Here's a good way to do it:
Tier 1: Thanks, Updates, and everything else you can do for less than 1 cent each. Minimum of $1.
$1 for updates is the "you like our project, but don't really want anything, you're chipping in because what we're doing is cool" level.
I found it hilarious when
my project was mentioned on Board Game Geek's forums, and they're all "A DOLLAR TO SEE THE RULES?" and a few derisive posts about how we'll "never make it" because "there's no physical game from the onset." Cue two weeks and $13,000 later...
What you actually get for the $1 level tends to vary, though, as does the price (
Three Kings Chess, for instance, has all of their reward levels in multiples of 3, so their lowest is $3). But it still generally revolves around the theme of the token donation with token reward.
Tier 2: $7; digital copy of whatever you're working on when complete, if applicable. If it's a physical project, skip this. Seven dollars is pocket change; Eight dollars is almost ten bucks.
Our $5 reward is basically the demo game, in digital format, and what we've been giving out to reviewers for free (although it'll be laid out better).
Tier 3: Costs about $25. This includes a "feely" of some kind. If possible, a low-cost part the product. People are used to paying $20 for stuff. If they're getting a tangible item, then it works. For instance, if making a software program, send a CD in a case. If making a sailboat from a burned-out tree, send authentic bits of polished wood.
$18 is our final, polished game, in digital format.
$22 is the same, but with Kickstarter exclusive cards.
Originally these were $15 and $25, but in talking about it, we squeezed the prices together so it's a "it's only $4 to get bonus stuff!" and largely it's worked (only 21 backers at $18, but 101 at $22).
Due to production costs of the physical product, that's priced at $48 (+$10 for international), and wasn't available until after we met our goal (which was to barely cover art costs).
Tier 4+: Depends highly on the product. Each tier should offer tangible benefits over the previous. Don't offer your product for less than production costs- or, if you do, offer a limited number of them, like ten. You're basically bribing ten people to publicize your project so they can get their boat for below price.
Our "tier 4" items were customized content. $75 to design a card to be included in the final game, $250 to get a custom raptor playmat (whatever accessories you'd like on your raptor!) and $500 to break from the whole "raptor" thing (unicorn? SURE!). All three levels of which come with a physical copy of the game, and were limited. We're still trying to figure out what other Tier 4 items we can offer, as ours are sold out!
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Topic: When Kickstarter goes wrong? (Read 650589 times)