How To Actually Make Money With Blender In 2024

Summary

This video script outlines a five-step framework for success in freelance 3D work, based on the creator's extensive experience. It emphasizes the importance of specialization, building an online presence, crafting a strong portfolio, skill stacking, and finding clients through value-based methods rather than low-value marketplaces. The script also touches on the value of networking and testimonials in establishing authority and boosting one's freelance career.

Takeaways

• 😀 Making money with 3D is challenging and often lacks clear guidance, but a five-step framework can help streamline the process.
• 🔍 The first step is to specialize and find a niche within the 3D industry to stand out and become an expert.
• 🏹 Use the 'Dig method' to explore and determine what you're good at, interested in, and passionate about to find your niche.
• 🔬 Investigate the market to ensure your chosen niche has demand and potential for success.
• 🛠 Build an online presence and create a portfolio showcasing your best work to attract clients.
• 📈 Establish a brand image by selecting your best pieces and creating flagship projects that demonstrate your skills.
• 🎓 Skill stacking is crucial for advancing in the freelance world; diversify your abilities to offer comprehensive solutions.
• 🤝 Finding clients involves networking and providing value upfront, similar to curing a zombie villager in Minecraft to establish trust.
• 💰 The 'Value method' involves finding potential clients, offering them something of value, and then trading (working) with them once trust is established.
• 📊 After delivering value, ask for work, referrals, or testimonials to grow your business and reputation.
• 🚫 Be aware of the pitfalls of low-value marketplaces like Fiverr that can lead to a race to the bottom in terms of pricing and quality.

Q & A

What is the main challenge discussed in the video script regarding making money with 3D?

The main challenge is that it's one of the hardest things to do, as it's difficult and not widely discussed. Getting the right steps can lead to becoming an expert and earning a great living.

What is the Smith framework mentioned in the script?

The Smith framework is a five-step guide that the speaker has developed based on their experience to help people succeed in freelance 3D work, especially for those starting from scratch.

Why is specializing important when starting out in freelance 3D work?

Specializing is important because it helps to become a meaningful specific expert rather than a wandering generality, which can make the difference between earning a small and a significant income.

What method does the speaker suggest to find a niche in 3D work?

The speaker suggests using the 'Dig method' which involves determining what you're good at, interested in, and passionate about, followed by investigating the market to find proof that your niche works.

How does the speaker relate the process of finding a niche to playing Minecraft?

The speaker compares finding a niche to finding the perfect biome to build a base in Minecraft, emphasizing the importance of exploring and choosing the right starting point.

What is the purpose of building an online presence and creating projects?

Building an online presence and creating projects helps to establish credibility, showcase skills, and attract clients and audiences in the freelance 3D work.

What are the three steps to making a killer portfolio according to the script?

The three steps are: 1) Select the best pieces for the portfolio, 2) Build at least two flagship projects that showcase your skills, and 3) Showcase your work through a simple and enjoyable viewing experience, like a website.

What is the concept of skill stacking as discussed in the script?

Skill stacking is the idea of acquiring multiple skills that complement each other, making a freelancer more versatile and valuable, and allowing them to offer comprehensive solutions to clients.

Why is the 'Value method' for finding clients considered more effective than marketplace approaches?

The 'Value method' is more effective because it involves offering value upfront to potential clients, which can lead to stronger relationships and higher-quality work, unlike marketplace approaches that often lead to a race to the bottom.

What are the three things the speaker suggests asking for after delivering value to a client?

The three things to ask for are: 1) Work, to identify and pitch new problems the client might have, 2) Networking, to ask for referrals if the client cannot hire you, and 3) Testimonials, to solidify your authority in the industry.

What is the final advice given by the speaker regarding client relationships in the script?

The final advice is to ensure that you deliver real value to clients, as this will make it easier to ask for work, referrals, or testimonials, and ultimately help to skyrocket your career.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Mastering Freelance 3D: The Five-Step Framework

The speaker introduces a five-step framework for succeeding in freelance 3D work, drawing on over eight years of experience. The framework is designed to guide beginners through the overwhelming start of a freelance career. The first step is to specialize and find a niche in 3D, akin to finding a biome in Minecraft to build a base. The speaker suggests using the 'Dig method' to explore one's skills, interests, and passions to pinpoint a niche. The importance of research to validate the chosen niche is emphasized, followed by the need to establish an online presence with a consistent project output to showcase expertise.

