Crowdfunding Nerds: Kickstarter Marketing, Business, & Beyond!

What if your board game could make money long after your Kickstarter campaign ends? In this episode of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean explore how tabletop game creators can diversify their revenue streams, increase average pledge values, and turn a single game into a growing business. From premium add-ons and strategic bundles to merchandise, music, and expanding your game's universe, they break down what actually adds value for backers—and what might just be wasting your time and money. Andrew shares real-world examples from Deliverance, including a bundling strategy that helped sell through hundreds of play mats, while the guys examine how one Kickstarter campaign generated approximately $47,000 in additional pledges through a premium bundle. They also discuss why launching too many products too early can backfire, how to validate new ideas with real customer data, and why listening to your community is essential for long-term success. If you're looking to build a profitable tabletop gaming brand without losing focus on what makes your game great, this episode is for you. Resources: Deliverance: https://playdeliverance.com/ Excursions / Galactic Cruise: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kinsonkeygames/excursions-a-galactic-cruise-game Genius Games: https://www.geniusgames.org/?srsltid=AU7gw4VSNnhVRz7GT0CW7UA-Qj7ndTaESt-Eoo9nrGMiHJ0OBlUtLAv6 TableTone: https://www.tabletone.app/ Crowdfunding Nerds Pledge Manager: https://pledgemanager.crowdfundingnerds.com/pledgemanager Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds: Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast

Your Kickstarter has thousands of followers, but what’s keeping them from backing? Scott Pease returns for Part Two of our Snap Ships Tactics Kickstarter case study, joining Andrew and Sean to unpack the marketing decisions, backer conversations, and unexpected complications behind the campaign. Scott shares how a simple follower poll revealed what potential backers needed to hear, and how an update focused on reviews generated several thousand dollars in pledges. We also dig into prelaunch versus live advertising, tracking results with referral links, and why a cheaper pledge didn’t deliver the backer boost Scott expected. Plus, we explore payment plans, pledge managers, and how offering a seemingly simple color choice created a fulfillment headache. Thinking about your next campaign? Grab your notebook, Nerds. These are lessons worth learning before launch.   Guest Bio: Scott Pease is a game creator with a background in video games and a creator behind Snap Ships Tactics, a tabletop spaceship combat game featuring customizable ships. Drawing on experience from two Kickstarter campaigns for the game, Scott shares practical lessons in audience building, advertising, backer communication, and managing complex pledge offerings. His candid approach explores both the decisions that helped his campaigns succeed and the mistakes he would avoid next time.   Resources: - Snap Ships Tactics website and Kickstarter campaign: snapshipstactics.com   Chapters For YouTube:  00:00 Snap Ships Tactics Case Study: Part Two 00:36 Prelaunch Marketing: Was the Budget Big Enough? 04:50 Balancing Advertising Risk and Backer Value 06:28 Why a Cheaper Pledge Didn’t Attract More Backers 10:51 Simplifying Pledges for New and Returning Players 13:49 Preparing Your Kickstarter Page Before Launch 16:31 Tracking Your Marketing With Referral Links 18:00 Advertising Across Multiple Platforms 21:37 Scott’s Performance Marketing Experience 29:25 Using Your Own Customer Data to Improve Ads 32:08 Engaging Your Community During the Campaign 34:45 Creating Updates for Different Audiences 36:30 Asking Followers Why They Haven’t Backed 38:08 Turning Backer Objections Into Pledges 41:24 Pledge Over Time: Benefits and Complications 48:27 What Scott Would Do Differently Next Time 50:00 How Color Choices Complicated Fulfillment 54:13 Prepacking Bundles to Simplify Shipping 55:50 Keeping Your Email List Engaged Between Campaigns 57:48 Choosing a Pledge Manager and Planning Late Pledges   Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds: Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast

What does it take to come back to Kickstarter and nearly double your first campaign’s funding? Bigger spaceships help, but there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes! Scott Pease returns to Crowdfunding Nerds to unpack the Snap Ships Tactics expansion and reprint campaign, which raised over $550,000 in just 24 days. Andrew and Sean dig into the six-month pre-launch, the switch from collecting email leads to driving Kickstarter followers, and why a messy Gen Con photo outperformed polished advertising. We also explore how a $349 all-in pledge became the campaign’s most popular option, why Scott sometimes encouraged backers to buy less, and how scheduled unlocks kept people coming back without the scramble of traditional stretch goals. From Kickstarter promotion to responding to tough comments, this case study is packed with practical lessons for your next launch. And we’re not done yet! Part two will dig deeper into campaign numbers, referrals, payment options, and communicating with different audiences.  Guest Bio: Scott Pease is the co-inventor of Snap Ships and a driving force behind Snap Ships Tactics, a tabletop miniatures game that lets players build and battle their own modular spacecraft. A veteran game developer, Scott spent 15 years at Neversoft as Studio Development Director, helping shape titles in the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Guitar Hero, and Call of Duty franchises. He brings that experience in product development and audience engagement to tabletop gaming, including the Snap Ships Tactics expansion and reprint Kickstarter campaign that raised over $550,000.   Resources: Snap Ships Tactics: https://www.snapshipstactics.com/ Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/ Gamefound: https://gamefound.com/ Gen Con: https://www.gencon.com/ Mailchimp: https://mailchimp.com/

More pledges don’t always mean more money in your pocket. Andrew is back, and between welcoming baby number eight and catching up with Sean, he’s got a few things to say about crowdfunding marketing fees. In this episode of Crowdfunding Nerds, we unpack Andrew’s experience with commission-based marketing, why a bigger campaign total isn’t the same as a healthier bottom line, and when it makes sense to spread your ad budget beyond Meta. Sean shares a recent Reddit ads success, his “delegate or die” approach to a busy season, and why copying your pitch into every Facebook group is a terrible marketing strategy. We also introduce the Crowdfunding Essentials course, discuss why the holidays can be an opportunity for prelaunch marketing, and explore a social platform that rewards useful contributions. Over 300 episodes in, we’re still talking marketing, making games, and occasionally getting interrupted by a reminder to take out the trash.   Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds: Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast  

What happens when AI can create artwork that’s almost impossible to distinguish from something made by a human? Sean, Donnie, and Jacob dive into the increasingly complicated relationship between AI-generated art and the board game industry. They discuss why publishers are tempted by AI’s speed and lower costs, why portions of the tabletop community remain strongly opposed to it, and whether human-made artwork could actually become more valuable as AI-generated content becomes commonplace. Ultimately, this episode isn't about handing publishers a simple yes-or-no answer on AI. It’s about asking better questions: What role should AI have in your workflow? What do you want your art to communicate? And what kind of creative process do you want behind the product you're asking people to support?    Resources: Exit Through the Gift Shop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VmHFp6AkWo Wendell Berry: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/wendell-berry Marshall McLuhan / Hot and Cold Media: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Understanding_Media Chapters For YouTube:  00:00 – AI Art and the Board Game Industry  00:53 – Why This AI Conversation Matters  03:22 – Jacob’s Background as an Artist  05:56 – How Fast Is AI Art Improving?  08:31 – Will Human-Made Art Become More Valuable?  12:12 – The Return to Physical Experiences  17:04 – Why Handmade Art Feels Different  17:58 – The Risk of Mixing AI and Human Art  20:24 – Why the Creative Struggle Matters  20:51 – AI Art in Board Game Design  23:47 – The Problem With “AI Slop”  24:42 – What Actually Makes Something Art?  28:41 – Art, Craft, and Creative Value  33:25 – Are We Losing Ownership?  37:26 – Convenience vs. the Creative Process  40:18 – AI, Creativity, and Human Identity  44:32 – Why Your Game’s Art Matters  46:26 – Hot vs. Cold Media  49:18 – Creativity Is a Muscle  52:19 – What’s Your Policy on AI?   Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds: Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast