If you’re a 3D artist, chances are you’ve created some amazing models that you’re proud of. But what if I told you that you could be making money from your creations? That’s right – by selling your 3D models, you can actually earn a pretty penny!

There are a couple of different options when it comes to selling 3D models.

You can sell directly to clients, or alternatively, you can make money from your 3D modeling skills by selling it on stock 3D model websites – which is the focus of this post.

In this blog post, I’m going to show you how to get started in selling your 3D models. Trust me, it’s not as difficult as you might think. So let’s get started!

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What Do You Need to Get Started in Selling 3D Models?

The great thing about selling 3D models is that you don’t need a lot of equipment or expensive software to get started.

In fact, all you really need is a decent computer, with an internet connection, free modeling software such as Blender, and some 3D modeling skills… which you most likely already have if you’re reading this blog post!

Another thing to note is that you don’t need to be an extremely experienced 3D artist to sell your models. Even if you’re just starting out, there are plenty of ways to modify and simplify your models so that they can be sold successfully. I’m living proof of that!

Find a Market for Your 3D Models

The first step to selling your 3D models is to find a market for them. And luckily, there are plenty of websites out there where you can sell your models.

Some of the most popular include Turbosquid, CGTrader, and Blender Market.

These websites work in a similar way to stock photography websites – you simply upload your models, set a price, and then wait for someone to buy them.

The great thing about these sites is that they take care of all the hard work for you, such as marketing and payments.

All you need to do is focus on creating high-quality models that people will want to buy!

Let’s take a look at these a bit closer

Turbosquid

With over a 1.2million models in its library, TurboSquid is one of the largest marketplaces for 3D models.

There are many reasons why you should sell your 3D models on TurboSquid. For one, it’s a great way to get exposure to your work. There are a lot of people searching for models on TurboSquid, which increases the chances that they’ll stumble upon your work.

Furthermore, because TurboSquid is so well-known, selling your models here will give them an extra air of legitimacy and professionalism.

Another great reason to sell on TurboSquid is that you can earn some good money from it. As an exclusive contributor to TurboSquid’s SquidGuild program, you can earn up to 60% royalties on your models. And if you choose to make your models non-exclusive, you can still earn a very respectable 40% royalties.

By taking advantage of the SquidGuild and affiliate program you can earn up to 80% royalties from the sale of your work. Plus, you’ll receive extra analytics and information on the most popular categories and keywords so that you can better promote your models.

All in all, if you’re looking to make some money from your 3D modeling skills, TurboSquid is definitely the place to do it.

CGTrader

CGTrader is an online marketplace where digital artists can buy and sell 3D Models, textures, scripts, and add-ons.

There are many reasons why you should choose Cgtrader if you are a 3D artist looking to sell your 3D models.

First and foremost, Cgtrader offers some of the highest royalties in the industry, ranging from 70 to 80 percent. This means that you will be able to earn more money per sale on this platform than on any other platform in the market today.

The best part is that you don’t need to be an exclusive contributor to reach the highest 80% royalty level. The 13-step levels are based on points that you can get by simply being active in the community, and of course from sales, comments, or likes of your models.

Additionally, Cgtrader has a large community of customers, which means that there is always a demand for new 3D models. You will never run out of potential buyers on this platform.

Finally, Cgtrader offers its designers a wide range of keyword analytics tools and resources that they can use for market research or improve their skills as a designer.

Whether you are just starting out or you are a seasoned veteran, you will be able to find helpful resources on Cgtrader that will help you improve your craft.

Blender Market

Blender Market is a small but very strong, vibrant community with over 125,000 monthly unique visitors and 1,000,000 page views per month.

As the name says, it is a market dedicated to Blender, the world’s most popular open-source 3D creation software. The main focus of the site is to sell 3D products made with Blender.

There are no exclusivity rules or super-duper premium clubs to get a higher commission rate. You can make a minimum of 70% commission on every sale you make. Optionally by subscribing to the seller platform and paying a monthly fee, you can get up to 95% royalty rates which is handy for those having a lot of sales.

For each of your products, you have an option to automatically contribute a portion of your profits directly to the Blender Development Fund which is a great way to support the development of the free software we all use and love.

Pricing Your 3D Models

Once you’ve decided what and where you’re going to sell your work, it’s time to start thinking about pricing.

Pricing your work can be a tricky task, but it’s important to make sure that you price your work in a way that is fair to both you and your potential customers.

Here are a few things to consider when pricing your 3D models:

• How much time and effort did you put into the model? This is an important factor to consider because your time is valuable! If it took you 20 hours to create a model, that’s worth something. Not everyone has the time or patience to create detailed, high-quality 3D models.
• What is the quality of your model? Compare your model to similar models in the marketplace. Consider common features of 3D designs such as complexity, number of polygons, time, level of realism, material/texture/rigging settings, variety of file formats, and representation. Is your model on par with other models in terms of quality? If so, that’s great! If not, you may need to reconsider your pricing.
• What is the going rate for similar models? This ties in with the previous point. Take a look at what other sellers are charging for similar models and set your price accordingly. You don’t want to be too far above or below the average price, or you risk losing potential buyers.
• Be careful not to underprice your model! Just because you’re selling on an online marketplace doesn’t mean you should give your work away for free. If you price your model too low, buyers may question its quality. And remember, if someone else can do it for cheaper than you can, they will! Price your model fairly and realistically based on the time and effort put into it as well as its overall quality.
• Finally, don’t forget about costs such as listing fees and transaction fees charged by the marketplace itself. These fees can eat into your profits, so be sure to factor them into your pricing strategy!

Pricing your 3D models doesn’t have to be difficult—just remember to take into account the time investment, the overall quality of the product, and what other sellers are charging for similar items. With a little bit of research, you’ll be able to price your models fairly and ensure that both buyers and sellers are happy with the transaction.

Deliver High-Quality Work

When creating your models, it’s important to focus on delivering high-quality work.

Remember, buyers are looking for models that they can use in their own projects, so it’s important to make sure that your models are well-crafted and meet the needs of your target market.

If the buyers are happy, they are more likely to come back and purchase from you again in the future!

It’s also important to keep your models up-to-date with the latest trends.

By staying up-to-date, you’ll be able to tap into new markets and reach a wider audience of potential buyers.

If you do all of these things, you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful seller in no time!

Promote Your 3D Models (Optional)

If you want to give yourself the best chance of selling your 3D models, it’s a good idea to promote them.

There are a number of ways to do this, but some of the most effective include creating social media accounts (such as on Twitter or Instagram) and showing your models in elegant renders to make an impact on your audience.

Additionally, writing blog posts (like this one!) or articles about your work can also be a great way to get exposure.

Both of these methods will help you to reach a wider audience and get your work in front of potential buyers.

However, as you’re selling stock models the buyers are already there – so you don’t need to do any extra marketing if you don’t want to.

Conclusion

These are just a few tips to help you get started in selling your 3D models.

You don’t need a lot of expensive equipment or software to make it – just some creativity and determination.

Selling 3D models on stock 3D model websites such as Turbosquid, CGTrader or Blender Market is a great way to get started.

Once you’ve got some great designs under your belt, start pricing them competitively and always deliver high-quality products to get returning customers.

And finally, don’t be afraid to promote your work – let people know what you can do!

Thanks for reading! I hope these tips help get you on the road to success as a 3D modeler.