The ‘Status’ column on the backer report allows you to track the status of individual backers’ rewards in a way that’s visible to them.
You can apply a status to an individual backer, or a selection of backers, by checking the box to the left of their backer number. You can also filter by reward tier and select backers within that tier. To set a reward status for each pledge, select from one of the following options within the dropdown menu:
- Not started
- In progress
- Shipped
- Delayed
You can update the reward status as often as you need to to keep backers in the loop. Hit an unexpected bump in the road? Update the status for each pledge to “Delayed” in the backer report. Remember, transparency goes a long way toward building trust with your backers.
Will backers be notified when the reward status is updated?
No, Kickstarter does not send backers a notification when their reward status changes. When you update the status of a reward, this information will be visible to the backer on their backed projects page, and in their pledge details on the project page*.
In addition to updating the reward status we also recommend posting an update to let your backers know what stage you’re at and how your project is progressing.
*Please note that the reward status information isn’t currently available when viewing pledge details through the Kickstarter app.
I already marked rewards as sent. What do I need to do next?
You’ll need to opt in to share the reward status with backers. The ‘Status’ column of the backer report replaces the ‘Rewards sent?’ column. As such we’ll need to migrate the information over so that you can continue to track your project’s fulfillment.
Until this information is migrated, or if you haven’t set a status for a pledge, the status will default to “Not provided” in both the backer report and in the backer’s pledge details.
You can choose to migrate the information at any time. To do so, click the "Yes, share" button in the "Share reward status with backers?" box that appears in the bottom right corner of the page.
Once migrated, all pledges previously marked as sent will show as “Shipped” in the backer report and this information will be visible to the backer.
When should I mark a reward as “Shipped”?
We recommend waiting to mark a reward as “Shipped” until it is on its way to the backer. This ensures that the status the backer sees is accurate and backers know to expect their reward soon.