It’s your big day. You’ve carefully considered the type of NFT you want to create, got your hands on some tools, set up the files, and you’re ready to mint. 

Without further ado, let’s get started. 

Step #1: Have Your Files Ready

The first thing you need to do is make sure you have your files ready. After all, your NFT is a verifiable record on the blockchain of who owns those files. Without your files, you’re not going to be minting anything. 

Step #2: Log Into Your NFT Marketplace

We talked about the importance of marketplaces earlier in this course series. At this point, you should have a marketplace that attracts the type of audience that would be interested in your work and fits your needs in terms of fees and tools. 

Your marketplace is also where you mint your NFTs. 

Log into the marketplace you chose. If you haven’t chosen one or signed up for one yet, it’s time to do so. Here’s a guide to getting started with an NFT marketplace. 

Step #3: Start Your Mint

Now it’s time to really get started. Each marketplace is different, but they all have a button or a link that says something like “Mint an NFT.” Click that button to get your mint on. 

Step #4: Choose Your Mint Type

Some marketplaces only offer one mint type, if that’s the case, move on to step five. If the marketplace you’ve chosen has multiple mint types, carefully consider the pros of cons of each before getting started. Two of the most common include:

  • Traditional Mint. In a traditional mint, you have to pay gas fees immediately. Those fees are typically less than the end fees of gasless minting, but it does mean you’ll have to pay before you make a sale. 
  • Gasless Minting. A gasless mint means you don’t pay a penny to mint your NFT. Instead, you pay minting fees when someone buys your digital art. Sounds great, right? Well, in the end, when someone buys your art, gas fees are typically higher – meaning you pay more. 

The NFT industry is just budding and innovation is happening every day. There’s no telling what types of mint your marketplace provides. So, look into all of your options and carefully consider the pros and cons before choosing one. 

Step #5: Upload Your Files

In most cases, the first thing you’ll need to do to get your mint started is to upload your files. Keep in mind your NFT is a file, or group of files, with ownership that can be verified on the blockchain. These files are the art people purchase when they buy a piece of a collection. 

Step #6: Fill Out Details

You’ll need to fill out the name of the NFT at the very least, but most marketplaces offer far more information. One important detail is royalties. 

Royalties allow you to earn every time your NFT trades hands, but you don’t want to get greedy. If you set your royalties too high, nobody would want to purchase the art. Too low, and you’re not making much money. The sweet spot seems to be between 5% and 10% – though some marketplaces set a static royalty that can’t be changed. 

Step #7: Mint Your NFT

Now, it’s time to finalize everything. Click the Mint NFT, or similar button, to get your art on the marketplace. 

That’s All for Today

That’s all for today, my friends. Come back next week to start learning how to market your NFTs to make your collection successful.