Crowdfunding seems like a chore if you look at it from an outside perspective. Imagine how much work it takes to run a successful crowd-funded product. Platforms like Patreon and Kickstarter expect constant updates from you, and alternative stores like itch.io and Steam Early Access are no easier. They expect you to always be on top of things and have good communication with your backers. All this effort seems excessive at times.

There’s a very good reason for this, though. While it might feel like it’s a lot of work, these platforms do some very important things for aspiring game developers everywhere.

Creates an Invested Community

The biggest benefit of these platforms is that they give people the community they want. Gaming isn’t the solitary experience it was before and is now a hobby shared by millions worldwide. With this newfound scope comes the need for people to communicate with others, and what’s more enticing than for them to share their hobbies with others?

Image courtesy of John Schnobrich via Unsplash

This community not only helps you market your product better, but it also keeps your audience invested. When their friends and families are involved with the same hobbies, it means it’s easier for you to keep them invested and interested in whatever products you’re selling. And what’s easier to support than a product on a platform like Patreon, where constant updates are guaranteed?

Flexible Funding - Flexible Goals!

Funds can be hard to come by, and the works you want to make might need publishers' attention. Thankfully, these crowd-funded platforms make funding easy, as it’s much more convenient to find interested crowdfunders than to find publishers and big corporate investors.

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Unlike publisher-backed deals, these crowdfunding platforms offer lots of convenient ways for your audience to support you directly. Being able to provide various reward tiers and benefits means that someone’s support of you can be as low as a dollar. It might not seem much, but the small asking price makes it much more attractive than you asking for a lump sum.

Not only that, their funding of you can be flexible as well. Crowdfunding platforms allow for various payment schemes, from monthly pay-outs from platforms like Patreon to reachable stretch goals on websites like Kickstarter. All you need is to have a plan, have a product in mind, and identify your target audience.

Minimizes Risk to Both You and Your Audience

Financial safety is another huge benefit you can look forward to. Crowdfunding guarantees that you and your investors are at much less risk when participating on these platforms due to their oversight over you. It gives your audience a guarantee of quality and content, while the expected cash influx from their support assures you of having the funds needed to continue your work. It’s a win-win for both parties, with both knowing exactly what to expect from one another, with no uncertainty to muddy the waters.

Allows You To "Give Back" To Your Audience

Catering to your audience might not seem beneficial, but it’s great for building your reputation. Having the goodwill of your audience will make your future products easier to sell, especially if they have a positive experience with you. Your generosity and care might not seem like much, but it’s a great way of maintaining a good relationship with your target audience.

Image courtesy of Melanie Deziel via Unsplash

Creates Easy Marketing Opportunities

Crowdfunding platforms also give you a marketing edge. People love jumping on the bandwagon, and if done right, the start of your crowdfunded campaign can be a great way to introduce people to your brand. Just look at something like Star Citizen’s campaign, where it used video and marketing techniques to amass over $2 million dollars. Similarly, our campaign for Refresh Games’ Flap Happy uses nostalgic references to market itself to its retro-oriented audience. It has received funding from 248 backers, who pledged a total of $18,784 to help bring it to life.

Flap Happy

A smart kickstarted campaign will use any advantage it can get. A kickstarted or crowdfunded game’s ability to direct its target audience is not something to take lightly.

Tests The Viability and Marketability of Your Ideas

Your audience will dictate the success of your products, but how do you know if you have enough of an audience to make a profit? Crowdfunded products allow you to test your ideas in a volatile market without having to fully risk your company’s existence. It’s the perfect way to dip your toes in the water without diving head-first, and it gives you the chance to change your campaign and try again. It’s an opportunity a regular release does not have.

Image courtesy of Markus Winkler via Unsplash

If this article has successfully persuaded you to try to crowdfund your products, consider dropping by our Discord or visiting our LinkedIn for more gaming and game development stories! We’re a passionate studio that loves helping game developers get started on their own two feet.

This article was written by Alexander Cuaycong.