05:02

🛠 Building a Portfolio: From Day One to Day 100

The second paragraph focuses on establishing a strong portfolio to attract clients. The process involves selecting the best pieces of work, creating flagship projects that outshine previous efforts, and showcasing them effectively online. The speaker compares this stage to decorating and upgrading a Minecraft base, transforming it from a basic structure to an impressive display of skills and resources. The goal is to make the portfolio so compelling that it convinces potential clients to hire the freelancer for their expertise.

10:05

🎓 Skill Stacking: The Key to Versatility and Higher Earnings

In the third paragraph, the concept of skill stacking is introduced as a strategy for freelancers to increase their value and command higher rates. The speaker explains that having multiple skills allows a freelancer to offer a comprehensive package of services, making them more attractive to clients. The video recommends using platforms like Skillshare to learn new skills and build a versatile skill set. Derek Elliott's advanced 3D animation class on Skillshare is highlighted as a valuable resource for enhancing one's portfolio and skill set.

15:07

🤝 Finding Clients: The Zombie Villager Analogy

The fourth paragraph delves into the challenging task of finding clients, using a Minecraft analogy of trading with villagers to illustrate the process. The speaker criticizes platforms like Fiverr for their low-value work and suggests a value-based approach instead. This involves identifying potential clients, offering them value upfront, and then trading or collaborating once trust is established. The 'Value method' is presented as a three-step process: find potential clients, give them something of value, and then trade or collaborate once they recognize the freelancer's capabilities.

📈 Scaling Up: Referrals, Testimonials, and Pricing Strategies

The final paragraph addresses the challenges of scaling a freelance business. It suggests leveraging satisfied clients for referrals and testimonials to expand reach and establish authority in the industry. The speaker emphasizes the importance of asking for referrals and reviews, which can significantly boost a freelancer's credibility. Additionally, a teaser is given for another video that will address common mistakes in pricing freelance work, suggesting that proper pricing strategies are crucial for long-term success.

Keywords

💡Freelance

Freelance refers to the practice of working independently rather than being employed by a company. In the video, the term is central to the theme, as the speaker discusses strategies for starting and succeeding in a freelance career, particularly in the 3D industry. The script mentions the challenges of freelance work and provides a framework for those starting from scratch.

💡3D

3D stands for three-dimensional and in the context of the video, it refers to the field of 3D modeling, animation, and rendering. The script emphasizes the difficulty of making money in the 3D industry but offers a five-step framework to excel in it, suggesting that specialization within this field can lead to success.

💡Specialize

To specialize means to focus on a particular area of knowledge or activity. The video stresses the importance of finding a niche within the 3D field to stand out. The speaker uses the 'Dig method' to guide viewers on how to determine their skills, interests, and passions to specialize effectively.

💡Niche

A niche is a specialized segment of the market. In the script, finding a niche is presented as a crucial step in the freelance journey. It's about identifying a specific area within 3D where one can excel and serve a particular market need, like 'hyper-real food printers for established brands'.

💡Portfolio

A portfolio is a collection of an individual's work that showcases their skills and expertise. The video describes the process of building a portfolio as a way to attract clients. It includes selecting the best pieces, creating flagship projects, and showcasing them effectively on a website.

💡Skill Stacking

Skill stacking is the concept of acquiring multiple skills to increase one's value and versatility in the job market. The speaker in the video uses the analogy of Minecraft armor sets to explain how having a variety of skills can make a freelancer more appealing to clients and allow for higher rates.

💡Value Method

The value method is an approach to finding clients by offering them something of value first, similar to curing a zombie villager in Minecraft to establish a beneficial trade. The script describes a three-step process involving finding potential clients, giving them value upfront, and then trading or working with them after they recognize the freelancer's worth.

💡Referrals

Referrals are recommendations from one person to another. In the video, the speaker suggests using referrals as a way to expand the client base after providing excellent service. It's a method to gain new clients through the networks of satisfied customers.

💡Testimonials

Testimonials are statements from clients or customers that describe their experience with a product or service. The script highlights the importance of testimonials in establishing credibility and authority in the field, which can significantly boost a freelancer's career.

