SEO is changing. AI is changing search. But does that mean everything you knew about getting discovered online is suddenly useless?

Not exactly.

Crowdfunding Nerds SEO wizard and original co-host Richard is back to talk about what tabletop creators need to know about SEO, AI search, branding, and getting their games discovered online.

Richard and Sean dig into why brand presence matters more than ever, how AI tools find and recommend products, and why being mentioned across places like BoardGameGeek, Reddit, social media, review sites, and other authoritative platforms can make a major difference.

They also discuss one of the biggest mistakes crowdfunding creators continue to make: waiting until launch to start building awareness.

From choosing a searchable game name to creating public conversations around your project, the goal isn't simply to spam your Kickstarter everywhere. It's to give search engines, AI systems, and—most importantly—real people enough evidence to understand who you are and why your game matters.

And Richard's biggest SEO tip might be the simplest: be unique. Share stories, experiences, insights, statistics, and ideas that nobody else can copy.

Guest Bio:

Richard Phillips is the SEO expert at Crowdfunding Nerds and one of the podcast’s original co-hosts. Working largely behind the scenes, Richard specializes in search engine optimization, online visibility, and helping brands build a stronger digital presence. He was also instrumental in launching the Crowdfunding Nerds podcast as a way to share practical marketing knowledge with creators and expand the company’s reach. Richard shares his perspective on the rapidly changing world of SEO and AI search, including how tabletop creators can build brand authority, improve discoverability, and give both search engines and potential backers more reasons to find—and trust—their games.

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast

Why do some players crave big, memorable moments while others obsess over clever combinations or competitive wins? Understanding those motivations can help you design a stronger game—and market it more effectively.

In this episode of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean explore the psychographic profiles behind different types of gamers. They unpack the classic Timmy, Johnny, and Spike archetypes, explain how Vorthos and Melvin players experience games differently, and connect these profiles to the core motivations that drive purchasing decisions.

In this episode:

• Why understanding player motivation matters
• What crowdfunding reveals about your market
• Designing from theme versus mechanics
• Why thematic messaging performs well in advertising
• Common traps in lore-heavy and mechanics-heavy marketing

Resources:

The Three Magic Psychographics — Mark Rosewater’s updated explanation of Timmy/Tammy, Johnny/Jenny, and Spike.

Timmy, Johnny, and Spike Revisited — A deeper look at the three original player psychographics.

Vorthos and Melvin — How players derive enjoyment through flavor and theme versus mechanics and systems.

Vorthos and Mel — Mark Rosewater’s updated article on the two player aesthetics.

The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman — The business book referenced during the discussion of core human motivations.

Richard Bartle’s Player Taxonomy — The MMO player categories of Achievers, Explorers, Socializers, and Killers.

Paul Lawrence’s Core Human Drives — Acquire, bond, learn, defend, and feel.

TableTone — An adaptive soundboard featuring music, ambience, and sound effects for tabletop games.

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast

Most creators know they need marketing, but very few understand what actually creates demand versus what simply captures it.

In this episode of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew Lowen and Sean dive deep into one of the most important marketing concepts for crowdfunding creators: Drivers vs. Catchers.

They explain why many campaigns mistakenly attribute sales to the wrong marketing channels, how platforms like Meta, Google, Amazon, YouTube, conventions, and now ChatGPT all serve different purposes, and why understanding the customer journey can dramatically improve your marketing ROI.

Andrew also shares his first-hand experience testing the brand-new ChatGPT Ads platform, including real campaign data, click costs, impressions, targeting options, and early lessons learned after spending over $150 on the platform.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Use Our Pledge Manager Powered By Hive Interactive - 2% Late Pledge Fee + 0% Setup Fee / 0% Campaign Fee: https://pledgemanager.crowdfundingnerds.com/services

https://bridgedist.com/ - We recommend Bridge Distribution & Fulfillment for US fulfillment and Amazon fulfillment. We use them for our own projects, too!

http://crowdfundingnerds.com/hive - Hive Interactive Pledge Manager -

https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6K95GNejWHMV - We recommend Mailerlite for building your community [Affiliate]

https://crowdfundingnerds.com/academy/ - If you are looking to DIY your crowdfunding, we have highly impactful courses that teach you how to build, excite, and prepare a crowd to fund you on Launch Day!

Official Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ and join our bustling Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

Stay Nerdy!

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast

Fulfillment can make or break your crowdfunding campaign, and most creators don't realize how much can go wrong until it's too late. In this episode, Andrew sits down with Konstantinos Matos of Hive Interactive and Vesuvius Media to unpack the realities of international fulfillment, freight logistics, and why even experienced publishers still encounter unexpected disasters.

With over 21 successful Kickstarter campaigns under his belt, Konstantinos shares real-world horror stories, from missing pallets and incorrect shipments to insurance headaches and customs complications. More importantly, he explains how creators can reduce risk, set proper expectations with backers, and build fulfillment plans that survive the unexpected.

What You'll Learn

• Why fulfillment is far more complicated than most first-time creators expect.
• The biggest misconceptions creators have about international shipping.
• Why you should never rely on a single fulfillment or logistics provider.
• How fulfillment mistakes happen long before products ever leave the factory.
• What insurance actually covers, and what it doesn't.

Resources:

Thank you to our sponsors!

