Kickstarter为超过 195,946 个不同的项目提供了超过 55 亿美元的认捐。Kickstarter推出了从视频游戏(video games)到智能杯子的所有产品，这些杯子可以告诉你饮料的化学成分。
如果您想开始一个特殊项目，但您无法完全自掏腰包，Kickstarter是一个不错的选择，但请记住，Kickstarter资金的授予方式和您必须执行的步骤是有限制的去那里。继续阅读以了解如何为您的项目提供资金并为其提供最大的成功机会。
什么是 Kickstarter 资金？(What Is Kickstarter Funding?)
首先要了解的是，Kickstater是一个众筹平台(crowdfunding platform)。来自各行各业和世界上每个国家的个人都可以认捐资金来帮助您实现梦想。当你创建一个项目时，你设定了一个融资目标，必须达到这个目标才能让Kickstarter被认为是成功的。
在大多数情况下，您会奖励支持者的贡献。这种奖励通常表现为产品折扣、特殊津贴，有时甚至在项目允许的情况下包括支持者的姓名（如视频游戏）。然而，资金是全有或全无的。
如果您没有达到您的资金目标，您将不会收到任何资金，并且您的支持者不会被收取费用。这可确保您在启动项目之前花时间弄清楚预算范围。这也意味着支持者可以高枕无忧，因为他们知道创作者不能在没有项目可以展示的情况下拿走他们的钱。
有费用吗？(Are There Fees?)
除非项目成功资助，否则Kickstarter(Kickstarter)不收取任何费用。Kickstarter从资金总额中收取 5% 的费用，而Stripe（平台的支付处理器）将收取 3% 到 5% 的手续费。
好消息是，如果项目没有达到其资助目标，则不会收取任何费用，因此您不会有任何损失。也就是说，您最多可能会损失资金总额的 10% 的费用，因此请记住这一点。即使是Kickstarter(Kickstarter)筹资目标仅为 3000 美元的小项目，在扣除费用后也可能仅产生 2700 美元。
如何在 Kickstarter 上取得成功(How to Be Successful on Kickstarter)
Kickstarter既关乎时机，也关乎你讲故事的能力。如果你能在市场叫嚣的时候提出一种新产品，人们会很乐意为它的创造提供资金。
另一方面，如果该项目的受众群体要小得多——例如，如果你是一名试图资助一本有声读物的作家——那么你将需要采取额外的步骤，而不是依赖公众。在这种情况下，大部分资金将来自您的粉丝。
如果您没有粉丝，那么您将不得不使用企业家多年来在寻求风险投资和资金时使用的相同方法。
讲述一个引人入胜的故事(Tell a Compelling Story)
人们回应故事。这就是为什么电视和电影能如此强烈地吸引人们的注意力：享受强大的叙事是在人类的基因构成中。当您为Kickstarter项目寻求资金时，您的项目故事必须同样引人注目。
人们通过视频比文字更好地联系。制作一段(Put together a video)两到六分钟长的视频。讲述你的项目故事。花时间写出故事并排练视频。这部分很重要，也是你想要尝试一次完成的事情。
解释产品背后的动机。是什么激发了你创作它的灵感？你拥护什么事业？解释你是谁以及为什么你的想法会让世界变得更美好。记住钩子的概念。(the hook. )视频的前 30 秒必须吸引观众的注意力，以便他们观看其余时间。
伸出援手并建立网络(Reach Out and Network)
如果你的产品背后的故事不够引人注目（或者你认为你不能以这种方式呈现它），那么你将需要建立一个强大的个人网络，(strong network of individuals)以激励你为你的项目做出贡献。
想想可能对你正在创造的东西感兴趣的人。与这些人联系并开始对话，但请记住，他们是人——他们不仅仅是钱包。如果您碰巧认识一位愿意帮助您的影响者，那就更好了。
提供诱人的奖励(Offer Enticing Rewards)
如果有人对您的项目很感兴趣，那么巨大的回报可能是他们贡献所需的全部动力。毕竟，如果项目得到了资助，他们就可以使用它——作为回报，他们会得到一些独特的东西。
奖励应该反映项目。如果您正在创建新产品，请为支持者提供折扣（如果他们做出了贡献）。每个连续的奖励等级都应该在其他新的东西之上提供以前的奖励。
例如，如果您正在启动一部短片，您可以在致谢名单中列出所有支持者的姓名，但那些为您的Kickstarter资金贡献大量资金的人可能会收到来工作室的邀请，甚至是幕后的临时演员。
奖励越有创意，人们就越有可能做出贡献，即使他们只是对最终结果感到好奇。Kickstarter提供了一个包含 96 个潜在奖励(list of 96 potential reward)想法的列表，以帮助这些创意齿轮转动，但您可以随意提出自己的奖励。只要(Just)确保你能真正提供它们。
创造新产品的唯一方法是通过天使投资者的风险投资或贷款的日子已经一去不复返了。众筹(Crowdfunding)是一种强大的工具，而Kickstarter是让梦想成为现实的最佳、低风险方式之一。如果您需要想法，请查看过去成功的Kickstarter项目，以帮助您了解如何复制他们的成功。
What Is Kickstarter Funding and How to Fund Your Project?
