Introduce yourself, your team, and anysimilar work you’ve done (show someexamples!).

The more details, the better. Sketches,samples, prototypes — it all helps backersget as excited as you are.

Tell people how you got the idea, andhow much you’ve accomplished so far.Sharing the project’s history helps othersunderstand the kind of work you do, andhow you go about it.

Lay out a clear, specific timeline for whatbackers can expect.

A simple breakdown lets people knowyou’ve thought things through and have aworkable plan, so they can trust you to usefunds wisely.

Tell people why you’re passionate aboutyour project and committed to making ithappen.

You know better than anyone what yourcommunity wants. Think of things thatwould get you to back a project. Offercopies of your work in different formats,from digital downloads to limited editions.Consider custom work and chances to be apart of the process. Need inspiration? Trythis list we made of 96 reward ideas.

There are a few things we prohibit,including offering financial returns andreselling items from elsewhere.

Be fair. When people think aboutbacking your project, they’re askingthemselves whether your rewards are agood trade for what they’re contributing.The most popular pledge on Kickstarter is$25 — it’s handy to offer somethingsubstantial around that level.

Some backers can spare $100, some$20, some $5. Every one of those backerscounts. Make sure there’s somethingworthwhile at every level — even simple $1rewards. You’ll need to produce anddeliver every reward, though, so thinkthrough each tier and make sure yourbudget works!

Itemize or limit your rewards.

Estimated delivery dates.

Shipping.

Don’t forget the survey tool!

Remember: once your project is live,you can add new rewards any time —but once someone has pledged to areward tier, you can’t change itanymore.

Make a list.

Consider your reach.

Give yourself a cushion.

Set a deadline.

Stretch goals.

And if your project suddenly explodes?

Your project’s dashboard gives you anat-a-glance view of everything that’shappening: your funding progress, wherevisitors to your project page are comingfrom, a breakdown of which rewardsbackers are choosing — even a completefeed of all project activity.

Your backer report is where allinformation about your project’s backerswill be neatly organized. Everything fromthe reward that they chose to anymessages that you’ve exchanged will bedocumented here. And once you send outreward surveys, backers’ responses willALSO be documented here. The report caneasily be downloaded as a CSV file.

Google Analytics opens up a whole newworld of trusted, powerful tools, fromcustom reports and dashboards to theability to track how many visits to theproject page are converting into pledges.

The Kickstarter mobile app can help youmanage communicating with backerswhenever you want, wherever you are! Useit to send messages, post updates, and getat-a-glance looks at how your project isdoing.

While an exceptional project can findoutpourings of support from all over theweb, much of your support may still comefrom people who already know your work.

Begin by making a list of everyone youplan to reach out to about your project.For example, think of the last 50 peopleyou've emailed or texted—these are likelythe people who'll support your project onday one. Collect email addresses, socialmedia handles, and phone numbers in asingle place.

Next, segment your contacts into a fewgroups—think friends, family, fans,coworkers, and industry contacts—anddraft specific messaging for each group.For example, frame your message tofriends around specific reward tiers thatyou think might appeal to them and why.

Think through your campaign holistically:How will you promote your projectpre-launch, on day one, on week two, andbeyond? Put together a week-by-weekcalendar to schedule emails, social mediaannouncements, project updates, andmore.

While an exceptional project can findoutpourings of support from all over theweb, much of your support may still comefrom people who already know your work.

Begin by making a list of everyone youplan to reach out to about your project.For example, think of the last 50 peopleyou've emailed or texted—these are likelythe people who'll support your project onday one. Collect email addresses, socialmedia handles, and phone numbers in asingle place.

Next, segment your contacts into a fewgroups—think friends, family, fans,coworkers, and industry contacts—anddraft specific messaging for each group.For example, frame your message tofriends around specific reward tiers thatyou think might appeal to them and why.

Think through your campaign holistically:How will you promote your projectpre-launch, on day one, on week two, andbeyond? Put together a week-by-weekcalendar to schedule emails, social mediaannouncements, project updates, andmore.

A week or two before launch, share yourproject with your community to give theman early heads up. Here are two tools thatcan help:

Once your project is live, let people know!

Recruit some help. If your goal isambitious, you might need more than justyourself to get the word out. Tap yourcollaborators, peers, or pals to help. Draftsome simple messaging that yourcommunity can easily repurpose whensharing your project with their networks.

Don’t spam. When you’re in promotionalmode, it’s easy to unintentionally comeacross as a spambot. Try not to overwhelmpeople with e-blasts and group texts.(Sticking to your outreach calendar canhelp space out your messaging.) Visit ourCommunity Guidelines for moreinformation on spamming.

A well-placed piece of press can place yourproject in the cultural conversation, andhelp you reach a wider network of peopleinterested in your idea.

Think of these as your project’s blog.Keep backers engaged through interestingand shareable updates, and encouragethem to spread the word about yourprogress, like this project did. Backersaren’t just looking for updates on whentheir rewards will show up — most of themlove a look at the details of how work likeyours is actually made. Show them!

You can post text-only updates, or youcan include images, video, and even soundclips. (Check these out!) You can markupdates as public or for backers only.Updates can be emailed to all yourbackers, or just to specific reward tiers.And after an update is posted, you evenhave 30 minutes to edit it.

You can use messages to communicatewith backers one-on-one. Remember tocheck your messages and commentsregularly, and respond to any questions. Ifyou find that you’re frequently gettingquestions about the same topic, considermaking it the subject of your next update.

Once your project is successfully funded,use the Spotlight feature to customize yourpage, highlight images that show yourplans coming together, and direct youraudience to where they can see yourcurrent work. Looking for inspiration? Visitthis page.

Surveys let you collect information frombackers — their shipping addresses, sizes,choices of colors or flavors, or anythingelse. You can start drafting backer surveysany time after you’ve launched a project,but they can only be sent out once yourproject is successfully funded. They canalso only be sent once — so think throughall the questions you’ll need to ask in orderto provide rewards, and prepareaccordingly.

If managing all the logistics of your projectstarts to feel a little overwhelming, or youwind up with more backers than you wereprepared for, don’t worry: you don’t needto do everything yourself. There arebusinesses that specialize in things likemass mailing, warehousing, packaging —you name it. If there’s a part of the processyou feel comfortable outsourcing, and youcan find a partner you trust, it can helplighten the load and create a better, moreefficient experience for you and yourbackers. With the help of many Kickstartercreators, we’ve compiled this list of servicesthat help with everything from packagingand shipping to manufacturing, gamesdistribution, and vinyl pressing. Check themout and research which partners will workbest for your project and your backers.