{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The BookFunnel Podcast","title":"Crowdfunding for Authors with Max Salzberg of BackerKit, The BookFunnel Podcast Ep. 41","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":4128,"description":"In this episode of The BookFunnel Podcast, Damon Courtney sits down with Maxwell Salzberg, CEO of BackerKit, to talk about why crowdfunding has become one of the most exciting opportunities for authors today.\nMax shares how BackerKit grew from managing the “back of the house” for crowdfunding campaigns into a full crowdfunding platform, and why authors are especially well-positioned to use crowdfunding as part of a long-term publishing career. Damon and Max also discuss the rise of special editions, superfan-driven campaigns, direct reader relationships, and why a successful campaign starts long before launch day.\nWhether you’re thinking about your first campaign or looking for ways to turn your existing readers into a stronger community, this episode breaks down what authors should understand before they crowdfund.\nIn this episode, we talk about:\nWhy crowdfunding is really another form of direct sales\nHow authors can use crowdfunding to serve their superfans\nWhy your mailing list is the foundation of a successful campaign\nThe importance of “pre-live” campaign building\nHow to reduce the fear of public campaign failure\nWhy special editions, audiobooks, and premium products work well for crowdfunding\nHow smaller authors can think about campaigns without comparing themselves to Brandon Sanderson\nWhy peer collaboration can help authors reach new readers\nWhat Bonkers Romance did well with community-driven campaigns\nHow BackerKit’s instant access rewards work with BookFunnel\nHow authors can use back catalog ebooks, audiobooks, bonus material, and samples to build campaign momentum\nKey takeaways\nCrowdfunding is not just for massive authors with giant audiences. Max and Damon emphasize that authors can start small by focusing on the next realistic milestone: one fan, ten fans, one hundred fans, and so on.\nThe most successful campaigns are not simply preorders. They become an event, a community experience, and an extension of the author’s world.\nAuthors should not wait...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/EqmlD7F0gMQjMspBKXmHG0jl55JLnXxB_PFmB7pEcvo/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS85YmU3/MzhmZGYxYjM0NDA1/ODg2ZDUwNGRkMzUy/OTMyMy5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}