Since we are in Kickstarter "delay season" and the last time I posted this it was very popular, here is the updated list for your use (or abuse)!
If you are running a Kickstarter and you have set an entirely too optimistic delivery date to your Kickstarter (possibly in order to get more backers, it's a fair game after all), then use the following tips for your delay strategy:
- Trickle-delay! With trickle-delays you can announce small 2-3 week delays every other update or so. While it's annoying to backers, it feels less damaging, while you can still delay the project for months with this and very few notice what is actually happening. It is also easier to explain small delays than long ones (even if the real reason is huge).
- Don't announce big delays - unless you have no way of doing it otherwise and you'd rather rip the band aid off early. Big delays cause big emotions. Do small delays only! But if you must announce a big delay, do it as early as possible. Big delays towards the end are unforgivable by many and damage your reputation.
- Chinese New Year is your friend. While everyone knows about it by now, it is still a great surprising excuse - even if you don't produce anything in China! You can use other holidays as well, for some reason most backers think it's normal that your original schedule planning included no holidays. Vacations. Even weekends. Best planners aim delivery schedules right before holidays, so if small delays happen you can ride the Christmas + Chinese New Year delay trains and end up in spring!
- Use smart reasons for delays. Best reason is to come up with quality assurance based reason outside your control. Factory misprinted something in bulk, box was too weak etc. Best excuse is to say that you improved quality of something beyond what was planned and delay is for that reason - no one can tell a difference, but backers will feel good! You can even say you paid factory extra from your pocket for fixing it. Extra sneaky is to make up those quality issues.
- You can piggyback on your previous delays. For example, in one update you announced that manufacturing issue caused a delay of 3 weeks. In another update you announce another delay saying that because of previous delay you now missed original queue for shipments in port. Or in customs (that darned government!). Or queue in fulfillment center. If you're smart you can the piggyback this series of delays on top of holiday delays, resulting in the ultimate boardgame combo.
- Silence is your enemy! Keep updating your backers even if you have nothing really to add. It is better to make stuff up than not update backers. Trust me on this.
- Trump trade war and Brexit are your friend! Even if technically shipping has no impact from either for your project, they are always a good excuse that is too complicated to explain and backers will understand.
- Last, but not least: in the very end say that shipping estimate was when items leave factory and not delivery estimate to your door! It works brilliantly as no one can easily claim that you're lying. This is the latest new trick in the book used by smarter companies than you.
These are just a handful of 'smart' strategies that are becoming ever so common by Kickstarter companies! Do you have any to add?
(this post is a satire, please don't take it seriously - even if it works!)
Smart delay strategies for Kickstarter projects
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- Kickstarter
- yzemaze