With no press promotion, Amazon.com sold books across the United States and in 45 foreign countries within 30 days. In two months, sales reached $20,000 a week, growing faster than Bezos and his. Your first book will be short. Prove to yourself you can do this and you'll be moving on up. The book will be between 50,000-55,000 words. There are roughly 250-300 words per manuscript page, which makes this a roughly 200-page book. Your book requires a deliberate word-count structure to keep you honest. Clearly defining the scope and purpose of your project is the first step. Raised nearly $37,000 more than its $20,000. Kickstarter recommends running your project for 30 days or fewer.

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You have a standout idea for a new product but need to raise money for it. So, you wonder whether you should consider a campaign on the popular crowdfunding site Kickstarter. After all, Kickstarter's results have been impressive. Since it was launched in 2009, about four million people have pledged nearly $600 million to help fund more than 40,000 projects.

But how do you create a compelling campaign that could reel in enough seed money to get your idea off the ground? While there's no surefire formula, you can take steps to increase the likelihood that your project will get funded. Start by asking these 10 essential questions:

1. How should I explain my idea on my Kickstarter project page?
Clearly defining the scope and purpose of your project is the first step, says Aimee Cebulski, author of Kickstarter for Dummies (Wiley, 2013). Explain exactly what you need the money for, how it will be used and why. 'Being vague about the specifics of your project -- everything from what inspired you to create it to what the finished product will be -- is a huge mistake,' Cebulski says.

Related: 'Veronica Mars' Secrets You Can Use in Your Kickstarter Campaign

2. How should I determine my funding goal?
Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing crowdfunding platform. If you fall even a dollar short of your total funding goal at the deadline, you won't collect any money, and none of your backers will be charged. If your project earns full funding before the deadline, it continues to accept donations up to the deadline.

So, don't set too a high goal, but seek a realistic amount that takes into account how much it will cost to manufacture, package and ship your final product, as well as the cost of the various rewards you offer your backers, Cebulski says. Also, budget for the 5 percent fee that Kickstarter collects if your project is funded. Amazon also charges additional Kickstarter payment processing fees of up to 3 to 5 percent, so be sure to account for those, too.

3. What kinds of rewards should I offer backers?
Rewards are often what motivate people to back your project, so you'll want to make them as creative and personalized as possible, says Cesar Kuriyama, a visual effects artist and TED speaker whose Kickstarter project, an iOS app called 1 Second Everyday, raised nearly $37,000 more than its $20,000 funding goal last year.

Kickstarter rewards can be valued between $1 and $10,000 and must be products and experiences, not cash. Kuriyama offered several tiers of rewards. The backers who pledged $1 received the 1 Second Everyday app. Those who pledged $150 or more received the various rewards that were given to lower-level supporters -- such as their names in the app credits and exclusive access to a private Facebook group -- plus a private invitation to an open bar 'thank you party' at Kuriyama's home. His biggest backer received all available rewards and a promise from Kuriyama that he would fly anywhere in the U.S. so they could meet in person.

'I was careful to choose rewards that had a personal touch and created more value for my backers and not more work for me,' Kuriyama says. If you can't afford to offer one-of-a-kind personal experiences, you might simply offer rewards produced by the project itself, such as DVD copies of a film or T-shirts.

4. How can I increase the likelihood that Kickstarter will accept my project?
Kickstarter's official guidelines suggest that you demonstrate the status of your project with technical drawings, CAD designs, photos, videos and sketches, 'along with a prototype demonstrating the product's current functionality.'

Read the guidelines carefully, and then read them again, Kuriyama says. 'And revisit them often because they evolve and change every so often.'

5. Should I create a video for my Kickstarter campaign?
Videos aren't required, but Cebulski, Kuriyama and Kickstarter itself recommend using them. Projects that include a video are 50 percent more successful than those that don't, according to Kickstarter.

The best videos are short, personal and passionate, whether they're professionally produced or shot on a smartphone. Tell the human side of the story behind your project in the first 20 seconds of your video, which generally shouldn't last more than two minutes, Kuriyama says. Briefly discuss what inspired you to create the project, why it should be funded and what stage it's currently at.

Related: 3 Innovative Tech Startups on Kickstarter Right Now

6. How should I publicize my Kickstarter campaign?
Once you're ready to launch your project, it's time to spread the word in your personal, and professional networks, both online and off.