Use Our Pledge Manager Powered By Hive Interactive - 2% Late Pledge Fee + 0% Setup Fee / 0% Campaign Fee: https://pledgemanager.crowdfundingnerds.com/services

https://bridgedist.com/ - We recommend Bridge Distribution & Fulfillment for US fulfillment and Amazon fulfillment. We use them for our own projects, too!

http://crowdfundingnerds.com/hive - Hive Interactive Pledge Manager -

https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6K95GNejWHMV - We recommend Mailerlite for building your community [Affiliate]

https://crowdfundingnerds.com/academy/ - If you are looking to DIY your crowdfunding, we have highly impactful courses that teach you how to build, excite, and prepare a crowd to fund you on Launch Day!

Official Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ and join our bustling Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast

This week on Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean open the curtain on the realities of crowdfunding, publishing, and marketing by sharing the things that truly “grind their gears.” From low-effort projects and unrealistic expectations to anonymous criticism and poor communication, this episode is a candid look at the mistakes creators make that can derail campaigns and business relationships.

The conversation explores how creators can avoid common pitfalls, why honest feedback is often difficult to hear, and what separates successful crowdfunding projects from those that struggle.

Resources:

Crowdfunding Nerds: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Nimble RPG: https://nimblerpg.com/

Magic: The Gathering: https://magic.wizards.com/

ISS Vanguard: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/awaken-realms/iss-vanguard

GameFound: https://gamefound.com/en

Zatu Games: https://zatu.com/

Tabletone App: https://www.tabletone.app/

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast

Most creators dream about launching a successful Kickstarter, but what happens after your first campaign?

In this episode of Crowdfunding Nerds, Andrew and Sean wrap up their marketing series by exploring the bigger picture: how to build a publishing company that lasts. They discuss why your first campaign should be viewed as the foundation, not the finish line, and why cultivating a passionate audience is far more valuable than chasing a viral launch.

The conversation also dives into creative productivity, protecting your focus in a world full of distractions, using AI responsibly, and why your next game should serve the audience you've already built rather than forcing them to follow you into an entirely different direction.

Resources:

Must Watch Episodes 👀 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUl_AIQk_sIXD4K7-44maiK3hfFMg7Gl

Thank you to our sponsors!

https://bridgedist.com/ - We recommend Bridge Distribution & Fulfillment for US fulfillment and Amazon fulfillment. We use them for our own projects, too!

http://crowdfundingnerds.com/hive - Hive Interactive Pledge Manager -

https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6K95GNejWHMV - We recommend Mailerlite for building your community [Affiliate]

https://crowdfundingnerds.com/academy/ - If you are looking to DIY your crowdfunding, we have highly impactful courses that teach you how to build, excite, and prepare a crowd to fund you on Launch Day!

Official Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ and join our bustling Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

Stay Nerdy!

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast

What makes a story unforgettable?

In this episode, Andrew shares what he learned after writing more than 80,000 words for the upcoming Deliverance: Council of the Fallen campaign. From surveying players to rewriting an entire campaign narrative, this conversation dives into the craft of storytelling, worldbuilding, and creating narratives that genuinely engage an audience.

Whether you're designing a board game, writing fiction, building a Kickstarter campaign, or simply trying to tell better stories through your marketing, these lessons apply far beyond games.

Resources:

Must Watch Episodes 👀 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUl_AIQk_sIXD4K7-44maiK3hfFMg7Gl

Thank you to our sponsors!

https://bridgedist.com/ - We recommend Bridge Distribution & Fulfillment for US fulfillment and Amazon fulfillment. We use them for our own projects, too!

http://crowdfundingnerds.com/hive - Hive Interactive Pledge Manager -

https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6K95GNejWHMV - We recommend Mailerlite for building your community [Affiliate]

https://crowdfundingnerds.com/academy/ - If you are looking to DIY your crowdfunding, we have highly impactful courses that teach you how to build, excite, and prepare a crowd to fund you on Launch Day!

Official Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ and join our bustling Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

Stay Nerdy!

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast

E-commerce is where many crowdfunding creators expect the hard work to be over—but in reality, it's the beginning of an entirely new challenge. In this episode, Andrew and Sean break down what it actually takes to build a profitable online store after your crowdfunding campaign ends.

They discuss why successful e-commerce is built on testing, data, and continual optimization—not luck or guarantees. Drawing from years of experience managing marketing campaigns for tabletop games and other businesses, they explain why knowing your numbers, understanding your customer journey, and investing in long-term marketing infrastructure are essential for sustainable growth.

Resources:

- Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

- Must Watch Episodes 👀 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNUl_AIQk_sIXD4K7-44maiK3hfFMg7Gl

Thank you to our sponsors!

- https://bridgedist.com/ - We recommend Bridge Distribution & Fulfillment for US fulfillment and Amazon fulfillment. We use them for our own projects, too!

- http://crowdfundingnerds.com/hive - Hive Interactive Pledge Manager -

- https://www.mailerlite.com/a/6K95GNejWHMV - We recommend Mailerlite for building your community [Affiliate]

- https://crowdfundingnerds.com/academy/ - If you are looking to DIY your crowdfunding, we have highly impactful courses that teach you how to build, excite, and prepare a crowd to fund you on Launch Day!

- Official Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/ and join our bustling Crowdfunding Nerds Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

Stay Nerdy!

Connect with Crowdfunding Nerds:

Website: https://crowdfundingnerds.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/crowdfundingnerds/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crowdfundingnerdspodcast