organized and setting your expectations is a vital part of the crowdfunding process. Do your research, build a team you can trust, and become a member of the tabletop community while setting up a solid foundation to build a community of your own around your game.

• ✦ Centralize your ideas and get organized
• ✦ Establish your personal goals and expectations
• ✦ Become an active member of the Kickstarter community
• ✦ Follow similar game companies, people, and influencers
• ✦ Create an ideal backer profile
• ✦ Identify your key team members

When it comes to crowdfunding your game, building a strong and dedicated community is the #1 most important aspect. And it’s something that you will never stop doing once you start. Everyone starts at zero. Be consistent. Support others. And take no shortcuts.

• ✦ Create a landing page to collect emails
• ✦ Create your social media pages and channels
• ✦ Start collecting emails and social media followers
• ✦ Continue backing similar projects on Kickstarter
• ✦ Discover and join like-minded online communities and groups
• ✦ Attend conventions and events to share your project

Crafting a solid prototype of your game is a crucial step on the path to crowdfunding success. You need to be able to let your potential backers know what your game looks like and how it is played. And it’s important to have both physical and digital versions of your game out there so more people can give you the feedback you need.

• ✦ Create your first working physical prototype
• ✦ Create your first working digital prototype

This is how good games become great games. Spend a significant amount of time playtesting your game with everyone from friends & family to complete strangers. Brace yourself for both positive and negative feedback and everything in between. Be thorough, be consistent, and use this stage to make your game better and to build community along the way.

• ✦ The 3 stages of playtesting — Internal, Local, and Blind
• ✦ Create your campaign-ready prototype
• ✦ Research & price your game and develop a budget

It’s time to start preparing for your crowdfunding launch. Do your research on what it takes to succeed, and have a plan for how you will share the launch with your community. It’s perfectly acceptable to delay your planned launch date until you are ready, but keep in mind, sometimes the best way to learn is to run a campaign no matter if you get funded on your first try or not.

• ✦ Draft your Kickstarter Campaign Page
• ✦ Finalize and submit for approval with Kickstarter
• ✦ Set up your Kickstarter Preview Page and Pre-Launch Page
• ✦ Create your campaign promotion strategy
• ✦ Know when you are “launch ready”