💡Minecraft

Minecraft is a popular sandbox video game used as an analogy throughout the script. The speaker relates various aspects of the game, such as building a base or trading with villagers, to the process of building a freelance career in the 3D industry, making the concepts more relatable and easier to understand.

💡Skillshare

Skillshare is an online learning community with various classes, including those relevant to the 3D industry. The video mentions Skillshare as a resource for freelancers to learn and improve their skills, like advanced 3D animation, which can contribute to their skill stack.

Highlights

Making money with 3D is challenging, but getting five key things right can lead to freelance success.

A five-step framework, called the Smith framework, is presented as a blueprint for starting freelance work from scratch.

Specialization is crucial for freelancers; finding a niche can significantly impact earning potential.

The 'Dig method' is introduced to help identify a niche by reflecting on skills, interests, and passions.

Research is essential to validate the viability of a chosen niche in the market.

Establishing a presence online with a consistent project output is key for building a reputation.

Creating a portfolio involves selecting the best work and showcasing it effectively to attract clients.

Skill stacking is a powerful concept that can increase a freelancer's value and earning potential.

Freelancers can benefit from taking online courses to expand their skill sets and improve their offerings.

Finding clients involves a strategic approach, comparing the process to trading with villagers in Minecraft.

The 'Value method' for client acquisition involves offering value upfront to secure a working relationship.

Networking and asking for referrals is an effective way to expand a client base.

Testimonials from satisfied clients can significantly boost a freelancer's credibility and attract more work.

A cautionary note on pricing work appropriately to avoid undervaluing services.

The importance of persistence and scaling outreach efforts to increase the chances of client conversion.

Skillshare is recommended as a resource for learning new skills and enhancing the freelancer's toolkit.

A special offer for Skillshare is mentioned, providing a one-month free trial for new users.

Transcripts

making money with 3D is one of the

hardest things to do it's difficult and

no one really talks about it but if you

can get these five things right you'll

become an expert with freelance earn a

great living and be able to do what you

want when you want so in this video I'm

going to take my eight plus years of

experience and condense that down to a

five-step framework something I would

use if I was starting completely from

scratch with freelance today

this is the blueprint to starting off

right if you have no experience with

freelance and having a concise game plan

like this would have saved me loads of

time in the beginning so let's break

this down one at a time

if you're just starting with freelance

it can feel extremely overwhelming

there's a million and one things to

learn with no specific place to learn

from kind of like your first day in

Minecraft

hear me out when I started with

Minecraft it looked like this

there was no Playbook on what to do

where to go or how to do it I'm not

kidding you put this into Google nothing

there it was basically like a

free-for-all Sandbox and you were kind

of just happy to be there

with freelance it's pretty much the same

if I'm starting from scratch I don't

know what to do there's no clear pathway

to success and finding a proper Guide

online is like a needle in a haystack

that's why I've built out the Smith

framework each level represents a

crucial step in the freelance journey

and the very first level is potentially

the most important because getting this

right could be the difference between

earning 10 bucks and 10 000 bucks so

what is it

[Music]

the first level is specialize starting

out we don't want to be a Wandering

generality we want to be a meaningful

specific for example when you watch

videos from your favorite creators on

YouTube you kinda already know what

you're in for there's a specific ethos

for the channel and the content topic is

mostly the same

mostly now we want to do this for

ourselves with 3D or in other words find

a niche and I know you're saying Smith

this is great but how do I do that well

it's actually really easy and bringing

this back to Minecraft for a second the

first thing you usually do in a new

world is find the perfect biome to build

your base unless you're a psychopath

going for the world record any percent

so in order to find the niche we first

need to explore and I like to use the

Dig method Step One is determine and all

you want to do is reflect on three

things what are you good at interested

in and passionate about

I'll go first I'm good at animation I'm

interested in products and I'm

passionate about energy drinks

yeah I

I have a serious step two investigate

this is all about research and finding

proof that your Niche actually works if

your whole thing is I make 3D tacos for

traditional Mexican food trucks serving

locally in Brisbane CBD

might be a bit too specific instead you

could try something like I make hyper

real food printers for established

brands

now we're cooking step three go you've

done the research your Niche has a solid

place in the market now you're ready to

get this thing going and since this

video is what I would do product

rendering or product animation would be

my Niche the pay is amazing it's easy to

learn and there's loads of clients

looking for these services so finding an

aspect of 3D and slowly dominating it

will make you a force to be record with

but this means nothing if you don't have

anything to show for it so how do we fix

that

[Music]

