1. Only uploading to one platform If you only upload to one shop, you’re relying on one algorithm and one audience.Spread wide and let multiple platforms bring you traffic. Honestly, I went exclusive with MMF just prior to the Tribes launch (their insistence, not my own choice) and they pulled a U turn on me and it almost cost me my business! Don't make the same mistake! 2. Thinking “If I upload it, people will come” They won’t. Every platform has its own quirks and discovery systems. You still need attractive thumbnails, good keywords, and consistent uploads to stay visible and relevant on your chosen platforms! 3. Not offering anything for free Free models on Thingiverse, Printables, Cults etc act as funnels. People discover you, follow links and then end up buying your paid STLs. This doesn't work for every customer though as there are loads of people that will only ever go for the free stuff! And make sure that what you offer is representative of your range and the quality that you're capable of - no offering "duds" just because they're free! 4. Overpricing early models If you’re unknown, you need to earn trust. Start competitively, then raise prices as your quality and reputation grow. Don't rely on discounts to make your prices attractive or you'll only make a sale during Black Friday or other seasonal sales! 5. Not having a website Your own site adds legitimacy and becomes your long-term revenue engine. Even a simple Shopify store beats no home base at all. As a minimum, get yourself a linktree page to host links to all your other store fronts so sharing on socials and ads becomes easier! 6. Starting Patreon too early Monthly subscriptions sound amazing… until you’re chained to a sculpting treadmill. Start Patreon after you’ve built a small audience and a predictable workflow. Ideally you should aim for around 6 months of planned releases and then maintain that. I fell into this trap early on with 6 months of releases scheduled, but at the time I was part time and I couldn't sculpt fast enough to replace them in time so I ended up sculpting the months releases on the month in question! customers like to see what's coming up so they know they want to stick around, and it's always hard to keep the trust up when you're late delivering! I've been stuck in that cycle for many years and it's not fun!

Hey all! So looking at Skool and trying to figure out how we get the best out of it. It looks like all of the users gain points every time you comment on a post or make a new post of your own. The majority of people here are stuck at level 1 right now so I'd love to set you all a challenge to comment on every post on here so far and help push your level up a little bit more, and hopefully get this channel more visibility and bring more people in. So lets start with this one! What is on your hobby bench right now? I'll start! Aside from a million unpainted models that need some attention at some point, I've been dabbling with my FDM printer to try out some of the Crystal Collapse terrain pieces to make sure they print well in FDM as well as resin! so far going pretty well I feel! Now it's your turn! :-) Oh, and one more thing - make sure you like every comment and post you read to help level everyone up!

Some of you maybe familiar with Squidmar? I always find myself coming back to this video, it's probably the most comprehensive list of basing materials I've ever found so I just thought I'd share. I'm always looking for natural bits and pieces when I'm out on walks and such, it can save you so much money. It's totally worth the effort, a good base can literally catapult your minis from awesome to god tier

If I were starting my miniature-selling journey today with absolutely nothing — no audience, no platform, no clue where to upload anything — this is exactly the roadmap I wish someone had handed me. A friend messaged me yesterday asking how to make money from his sculpts, and as I walked him through the whole thing, it struck me that half the miniature community is trying to solve the same puzzle in the dark. So rather than repeat the advice one DM at a time, I thought I’d turn it into something useful for everyone here. This isn’t theory, guesswork, or “I watched a YouTube video so now I’m an expert” fluff. It’s what I’ve learned from years of selling minis, working across multiple platforms, getting things wrong, correcting course, and eventually figuring out what actually moves the needle. If I were starting again, this is the exact blueprint I’d follow — the platforms I’d prioritise, the ones I’d treat with caution, and the strategies that genuinely make a difference when you’re a one-person operation trying to get your sculpts out into the world. So grab a drink, settle in, and let’s get you selling your minis in all the places that matter. ***Before we start I want to make a note about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). Get your preferred home page established early (a landing page on your own domain or your Patreon would be the best options). Any time you create a product, make sure you put a link back to that URL on there. Back Links (links from other websites to your own) are a big factor in SEO, and you shouldn't underestimate the power that a link on every product listing on every platform could possibly be for your home page!*** TIER 1 — HIGH TRAFFIC, HIGH VISIBILITY, HIGH POTENTIAL 1) Cults3D Traffic: roughly 8–10 million visits per month Commission: around 25% Why It’s Good: best traffic-to-sales ratio for miniatures and no monthly store fees My take:Cults is slightly chaotic behind the scenes, but it genuinely gets results. If you're going to sell STLs anywhere, this is the platform where most creators see their first real traction. Not the cheapest commission, but the visibility makes up for it. Bonus: it can import your models directly from Thingiverse, which saves a huge amount of time.

An interesting and contentious topic that I covered here. I decided to try out Meshy AI to see if us sculptors should be in fear of our livelihoods or not. If you'd like to see the somewhat hilarious results of my test, it's exclusively available to Patreon supporters right now. Spoiler alert - I've slept soundly ever since! 😉 The video will be publicly available on the 1st December, but if you can't wait until then Patreon subscribers can see it on the post below. Oh, and I 100% promise that the stick man is absolutely a genuine result - I'm convinced Meshy was trolling me!! VIEW THE VIDEO ON PATREON NOW