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How to sell AI art (Midjourney, DALL-E & more)
Creating Artificial Intelligence (AI) artwork is a fascinating and innovative pursuit that has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for creators.
But, with this new technology comes the question of how to sell AI art. While the digital art world has been slow to fully embrace this new medium, there are ways to successfully market and sell digital art online.
In this article, we will explore four practical ways to sell AI art, from offering image files on social media to selling NFTs. We’ll also look at whether you should sell AI art on an online marketplace or an eCommerce platform.
4 practical ways to make money from AI artwork
In this guide, we’ll explore the four practical ways to make money from AI artwork: offering image files on social media, creating AI art merch with print-on-demand, coming up with AI prompts to sell, and converting AI art into NFTs. So, let’s dive in!
1. Offer AI-generated images on social media
Offering AI-generated images is a popular and straightforward way to make art sales and save on costs, especially on social media platforms where artists can reach a global audience.
By selling just AI images, you can offer your digital artwork at a lower price point than traditional physical art. Another benefit is that you can create AI images once and sell them multiple times.
This means that you can create a passive income stream that will continue to generate revenue for you over time.
For example, you can create and sell AI images such as phone wallpapers, desktop screensavers, digital portraits, logos, etc.
If you are considering selling AI art image files, there are several social media platforms where you can share AI-generated art and attract followers:
- Instagram—with its image-focused interface, it’s an ideal platform to showcase your AI art. You can use hashtags like #aiart and #aiartcommunity to reach your target audience and engage with other AI artists and art enthusiasts.
- Twitter—you can use Twitter to share your AI-generated art and connect with other artists. Just like Instagram, you can use hashtags to reach potential customers and participate in AI art-related conversations.
- Tumblr—believe it or not, Tumblr is well alive as a micro-blogging and social media platform that is popular among artists and creatives. It is an ideal platform to share your AI art. Plus, you can use hashtags to reach more people.
- DeviantArt—the largest art platform for digital artists, including those working with AI. You can create a profile and share your AI art with the community.
- Behance—another social media platform and online portfolio website that is popular among creatives, including artists. It is a great platform to showcase your AI art and connect with artists worldwide.
These are just some of the social media platforms where you can share and promote your AI art. Choose the ones that work best for you and your art.
2. Create AI art merch with print-on-demand
In the era of print-on-demand, there couldn’t be a better time to offer AI-generated art merchandise. Merch is a great way to monetize your AI art and create a brand.
For instance, you can put your AI art on clothing (t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, and hats), accessories (tote bags and stickers), and home decor (posters, wall art, prints), etc.
The best part is that you can make and sell print-on-demand merchandise without any initial costs. To make your fans happy, it’s important to offer high-quality products that align with your AI art niche and audience.
Developing and selling AI art merchandise has several benefits:
- Fan engagement—selling AI art merch to your fans will generate excitement around your art and drive traffic to your site or online store.
- Community building—AI art merch helps existing fans feel connected to you and creates a deeper sense of connection, loyalty, and trust.
- Brand exposure—creating your merch line builds brand awareness and recognition, and helps spread the word.
- More support—many fans are eager to demonstrate their support for their favorite creator by purchasing their products.
Since you won’t have to manage physical inventory, your only expenses will likely be marketplace or eCommerce platform fees, which you can include in the product cost.
Using a print-on-demand service to create AI-generated art merch is highly cost-effective:
- Production costs are already included in the final product price.
- Order fulfillment, printing, and worldwide shipping are handled by the print-on-demand partner and paid for by the customer.
- No inventory is needed as products are stored at the POD service provider’s warehouse.
3. Come up with clever AI art prompts to sell
As an AI artist, you have probably mastered the art of writing prompts that can bring your visions to life. So, why not sell them? Coming up with unique AI art prompts to sell can be another passive income stream.
The first step in creating these prompts is to understand your target audience. You should consider the interests and preferences of your potential buyers to create prompts that are engaging and meaningful to them.
One approach to creating these prompts is to focus on specific themes or topics that are popular in your niche. You can also experiment with combining different themes to create unique and compelling prompts that will stand out from the crowd.
Another option is to create prompts that are based on specific algorithms or AI tools (Midjourney, DALL-E, etc.). This can be a great way to showcase your technical skills and demonstrate the power of AI art to potential buyers.
However, it’s important to ensure that your prompts are still accessible and engaging to non-technical audiences.
To get inspiration for your prompts, you can browse the following free prompt resources:
- Lexica—a versatile online platform known for its extensive collection of AI-generated prompts. It offers prompts across various genres, so it’s a valuable and diverse resource for AI artists seeking inspiration.
- Super Prompts—a user-friendly prompt generator designed to assist AI artists in brainstorming ideas. It provides prompts tailored to different genres and themes.
- Krea—a platform that specializes in generating creative AI prompts. Krea offers prompts that cater to various artistic endeavors, including writing, design, and more.
4. Sell AI-generated artwork as NFTs
The cryptocurrency boom has brought about a surge in non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Many emerging artists are now considering monetizing their AI art through NFT sales.
According to the Statista Research Department, NFTs have witnessed a significant upswing since 2021, with total sales peaking at $11.16 billion.
As Decrypt reports, NFTs have ignited a digital art renaissance, firmly establishing themselves in the art world.
Quick online searches will also yield tales of independent digital artists transitioning from meager earnings to substantial sums by selling NFTs. So, if this intrigues you and you’re well-versed in the crypto realm, it’s worth considering.
