Kickstarter: The newest method of direct selling for authors

The Rock Star & The Outlaw Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kayelynnebooth-wcp/the-rock-star-and-the-outlaw?ref=user_menu

You may be aware that I’m currently running a Kickstarter campaign for The Rock Star & The Outlaw, my time-travel adventure novel,which was inspired by the music of The Pretty Reckless. It’s a rocking story that you won’t want to miss, and you can learn more about it and support the campaign through the link above. But it’s come to my attention that many of you, who might happily buy this book through a distributor, which is the route we are most used to using to buy books, may be hesitant to purchase through this less familiar method of book buying. I thought I might offer some insight into how a Kickstarter works and the reasons why you might buy books via Kickstarter.

How does a Kickstarter Work?

Kickstarters are a method of direct selling that operates on the large spike business model, meaning the author gets a large spike in sales, rather than having them trickling in through distributors. Big name authors like Brandon Sanderson, Kevin J. Anderson, Dean Wesley Smith, and Joanna Penn are launching campaigns that are funding within minutes of launch, and making major money buying adding stretch goals to keep momentum going throughout the campaign.

As an unknown author, my first campaign, for Delilah, didn’t fund until the very last day, but it did fund. So it is possible for the little guy or gal to make a buck from our books this way. I set my goal lower, at $500, which I felt I could more likely reach, while the big authors shoot for thousands. I’d love to reachy goal early and be able to add some of those stretch goals like to the big guys though.

Kickstarters are crowd funding, so they are an all of nothing deal. If the campaign pledges meet the campaign goal set, the author receives all the money raised, minus Kickstarter’s 5%, (which is a lot better than the 30% which most distributors take). But if you don’t meet the funding goal, then none of the pledges are collected and you aren’t responsible to deliver any of the rewards.

As an author, you decide what your reward levels will be and what rewards will be offered. As a reader, you can support a Kickstarter for any amount, even $1, with no reward, (and yes, people do do this just to support an author they like or a project they feel is worthwhile), or choose a reward level offered by the author. Once you back the campaign at some level, you will be able to see the add ons which are available at that level for an additional cost, making even more deals available to you.

Because Kickstarter also promoted your campaign, you are able to reach a whole new audience of potential backers in the Kickstarter community. They have a whole community of people who back the projects which they feel are worthwhile, so it’s a great way to expand your audience.

The video below offers a brief overview. (Note: there is no audio for this video).

https://youtu.be/Zkv1KrdweFU

Why Buy Through Kickstarter?Authors make more money through direct sales.Support authors you already love or new authors you’d like to give a try.Get books for less before they are available through distributors and exclusive items which you can’t find anywhere else, like signed print copies and other merchandise.

Check out my Kickstarter campaign for The Rock Star & The Outlaw to see what it’s all about. If you like the project, show your support at the reward level.of your choice while your there. All support is appreciated.