The Best Time for Comic Kickstarter Campaigns
Crowdfunding has become an essential tool for comic book creators, and platforms like Kickstarter offer the perfect way to build excitement, rally your community, and get the funding needed to bring your comic to life. However, selecting the best time to launch your comicbook on Kickstarter is key to maximizing your success. In this article, we’ll explore the best times of the year to launch your comic book crowdfunding campaign and how you can tap into seasonal trends to get the most out of your efforts.
1. Spring (March to May): The Comic Book Renaissance
Spring is often regarded as the best time for comic Kickstarter campaigns, and for good reason.
Why Spring Works:
- Tax Refund Season: People often receive tax refunds during the spring months, which increases their disposable income. This means more funds available for backing creative projects like your comic book.
- Convention Buzz: Spring is when many comic book conventions begin, or are just around the corner, creating the perfect environment for promoting your project. These events generate excitement and help spread awareness for your campaign through both in-person events and online communities.
- Fresh Energy: Spring symbolizes new beginnings, and fans are excited about discovering new projects as they shake off the winter blues.
Best For:
- New comic book series that introduce fresh characters and worlds.
- Special editions or graphic novels that you can promote at upcoming conventions.
- First-time creators who want to make a strong debut during the best time for comic Kickstarter campaigns.
2. Fall (September to Early November): The Powerhouse Season
As summer wraps up and people return to their regular routines, fall becomes another golden opportunity for launching your Kickstarter campaign.
Why Fall Works:
- Post-Summer Focus: After summer vacations and back-to-school activities, people are back in work mode. Their attention spans shift to projects they are passionate about, like your comic.
- Convention Season: Major events like New York Comic Con (in October) bring massive attention to the comic book world. The buzz from these conventions can provide a significant boost to your campaign.
- Pre-Holiday Window: Fall is just before the holiday shopping rush, which means people are still willing to spend on projects before they allocate budgets for gifts. It’s a great time to grab attention before the holiday season kicks in full force.
Best For:
- Ongoing comic series or continuations of successful prior campaigns.
- Collector’s items and limited-edition comic issues, which play well with the fall convention atmosphere.
- Campaigns that plan to wrap up and deliver before the holiday season, ensuring backers don’t worry about delayed shipments.
Fall stands as one of the best times for comic Kickstarter campaigns, especially for established creators looking to continue previous successes.
3. Mid-to-Late Summer (Late July to August): Pre-Fall Prep
While early summer (June) is generally not ideal for launching a campaign due to vacation schedules and lower engagement, August offers a sweet spot as people prepare for the fall season.
Why Late Summer Works:
- Back-to-Business Mentality: As people return from vacations, they start settling back into their regular schedules. Their attention shifts back to their personal interests, including comics.
- Convention Tie-Ins: For creators attending summer conventions, August can be a great time to ride the buzz generated by these events and start a campaign that carries momentum into the fall. For a list of conventions we’ll be attending, check out our events calendar.
- School’s in Session: Parents and students are gearing up for the school year, making them more likely to focus on creative projects that bring fun and excitement to their routines.
Best For:
- One-shots or anthologies that don’t need an extended campaign window.
- Projects aiming for a September release, allowing you to capitalize on fall energy.
- Quick-turnaround rewards that can be delivered in the fall before the holiday shipping rush.
Times to Avoid for Comic Book Crowdfunding Campaigns
While there are ideal times to launch, there are also periods to avoid due to decreased engagement and spending.
- Start of Summer (June): People are often on vacation, and overall online engagement drops. It’s difficult to get people’s attention when they’re traveling or focused on summertime activities.
- Holiday Season (Late November to December): The holiday shopping frenzy makes it tough to run a successful campaign. People are focused on buying gifts for others, not on supporting Kickstarter projects. Additionally, holiday shipping delays could affect fulfillment timelines, leading to backer frustration.
Avoiding these periods ensures you’re not missing out on the best time for comic Kickstarter success.
Key Tips for Running a Comic Book Kickstarter Campaign
To maximize your campaign’s success, timing is just one piece of the puzzle. Here are a few additional tips for running a successful comic book Kickstarter:
- Coordinate with Major Conventions: Align your campaign’s launch or conclusion with big conventions like San Diego Comic-Con (July) or New York Comic Con (October). Even if you’re not attending, the general excitement in the comic book community can help your project get noticed.
- Avoid Fulfillment During the Holiday Rush: If you’re shipping physical rewards, try to avoid December. Shipping costs and timelines can be unpredictable during the holiday season, and you don’t want backers waiting longer than expected for their rewards.
- Use Social Proof: If your project has been featured at conventions or supported by well-known figures in the comic book world, make sure to highlight this in your campaign. Social proof is a powerful way to build trust and excitement.
- Start Strong: Aim to launch on a Tuesday or Wednesday, which are statistically the best days to get initial backers. A strong start will give your project momentum and increase its visibility on Kickstarter.
Conclusion
Timing is crucial when running a successful comic book Kickstarter campaign. For most projects, the best time for comic Kickstarter campaigns is in the spring (March to May) or fall (September to early November), while late summer (August) can also work well for shorter campaigns. Avoid early-summer and the holiday season to prevent your project from getting lost in the shuffle. By aligning your campaign with these peak times, you’ll have a greater chance of capturing backers’ attention and achieving your crowdfunding goals.
Whether you’re a seasoned comic book creator or launching your very first project, understanding the best time for comic Kickstarter campaigns can make all the difference in its success.
Check us Out on Kickstarter
If you’d like to check out our crowdfunding campaigns, head over to our Kickstarter profile. You can back our projects or learn from our efforts. Either way, we look forward to sharing our stories.