Here are step-by step instructions to get you started selling NFT original art.
01
Sign-up for a Cyrpto Wallet
Before you can sign-up with any of the NFT sales platforms, you will need to install a crypto wallet. Most of them are compatible with Metamask, which will install directly into your browser (Chrome, Safari, Edge)
A cryptocurrency wallet is a virtual wallet or digital wallet, i.e., a software program. It stores public and private keys. These keys interact with blockchains to enable the user to receive and send cryptocurrencies. If you have a cryptocurrency wallet, you can also monitor your balance.
To start with it would probably best to go with Metamask.
However if you are interested in knowing what the differences are between wallets you can do some research. Metamask installs as an extension in your browser, so it is quick and easy to use.
NOTE: Please make sure to follow the setup instructions VERY carefully, including recording your seed phrase on a different device or location. If you lose access to your wallet – it cannot be regained and you will lose all of your cryptocurrency.
Read more about Cryptowallets here.
02
Purchase some cryptocurrency
Most of the sites will allow you to use Ethereum, but some will also allow you to use other currency.
When you are ready to purchase some cryptocurrency, head over to Coinbase.com.
You can also try Binance, or install the Crypto.com app and purchase via the app.
You might want to consider Ethereum to start. Remember, you don’t have to buy an entire coin – so don’t let the price of the coin worry you. You can just purchase a fixed amount. You should probably buy at least $150 worth to start with.
03
Choose an NFT Platform
There are several mainstream NFT platforms. (We have information about 5 on our home page.
More platforms are popping-up weely.
Each platform has it’s own advantages and disadvantages. Some charge higher fees per sale, some have more users/buyers, some are hard to gain a membership to.
The best thing to do is compare the features and prices and just pick one – you can always change later on.
One thing to keep in mind regardless of which site you pick – at the end of the day, these platforms are just websites, you will need to use social media to drive traffic to your art.
04
Connect your wallet to the platform
You will not be able to create any NFT’s until you are connected to your Cyrpto Wallet, because the actual tokens will be stored in your wallet.
Most of the sites either have a “Connect” button, or very simple instructions on hot to connect your wallet.
You will be required to sign-into your wallet, and then you are good to go.
None of the platforms actually store your non-fungible tokens (NFT), but rather they are stored in your wallet. (After all, YOU own them)
When you sell an item, it will be removed from your wallet, and the payment will be placed in your wallet.
Yes you can – but when it comes to selling on an NFT platform, the next step (05) will cost you some money. it’s probably not a great idea to complicate things to start with.
That said – there are security considerations which are discussed in more detail here.
05
Perform an authentication transaction
You will have to perform an authentication transaction of varying amounts depending on the provider.
Unfortunately, this transaction – while not expensive invokes what are called GAS fees.
To incentivize individuals or groups to host and maintain data on the blockchain, Ethereum has created Ether cryptocurrency to fuel this decentralized network. To create a software application on the Ethereum network, users have to pay for space and computing power provided by these distributed networks of computers.
Users have to pay a fee called gas to process their transactions on the Ethereum blockchain. In other words, gas is the Ethereum network’s pricing mechanism. This mechanism allows involved parties to determine the cost/fee for executing a transaction or implementing a smart contract operation. Whereas Ether (ETH) is a form of cryptocurrency used for fueling the Ethereum platform, gas is used to calculate the value of “work” or computational resources each task involves. The higher the computational demand a task or transaction requires, the higher the gas fee the user has to pay and vice versa.
Read more about gas fees here.
When the Ethereum network is busy, it costs more to process transactions. So when you try to process your transaction if the fee seems high you can wait and try again later. There is no limit on the amount of times you can try.
Want to see charts and diagrams about when to process your transactions? Go here.
06
List some ART
Once you have performed the above steps, you will be ready to list some of your artwork. Follow the guidelines of the platform you have chosen.
Anything that can be provided in a digital format. Pictures, music, videos, animations – all of these can be NFT Art. If you are a painter, you draw, you sculpt – you can take pictures of your artwork and list these too.
Yes! The digital copy of your art is a completely separate entity.
07
Promote your artwork on Social media
Just because you have posted some art on the internet, doesn’t mean potential buyers will easily find it.
You can increase your chances of a sale by using Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram etc. to let others know you have posted some artwork. Make suire to use hashtags (#) to help draw in your audience.
If you have a website, you can add links to your website on your posted artwork, and you can add links on your website to the NFT platform.
That’s entirely up to you – but just remember to check out what the fees are for each on the site you are using. For example – Opensea charges the BUYER for gas fees on a fixed price sale, but the SELLER the gas fees for an Auction.
In general, if you are happy to receive a specific amount for your art, then you can list it at that price.
If you are hoping to be another Beeple then you can auction your art instead.