Kuriyama says he avoided mass emails and opted instead to write dozens of personalized emails to friends, family, colleagues and tech industry influencers, introducing his Kickstarter project while also inquiring about his recipients' lives and careers. 'The key is to be warm and personal, like you're talking to them in real life,' he says.

You can also consider drafting a press release about your campaign to send to local print, TV and radio media, as well as online media and bloggers who write about products like yours.

7. Can I choose how long my Kickstarter project will last?
Kickstarter campaigns last between one and 60 days. How long yours runs is up to you and you set your own start and end dates. Kickstarter recommends running your project for 30 days or fewer because month-long campaigns have the highest success rates.

8. Which project category should I enter?
Your project must fit into one of the 13 main categories: art, comics, dance, design, fashion, film, food, games, music, photography, publishing, technology or theater. There are now also 36 subcategories. For example, if you're trying to crowdfund a smartphone stand, your project would probably fit into the design category and the product design subcategory and would show up on both pages.

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9. How often should I update my backers?
You can update backers as often as you like on the latest project-related events and milestones. Some project creators update backers once a day, while others do so once a week. You can choose whether updates can be viewed publicly on your Kickstarter project page -- or only by backers.

10. How do I build and submit my Kickstarter project?
Go to Kickstarter's Start page and select 'Start Your Project.' This is where you will build and tweak your project before launching it.

First, choose an interesting title that's simple and easy to remember. Next, upload an image that best represents your project and provide a specific project description. Finally, enter a brief bio of yourself with links to your Twitter feed and website.

It typically takes only a few days for Kickstarter to review your project and decide whether to accept it. If it gets declined, Kickstarter will sometimes explain why. If your Kickstarter project is rejected, you can appeal the decision or revise your project and resubmit it.

Related: Behind a Brand Extension: How a Sweatshirt Raised More Than $1M on Kickstarter

Updated December 28, 2015

Since it was founded in 2009, Kickstarter has acted as a groundswell of support for many innovative endeavors, connecting fans to the creators of the projects they want to see made.

In the 2014, the Coolest Cooler was the leader of the pack in terms of money raised. In spring of 2015, Ryan Grepper's invention was eclipsed by the Pebble Time, in a return trip for smartwatch maker Pebble, which got its start on Kickstarter in 2012. Now five out of the ten most funded campaigns getting major buy in from backers in significant numbers, it seems that crowdfunding has become a more viable option for new companies and projects than ever before.

Here are the 10 highest-earning campaigns to date.

Coolest Cooler

Raised: $13,285,226 (26,570 percent of goal)
Funded: August 29, 2014

Inventor Ryan Grepper struck crowdfunding gold just months after suffering a Kickstarter flop. Ten years in the making, Grepper's Coolest Cooler (which, in its first iteration, involved a precarious but resourceful mix of weed whacker and blender) pulled ahead of the pack to become the most funded Kickstarter campaign to date, ousting Pebble Technology from the top spot after two years. Thanks to 62,642 backers, the Portland, Ore.-based company raised $13,285,226. The cooler comes in three colors and includes several features, including a USB port, waterproof speakers, a bottle opener, and storage for food as well as plates and utensils.

Pebble Technology

Raised: $10,266,845 (10,266 percent of goal)
Funded: May 18, 2012

With heavy hitters like Apple, Google and Samsung working to perfect their smartwatch technology, perhaps it is not surprising that Pebble remains among the most funded Kickstarter campaigns to date, with $10,266,845 pledged by more than 85,000 backers in May of 2012. The Palo Alto-based company builds stylish, customizable and waterproof smartwatches with a full app store and batteries that can last more than a week. Run by Founder and CEO Eric Migicovsky, Pebble sold 400,000 watches in its first year.

The World's Best Travel Jacket

Raised: $9,192,055 (45,960 percent of goal)
Funded: Sept. 3, 2015

Husband and wife team Hiral Sanghavi and Yoganshi Shah came up with the idea for an all-in-one travel jacket after years of Hiral forgetting to bring his neck pillow on flights. The BauBax jacket comes in four styles for men and women and comes equipped with 15 features that include that aforementioned neck pillow, an eye mask, gloves, a blanket and all manner of pockets for technology. With the help of 44,949 backers, Sanghavi and Shah raised more than $9 million, going above and beyond the initial $20,000 goal.

