Every Kickstarter campaign follows a funding curve. There will be a strong tailwind at the beginning and another push as you near the end of your campaign. In between, there's a lull that makes every campaign manager nervous. Expect this and take advantage of it.

You should reach out to your friends and family only during those two periods to boost momentum. As you launch, push a chunk of your contacts to donate during the first few hours of your project. Create a sense of urgency around your need to reach the 30% mark early on in order to succeed.

After the first push, don't overdo the emails or you'll create Kickstarter fatigue. You want them fresh for the final leg. Once you're campaign is almost over, contact them again to ensure your project will be a success.