Remember to ask your backers for help

Good day again board game creators, 

In today's article I want to address the importance of asking for and getting help from your backers. 
Though many people are starting to treat Kickstarter as an pre-order service, and many bigger companies on Kickstarter treat their backers as regular customers. I have to point out the importance of understanding how big a part of the project your backers really is. 

Backers are not simple customers waiting to get their package shipped (agreed, some are of course.. but the majority isn't). These people are getting on board your boat because they believe in your project and want to see it succeed. 
This also means that they are willing to help you where they can. 

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Backers want to lend you a hand
While I had my Kickstarter campaign running, over 10 backers was writing me and offering to help with translating the rules into several different languages. In the end meaning that a successful Burning Suns game can potentially have a rulebook in over 6 languages (ranging from Polish and German to Spanish and Japanese). 

*pssst* I hope to see you guys for my relaunch of Burning Suns ;)

This is an immense help, especially because I won't be able to afford the translation into all those languages right of the bat. 
Though I don't believe people should work for free - there's no sense in that, I'm sure a backer would settle for less than a professional translator. And you can then hire a translator just for the proof reading.

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Include your backers in your plans
One of the best ways to keep your project open and accessible for potential support is to let your backers in on your plans. 

• What do you plan to do while the campaign is on?
  
• How many languages do you plan to produce the rulebook in?
  
• Do you have plans for new pledge levels?
  
• What about further stretch goals?
  

In my experience, it's all about being honest and not keep secrets during your campaign. 
Also when it comes to your progress. If backers have a chance to see how much you're progressing every week, and maybe see where you're struggling, they will be more encouraged to offer you help. 

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Don't be too proud or shy to ask for help
There's isn't anything won by being to proud to ask your community of backers for help. This is part of Kickstarter, just as you ask for support in your quest to produce a great game. Getting help from loyal backers is key to success and it'll make it easier to avoid loosing them along the road. 

Ask for their help

• Thumbing up pictures on Board Game Geek. 
  
• Giving you ideas how to create engaging contests. 
  
• Spell-checking your campaign. 
  
• Locate interesting communities or online stores. 
  
• In general spreading the word of course :)

Bottom line
Don't forget that your poll of backers is not just a mass of people who has pledge a sum of money - but a community consisting of many different people with many different talents, that might come in handy if you know who they are and what they can. 

A message for my backers out there > "You guys are awesome! Thank you for your support - we'll meet again, soon" :)

Happy gaming to you all out there... 

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