Crowdfunding Nerds: Kickstarter Marketing, Business, & Beyond!

How To Grow A Community With Jamey Stegmaier of Stonemaier Games

Jamey Stegmaier of Stonemaier Games joins the Crowdfunding Nerds to discuss the most effective methods of communication for growing communities online.
00:02:15 - Jamey’s Target Market00:08:26 – Best Social Social Media Platforms For Growing00:12:04 – When To Tell Your Community About A New Product00:14:28 – How Jamey’s Blog Was Started00:16:31 – How To Grow A Community Today00:22:23 – Why Jamey Dumped Twitter00:25:48 – The Intent Of Communications00:29:00 – Expeditions Is The Sequel To Scythe00:30:24 – D&D OGL Update00:35:24 – Additional Advertising Channels Spreadsheet00:41:20 – IGN Does Board Game Reviews
Shownotes
Genius Games - https://www.geniusgames.org/
Fake Influencer Video - https://youtu.be/FRClNMC_z-s
Feedly - https://feedly.com/
Thunderbird - https://www.thunderbird.net/
Pre-Order Expeditions - https://stonemaiergames.com/games/expeditions/
PCGamer On OGL - https://www.pcgamer.com/dungeons-and-dragons-has-walked-back-its-huge-ogl-mistake-but-the-damage-is-already-done/
IGN Tabletop Coverage - https://www.ign.com/games/tabletop
Crowdfunding Nerds Course - https://course.crowdfundingnerds.com/p/facebook-ads-for-crowdfunding
Use discount code: SPREADSHEET for 65% off the Crowdfunding Nerds Marketing Course! Only available to our podcast listeners until the end of February.

How To Know If People Want Your Game Before Spending Time & Money On It

The Crowdfunding Nerds discuss a community questions about research and development.
00:03:44 – Sean’s Spreadsheet00:07:59 – Episode Topic Starts00:09:34 - Understand The Current Market00:11:43 - Learn To Iterate Quickly00:14:11 - See What's Trending Online00:16:38 - Do In-Person Playtesting00:20:22 - Must Be Fun00:23:31 - Set A Trend00:27:07 - Don't Flinch From Failure00:28:50 - Don't Simply Copy What Large Developers Are Doing00:34:36 - Does Your Game Have Die Hard Fans?00:38:32 - Qualify Your Leads00:40:48 - The Cover of Your Game Must Capture An Experience00:45:34 - You Need Passion And Experience
Facebook Post Topic - https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/posts/879414746660308/
Gabe Newell on game development - https://youtu.be/Pl80LvMsnfo?t=669
The Virtuous Cycle of Kickstarter Marketing - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/the-virtuous-cycle-of-kickstarter-marketing/ 
Google Trends - https://trends.google.com/trends/
OpenGOAL Project - https://opengoal.dev/
CFN Course - https://course.crowdfundingnerds.com/p/facebook-ads-for-crowdfunding 

Listen To This Podcast Before Creating A TTRPG

The Crowdfunding Nerds sit down with Chris Birch of Modiphius Entertainment to talk about the Open Gaming License controversy, the 2d20 World Builders Program and how to stand out in the marketplace as a TTRPG developer.
00:01:56 – Gaming Retirement Homes?00:05:41 – Wizards of The Coast Open Gaming License00:14:44 – Why Did Modiphius Create The 2d20 TTRPG System00:20:59 – 2d20 World Builders00:28:50 – Old School Blizzard00:31:27 – Dealing With Licenses00:36:57 – Without GMs TTRPGs Are Dead00:46:10 – Thinking About Your USP
Shownotes
Skyrim Adventure Board Game - https://www.modiphius.net/products/the-elder-scrolls-skyrim-adventure-board-game-core-game
Paizo Announces System-Neutral Open RPG License - https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6si7v
2d20 World Builders Program - https://www.modiphius.net/pages/2d20worldbuilders
OGL Change of Heart - https://www.polygon.com/23574677/dungeons-dragons-dnd-ogl-canceled-wizards-fans-win
Mutant: Year Zero - https://www.modiphius.net/products/mutant-year-zero-corebook-map
D&D Beyond - https://www.dndbeyond.com/

5 Dangerous Assumptions That Can Kill Your Crowdfunding Campaign Before It Begins

The Crowdfunding Nerds seek to help you think critically about your game development by pondering 5 dangerous assumptions that can kill your crowdfunding campaign before you even launch.
 
