Leigha Huggins has worked on her Kickstarter campaign since mid-2019, when she first started to conduct the market research and campaign preparations.
She knew her book about the love and joy children bring into our lives was an important message to share, but she was unsure about how to approach her Kickstarter campaign.
After some help and encouragement, Leigha made the leap and launched her campaign in May only to find herself rocketing to success.
Fully funded in 24 hours, and currently exceeding $10k with a $4k goal, Leigha has discovered the power of sharing a positive message that resonates with readers.
Below are Leigha’s tips on what made her campaign a huge success.
Tip #1: Let people know how to help and what it means to you
I feel like lots of people like to help as long as they know how.
I have tried my best to reach out to my top people and ask them directly to please help me.
I let my early supporters know that I was going live and how important it was for the success of the campaign, and my ultimate goal was to get Kickstarter Project We Love badge.
Here’s the message I sent out to my friends and fmaily:
I’m so excited!!! Love Lottery is now available to order. We would love your support if you are able, and if you would share to help us spread the message of this beautiful book, we would be so grateful! https://bit.ly/lovelotterybook
I sent out this message to every person in my Facebook friends and on my phone (still not done…) And no group texts!!!
People discard group text (and sometimes personal ones too… but I felt like this was the step I wanted to go).
I let everyone know how thankful I was for their support.
I made no mention of stretch goals until I was almost to my first one…
Not even to people who were going to be my early supporters.
I revealed the stretch goals as each one came into view and we zoomed through so many that I had to create additional stretch goals! Not a bad problem to have.
Tip #2: Reach out to everyone you know
Mostly I believe in my book, the purpose, the message, the love it shares.
I have no issue about sharing it… with everyone.
My hairdresser, acupuncturist, (from years ago), my realtor, past neighbors, co-workers…
Pretty much if you have ever been in my life, I’m reaching out to you… ha!
Tip #3: Don’t be in a rush to build your audience
I’m okay with hearing no, and I have been building my audience for a long time…
This whole book process I’ve referred to as the gift of delay.
Every time I would get a setback (and there were lots, I used it to get better, find resources, learn, let people know what I was working on).
I just went with the flow, I didn’t want to rush it!
Building a book from the letters up is like building a foundation for the success of your effort.
Tip #4: Perfection is overrated
I spent so much time flip flopping like a pancake worrying about if I was going to launch or not.
I booked an hour session with Lisa and she gave me the encouragement I needed when I needed it the most.
I showed up first day, without everything figured out…and perfection is overrated anyway…that’s too much pressure.
Tip #5: Overcome discomfort with research and preparation
I had never even heard about crowdfunding until I came across Lisa’s website.
Lisa gave me so many tools, resources, ideas and lastly motivation to push through my discomfort to crowdfund my book on Kickstarter.
To me, crowdfunding is like testing the water before you commit to a large print run.
It means launching in front of a group of people you know, and many you don’t.
I think anytime you have the opportunity to launch something new… having a crowd is the best platform to have.
It gives you extra motivation and drive to have your best foot forward as you introduce your project to a beautiful crowd of people. (only safer because it’s online).
Lisa’s note: Leigha has been an ideal (!!) crowdfunding author in that she is not afraid to try new things and she really gives every effort 110% energy and enthusiasm.
The path to successfully crowdfunding your book is different for everyone and it’s important to try as many things as possible so you find what works for you.
I hope Leigha’s path to success is an inspiration for you all.
Resources Leigha used to help plan her campaign:
1:1 Crowdfunding Consulting session
She is a member of the All-In Authors Community
Bio
Leigha Huggins is a mother and children’s book writer.
For Leigha, her hard times turned to gratitude when she looked at these precious gifts of young innocence and celebrated them—her Love Lotteries.
She is confident you will feel her loving intention and connect to this story, as it is now a piece of all of us to share.
Please visit Leigha’s Kickstarter page now and show your support before her campaign ends on June 11, 2020.
Is crowdfunding the right strategy for you to launch your book?
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