Take, for instance, Sellfy creator and photographer Kaiwan, who combines revenue from Sellfy with earnings from NFT sales:
NFTs currently serve as my primary income source, though until recently, it was Sellfy.
To convert your AI artwork into NFTs, see Cointelegraph‘s comprehensive guide.
How to sell AI art
If you want to start selling AI art online, finding the right eCommerce platform that fulfills all your requirements is crucial. Key features to look for include a secure payment processing system, digital downloads, automated file delivery, and a user-friendly interface.
Among the various art platforms available, Sellfy stands out as an easy-to-use platform that offers all of the mentioned features.
1. Launch your AI art shop with Sellfy
To get started with Sellfy, you have two options: a 14-day free trial period or opting for a subscription plan.
Choosing the free trial gives you the opportunity to fully explore Sellfy’s features before making any financial commitment. Just remember that if you want to start making money selling AI art, an upgrade will be necessary regardless.
Create an online store for your digital art
See howSellfy offers three different subscription plans:
- Starter—for AI art sellers who wish to sell an unlimited number of AI art. This plan includes access to 2000 email credits and the advantage of a custom domain.
- Business—for AI art sellers experiencing more sales in the AI art market. It provides a white-label store, store design migration, cart abandonment tools, product upselling capabilities, and 10,000 email credits.
- Premium—for AI art sellers who have established a dominant presence in the AI art market. This plan comes with product migration assistance, priority support, an impressive 50,000 email credits, and additional promotional tools to effectively showcase your AI art.
To begin the sign-up process, you’ll need to provide your first name, a valid email address, and create a password.
Once you’ve initiated your trial, don’t forget to verify your email address so that you won’t miss out on important Sellfy updates, account information, and other relevant news.
Upon verification, you have the choice of either selecting a pre-designed Sellfy theme or customizing your store from the ground up using the Store Customizer tool.
Choosing the pre-made theme is the easiest and most efficient way to get a professional-looking store with minimal effort.
For those seeking a more personalized touch, the Store Customizer tool lets you adjust colors, buttons, text, fonts, images, and other design elements
2. Upload your AI art products
To add your AI art products to Sellfy, simply go to the PRODUCTS section in your dashboard. From there, click on Add new product to initiate the upload process.
Each product allows for up to 50 files. If you prefer to offer your AI art as a single file or multiple files, you have the option to create compressed .zip file folders.
Also, there’s no need to worry about bandwidth limitations—Sellfy offers unlimited storage. So, you can go ahead and upload files as large as 10 GB per product without any hassle.
3. Set up payment methods
Sellfy offers multiple payment methods to ensure that your target audience can pay using their preferred currency and payment option.
Sellfy has integrated with two major payment processors:
- Stripe—enables buyers to make payments using major credit cards, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
- PayPal—buyers have the option to pay using their PayPal account, major credit cards, or local European payment options.
To add these payment options to your store, just go to STORE SETTINGS > Payment settings and connect your Stripe or PayPal account.
Once connected, your target audience will have the flexibility to choose their preferred payment method during the checkout process.
4. Your customer receives an email with a download link
Sellfy has an awesome feature known as automated file delivery, which not only adds convenience but also saves valuable time for your audience.
Here’s a breakdown of how this feature works:
- Once a payment is successfully processed, customers are instantly redirected to the download page via the Order Confirmation page.
- Simultaneously, Sellfy sends a Purchase email to the customers, containing a download link. This allows customers to access their purchased AI art directly from the store or by clicking the link in the email.
- To ensure security and prevent piracy, each purchase comes with a unique download link. Customers are allowed up to five download attempts for their purchased product.
Thanks to Sellfy’s automated file delivery system, customers experience a fast and hassle-free process when receiving their digital products.
Art marketplace vs. storefront?
If you have a lot of high-quality AI art, you might be tempted to take the easy route and sell them on marketplaces.
But, before diving in, it’s crucial to consider the pros and cons of selling AI art on Etsy and other marketplaces.
First off, let’s talk about the crowded nature of marketplaces. These platforms are overflowing with countless digital products, which means your AI-generated art might struggle to stand out.
On top of that, keep in mind that marketplaces often take a commission on your sales, chipping away at your hard-earned profits.
So, if you want complete control over your online business, it might be better to sell AI art through your own website or a trusted eCommerce platform like Sellfy.
While opening an Etsy shop can offer broader audience exposure, it’s important to consider the downsides.
These include marketplace fees, the pressure to lower prices to compete with other sellers, and limited control over branding. By selling AI art through your website, you retain greater control and flexibility over your business.
Create an online store for your digital art
See howFAQ: selling AI art
Is it legal to sell AI-generated art?
In general, selling AI-generated art is permissible, provided that it aligns with the terms and conditions outlined in the generator’s licensing agreement, allowing commercial utilization.
How can I sell AI art?
You can sell AI-generated art through Sellfy. That way, you’ll be able to have complete control over your business. First, create an account on the Sellfy platform and set up your AI art store. Then, start uploading your AI art products, photos, and any other information.
Once your products are ready, you can set your own prices and publish them on your store. Sellfy will handle the payment processing and automated delivery of your products.
Does AI art make money?
Yes, AI-generated art has the potential to make money. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in AI-generated art, and it’s gaining popularity among digital art enthusiasts.
Some AI-generated artworks have been sold for hundreds and thousands of dollars, and many artists are using AI as a tool to create unique and innovative pieces.
There is a growing market for AI art, and with the advancements in technology, we can expect to see more exciting developments in this field in the future.
