By If you’re gearing up for a Kickstarter launch in 2025, you’ve likely heard the phrase “build it and they will come.” It sounds hopeful, but in reality, it’s more likely to lead to a campaign that raises $327 and a t-shirt from your cousin.
After working on numerous successful crowdfunding campaigns, including several that hit seven figures, we know exactly what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to promoting your Kickstarter. From day one to the final stretch, the key to success is consistent, strategic promotion.
In this guide, we’ll break down the best ways to get noticed, build momentum, and keep your campaign on track, whether you’re working solo or considering bringing in external help. Let’s dive in.
Start Before You Launch
What you do before your campaign goes live is more important than anything you do afterward. Strong campaigns don’t materialize overnight; they are the result of weeks of preparation, refining your message, and building an eager audience ready to pledge on launch day.
Here’s how we approach this critical phase:
- Refine Your Message Before Scaling
Your campaign’s landing page is where you perfect your pitch. Use A/B testing to test headlines, images, pricing tiers, and CTAs. Small tweaks can make a big difference in getting people to engage and back your project. - Build and Warm Up an Email List
Start by creating a landing page offering incentives like early bird spots, exclusive rewards, or first access to launch-day perks. Follow up with value-driven emails, sharing sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes progress, and introducing your team. Engaged email subscribers are invaluable, and even a small list can lead to big results. - Understand Your Audience’s Motivations
Get to know who you’re speaking to. Use surveys and direct feedback to learn what your audience hopes your product will do for them, what problems it will solve, and what concerns they have. Tailor your messaging to reflect this insight, making your communication feel personal and relevant. - Build Social Proof
People are more likely to back a project that feels credible and in motion. Share early testimonials, behind-the-scenes videos, or milestones that demonstrate your project’s progress. This helps build trust before you even launch.
Launch Day
Your first 24 to 48 hours on Kickstarter are crucial. Early momentum can make or break your campaign. Kickstarter’s algorithm prioritizes campaigns that show rapid growth, so your job is to drive traffic, create urgency, and turn early interest into real pledges.
Here’s how to maximize your launch:
- Announce Your Launch with Enthusiasm
Post on every platform where you’ve already built an audience—Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, Reddit. Share updates like backer count and funding percentage, and use the excitement to invite people to be part of something big. - Email Your List Immediately (And Again)
This is where all that pre-launch work pays off. Send your first email within 10-15 minutes of going live, highlighting your exclusive launch offer. Then, follow up a few hours later to remind those who haven’t acted yet. - Offer a 24-Hour Exclusive Deal
Early backers are motivated by limited-time offers. Consider offering free shipping, bonus items, or exclusive variants that disappear within 24 hours. This creates urgency and encourages quick action. - Secure PR Coverage for Launch Day
Securing press coverage on launch day can give your campaign instant credibility and visibility. Reach out to bloggers and journalists in your niche 2-3 weeks in advance and ask them to time their posts for launch day. - Coordinate Influencer Reviews for After You’re Funded
Influencer content is a powerful trust builder, but timing matters. Reach out to influencers early and ask them to post their reviews once you hit your funding goal. Their content can provide social proof at a critical moment when your campaign is gaining traction.
During the Campaign
Once you’ve crossed the initial launch phase, the momentum can slow down. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to sit back. Keeping the energy high throughout the campaign is key to securing those final pledges and hitting stretch goals.
Here’s how to keep things moving:
- Keep Your Ads Fresh
Ads that worked in the early days may lose their impact after a while. Refresh your creatives every 4-5 days, highlighting new milestones, stretch goals, and real backer feedback. - Leverage Google Ads
Google Ads can work as a supportive channel, especially for people searching for your product or brand. Use exact-match search ads and remarketing through YouTube to capture those already familiar with your campaign. - Scale Influencer Partnerships and Use Kickbooster
Mid-campaign is a great time to work with influencers. Focus on creators who understand your niche and have an engaged audience. Use Kickbooster to amplify your reach by allowing others to promote your campaign in exchange for commissions. - Follow Up with a Second Wave of PR
Once your campaign has momentum, send follow-up PR pitches that highlight your success, such as being fully funded within 24 hours or reaching key stretch goals. This shows journalists that your project is a success story in the making. - Stay Active on Social Media
Mid-campaign social media should focus on engagement and proof. Share milestones, user-generated content, and press coverage. Encourage backers to share their support by offering rewards for referrals and comments. - Use Email for Conversion and Education
Keep your email list engaged with conversion-focused emails, educational content, and campaign updates. This helps turn hesitant backers into pledges while maintaining excitement around your campaign. - Tap Into Communities and Newsletters
As your campaign slows, look for communities that already have your audience. Niche newsletters, Reddit threads, and Facebook groups can drive traffic and generate new backers when your organic reach starts to plateau.
Final Days
The final 72 hours of your Kickstarter campaign are often the most intense. This is when you need to ramp up your efforts and create a sense of urgency that pushes hesitant backers to pledge.
- Create Urgency Across All Channels
In the final days, treat every touchpoint as part of a countdown. Use countdowns in your emails, social posts, and ads to make sure people know they’re running out of time to back your project. - Re-engage Influencers
By now, you know which influencers are driving the most traffic. Re-engage your top partners with a final push, providing them with updated copy, countdown visuals, and reminders of what’s at stake. - Retarget with Countdown Ads
Shift all your ad spend toward retargeting those who have shown interest. Use countdown-based creatives to highlight urgency and push those who are close to pledging over the finish line.
Conclusion
Success on Kickstarter isn’t a matter of luck; it’s about strategy, execution, and maintaining momentum throughout every phase. From pre-launch planning to the final 72 hours, the key is staying active, visible, and focused on building trust with your audience.
The right moves at the right time will help your campaign exceed expectations, even with a limited team and budget. If you’re ready to start your campaign, take these strategies to heart, and you’ll have a much higher chance of hitting your funding goal and scaling your project to success.