If you’re an artist or creative looking to monetize your work and start earning what you deserve, NFTs present a compelling option. 

You can bypass many of the complexities and frustrations of the traditional market by minting and selling your own NFT - and we’ll walk you through the process step by step in this guide.

Learning how to make NFTs and sell them is as simple as minting your asset on the blockchain and then listing it for sale on a marketplace of your choosing. There are additional steps like marketing your NFT to get it in front of more potential buyers, but we’ll cover all that in a moment. Let’s start with the basics of NFTs and explain why you should learn how to sell NFTs.

The Basics of NFTs

What is an NFT in the first place? It stands for non-fungible token, and represents a revolutionary form of digital asset that has taken the online world by storm. 

To understand why, we need to define “fungible” - which means replaceable by an identical item. Typical currency and even cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum are fungible and can be exchanged on a one-for-one basis, but non-fungible tokens cannot.

Each NFT represents ownership of a specific item or piece of content, such as digital artwork, music, or even tweets. Most people associate them with art, but there are many different types of NFTs.

NFTs are built on blockchain technology, particularly Ethereum. The blockchain’s inherent security measures ensure that each NFT is authenticated and verifiable, which prevents duplication or forgery. This also ensures transaction history transparency of each NFT.

At the core of NFTs is the concept of digital ownership. This means when you buy an NFT, you gain ownership of the unique information it represents. 

Unlike owning a physical painting, owning an NFT means possessing a digital certificate of ownership stored on a blockchain, which is a decentralized digital ledger

One of the more exciting features of NFTs for creators is their use of smart contracts, which are self-executing contracts with the terms of the agreement directly written into code. These can automate certain actions, like ensuring that artists receive royalties every time their art is resold.

Why Make Your Own NFTs?

You’ve probably heard at one point or another how NFTs will change the world - but what exactly are the benefits of NFTs from a creator’s perspective? Why should you learn how to make NFTs and sell them? 

• Artistic Expression: Whether you're a painter, musician, or digital artist, NFTs allow you to digitize your work and share it with a global audience, transcending the limitations of physical mediums.
• Direct Audience Connection: You establish a direct connection with your audience through NFTs, bypassing traditional gatekeepers like galleries and publishers. This not only enhances your interaction with fans but also empowers supporters to own a piece of your creative journey, enhancing the sense of community around your work.
• Innovative Revenue Streams: Beyond the initial sale, smart contracts allow creators to receive royalties automatically whenever the NFT is resold in the secondary market.

You may be wondering, are people still buying NFTs though? Absolutely! While you may have missed the boom we witnessed in 2021, the market is still alive and well. This is an excellent opportunity for any creator. So, let’s get into our guide on how to start making NFTs below.

How to Make NFTs and Sell Them: Step-by-Step Guide

The incentives for making and selling NFTs are clear, from the financial side of things to earning a reputation for yourself in this burgeoning industry. Here’s how to make NFTs and sell them.

Creating Your Digital Asset

Maybe you already have a digital asset ready to be minted and sold - great! You can skip ahead to the actual minting process. Otherwise, you’ll need to start by actually creating something to sell.

This can be anything from a digital painting, an animated GIF, a piece of music, to a digital sculpture. All that matters is you’re creating something unique that will appeal to someone, setting the stage for its potential success in the marketplace. 

Use professional tools that align with your asset type - Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator for digital art, Ableton or FL Studio for music, and Blender or Autodesk Maya for 3D models. 

Setting Up a Digital Wallet

As we’ll discuss in a moment, it costs money to create an NFT (so no, you cannot learn how to make an NFT for free). Not just any type of money, though - cryptocurrency.

So, you’ll need to choose a digital wallet or crypto wallet to add funds so you can pay for the minting process. This will also serve as a way to collect funds from your sale later on.

Our guide to NFT storage talks all about the different types of wallets you can choose from and specific ones we recommend, but you can’t go wrong with MetaMask, Torus, Portis, WalletConnect, or any other reputable option.

Minting the NFT

Now, what is minting an NFT? This is what actually gets your project onto the blockchain to ensure its authenticity and ownership records are tamper-proof. 

You’ll choose a blockchain, like Ethereum, Tezos, or Solana, each with its own set of advantages and community. Ethereum, for example, offers extensive network support and a vast audience but comes with higher gas fees. Learn more about the cost to create an NFT and how you can get lower fees in our blog.

Choosing a Marketplace

At this point your NFT should be ready to be listed for sale - you just need to figure out where you’re going to sell it. Platforms like OpenSea, Rarible, Magic Eden, and Foundation cater to different types of creators and collectors. 

Find whichever happens to be the best NFT marketplace that aligns with your project. You should also weigh the fee structure, audience type, and secondary market benefits. Factors like platform security, user interface, and the blockchain it supports play a significant role in where you should list your NFT. 

Research the specific steps required by your chosen platform to list an NFT, as they can vary in terms of asset setup, auction options, and royalty configurations.

Listing the NFT for Sale

Most of the hard work of learning how to start making NFTs to sell is done at this point. Now, it’s just a matter of setting up your listing and finding a buyer. 

This involves creating a compelling description, relevant tags, and engaging visuals that highlight the uniqueness of your NFT. 

You also need to decide whether you want to sell at a fixed price or through an auction, keeping in mind that auctions can sometimes yield higher prices due to bidding wars. However, you could also get stuck accepting a low offer if your NFT doesn’t generate enough hype. There are pros and cons to each approach.

Setting the right price involves understanding the current market, your target audience’s spending capacity, and the intrinsic value of your digital art. We have more tips on NFT pricing in our blog, but do your research for similar artists or creators and see how they price their projects.

Marketing Your NFT

Should you struggle to find a buyer simply through listing your NFT, effective marketing can help you speed things up and get your NFT sold.

Leverage social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Discord to create buzz around your release. Engaging with NFT communities on forums can help gain traction and visibility. You could also consider partnerships with influencers or other artists to expand your reach. 

Creating behind-the-scenes content, sharing your creation process, and telling the story behind your NFT can make your offer more attractive. 

Wrapping Up Our Guide on How to Start Making NFTs

There you have it - how to make NFTs and sell them. We hope this guide has left you with a clear understanding of how to start making NFTs to sell, from creating your digital asset, minting it into a secure NFT, choosing the right marketplace, and effectively marketing your creation.

Remember, this journey involves understanding blockchain technology, crafting a compelling digital asset, and strategically positioning it in the market. Whether you're a new digital artist or a seasoned creator, NFTs offer a platform to put your creativity on full display.

Find additional resources on the world of NFTs in our blog, like the history of NFTs, how to transfer NFT to another wallet, how to buy NFT on OpenSea, what NFTs to buy, how to find upcoming NFT projects, best NFT projects, NFT safety, and more.

But if you’re looking for great examples of NFTs as a blueprint for getting your own project after, learn more about the Pudgy Penguins brand! We were born in 2021 with the minting of 8,888 unique, adorable penguin creatures that radiate positivity and inclusivity. 

Our brand quickly grew beyond our wildest dreams into a worldwide movement, and today, we also have minted 22,222 Lil’ Pudgy’s to grow even more. One way we’ve stood out is through our unique penguins merch as the first Web3 brand to take things from the digital realm back into the real world. 

You can check out our penguin toys, penguin figurines, penguin plush toys, penguin collectibles, and more if you’re interested in joining the movement yourself, we’d love to have you! Otherwise, the only thing left to do now is get to work with these insights on making and selling NFTs. Best of luck!