The origin of NFTs dates back to 2014, however, their great leap into society accelerated only a couple of years ago. A lot of artists are now even obliged to look at how to make and sell an NFT. It grew into a potential and creative business venture. Likewise, NFTs continue to be a fundamental phrase in news headlines as digital pieces are sold for mind-blowing amounts.
Since NFTs seem to stay for quite a while and they do not require you to be an artist or have coding experience – it might be the time to start to make your own version of an Infinity Stone! By the end of this blog, you should be able to create your own NFT and have it listed for sale.
The heart of the matter: NFTs
The non-fungible token is a term used for an indivisible and one-of-a-kind digital asset, that cannot be duplicated. NFTs offer a myriad of options for creating and trading assets almost the same way as famous baseball cards, only digital. Likewise, their value is defined by their uniqueness – whether it is a photo, painting, GIF, or avatar in a virtual video game.
No prior experience is required, and anybody can mint an NFT as long as they can verify they developed or legally own the piece via the blockchain. Before you actually create an NFT, these are the steps (#1, #2) that are as important in this journey as designing your digital asset:
#1 Choose an NFT marketplace
There are a bunch of marketplaces on which you can list your NFTs. We suggest using one of the more popular ones, such as OpenSea or Rarible, since you’ll definitely have a greater chance of more people coming across your NFTs. Also, for the sake of building more trust and garnering a sense of familiarity with your audience, it is better to associate yourself with a better-known marketplace that has an excellent reputation. As a result, this increases the chances of you selling your NFTs.
| ! Just register an account with the marketplace that is accessible, keeping in mind the support for certain formats of NFT, and the variations for your exact budget of transaction fees (gas fees) after the purchase. |
#2 Create a crypto wallet
If you don’t already own a wallet, all you need to do is create and set one up. Since NFTs are created on the blockchain, you can prevent someone from stealing or cloning your assets by storing your NFTs on the wallet. Equally, this is where your profits will be held, after your created NFT will be purchased.
There are a couple of digital wallet options like Coinbase, Metamask, and Trust Wallet. Some of these also allow you to simply install the extension of a crypto wallet in your browser. After you have your wallet set up you should connect it with your marketplace and fund it. There are several ways to convert traditional cash into cryptocurrency like Ethereum.
| ! Always check if the wallet is trustworthy and ensures security and privacy for your NFTs, as well as if it’s compatible with the token standards you intend to use since this may be required in some circumstances. |
| ! Another significant point is that when you’ll be setting up the wallet, you’ll get a code or a 12-word phrase. It is extra important to keep it safe and written on several pieces of paper. This is an access code to your money and profits, and if you do forget your password someday, this code will be the only way to recover your wallet. |
#3 Create an NFT
The most important element of this process is thinking about the message you want to get through with your NFT and the audience it's going to reach.
A catchy name for your NFT (or collection of them) is a key factor in how you will be recognized, and how you will build your reputation. Creators must also decide in what format they will make their NFT: any multimedia file can be used to create a non-fungible token. It is up to your personal preference whether you decide to make a piece of music, a video, an animated GIF, or a picture. If in the past you’ve already created some artwork, either physical or digital, you can consider using those. Even the poster signed by a famous tennis player or your child's first handprint could work.
But if you still don’t have any artwork in mind and want to go on Photoshop or Paint to create some, you should really observe the current style and prevailing trends in the market. As you may have noticed, the majority of NFTs involve animals, memes, and a sarcastic approach. You may do yet another one from the monkey family tree, or choose a completely different and random subject to portray. This step is where your creativity must strive.
An alternative of creating NFTs
On the other hand, you can consider finding an artist to make artwork for you. The possibilities are endless – reach out and collab with talented artists or even students with a lot of free time on their hands. They often are eager to show off their work and would be willing to help your idea turn into a visual masterpiece. If you choose to go this route you’ll need to sign the contract and include the service of an artist in your budget planning. Furthermore, there are online services such as Fiverr that will generate NFTs for you.
Single NFT or an entire collection?
For the start, you should think about one specific idea for your NFT. But for future prospects, you may need to make a lot more than one. The NFTs can vary in color, expression, or include different quotes or wording – each of them unique in a certain way. When you do create a collection, make sure you select a medium - a format to present your NFTs in. In order for potential buyers to have a clear understanding of what they are getting prior to purchasing, some marketplaces will request that you provide information on the creative procedure.
Besides, your NFT collection needs to stand out. An appealing name, high-quality cover images, history, and description will act as supplementary characteristics for your NFT art. Your bio, socials, and website links will allow you to communicate directly with your customers, and later, fans.
#4 Promote NFT
The next step in making an NFT art is to promote and publicize your project. To be honest, even if this is a tough and difficult step, it is still valued as the most rewarding part in the end, because it will conclude and portray the success of the project. Of course, your social media is the key here, but remember that among other platforms – Discord, Twitter, and Reddit are the prime channels to be active in. Here are the key steps to take when promoting your NFT artwork:
Build a community: Without a solid and niche community build-up, it is surely hard to be a successful creator. Communities are becoming more and more important to the NFT space, and a lot of giant projects have huge Discord channels with thousands of people getting ready for their collection launch months in advance. Therefore, both Discord and Twitter should act as a channel between you and the audience, which strengthens the level of credibility for your artwork.
Launch a website: Making a website for your NFT brand is also worth considering. Many users tend to attentively research the creator before buying an NFT. For this reason, the website is an effective way to show your willingness, and it’s another form of displaying your NFTs, writing about their history, and other related facts for the audience.
Tips and tricks or ABC of promotion:
- Understand your audience by communicating with them on social media channels;
- Drive hype and build momentum before releasing the NFT;
- Do not give all the details upfront, but slowly provide sneak peeks to keep them on their toes/something to look forward to;
- You can have your NFTs visible in the marketplace, but not yet listed for sale. People can browse, select their favorites and get notifications when they do reach the launch date;
- Promotion is overall permanent work while you are in the NFT game.
#5 Upload and Publish NFT
This is almost the same as listing items for sale on any other marketplace, like eBay.
Upload the file you want to turn into an NFT (some marketplaces require you to upload NFTs with a specific format like PNG, GIF, WEBP, MP3, etc. In this step, you can control the number of copies that can be minted, and decide on the eligible blockchain and the royalties*. Add an external link to your website, write a description, choose a category and publish your NFT. Then consider the appropriate launch date and start selling it.
Royalties are an optional percentage fee that you decide on as a creator and collect if your NFTs are sold.
Outro
All in all, with the design of NFT, you need to have a clear plan on how it should evolve. Creating the digital wallet and connecting it to the marketplace are the easiest steps in this process. But if you want to score, the designing and promoting part of an NFT are where your time, creativity, and energy are the most needed.
It goes without saying that the best way to learn is to practice. Start with a simple NFT and then investigate how it all works. It is quite challenging to succeed, but Rome was not built in a day. It was constructed by laying bricks day by day, along with practice and experience. Build your audience, their curiosity, provide value and you shall eventually rise up to the top.
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