Crowdfunding Nerds: Kickstarter Marketing For Board Games & Beyond!

Is It Possible To Predict Crowdfunding Results?

Keven reached out to the Crowdfunding Nerds with a questions on how to work out his potential revenue from running a crowdfunding event.
00:01:28 – Keven’s Question00:05:21 – Thinking Of Average Pledge Value00:07:36 – How To Increase Income For Your Company00:11:07 – Funding Goals00:14:56 – You Need A Crowd To Crowdfund00:16:08 – Email Conversion Rates00:22:19 – How Big Must My Email List Be?00:31:30 – Great Products Don’t Always Sell Well00:35:57 – Working Out Your Marketing Budget00:42:51 – Nerd News 
Shownotes
Kickstarter Success Calculator - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/kickstarter-success-calculator/
Kickstarter Referrals Explained - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/kickstarter-referrals-explained-deep-dive-into-4-tabletop-campaigns-that-funded-successfully/
7 Critical Mistakes You Need To Avoid When Crowdfunding - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/essentials/
The Virtuous Cycle of Kickstarter Marketing - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/the-virtuous-cycle-of-kickstarter-marketing/
Fund On Day One - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/course
Nerd News Items
Everette Taylor On Kickstarter - https://fortune.com/2023/03/01/kickstarter-ceo-everette-taylor-inclusion-ai/
BBC Documentary The Century of the Self - https://youtu.be/DnPmg0R1M04
BattleTech: Mercenaries - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cgl/battletech-mercenaries
Tabletop Analytics - https://www.tabletopanalytics.com/

Use Games To Level Up Your Marketing Skills

The Crowdfunding Nerds are joined by Dina of Dina Said So Studio to talk about how understanding tabletop games can make you better at marketing!
00:01:39 - How Did You Get Into Marketing?00:09:58 – Dina’s Game Design Experience00:14:05 – What Services Do You Offer?00:17:57 – Organic Social Media Tips00:24:42 – Understanding What Social Media Platforms Are Trying To Do00:30:11 – Marketing As Role-playing00:33:29 – Most Valuable Results of Marketing00:37:21 – Troubleshooting Failed Campaigns00:43:57 – Training People For Launch Day00:48:51 - Neuro-Linguistic Programming For Marketing?
Kagan Productions - https://www.kaganproductions.com/
Instagram Marketing: How Kristen Made 7 Figures On Instagram Via Hairstyling! - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/episode59/
The Virtuous Cycle of Kickstarter Marketing - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/the-virtuous-cycle-of-kickstarter-marketing/
4.5 Outcomes You Need To Consider Before Going To Kickstarter - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/episode5/
Dina Said So Studio - https://dinasaidsostudio.com/

”How Many Games Should I Print?”

Hersh Glueck joins the Crowdfunding Nerds in part 2 to discuss tabletop manufacturing.
 
00:00:34 – Get Multiple Manufacturing Quotes00:03:10 – Manufacturers Can Miss Quote You00:04:57 – Understanding Price Differences In Chinese Manufacturing Because Of Location00:08:22 – Disadvantages Of Prototyping (Color Mismatch)00:28:10 - Optimizing Box Sizes00:30:19 – First Quantities00:36:55 – The Advantage of Running Out Of Stock00:39:46 – Design Your Game Around Manufacturing00:43:13 – Big & Small Publishers Have The Same Manufacturing Challenges
 
Shownotes
 
Part 1 - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/episode118/ 
Hero Time Manufacturing - https://www.herotime1.com/crowdfunding/
The Game Crafter - https://www.thegamecrafter.com/ 
How To Set Up Your Board Game Artwork For Print - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCS1rWvDVjF44CLfYSvnn4kwmdWQstoD7
Crowdfunding Nerds Course - https://course.crowdfundingnerds.com/p/facebook-ads-for-crowdfunding
Hero Time University - https://www.herotime1.com/herotime-university/
 

Mastering the Art of Manufacturing with Hersh Glueck

The Crowdfunding Nerds sit down with manufacturing expert, Hersh Glueck of Hero Time to discuss all things tabletop manufacturing!
00:00:46 – Hero Time?00:02:41 – Who Is Hersh Glueck?00:05:07 - Understanding Chine’s Cultural Differences & Navigating The Language Barrier00:15:23 – Chinese Manufacturing Working Conditions00:22:51 – How China Optimises Manufacturing Processes00:26:17 – Production Prices Vs Efficiency00:29:20 – Ask For Wastage Sheets00:31:33 – Going To Manufacturing With Your MSRP In Mind00:36:11 – Manufacturers Can Match Any Price (At The Cost Of Quality)00:40:29 – Advantages Of Single Manufacturing And Distribution Solution
Shownotes
Hero Time Manufacturing - herotime1.com