Shownotes00:04:36 – Open Gaming Licence00:11:04 – Facebook’s Everyone Tag00:20:45 – Dangerous Assumption Overview00:21:17 – Failing Before You Begin00:23:54 – Assumption #1 “People Want This”00:30:59 – Assumption #1.5 “I Can Do This”00:36:36 – Assumption #2 “Tons of People Want This”00:41:46 – Assumption #3 “I Know My Target Market”00:44:28 – Assumption #4 “I Know Why People Think This Is Awesome”00:49:23 – Assumption #5 “People Want An Expansion To This”
 
Skyrim Board Game - https://www.modiphius.net/pages/skyrim-the-adventure-game
Modiphius 2d20 World Builders - https://www.modiphius.net/pages/2d20worldbuilders
An Update on the Open Game License (OGL) - https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1423-an-update-on-the-open-game-license-ogl 
Sankwalkers - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/goblinzstudio/sandwalkers-a-roguelike-turn-based-exploration-game
Gabe Barrett’s Playtesting Tips - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=strkQM8P9F4
Crowdfunding Nerds Kickstarter Course - https://course.crowdfundingnerds.com/p/facebook-ads-for-crowdfunding

Why Gamers Back Crowdfunding Campaigns

The Crowdfunding Nerds discuss why gamers backed Deliverance on Kickstarter from a recent question and answer. You will be able to leverage these reasons for your own Kickstater or Gamefound campaigns!
00:08:34 – Should You Reply To Every Comment On Every Platform?00:10:47 – I Want This To Be In The World / I Helped Made It Possible00:13:36 - Won’t Be Made Otherwise00:15:15 – Having A Say In The Design & Development Process00:17:05 – Make Fans Feel Special00:20:21 – The Crowdfunding “Loot Box” Effect00:22:23 – Better Value In Components (Not Gameplay)00:27:04 – Get The Product Before Anyone Else00:30:25 – Andrew’s Reasons For Backing Kickstarters00:37:25 – The Most Common Reasons
Shownotes
Andrew’s Kickstarter Update - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lowenhigh/deliverance-board-game/posts/3678070
Crowdfunding Nerds Marketing Course (65% Discount: PODCAST2023) - https://course.crowdfundingnerds.com/p/facebook-ads-for-crowdfunding

How To Write A Good Kickstarter Update

Want to write a Kickstarter update for your board game but don’t know where to begin? Well the Crowdfunding Nerds give some needed tips on project updates.
00:01:30 – Banned Facebook Ads Account Update00:02:51 – Meta Quest 2 Review00:06:54 – Andrew’s Fancy Cars00:12:45 – How To Prepare To Write A Kickstarter Update00:14:49 – Kickstarter Update Template00:18:59 – Keep It Personal00:24:59 – Centralising Your Updates00:34:05 – Expect Trolls
Deliverance Kickstarter Update Example - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lowenhigh/deliverance-board-game/posts/3678070
Dice Throne - https://shop.dicethrone.com/
Larp Video - https://fb.watch/hYfrTCnM_v/
Crowdfunding Nerds Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/383263609608760

How To Get Better At Marketing

The Crowdfunding Nerds discuss strategies that will help you become a better marketer based on their own experience, and why being good at marketing matters!
00:00:36 – Washington Post Article00:03:30 – Focus On The Theme Of Your Game00:06:25 – Gamefound Updates00:14:06 – Meta Quest 2 Facebook Ad Account Issue00:18:48 – Take The Time To Learn00:22:32 – Get A Book On Logic00:30:47 – Practice What You Are Learning00:36:39 – Understand Propaganda00:45:38 – Caring About People
Washington Post Article - https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2022/12/24/board-game-popularity/
Gamefound Update - https://gamefound.com/blog/post/communication-management-vat-reverse-charge-and-more
Introduction to Logic - https://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Logic-Irving-M-Copi/dp/1292024828
Propaganda - https://www.amazon.com/Propaganda-Edward-Bernays/dp/0970312598
This Is Marketing: You Can't Be Seen Until You Learn to See - https://www.amazon.com/This-Marketing-Cant-Until-Learn/dp/0525540830
Interviewing A Sales Master: Dan Boe - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/episode61/
Interviewing A Sales Master: Dan Boe Part 2- https://crowdfundingnerds.com/episode62/
Share Your Marketing Tips - https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds

Troubleshooting The Mid-Campaign Slump: A Case Study

The Crowdfunding Nerds are joined by Galen McCown of Galen’s Games to talk about troubleshooting the mid-campaign slump of Super Snipers.
00:00:59 – Important Updates From Gamefound00:05:45 – Altruistic Pledge Levels?00:09:35 – Troubleshooting The Mid-Campaign Slump00:17:26 - Honest Kickstarter Case Study00:35:27 – Galen’s Changes To Future Campaigns00:50:38 – Building Good Will
Gamefound Update - https://gamefound.com/blog/post/introducing-installments-on-gamefound-celebrating-1000-projects
Andrew’s Prediction Came True (28:47) - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/episode52/
Super Snipers - https://super-snipers.backerkit.com/hosted_preorders
Galen’s Blog / Case Study - https://www.galensgames.com/blog/thoughts-from-a-first-time-self-publisher-3-months-from-the-kickstarter-prologue
Gabe Barrett’s Marketing Book - https://gamenightoutfitters.com/collections/game-design/products/board-game-kickstarter-advice-pdf
Jamey Stegmaier’s Book - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1626564086
Fake Influencer Video - https://youtu.be/FRClNMC_z-s
Let’s Talk Zombicide With Ross Thompson - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/episode102/
Galen’s Blog: "What Would I Do Differently?" - https://www.galensgames.com/blog/thoughts-from-a-first-time-self-publisher-part-20-lessons-part-3
Galen’s Games - https://linktr.ee/galensgamedesigns

Listen To This Podcast Before Making Stretch Goals

Andrew Lowen describes a mistake he made with stretch goals on the last day of his Kickstarter campaign. The Crowdfunding Nerds talk about obligations to delivering to backers, even when it hurts!
00:01:38 – Kickstarter Update: Easy Ship & Referral Links00:07:03 – Andrew’s Stretch Goal Mistake00:14:17 – Be Careful Making Promises00:15:34 – Thinking About Retail00:19:24 – Selling Shirts Through Kickstarter00:23:27 – When You Should Launch In December00:25:00 – Think Through Stretch Goals Before Launching00:26:52 – How Does Your Community Perceive Your Decisions?00:37:58 – Sometimes It’s Ok To Lose Money
Shownotes
Kickstarter & Easy Ship - https://updates.kickstarter.com/were-partnering-with-easyship-to-make-shipping-less-of-a-headache/
Kickstarter Pre-Launch Referral Links - https://updates.kickstarter.com/new-tools-to-help-creators-market-their-projects/

Board Game Industry 2023 Predictions

The crowdfunding nerds discuss their 2023 predictions on economics, manufacturing and board game demand.00:01:13 – Facebook Bands Ad Accounts For Personal Posts00:05:35 – Andrews Social Media Philosophy00:08:58: - Facebook’s Ad Model Vs YouTube’s Ad Model00:10:23 – Why Sean Uses RSS00:15:20 – China’s COVID-19 Restrictions Impacting The Board Game Industry00:18:41 – Andrew’s Prediction #1 – Manufacturing Is Going To Stay In China00:25:02 – Richard’s Prediction #1 – Increased Costs For National US Postage00:27:57 – Sean’s Prediction #1 – Big Video Game IPs Are Going To Bring More Board Gamers To The Hobby00:32:53 - Sean’s Prediction #1 – Global Economic Crash / Fiat Replaced With New System00:39:18 – Richard’s Prediction #2 – Manufacturing Costs Will Go Up & Backers Will Go Down00:46:13 – Andrew’s Prediction #2 – FOMO Will Be Less Applicable To Larger IPs00:50:30 - Andrew’s Prediction #3 – Kickstarter Is Going To Lose Traffic To Backerkit & GamefoundShownotesFacebook Ad Restrictions Document - https://www.facebook.com/business/help/975570072950669?id=434838534925385Twitter Files: Secret Blacklists - https://twitter.com/bariweiss/status/1601007575633305600Being Intentional About Sharing Politics On Social Media With Ross Thompson - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/episode102/Effective Altruism - https://www.effectivealtruism.org/Brave News With RSS - https://brave.com/brave-news/ Feeder RSS Browser Extension - https://feeder.co/Thunderbird - https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/Homeworld: Fleet Command Board Game - https://www.modiphius.net/pages/homeworld-fleet-commandSandwalkers Kickstarter - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/goblinzstudio/sandwalkers-a-roguelike-turn-based-exploration-gameHallow Knight Kickstarter - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/11662585/hollow-knightSteam Wishlist Breakdown - https://www.gamesindustry.biz/a-game-developer-guide-to-steam-wishlists