becoming a master of a niche is not

something that's going to happen

overnight let alone your lifetime so

this is the stage to get your reps in

and build an online presence now the

easiest way to do this is to just set a

goal and stick to it for example if this

was me I'd be keeping myself to one

project per week per month that sets a

simple Cadence for me to follow it's

more than enough time to get something

decent done and within three months

that's already 12 great projects to put

online

again back to Minecraft

this is like building out your base the

house may be done but now we need to

expand our surroundings I'm talking

entry-level mob Farms beacons and of

course

jail cells I mean trading holes for your

villages

in all seriousness I know everyone has

insecurities about doing this it's

natural but breaking this insecurity

will not only 10 extra quality of work

it'll also build your audience and

attracts clients don't worry we'll get

to that honestly if you're really

struggling to do this and are afraid of

what other people might think I can

guarantee you No One's Gonna judge your

work more than yourself

and hey if it really helps just like

yourself in the comments below I read

every comment

every

comment

[Music]

level three establish this is where we

need to hone our work down to the best

pieces we have and start building our

brand image you can think of this as

decorating your base in Minecraft we

want to take this from a day one build

to a day 100 build

essentially sprucing up the place adding

our best resources to the builds and

making it look good

really good this is also known as your

portfolio now remember at this stage

we've got a decent catalog of work but

it doesn't scream hire me

so to get there we need to do a few

things and really there's only three

steps to making a killer portfolio Step

One is Select we want to choose three to

five of our best pieces and set them

aside for our portfolio

that's it

step two build now I'd want to create at

least two Flagship projects something

that blows my previous work out of the

water and shows my skill set to the best

degree possible for the timeline on this

I'd give myself two months

these are going to front run my

portfolio and be the first thing a

client sees so there's no room for

shortcuts step three showcase I've got

my amazing work but now I need to show

it honestly there's no right or wrong

way to do this I'd recommend just making

a simple website with Squarespace or

even something like B hands you don't

need to overthink this part the main

goal here is to just create a concise

and enjoyable viewing experience if I

set my potential client something like

this

you already know they're going to close

that tab block me and get a restraining

order whereas if I send them something

like this

now there's still two bar levels to the

spief framework and pulling this next

one off right is the key to getting

bigger and better clients seriously I

wish someone told me about this concept

sooner so what is it

[Music]

