How to Meet Your Kickstarter Deadlines and Keep Your Backers Happy

Learn how to deliver your Kickstarter rewards on time and delight your backers with these tips and tricks.

Cosma Zhang

September 25, 2023

For all Kickstarter project creators, there's one crucial factor that can make or break your project's success: delivering on time. In this article, we'll delve into the tips for meeting your Kickstarter deadlines and keeping your backers happy. Join us on this journey to learn how to navigate the complexities of project management and ensure a timely delivery that exceeds expectations.

The Kickstarter Promise: A Pledge to Deliver

Understanding the Commitment

When you launch a Kickstarter campaign, you make a promise to your backers. They entrust you with their hard-earned money, believing in your vision and your ability to deliver. It's not just about raising funds; it's about keeping your word. You owe it to your backers to fulfill your Kickstarter promise and deliver the rewards they pledged for. This is not only a moral obligation, but also a legal one. According to Kickstarter's terms of use, creators are legally bound to complete their projects and satisfy their backers.

The Perplexity of Kickstarter Deadlines

Delivering on time in the realm of Kickstarter can be perplexing. There are countless variables to consider, from production delays to unforeseen obstacles. But these challenges are what make the journey worthwhile. They test your creativity, resilience, and problem-solving skills. They also give you an opportunity to learn from your mistakes and improve your processes. The key is to embrace the perplexity and uncertainty of Kickstarter deadlines, rather than fear them. By doing so, you'll be able to adapt to changing circumstances and overcome any hurdles that come your way.

The Kickstarter Journey: Navigating the Bursts

Embracing Burstiness

Kickstarter projects often experience bursts of activity. During the campaign, you may see a sudden surge in backers and pledges. This can be triggered by various factors, such as media coverage, social media buzz, or word-of-mouth referrals. Embrace these moments of burstiness and use them to your advantage. They can help you reach or exceed your funding goal, generate more exposure for your project, and attract more potential customers.

Managing Burstiness

However, managing burstiness can be challenging. It requires a well-thought-out strategy to handle the influx of backers and ensure a smooth production process. You need to plan ahead for the possibility of burstiness and prepare accordingly. For example, you can set realistic expectations for your delivery date, account for extra costs and time in your budget and schedule, and have contingency plans in case of emergencies. You also need to communicate effectively with your backers and keep them updated on any changes or issues that may arise.

Project Management: The Key to Timely Delivery

The Role of Effective Project Management

Successful Kickstarter creators understand the importance of project management. Project management is the process of planning, organizing, executing, monitoring, and controlling a project from start to finish. It helps you achieve your objectives within the scope, time, quality, and budget constraints. Learn how to create a detailed timeline, allocate resources efficiently, and mitigate potential delays. By applying effective project management techniques, you'll be able to deliver on time and meet or exceed your backers' expectations.

Tools for Project Management

Discover the tools and software that can streamline your project management efforts, making it easier to meet your Kickstarter deadlines. There are many options available for different aspects of project management, such as task management, collaboration, communication, file sharing, reporting, etc. Some examples are Trello, Asana, Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. Also you can choose to collaborate with some pledge managers to manage everything on a powerful integrated system. Choose the tools that suit your needs and preferences, and use them consistently throughout your project.

Communication Is Key

Keeping Backers Informed

Transparent communication is essential for delivering on time and keeping your backers happy. Keep your backers in the loop, sharing both progress and setbacks. This builds trust and understanding between you and your backers. It also helps you get feedback and support from your backers, which can improve your project's quality and outcome. You can communicate with your backers through various channels, such as updates, comments, messages, emails, social media posts, etc. Make sure you communicate frequently, clearly, and honestly with your backers.

Handling Delays

In the event of unexpected delays, make sure to address them promptly and honestly with your backers. If you are wondering how to turn setbacks into opportunities for strengthening your project and relationship with your backers, here are the steps. First of all, don't panic or hide from your backers. Instead, acknowledge the delay and explain the reasons behind it. Apologize sincerely and express gratitude for their patience and support. Then, provide a realistic estimate of when you expect to deliver the rewards. Finally, offer some compensation or incentive to your backers, such as a discount, a bonus, or a sneak peek.

Conclusion

Delivering on time is not just a commitment; it's something like a corestone of your projects. Embrace the perplexity and burstiness of the journey while maintaining effective project management and transparent communication. By doing so, you'll not only meet your Kickstarter deadlines but also create a loyal community of backers who will support you in your future endeavors.