In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about building a successful online store for 3D models.
A successful online store catering to the 3D models market requires a strategy that goes beyond just a digital storefront.
3D models are used in many different industries, including gaming, AR/VR and advertising. They can also be used for movie productions, training and AI. This market is also expected to grow over the next few years.
One report concluded that the market for 3D models is expected to grow by 15% every year. The recent launch of Apple’s 3D virtual reality set, The Vision Pro, affirmed the demand for 3D-related products.
Such figures and reports are huge outliers indicative of the present time, as suitable to set up an online store for 3D models. But how do you go about setting up a thriving online store?
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about building a successful online store for 3D models.
If you already know your target audience, analyzing your competition for their strengths and weaknesses would be the next worthwhile research area. This might help you come up with a more effective pricing and marketing strategy.
Part of market research includes product selection. You’ll have to research to figure out which types of 3D models you want to sell. Most successful online stores have a variety of models, ranging from architectural, automotive, and animation models, just to mention a few.
For SEO purposes, starting with a niche product might be better, as such products make it easier for search engines like Google to pick up your content. This means that you’ll rank higher on SERPs.
If you have many products to sell, you can list them all on your website, but SEO will require a lot more work.
Unless you already have your own website set up, you’ll need to find an online marketplace where you can list your 3D models. There are many platforms, some of which are popular among 3D modelers, but we recommend checking out CGTrader.
CGTrader has a host of benefits for sellers, including a wider-reaching audience, a user-friendly interface, a community-driven environment, and various 3D modeling industries. Although they take a commission from you, it’s a popular marketplace where you can list your models.
Alternatively, you can set up your website using an e-commerce platform. Although this gives you more control (while eliminating commission fees), establishing and managing your store requires careful consideration of multiple factors.
Such factors include good web design, easy user experience, optimization for search engines, analytics, marketing, payment processing, and legal compliance. All these factors can be time and effort-consuming, which is why we recommend trying out a platform like CGTrader, especially as a first-timer.
Cybernews experts advise choosing a VPS hosting provider that offers strong reliability, uptime, scalability, security, performance, and loading speed for their site. The best VPS providers boast reliable uptime, scalability, security, performance, and fast loading speeds.
The right 3D modeling software is paramount to success in this field as a 3D modeler and online store. There are a ton of software options out there, each with different pros and cons.
To succeed, you’ll need to hinge on one reliable software that you find easy to use. It should also cater to your goals and needs as a modeler. But first, you’ll need to perform extensive research to evaluate all these options before settling for one.
According to an industry expert, Blender is the best open-source 3D modeling software for designers, especially those new to the industry. However, 3ds Max and Maya are also great options with different perks.
Once you’ve found your ideal software, familiarize yourself with it. Play around with the program. Make use of online tutorials, communities, and forums committed to sharing tips and tricks. As with everything, you’ll become more proficient with time and create
high-quality, complex models.
If growing your skills over time is not an option, you should consider hiring a 3D freelancer. Fortunately, top platforms like CGtrader offer freelance 3D modeling options.
Having large 3D models on display at your online store has many benefits, including a more interactive user experience and product visualization. However, if the files are too large, you might see the load time for the same 3D models increase significantly.
On the other hand, if the files are too small, important details go missing, making the models appear like clip art.
To have a successful online store, you must optimize your file sizes to ensure faster loading times without sacrificing important image details. This provides a quick loading time and a generally smooth loading time.
In any industry, and even in the 3D modeling one, it is important to effectively market or promote your online store. You won’t need to spend as much time on marketing or promotion if you use a marketplace such as CGTrader.
If you own your shop, you will need to take into consideration the following to increase sales and attract customers:
A successful online store selling 3D models will require a combination of strategic market research, competitive analysis, pricing strategy, and marketing.
Your choice of software will determine the quality of your 3D model. Blender, Maya, and 3ds Max are all worth checking out.
Choose a reliable and secure e-commerce platform to serve as the marketplace for your 3D model. You can also create your website by using an e-commerce platform. Although this gives you more control while eliminating commission fees, many factors might take time and effort out of your creative process.
There are a ton of marketplaces out there, each with different pros and cons, but we recommend checking out CGTrader.