Essential Tips for Building a Strong Community

Backers are more than just supporters—they’re an essential part of your project’s journey and success. Cultivating a dedicated community requires transparency, active engagement, and strategic communication to keep backers informed and excited.

Here, we’ve gathered essential tips and backer insights on how to build a thriving community for your project on Kickstarter.

Provide Clear, Prioritized Project Updates

Backers want to stay in the loop, but they also want updates that are quick and to the point. As projects progress, it’s important to deliver updates that summarize key changes and avoid overwhelming backers with excessive details.

Backer Insight: “I’d like a TL;DR on project updates.”

Another Perspective: “It’s essential to highlight important messages—things like new pledge options or post-campaign download links. We need to identify quickly what’s critical!”

To make your updates clear and manageable:

• Start each update with a brief summary of what’s new or essential.
• Use labels or tags like “Important” or “New Reward Options” to signal priority.
• Avoid overloading backers with small, recurring updates, and focus on milestones or notable changes.

These simple adjustments can go a long way in ensuring backers feel informed without feeling buried under unnecessary information.

Prioritize Consistent, Transparent Communication

Consistency is key to maintaining trust. A recurring concern among Kickstarter backers is that creators sometimes fall silent, leading to uncertainty and frustration. Regular updates help reassure backers and build long-term loyalty.

Backer Insight: “Honestly, the biggest annoyance is that creators regularly ghost their backers. Sometimes it will be 3-6 MONTHS between updates.”

Another Perspective: “I’d appreciate a monthly update from each creator I back.”

To foster trust and transparency:

• Schedule updates at least once a month to keep backers engaged.
• Even if progress is slow or you’re waiting on factors out of your control, a brief note can go a long way in maintaining confidence.
• Consider using updated templates that make it easy to communicate key information—like timelines, milestones, and challenges.

Backers understand that projects face challenges, but they appreciate knowing that they aren’t being left in the dark. Regular communication, even when there’s little new to report, demonstrates respect for the support they’ve shown.

Address Backer Concerns Promptly

Active listening is a major part of community building. Backers often voice feedback, concerns, or suggestions that can be invaluable to the success of your project. By responding to these concerns, you’re not only strengthening your relationship with backers but also refining your approach.

For instance, if a backer raises concerns about a shipping timeline, responding with an honest update on where things stand can prevent frustration and encourage patience.

Backer Insight: “Better easier status updates. It can be challenging and frustrating to determine current estimated shipping dates.”

To address backer feedback effectively:

• Keep a close eye on comments and messages from backers.
• Respond promptly and publicly where possible to show transparency.
• Share specific steps you’re taking to address common concerns, whether it’s setting clearer shipping timelines or offering status reports.

Building Your Community Starts with Communication

Creating a strong community on Kickstarter is about making backers feel like true partners in your project. By prioritizing clear updates, maintaining consistent communication, and addressing backer concerns, you’re setting the foundation for a supportive and engaged community.

At Kickstarter, we believe that the success of every project starts with the trust of its backers. Embrace these principles to strengthen that trust, build lasting relationships, and set your project up for success.