How to Create an NFT Collection From Scratch

Do you think that now’s your time to create the next best NFT collection to make a name for yourself in the NFT world? We can help.

Whether you are a newcomer or a veteran, creating a mass NFT collection from scratch can be quite a journey. But following these steps will help you cross the hurdles on the way.

You need a game plan

If you want to create a big successful NFT collection, don’t jump head first. Even before creating a concept or a story, define your audience. Are they gamers, collectors, art connoisseurs? Once you decide, you can start digging into other NFT collections to pinpoint the latest trends and what your community might be looking for

Next, know that there are some technical questions to answer: How will you distribute your tokens? How much are you planning to sell your NFTs for? Which blockchain do you want to use? Will the marketplace you want to use support this blockchain? Is there utility? Aim to have a 12-month roadmap for the project.

Build bridges

The NFT word is hyperconnected, and artists are well aware that community is key to success. Don't be late to the party -- and definitely don't make the mistake of joining Twitter, Discord, or Reddit after launching your NFTs.

Learn more: What’s the Buzz about NFT Communities?‍

These social media platforms allow you to make learning about NFTs a continuous part of your day. It’s also where you can find so many talented people and developers that can help you throughout your project. Keep in mind that the NFT community is extremely collaborative – artists usually promote each other’s work. And, of course, you will connect to your audience on these platforms, meaning that you can have a direct channel to share the latest updates about your collection!

Start working on your collection

Relax! Just because you want to have 10,000 NFTs, you don’t need to create them one by one – that would take ages. Luckily, a quick Google search can show you that there are multiple pages that allow you to generate random tokens that vary in characteristics. But you have to build up your layers first.

Let’s say that you want to have a bunny avatar collection. The silhouette of the bunny stays the same, and you create different backgrounds, fur colors, eyebrows, lips, hair, accessories, and so on. You can use Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, or Procreate to complete this process. After that, you can upload your digital files to an NFT collection generator platform to have thousands of different bunny avatars. 

These generators also enable you to have rare tokens in your collection. Although there are 10,000 Bored Apes, some of them have rare traits, such as a dagger or a slice of pizza in their mouth. If you are looking for something similar, you can rename the layer after uploading it to the generator. For example, if you type sunglasses #100, only 100 pieces of your collection will have sunglasses. 

If you don’t know much about this process and think this is complicated, you can always find freelance artists and developers to hire. 

Turn your digital files into NFTs

The moment has finally arrived! You have the whole collection ready to mint now. Minting is the process of encoding your collection’s utilities into the smart contracts of the tokens. After that, your tokens can’t be changed, deleted, or edited.

Before you start minting, make sure that you find the most optimal blockchain. For example, Ethereum might be the most popular chain to use, but the gas fees a creator has to pay when minting the NFT can be astronomical. Using Polygon or Avalanche can solve that problem.

Since minting NFTs isn’t a free service, you’ll need a wallet so that you can pay the gas fees and receive money when your NFTs are sold. Minting is as easy as uploading your digital files on a platform. This process can take some time because you’re minting an entire collection, so be patient.

Need more info? 5 Things You Need to Know About NFT Minting.

Hit the ground running

You haven’t come all the way to end up having 1000+ NFTs without buyers. So, the last step is to make a killing in the NFT market. 

People buy from brands that they know and trust. When you talk about your project, why you believe in it, and how everything has been so far (good or bad), and answer your community’s questions, you can build stronger relationships. Once your audience connects with you, they will become your ambassadors.

Depending on your budget, there are always paid ads that you can leverage. Alternatively, a press release can help you reach out to more NFT enthusiasts, too.

Creating your mass NFT collection will be loads of fun as long as you think the process through. If you care to learn the ropes of NFTs, read our blog, and follow us on Twitter.