Launching a successful kickstarter campaign takes a lot of work. What is kickstarter? It’s a funding platform for creative endeavors: music, art, technology, and so on. There are many tools at your disposal to make a great campaign, but use them in such a way that reflects who you are as a person and what you’re trying to accomplish.

The first and probably most important thing is to know your goal. Are you looking for donations to pre-fund production, or is it to get the word out about a new product? Tell people right from the start where the money is going. They’ll respect honesty more than anything else.

The technology needed to make a video is right at your fingertips, but the really important part is to make an intriguing presentation for your audience. You’ll attract more support if the audience can see genuine passion and commitment, and in the first ten to fifteen seconds people will make up their minds if they want to continue watching or not. There is but one chance to sell yourself, so make it a video that sticks in people’s minds long after it’s over.

Launching a successful kickstarter campaign requires setting a conservative financial goal. In other words, keep it lower than what you really want because if the goal isn’t reached, you won’t get the funds. Imagine if you’re looking to get $10,000 and the donations total $9,700! And, you might have needed far less than $10,000 to get a project up and running. Try breaking a project down into smaller pieces and ask for portions of money to be sent at each stage of the campaign. For example, if you’re making a film you can request money to shoot it then six months down the line come back and ask for more to market the final product. Your backers can monitor your progress and if they like what they see, you’ll have a solid fan base.

So, now the campaign is in full swing and donations are coming in. Is your job over? Certainly not! Things are just getting started. Providing consistent updates throughout the project will show you’re active and motivated. Investors will want to know how their money is being used, so respond to their questions and messages. As the campaign moves along, remember to thank those who donated. They like to be acknowledged and sending a personal email with a message of thanks will make them feel appreciated.

As stated earlier, making a kickstarter fundraising drive a success is no small feat. Donations never come in by themselves. It’s going to take a long time to build a “tribe” of supporters who believe in what you’re doing. Last but not least, make sure you’re selling a top-notch product. How can any business survive without one? Be honest about absolutely everything and treat your backers with friendliness and generosity. Perhaps your next crowdfunding adventure will turn into an amazing success story.