The idea for my enamel pins stemmed from my love for dinosaurs. I realized there wasn't much dinosaur art or merchandise that resonated with me, so I decided to create my own.

Some people might think that focusing on dinosaurs would limit the project's success because it's such a niche category. However, I see this as a strength. No matter how specialized a topic is, there is always a dedicated group of people who are passionate about it. The key is to find that group. Once you connect with them, everything else will fall into place.

While having a unique and appealing concept is important, the most crucial element is passion. Your project should be something you genuinely love and enjoy. This passion will drive you to put in your best effort, ensuring that your project stands out.

In summary:

• Create what you love.
• Identify and connect with your target audience.
• Ensure your idea is unique and appealing.
• Let your passion guide your work.

By following these principles, you can transform your unique interests into a successful project.

Before starting my project, I researched successful enamel pin campaigns, both soft and hard enamel. I looked at old and new campaigns to see what worked well. Some of the most important things to note when you are browsing old/active campaigns is:

1. Project Timeline - Statistically, the longer your timeline, the less likely people will want to back. The sooner your project is complete, the sooner your backers will get their rewards. A good base is less than a month. Please adjust accordingly to your needs. Some creators even make it just 7 days. The urgency creates a need!
2. Communication - What sort of communication updates did they provide? How often did they post about it? Your backers will need to be informed at every little change you do to your project.
3. Similar Active Projects - If you see that there are plenty of active campaigns that are in the same category as yours, maybe reconsider launching at a different time so that you are not competing with them. 
4. Campaign Release Date - I noticed that some of the successful campaigns did well because they released it during an important event. For example, one dinosaur pin project did amazingly well because they put out the campaign during the Jurassic World hype when it was initially released. Do you do anime fanart? Maybe it would be a good idea to do the campaign when that anime is currently streaming for that season!
5. Design Style - This will more so depend on your own skill. If you are able to create both cute and realistic designs, choose one that less competition in the market for the time being. 

This also goes for failed campaigns. They may have failed because they did not appropriately execute any of these concepts properly! Research all of them!

Next, I focused on dinosaur enamel pins, both active and expired. At the time, I was the only one making dinosaur-themed pins, which was a big advantage. This shows why niche products work—they reduce competition. However, it's important to pick a niche that has a clear fanbase.

I also learned that Kickstarter promotes projects on their site. This means that, in addition to your own promotions, your project will be shown to users interested in similar categories.

Even though I was the only dinosaur pin creator, I still studied past dinosaur projects, both successful and unsuccessful. Comparing them showed clear differences between what made a project succeed or fail.

Remember, niche is good, but super niche can be too limited. Choose designs or themes with a known fanbase. For me, there are paleontology enthusiasts, Jurassic Park fans, Pokémon fans, and Monster Hunter fans—all of whom love dinosaur-like designs.

In summary:

• Research successful enamel pin campaigns.
• Focus on your niche and understand its audience.
• Use Kickstarter's promotion to your advantage.
• Learn from both successful and unsuccessful projects.
• Ensure there is a fanbase for your theme.

Setting realistic funding goals is crucial. Avoid setting a high goal, as it can discourage backers if it seems unattainable. This is especially true if you don’t reach 50% of your goal within the first 24 hours. Only set a high goal if you have a large, steady following and are confident you'll get funded quickly.

If you don't have a large following, like me, create funding tiers. For example, if you plan to create 10 enamel pin designs, set your initial goal at $450 for the first design. Once you hit $450, you've reached your goal and your project is considered complete. Remember, Kickstarter only funds projects that reach 100% of their goal, so every dollar counts.

After the first design is unlocked, inform your backers that the next design will unlock at a higher amount, like $700 or $800. These additional designs are stretch goals. This technique works well for enamel pins since you're offering multiple designs. While you might not fund all your designs initially, you'll build a base following and create some of your designs rather than none.

When setting these goals, consider the cost of manufacturing each pin, shipping costs, packaging, and other expenses. By breaking down your goals this way, you can gradually unlock more designs and grow your fanbase step by step.

In summary:

• Set realistic, attainable funding goals.
• Use tiers to gradually unlock designs.
• Communicate stretch goals clearly to backers.
• Consider all costs when setting each goal.
• Build your following with each step.

Conclusion of Part 1

Thank you for joining me on this journey through the initial stages of my successful Kickstarter campaign. We've covered the crucial steps of idea development, thorough research, and setting realistic goals. These foundational elements are key to launching a project that resonates with backers and sets the stage for success.

Stay tuned for the next part of this series, where we'll dive into creating your campaign, setting up your page, and budgeting effectively. I’ll share more insights and tips to help you navigate these critical aspects of your Kickstarter journey.

Keep an eye out for the upcoming blog post, and happy planning!

Jay

PaleoPatchworks Founder