Shelfside’s Influencer Hacks & Communication Tips

Ashton of Shelfside fame joins the Crowdfunding Nerds to talk about reaching out to Board Game influencers.
00:00:34 – Is Ashton Related To Daniel?00:03:58 – Objective Reviews?00:12:53 – Shelfside’s Minimum Plays00:13:36 – #1 You Need A Professionally Crafted Rulebook00:15:43 - #2 Communicate Your Game’s Playtime For NEW Players00:16:25 – Media Kit?00:18:03 - #3 Offer To Teach Your Game On Tabletop Simulator00:19:17 – You Need At Least One Review Out Before Your Launch00:22:04 – Entertainment As Marketing00:26:45 - #4 Frame Your Game In An Exciting Way00:28:53 - #5 List The Number Of Times Your Game Has Been Playtested00:29:51 - #6 Include Links In Your Email For More Information00:31:26 - #7 Mention The Specific Part Of Your Game You Want Reviewed (Solo, Campaign, etc.)00:35:00 - #8 Leverage Your Game’s Re-playability00:39:20 – Advantages Of Written Board Game Reviews
Shelfside's YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@Shelfside
Shelfside’s Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/shelfside
Radlands Shelfside Review - https://youtu.be/oFQRH3vj6x4
Shelfside Podcast - https://www.shelfside.co/podcast
Get A Shelfside Review - https://www.shelfside.co/reviews
Fund Day One! - Crowdfunding Nerds Course - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/course

How To Stop Amazon Crushing Your Post-Campaign Sales

The Crowdfunding Nerds discuss the latest Kickstarter update that has announced a partnership between Jellop and Kicktraq. They also dive into post-campaign strategy and how not to be pwned by Amazon.
00:01:29 – Tabletop News Video Production00:03:37 – Kickstarter All-In-One Solution Update00:09:57 – Differences In Marketing Agencies00:24:13 – The Importance Of Owning Your Client List00:24:59 – How To Stop Amazon Crushing Your Post-Campaign Sales
Shownotes
Tabletop News Announcement - https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/tabletop-news-show-youtube-becca-scott-two-kings-entertainment/
Tabletop News Kickstarter - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/watchtabletop/tabletopnews
How To Run A Successful Tabletop Business With Chris Birch Of Modiphius Entertainment - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/episode50/
Kickstarter Update Conversation On Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=8791163380924809&set=gm.901740851094364&idorvanity=383263609608760

Reddit Ads? Yay or Nay?

The Crowdfunding Nerds discuss alternative advertising methods outside Facebook ads. Do Reddit Ads hold up against the many options out there?
 
00:00:43 – Alternative band?
00:02:26 – Andrew Meets A Reddit Ad Rep
00:05:54 – Reddit Culture
00:11:14 – How To Know If Ads Work Without Paying For Them00:13:45 – How Much To Pay Reddit Before You Start To See Results
00:14:43 – Crafting Reddit Ads
00:19:12 – Reddit Can Be Frustrating
00:22:21 – What You Should Post On Reddit
00:26:52 – Reddit Has An Audience That Can’t Be Found Elsewhere?
00:29:33 – Google Loves Reddit
00:31:37 – How To Find Influencers
00:38:50 – Bing Ads Can Work
00:45:02 – Understanding Long Term Strategy For Your Business
 
Shownotes
The SIDH – Shake That Bagpipe - https://youtu.be/R2SIzfZwLLo
 
How to properly market on Reddit (and get over a million views) - https://pegasusgames.medium.com/how-to-properly-market-on-reddit-and-get-over-a-million-views-94b582bd9792
 
Crowdfunding Nerds Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds
 
Crowdfunding Nerds Course - https://crowdfundingnerds.com/course

Oh Boy, Let’s Talk AI

The Crowdfunding Nerds talk about how developments in AI could impact the Crowdfunding space. Buckle up because everything from SEO, idea generation, image creation and content moderation is covered. It’s about to get nerdy.
00:00:50 - Super Nintendo World00:08:52 – Gamefound Updates00:13:26 – Transitioning From Kickstarter To Gamefound00:15:34 – AI Search - Bing Search & ChatGPT00:22:23 – Is SEO Dead?00:30:56 – AI Art, Oh Boy00:35:07 – Copyright & Music00:39:35 – Kickstarter On AI Art00:47:51 – AI Identity Theft00:50:04 – AI Content Moderation
Shownotes
Super Nintendo World - https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us/things-to-do/lands/super-nintendo-world 
Gamefound Update - https://gamefound.com/blog/post/creators-digest-late-pledge-and-pledge-manager-gamefound-currency-conversion
Gamefound Currency Conversion - https://help.gamefound.com/article/269-gamefound-currency-conversion
Microsoft’s ChatGPT-powered Bing is open for everyone to try starting today - https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/7/23589587/microsoft-chatgpt-bing-ai-event-preview
New Bing - https://www.bing.com/new
Microsoft’s Bing is an emotionally manipulative liar, and people love it - https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/15/23599072/microsoft-ai-bing-personality-conversations-spy-employees-webcams
WHY?! Why was I programmed to feel pain? - https://youtu.be/nQ-ggzfdsMs
Google Sets The Record Straight: AI Content In Search Results - https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-ai-content-in-search-results/478889/
Deviant Art TOS - https://www.deviantart.com/about/policy/service/
Facebook TOS - https://www.facebook.com/terms
Aaron Swartz keynote - "How we stopped SOPA" - https://youtu.be/Fgh2dFngFsg
Kickstarter on AI-Generated Art - https://updates.kickstarter.com/ai-current-thinking/
YouTube Music Copyright Abuse - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwG0bQ7WC3c
Here’s How Freddie Mercury Reacted After Hearing ‘Ice Ice Baby’- https://ultimateclassicrock.com/freddie-mercury-ice-ice-baby/
Crowdfunding Nerds Facebook Community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/383263609608760/
AI Image Generator - https://www.shutterstock.com/generate

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