Exploding Kittens

Raised: $8,782,571 (87,825 percent of goal)
Funded: February 19, 2015

The Exploding Kittens tag line is 'a card game for people who into kittens and explosions and laser beams and sometimes goats.' Kind of says it all, right? Created by of game designers Elan Lee (Xbox) and Shane Small (Xbox, Marvel) and cartoonist Matthew Inman, the mind behind popular web comic The Oatmeal, the campaign for the distinctive Russian Roulette-style card game became Kickstarter's most backed campaign ever with 219,382 backers.

OUYA

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Raised: $8,596,474 (904 percent of goal)
Funded: Aug. 9, 2012

OUYA is a videogame console made on the Android platform for users to hook up to their TVs. With an aim to make games more accessible and less expensive as well as inspire innovation, the creators of OUYA, who also built Jawbone's Jambox, a wireless Bluetooth speaker, made an open-source gaming console and kit that allows developers to build their own games. Run by Founder and CEO Julie Uhrman, and designed by Yves Behar, who worked with the design for One Laptop per Child, the campaign raised $8,596,474 , blowing past its $950,000 goal.

Shenmue 3

Raised: $6,333,295 (316 percent of goal)
Funded: July 17, 2015

A highly anticipated installment to the Shenmue video game franchise, which first began in 1999 and was followed by a sequel in 2001, the RPG game follows main character Ryo Hazuki's travels across Asia to avenge the death of his father. In '99 it was among the first 'open world' games, meaning that the players could go wherever they wanted in the game. Shenmue 3 comes from the series' original creator Yu Suzuki, who is known for being one of the creative minds behind many popular Sega games. Shenmue 3 is expected to be in gamers' hands in December 2017.

PonoMusic

Raised: $6,225,354 (778 percent of goal)
Funded: April 15, 2014

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PonoMusic's MO is pure sound fidelity. In 2012, legendary musician Neil Young started a digital music service that aims to provide fans with the listening experience that their favorite bands and artists intended. The PonoPlayer lets listeners hear clear-as-day studio quality sound, complete with a connected app and digital music store. More than 18,200 backers pledged $6,222,354. The initial goal was $800,000.

Mystery Science Theater 3000

Raised: $5,764,229 (288 percent of goal)
Funded: Dec. 12, 2015

Mystery Science Theater 3000, otherwise known as MST3K, premiered on local TV in Minneapolis in 1988. Created by writer and comedian Joel Hodgson, the beloved Emmy-nominated cult series starred Hodgson as a janitor that was trapped on the Satellite of Love by mad scientists who spends his time making fun of terrible movies with a bunch of wisecracking robots. The rebooted series will be comprised of 14 new episodes including a holiday special and will star comedian and Nerdist Podcast co-host Jonah Ray, genre favorite Felicia Day (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural) and comedian Patton Oswalt. Some perks for campaign donors included personalized voicemail greetings from favorite characters, invitations to the premieres in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, dinner with the cast and a chance to appear in an episode. Thanks to more than 48,000 backers, the creative team raised nearly $5.7 million, clearing their $2 million goal.

1. Pebble Time

Raised: $20,338,986 (4,067 percent of goal)
Funded: March 27, 2015

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Talk about customer loyalty. Palo Alto, Calif.-based smartwatch maker Pebble got its start with a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign in 2012 – and now it's reclaimed the throne again. The company's latest Pebble Time watch is not only the most funded campaign in the platform's history, but it's also the fastest funded, raising $1 million in less than an hour (its initial goal was $500,000). Since its launch three years ago, the company has been at work perfecting its hardware (the most recently announced Pebble Time Steel has not only a new interface, but a Gorilla Glass lens and up to 10 days of battery life) and adding to its expansive (more than 6,500 apps) open platform app store.

10. The Veronica Mars Movie Project

Raised: $5,702,153 (285 percent of goal)
Funded: April 12, 2013

Veronica Mars was a beloved cult TV series that ran from 2004-2007 about a teenage PI investigating the haves and have-nots of her noirish CA town. Diehard fans, known as Marshmallows, loved the show for its sharp writing and indelible performances. After the series was cancelled, they, along with showrunner Rob Thomas and star Kristin Bell long held out hope that that the sassy sleuth could be seen on screen once more. The project's goal was for $200,000 and it was was met in only 10 hours. Funding reached $5,702,153 by the end of the campaign. The film was released in theaters on March 14, 2014.

Related: Why the Wallet Is the Perfect Product for Crowdfunding