Kickstarter is responѕible for more than $5.5 billion in pledgеs to more than 195,946 different projects. Kickstarter haѕ launched everything from video games to smart cups that tell you the chemical makeup of your drink.
If there’s a special project you want to start that you can’t fund entirely out of your own pocket, Kickstarter is a great place to go, but keep in mind that there are restrictions on how Kickstarter funding is awarded and the steps you have to take to get there. Read on to find out how to fund your project and give it the best chance of success.
What Is Kickstarter Funding?
The first thing to understand is that Kickstater is a crowdfunding platform. Individuals from every walk of life and every country around the world can pledge money to help make your dream a reality. When you create a project, you set a funding goal that must be reached for the Kickstarter to be considered a success.
In most cases, you reward backers for their contribution. This reward often manifests as a discount on the product, special perks, and sometimes even including the name of the backer in the credits if the project allows that (like a video game.) However, funding is all-or-nothing.
If you do not meet your funding goal, you receive none of the funds, and your backers are not charged. This ensures that you take the time to figure out the scope of the budget before launching the project. It also means backers can rest easy knowing creators can’t walk away with their money with no project to show for it.
Are There Fees?
Kickstarter doesn’t charge any fees unless the project is successfully funded. Kickstarter takes a 5% fee from the total funding amount, while Stripe (the payment processor for the platform) will take a processing fee that ranges from 3% to 5%.
The good news is that no fees are charged if the project doesn’t reach its funding goal, so you have nothing to lose. That said, you can lose up to 10% of your total funded amount in fees, so bear that in mind. Even a small project with a Kickstarter funding goal of just $3000 might yield only $2700 after the fees are removed.
How to Be Successful on Kickstarter
Kickstarter is just as much about timing as it is about how well you tell a story. If you can propose a new product at a time when the market is clamoring for it, people will be more than happy to help fund its creation.
On the other hand, if the project is something with a far more niche audience–for instance, if you’re a writer trying to fund an audiobook–then you will need to take extra steps and not rely on the general public. In situations like this, most of the funding will come from your fans.
If you don’t have fans, then you’ll have to use the same method entrepreneurs have used for years when seeking venture capital and funding.
Tell a Compelling Story
People respond to stories. That’s why televisions and movies so strongly capture the attention of people: it’s in the genetic makeup of humans to enjoy a powerful narrative. When you seek funding for a Kickstarter project, the story of your project must be equally as compelling.
People connect better through video than text. Put together a video, somewhere between two and six minutes long. Tell the story of your project. Take the time to write out the story and rehearse the video. This part is important, and something you want to try to do in a single take.
Explain the motivation behind the product. What inspired you to create it? What cause are you championing? Explain who you are and why your idea will make the world a better place. Remember the concept of the hook. The first 30 seconds of your video has to capture the viewer’s attention so they will watch for the rest of the time.
Reach Out and Network
If the story behind your product isn’t compelling enough (or you don’t think you can present it that way), then you will need to build a strong network of individuals that will be motivated to contribute to your project.
Think about people that might be interested in what you’re creating. Reach out and start a conversation with these individuals, but remember that they are people–they aren’t just wallets. If you happen to know an influencer that would be willing to help you out, all the better.
Offer Enticing Rewards
If someone is remotely interested in your project, a great reward can be all the motivation they need to contribute. After all, if the project is funded, it becomes available to them–and they get something unique in return.
The rewards should reflect the project. If you’re creating a new product, offer backers a discount if they contribute. Each successive reward tier should offer the previous rewards on top of something else new.
For example, if you are Kickstarting a short film, you could list all backers’ names in the credit, but those that contribute a significant amount toward your Kickstarter funding might receive an invitation to come to the studio or even be extras in the background.
The more creative the reward, the more likely someone will contribute, even if they are just curious about the end result. Kickstarter provides a list of 96 potential reward ideas to help get those creative gears turning, but feel free to come up with your own rewards. Just make sure you can actually supply them.
Gone are the days when the only way to create a new product was through venture capital funding from angel investors or by taking out a loan. Crowdfunding is a powerful tool, and Kickstarter is one of the best, low-risk ways to make a dream a reality. If you need ideas, take a look at successful Kickstarter projects of the past to help you figure out how to copy their success.
