13d • Business
The 10 Biggest Mistakes New STL Creators Make (And How to Avoid Them) Most beginners trip over the same hurdles. Here’s how to dodge them and start strong.
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!
7. Poor renders or no painted examples
Your model may be brilliant, but buyers judge with their eyes. Clean renders, clear details, and ideally a paint job = huge conversion boost. And don't go printing your nicely sculpted miniatures on an Ender 3 because its all you have! if you need to, find someone to print you nice, high quality resin miniatures! spend a bit of time making a photo backdrop and use it consistently to create a visual identity that is easy to recognise at a glance.
8. No consistency
Uploading once every three months won’t get you anywhere. Regular, predictable activity keeps you visible. Most platforms put new uploads on the home page, and some send customers update emails with new upload info as a form of promotion. Make sure you stay on that page as often as you can!
9. Overcomplicating product listings
People want to know:
- what it is
- scale & supports
- format
- what’s included
- what it costs
Keep it clean and simple. Now having said that, you still need to make sure that you're ticking boxes for SEO so that your models pop up in customer's searches, both on the platforms themselves and on search engines! We'll do a big look at SEO in another post as its a topic worth paying attention to and giving some solid focus to.
10. Trying to be exclusive too early
Exclusivity only works when you already have a following. In the early days, visibility is key so make sure your stuff is out there and available! You don't want to spend loads of time making a model or even a set of models that are exclusively available to just the 10 people that subscribe to you!
Most beginners don’t fail because their sculpts are bad — they fail because they don’t understand the landscape.If you avoid the mistakes above, you instantly put yourself ahead of 90% of new STL sellers.
Here’s the essence:
- Spread wide, don’t stay exclusive
- Use free platforms to build visibility
- Don’t start subscriptions until you can maintain them
- Price sensibly and build trust first
- Keep listings clean, simple, and consistent
- Good images sell minis — bad images bury them
- Your own website is long-term gold
- Consistency beats perfection
Avoid these pitfalls, and you’ll grow faster, stress less, and spend far more time sculpting instead of wondering why nothing’s selling.
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The 10 Biggest Mistakes New STL Creators Make (And How to Avoid Them) Most beginners trip over the same hurdles. Here’s how to dodge them and start strong.
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