How to Create Your First NFT: A Beginner’s to Mining NFTs as an Artist

NFTs are changing how the creative industry operates, enabling artists and creators to monetize their work in the digital realm. 

In this NFT for beginner’s guide for budding crypto artists, you will learn how to create an NFT and NFT art as well as how to market it on the right NFT platforms so it can sell for competitive prices.

What is an NFT?

Before learning about how to create NFT art and sell it, the first thing you would need to know is exactly what an NFT is. 

An NFT is a unique digital asset cryptographically secured on a blockchain that provides verifiable ownership. 

NFTs usually represent an item found in the “real world,” such as a piece of art, a clothing item, a contract, a music track, and more. What makes an NFT unique from fungible tokens, such as cryptocurrencies like Monero, is that it cannot be reproduced once minted on a blockchain. 

Now let’s learn what you need to create an NFT and how to create an NFT from scratch.

Read more: SEC’s Wells Notice: CyberKongz Fights Back for NFT Industry

What You Need to Create an NFT

The first thing you need to do is to carry out market research on what kind of NFTs are in the market, especially for your specific niche of art. Having an idea of what is already there can be an inspiration for what your own NFT or NFT collection call looks like. Or even, how your work(s) can fit into the scene. 

Secondly, decide on what you want to sell. Is it a visual art piece? A book? Music? Make sure that you can have the item in digital form as only then you can create an NFT art out of it. 

Thirdly, look at the blockchains and marketplaces that can help you mint your NFT. There are many blockchains on which you can mint NFTs, including Ethereum, Solana, BNB Smart Chain, and more. While doing this research, look at the way each blockchain operates, the financial implications, and the size of its NFT community.

Once you have the information, it will be time to move on to the next step, which is how to create NFT digital art and how to mint an NFT.

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an NFT

For the purpose of this article, we will look at how you can mint your NFT on OpenSea, the most popular NFT marketplace. 

OpenSea lets people mint, sell, and buy NFTs in its marketplace. It is built on the Ethereum (ETH) blockchain and powered by the Wyvern protocol. Recently, the platform has also started supporting additional chains. Follow these steps to create your NFT easily.

Step 1: Visit the OpenSea Website

Head over to the OpenSea website and click on the ‘Create’ button located on the top right side of the screen.

Step 2: Enable Your Ethereum Wallet

After clicking on ‘Create’, you will be prompted to enable an Ethereum wallet such as MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, WalletConnect, and more.

Since we are using a PC in this example, you can install any of the above as a browser extension. OpenSea gives you several alternatives, also showing the ones that are PC compatible. We will use MetaMask in this case. 

The importance of having this wallet is so that you can store your NFTs and pay for transaction fees (gas fees). Simply click on your wallet of choice. We will use MetaMask in this case. 

Once you have downloaded and installed MetaMask, be sure to keep your recovery phrase safe and secret. This is important to help you keep your NFTs and crypto safe from theft.

Step 3: Connect Your MetaMask

Next, click on the ‘Profile’ tab on OpenSea. The site will ask you to connect to a wallet, which then you click on ‘MetaMask’. 

MetaMask will ask you for your password, and after verification, will connect successfully to OpenSea and create your new profile. 

Step 4: Create Your NFT

Next, you will click on the ‘Create’ button on the OpenSea website. This is to help you to create your NFT. Clicking on the button will bring up a MetaMask prompt asking to connect to your wallet, which you need to approve. Then, you will be taken to a page where you can upload and describe your NFT or collection.

Once you are done filling in all the details, click on ‘Create’. And that’s it!

At this point, you can decide whether to keep your NFT private or put it up for sale in the OpenSea marketplace. 

Something to note while in this process are the fees incurred during minting and selling. When you sell an NFT for the first time on the platform, there will be two transactions that you will need to pay for.

The first will help to activate your account for orders while the second will grant access to OpenSea so that they can access your NFT after a sale. Lastly, you OpenSea will also deduct a 2.5 percent fee.

Best Practices for Successful NFT Creation

It takes more than merely minting digital art to create a successful NFT. To ensure that your work is genuine and original, start with a clear concept that appeals to your target audience. Establishing trust and drawing in new customers may be achieved by developing a strong personal or brand identity within the NFT community. Think about things like costs, speed, and popularity while selecting a blockchain platform, like Ethereum or Solana, for your project.

Pairing your NFT with a story that enhances its value and emotional appeal is crucial. Use NFT markets and social media to actively sell your products and establish connections with fans and collectors. Be transparent about ownership rights and utility, as added benefits like access to events or exclusive content can make your NFT more appealing. Consistency in quality and communication will help you build a loyal audience and increase your chances of success.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t create NFTs hastily without conducting adequate study. Many entrepreneurs fail because they don’t know the nuances of blockchain technology or their target market. Your earnings may be reduced if you mine on pricey platforms without factoring in gas costs. In a similar vein, your effort may go unrecognized if you select the incorrect marketplace or neglect to promote your NFT.

Avoid flooding the market with identical or subpar designs since collectors seek originality and quality. Giving NFT buyers false information about what they’re getting, such as ambiguous rights or perks, might harm your brand.

Opportunities may be lost if you don’t interact with your audience or network within the NFT community. Finally, in a field that is changing quickly, your project may become obsolete if you ignore trends and technical developments.

FAQs

How much does it cost to create an NFT?
The blockchain that is being used determines how much it costs to create an NFT. While competitors such as Solana or Polygon provide reduced prices, Ethereum, despite its popularity, might have significant gas expenses. You should budget between a few dollars to hundreds of dollars.

Is creating NFTs still profitable?
Yes, making NFTs may still be profitable, but your success will rely on how well your work is made, how distinctive it is, and how much demand there is for it. Community involvement and effective marketing are crucial. Remember to perform detailed research before investing in NFTs as it can also be an unsuccessful venture.

How to create NFT art for free?
On blockchains with no or little minting costs, like Polygon, you can make NFT art for free utilizing platforms like OpenSea or Rarible. You can consult successful NFT creators on how to make an NFT, and also search the internet for video tutorials on the use of free art software or digital tools like Canva which can help you to create free NFTs from scratch.