Heroes & Treasure Kickstarter is LIVE

I've already pledge my support...

Hoping you reach that 300 to 400 marker of KS backers!

Perfect context to engage your KS backers... Ask QUESTIONS! See if people understand the BGG stretch goals... Do backers have questions?! Maybe provide custom links in the comments to facilitate...

Hold a poll asking how many backers are on BGG, etc...

Get into the KS experience, dig in... Start a dialog with backers.

Don't be boring and just sit there and wait and see... Engage. Pinpoint one backer who doesn't have a BGG account and walk him through the process of GETTING an account... It's simple.

Shake it up! Cheers.

Here is the link:

https://docs.google.com/forms?usp=mkt_forms

There is even a Games/Cards Template (2 I believe)... And just POST the URL link to the FORM...

You can also ask for text responses...

But IF you do this, create AN UPDATE and then have people COMMENT on the UPDATE instead of polluting the main comment link will some people asking questions or commenting, versus people who may need HELP with creating a BGG account, how to become a FAN of the game, etc...

If you have trouble with Google Forms, let me know... I've used it for my Facebook page a while back too... So I have "some" experience using it. It's pretty straight forward too!

Cheers!

I forgot ... You can use a BGG message for a POLL too! Might be even EASIER than using Google Forms.

All you do is create a Message Thread in your games "General Forum" and in the message itself choose the POLL option and it will display you the information such as the Question and the Poll options too.

It's pretty easy to do too... And since you already have your KS Backers as BGG members, you just provide another link and mostly EVERYONE (those on BGG) will know how to answer your poll...

Just one word of advice... Don't answer the POLL "youself". This allows you to see the question AND view the POLLs responses.

Cheers!

You've FUNDED!!! Congrats to you Jason... It started to slow down, just before that peak of activity which just gave you that last $1,500 of funds required for reaching your Funding Goal.

Great stuff! Maybe we may still see some viral effect thanks to Mr. Wheaton and his fantastic Tweet concerning "Heroes and Treasure"...

I'm glad you were able to pull it off... and five (5) more days to go... You may even get a stretch goal...

Cheers!

I had the impression that you were going to miss the Funding Goal by about $300+ dollars. I agree this way is much more interesting and it just lifts the weight that was over everyone's anticipation!

For the backers who wanted copies of the game, getting there but just missing the mark ... well... would have been disappointing. But you're right, there were counter-measures that you had planned in case you were narrowly reaching your goal. So you were prepared.

But this way is much more interesting and hopefully you can still get more backers in the last 5 days to reach one or two of your stretch goals...

Like I said, "Congratulations" ... You really knocked it out of the park.

And although with such a "niche" product, you had a good angle and a strategy that seemed to pay off. ErfWorld was nice to let you advertise your game on their website and get some EARLY eyes on the game.

Still going to watch what happens in the last 5 days ... and we'll see.

Congrats again!

Congrats on your successful funding! :)

I think in terms of modern day games, having a BIG "hit" is the way to go and then hope that the success can help drive other "Board or Card Game" initiatives. That's the approach my publisher "Outer Limit Games" has used with "TradeWorlds". Not only was the pricing ridiculously inexpensive, the rewards, stretch goals and social goals ultimately made for a more "beefy" game rather than just having a "core".

Because of Kickstarter, we now bundle FREE to all customers the "Roles Compendium" expansion which features additional scenarios and of course the Premium Role Cards which are used to vary the turn-order.

Prior to the KS, we had thought about selling this "expansion" separately but because of the KS and its success... We've since then have included the expansion. And this of course adds MORE replayability too!

So you want to put out a PRODUCT and establish a BRAND... But you also want to make sure you are delivering excellent value. Is your game a good deal? Is it have enough content to make it very re-playable?? Are you planning something new to ADD to the game in the future, if FANS want it???

And always you try to deliver excellent value too!

It was awesome to get a glimpse of the game before the goal and see it succeed. Way to go!

BTW, I’m following suit in some things too, like with more campaign page polishing (which I take mostly to mean balancing text with images) and the FB page. I haven’t added any stretch goals based on FB sharing yet, but it’s in the plan. I may not have done much prelaunch promotion, but I’m still moving along

Jay's goal was a bit aggressive. While he made it rather normally to $15,000 USD funding level, the last $3,000 USD came from a rather prominent and influential figure (Mr. Wil Wheaton) which gave him the boost he needed to finish "in style"!

So you should be aware that as a FIRST TIME creator, expect around 200 to 300 backers. That's been advice that has been accurate even in Jay's own campaign...

The next fact you should be aware of is to have a GOAL of $10,000 USD. That should be about 250 backers and a price point of about $40 USD. Something close to that ... It's not a science, just some estimation.

I would INVEST in a Graphic Designer to make the KS page look super nice. Although Jay's page was okay... I've seen better looking campaign pages with nicer banners and a bit more eye candy.

Have some GREAT artwork to present to backers. Make sure to SHARE with backers your RULEBOOK. Some people ignore all the "bling" and go strait to the rulebook to see how this game of yours is to be played. And based on that, they will decide if they will become a backer or not.

Also very important is the REVIEWS section of your KS page. You'll need THREE (3) reviews: one could be an written review (editorial), one could be a Playthru video and the last one could be KS preview... Try to get at least one of these from one of the KNOWN reviewers (like Undead Viking or Edo's Previews)... That will give your KS a sense of legitimacy.

Be engaging in your KS. Respond to backers and answer all their questions... Post updates when required and recommended (48 hours, 50%, 75%, 100%). Design some SOCIAL GOALS (Facebook likes, Sharing, Twitter re-tweets, BGG collections, BGG Fans, etc.) those help people get the word out to help in raising funds when the campaign slows in the middle...

This is just some broad advice... And I'm sharing it with you ... because at the moment you seem "unprepared" for the KS and what is required.

Yes build up your Facebook "community" but know that it's not the most influencing factor. Reviewers are a better source of conversion that FB. Because usually they get like 5,000 viewers to ONE (1) Video. And those are people INTERESTED in backing games on KS. Where as FB is more of a following of people who are just interested in knowing more about your game (not necessarily buying it).

I wanted it to be "quick" ... but there was a lot of things to mention.

Good luck with your KS effort and maybe you don't agree on all points, get back to me AFTER your campaign...

Cheers!