Get Kickstarter Backers: A Simple Trick to Double Donations

You’ve launched your Kickstarter campaign. You’ve poured your heart into the video, crafted the perfect rewards, and told all your friends and family. But now, the initial surge has faded, and the dreaded plateau sets in. The funding meter is crawling, and you’re left wondering, “How do I get more Kickstarter backers and seriously increase my Kickstarter donations?”

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Most creators make one critical mistake: they launch to their audience, not with them.

The secret isn’t just better marketing after you launch. It’s about what you do before you ever hit the “Go” button. The one trick that consistently doubles, and even triples, funding is building a pre-launch email list of super-fans.

This isn’t just an email list. This is your “Day One Mob”—a dedicated group ready to swarm your campaign the moment it goes live, creating explosive momentum that attracts organic Kickstarter backers and algorithms alike.

Why a Pre-Launch List is Your Ultimate Weapon

Think about it. Launching a Kickstarter without an audience is like opening a shop on a deserted street. No matter how great your product is, no one is there to see it.

A pre-launch list solves this by:

1. Generating Instant Momentum: When your campaign goes live, your first 50, 100, or 200 backers come from this list. This funds your project quickly and triggers Kickstarter’s “Popular” and “Projects We Love” algorithms, giving you free, highly-visible promotion.
2. Validating Your Idea: If you can’t get 100 people interested enough to give you their email for free, how will you get them to pay for your product? This list is your first proof of concept.
3. Creating a Core Community: These early subscribers aren’t just email addresses; they are your most passionate advocates. They will share your campaign, leave comments, and create the social proof that convinces hesitant strangers to become Kickstarter backers.

How to Build Your “Day One Mob” and Double Your Donations

So, how do you build this invaluable list? Follow this simple, three-step framework.

Step 1: Create a Irresistible “Lead Magnet”

You can’t just ask for an email. You have to offer value. Your lead magnet is a free piece of content that solves a problem for your potential backer. It should be directly related to your project.

• Example: Creating a new board game? Offer a free, print-and-play demo version.
• Example: Launching a smart gadget? Give them an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at your design process or a detailed whitepaper on the problem your gadget solves.

Step 2: Drive Traffic to a Simple Landing Page

Create a single, focused page with a compelling headline (e.g., “Be the First to Play Our Game & Get 20% Off on Launch Day!”). This page should explain the value of your project and feature an email sign-up form, promising to notify them the second you launch.

Use social media, relevant online forums, and content marketing to drive your target audience to this page for 4-6 weeks before your launch.

Step 3: Nurture and Launch

Don’t just collect emails and go silent. In the weeks leading up to your launch, send regular updates. Share your progress, introduce your team, and build genuine excitement. Make them feel like insiders. When you finally launch, they won’t just be notified—they’ll be excited to back you.

The Result? A Flood of Kickstarter Donations.

By launching with an audience you’ve already built, you replace the dreaded “crickets” with an instant surge of Kickstarter donations. This initial momentum is the single biggest factor in attracting the wave of organic Kickstarter backers that will carry your project to its goal, and beyond.

Stop launching into a void. Start building your mob today, and watch your funding double.