alright level four Advance at this stage

we've got the absolute Basics done life

is good but it can be better

now I'd want to start leveling up and

getting better more sophisticated armor

sets in Minecraft

look I I have an addicted my base looks

sick but my character I don't want to

settle for wooden tools and leather

armor I want that netherride set but to

get there you have to grind like really

grind

don't even get me started on beacons

wait

that's what the point I'm trying to make

here is level four is all about

upgrading your character or in this case

you this is the concept of skill

stacking I love talking about this

because it's like a cheat code that

anyone can apply and once you understand

how it works it's a game changer let me

give you an example two Freelancers are

going after the same job it's a tech

startup looking to visualize their

product freelancer one has a singular

skill stack they're amazing at 3D

modeling

that's it

whereas freelancer 2 they can do

modeling texturing animation coding

she wouldn't get at you not only can

this guy do the job but he can also

solve all these other problems in a

comprehensive package which by the way

lets you charge more having this kind of

Versatility in your tool belt is

invaluable it's like having a fully

Enchanted armor set and the other guy

has featherfully and hey if you're stuck

with how to start this whole skill stack

thing Derek Elliott who's an industry

Pro just released a bunch of classes on

skillshare who's also sponsoring this

video you probably know skillshare for

their classes in photography and cooking

but I bet you didn't know they have

hundreds of career Focus classes as well

and at the theme of skill stacking this

is amazing there's classes on

freelancing graphic design but most

importantly blender I highly recommend

any of Derek's classes but if I had to

choose it'd be the advanced 3D animation

this is honestly incredible it takes you

through every everything you need to

know and by the end of it you'll have a

killer piece for your football here I've

used skillshare for years and it's truly

a fantastic way to build your skills

deck if you want to try it out well

skillshare has hooked me up with an

amazing offer for you the first 1000

people choose the link below will get a

one month free trial of skillshare using

that link seriously helps support the

channel and it lets me do this whole

YouTube thing for free for you click

that link and thank you so much to

skillshare for sponsoring this video

level five

finding clients is one of those magical

Mysteries that apparently everyone in

their dog wants to know about seriously

you guys

you got problems so there's a few ways

to do this and I've had success with all

of these approaches but I want to focus

on one method which is broken and it all

starts with villages

I promise this will make sense will you

trade with a villager your goal is to

get emeralds this is their currency and

it lets you buy stuff some trades are

better than others but ultimately

nothing here is amazing

even if you find a trade that seems good

it quickly falls apart and you're back

to square one these types of Trades are

similar to another Marketplace I know

which I think we've all tried at least

once

Fiverr the way these marketplaces are

set up kind of put you in a lose-lose

position it's generally low value work

from low value clients now at the end of

the day there's thousands of people on

here betting against you so it's quite

literally a race to the bottom

are you seeing the similarities yet

so if this is the problem

what's the solution

villages

specifically zombie villages

please hear me when you find these guys

in the wild they're on the attack

they don't know you and you don't know

them but with a bit of love golden

apples and excruciating pain

they become your friend the moment they

switch into a working role the trades

are insane

do you see what I'm getting out here the

zombie villager is your client and

curing them is the solution this is what

I call the Value method it takes three

steps here's how you do it step one find

all we're doing here is finding people

to contact and luckily if you followed

level 1 you should already know where to

look so this part will be easy step two

give once you find your client we want

to give him stuff I'm talking potions

and golden apples for example this

company sells dog bowls it's a pretty

simple design and it's right up my alley

so now I'd want to give and this is just

offering to do something for them kind

of like a zombie villager so go to their

profile find something relevant and use

that to make a custom message do not

skip this step if you burst into their

DMS saying I bake 3D give me money

you're gonna go nowhere quick instead

you could use a framework like this

introduce question offer proof it

doesn't have to be complicated and this

is something you'll get better at over

time now if you're doing this with like

three brands and saying smeeve this

doesn't work

the key here is to just do this at scale

I'm talking like 100 to 1000

per month now listen I know that sounds

insane but realistically you're only

going to convert one percent of these

people which at the bare minimum means

one high quality client this is

literally all you need to get started

and it sets you up perfectly for step

three trade once they've said yes to the

offer the hard work is done

all you need to do now is over deliver

and give them the golden apple as soon

as they take that from you we now have

an st villager to trade with or in this

case a client since you've already given

a ton of value they know that you can

deliver and it makes asking for these

next three things so simple number one

is work

straight up this is the time to ask them

for work whether they know it or not

we've just solved one problem in their

business but now they're gonna see a

bunch of new problems crop up for

example maybe they need some product

animation for vertical ads or maybe

their website has terrible stock images

whatever it is you can identify the

problem and Pitch the solution we've

already got a foot in the door so an ask

like this is pretty easy to say yes to

but smeef what if they say no well this

is where we pivot to networking I'm

talking about referrals maybe they don't

have a budget for your service right now

but odds are they know someone who does

and to ask them you can send them a

simple message like hey thanks for

working with me do you know anyone else

needing my services if so would you mind

passing my info along thanks a bunch and

looking forward to working with you in

future this is the simplest and 5

fastest way to increase your reach to

high quality clients not only is it

frictionless for the client to do but

it's also one of the most common ways to

earn extra income with your business now

I know you're saying smeef what if they

say no to this as well don't worry

there's still one more thing we can ask

and this is potentially the most

important testimonials

when you look at big Brands online they

usually have a section where people can

leave reviews

in our case we want this specifically

for our portfolio to get that all you

need to do is ask for a simple review on

their experience it'll look something

like this the reason why this is so

powerful is because it solidifies you as

an authority in the space you have real

work from a real brand with a real

review each time you do this your proof

of work in the industry increases and

this will ultimately Skyrocket your

career but smeeve what if they say no

look if they're not willing to do any of

these things you probably gave them a

red apple instead of a golden apple and

at this stage I'd just kill them

in Minecraft

[Music]

now let me be clear

I'm not an expert or master that knows

everything but the Smee framework is

something I've found success with and

it's something I know for a fact that

you can too so all of this is great but

there's still one massive problem I see

a lot of beginners make when pricing

their work and to fix that you'll want

to watch this video right here

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