[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread] 

List:       kde-promo
Subject:    Re: [kde-promo] What can we learn from Krita's Kickstarter?
From:       Jens Reuterberg <jens () ohyran ! se>
Date:       2015-05-05 7:49:25
Message-ID: 2414545.Ook593btfH () cuddles
[Download RAW message or body]

I think this has less to do with the forming of the Kickstarter (even though 
its fine) and more with, as Boud said, the reach outside of KDE and Open 
Source communities and what Krita has created outside of that specific 
Kickstarter.

That in itself is something that we need to think about - since communication 
and success always tends to be explained with something overly simplistic and 
to be quite honest, often in rather bitter tones ("Why did THEY get x thousand 
euros and we nothing? Must be the way they did the video!"). Where in fact 
here, as so often is the case - Krita has earned that money by breeding trust 
with its users (full disclosure, Krita was what brought me to Open Source). 

I think we need to consider, first and foremost, what it is we're selling. 

Is the product something that is viable on the market? Does it bring something 
new, something better? How do we PROVE its better/new/needed? I don't think 
looking at stretch goals and video is the catch-all of this but rather at the 
thing itself, how it has been presented in the past, what the actual story is.

One of the great downsides of Open Source is its... often awkwardness when it 
comes to marketing, communication, design and promo - all things often 
considered to be after thoughts, the last lick of paint on a finished product. 
And then invariably comes the part where they throw their hands in the air 
going "Why oh why didn't the promo work?" or "Why does the design look so 
scattered?"
Kritas great strength is the fact that its comparatively old, has gone through 
many different iterations, have had an open line of contact with its users and 
built a better and better product through this form of communication and the 
trust its users have in its product. I really think we should look at this 
Kickstarter and see it as the tip of a wave that was a long time coming. That 
has had years and years of work behind it - instead of delving into the 
specifics of the video. 

/me will also scrounge up some more cash to send Krita's way. My pitiful 50 
euro feels awkward now.

/Jens 

On Tuesday, May 05, 2015 09:22:06 AM Boudewijn Rempt wrote:
> Well... I wrote most of the text :-) The important thing there is to have
> a single, simple story, and it sucks that we were forced to have a story
> with an 'and' in it: 'performance _and_ animation' -- that's pretty bad,
> but initial canvasing among users showed that we'd lose significant
> backing without animation and we needed to the performance bit before we
> can do animation, technically... It sucks.
> 
> The video is short and the music dynamic because last time we noticed that
> people only watch about 30 seconds of video; even now, only 50% of viewers
> watch the whole video. I think this year's video is much better than last
> year's, though, of course, everyone will disagree about the music, no
> matter which music you'd use.
> 
> The big challenge for any generic KDE fund raiser is going to be having a
> story that appeals to people outside the KDE community. We've got 188
> backers now, and only very few are from the Krita or KDE community (though
> the resident Krita fans do the biggest donations, often up to 500 euros.)
> 
> Most of our donations come in through reddit, krita.org, twitter,
> blendernation. There isn't a single referral through dot.kde.org.
> 
> Boudewijn
> 
> On Mon, 4 May 2015, Harold Schreckengost wrote:
> > For those who weren't aware, Krita's newest fundraiser is already under
> > way starting today.  Out of a goal of 20,000 euro, they've already raised
> > closed over 5400 as of now. Since some fundraising has already been
> > brought up for our end of things, I'd like to encourage everyone to take
> > a look at Krita's Kickstarter
> > (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/krita/krita-free-paint-app-lets-mak
> > e-it-faster-than-phot) and make some observations.  What do you like? 
> > What do you dislike?  What do you think is helping them raise as much as
> > they are right now?
> > 
> > I'll go first:
> > 
> > They are listing discreet goals (performance goals and animation tools)
> > They are listing discreet, useful goals for stretch goals
> > They use videos effectively
> > They showcase work created using Krita
> > They draw donors in by using inclusive language ("here's where you come
> > in", a lot of "you" throughout the page)
> > 
> > From a layperson friend of mine:
> > 
> > "Right off the bat, the music they chose wasn't too good for something
> > regarding general artistry. Their examples are a bit too fast. They're
> > stating goals, which is nice. They involve the backers, showing they
> > actually take into account what they think/say. They provided a secondary
> > site to check it out further, that's good for those who are interested,
> > but want to learn a bit more before backing. Their examples, looking over
> > it again, seem to only scratch the surface of what the whole thing can
> > do, so that's not very effective to me."
> > 
> > 
> > So, that said, what does everyone else see in their Kickstarter that makes
> > it successful?  what can be improved?  What can KDE, as a whole, make use
> > of?
> > 
> > Thanks, everyone, and I hope we can learn a lot!
> > 
> > Harold


_______________________________________________
This message is from the kde-promo mailing list.

Visit https://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-promo to unsubscribe, set digest on \
or temporarily stop your subscription.


[prev in list] [next in list] [prev in thread] [next in thread]