3D Low Cost Advertising Possible?
in The Commons
Hey, Daz Studio peeps. So I was having this idea for a while and I was thinking if some of you would be willing to help me since I don't know how to go about this.
So I was thinking of earning some extra cash by offering companies some low cost advertising by rendering 3D for them. The main thing I'm worried about is that if there is a potential for earning like that. And if there is, how can I market myself and reach out to potential companies?
Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance. :)

Comments
I think the first thing you have to do is take a chance and see if there is one yourself. Don't know why no one has offered an answer, but my guess is that they probably feel the same way I'm answering.
Look at some of the ways 3D has been used for companies (book covers, promos, even in the super markets at self-check out lanes). Take a chance and see if there is a market (or create a niche yourself).
As for marketing, everything starts out with some business flare: business cards, website, portfolio of work examples for companies (even if they are markups). Then, sell yourself, your personality, and your skill.
Thanks for answering, Derry. Perhaps the part I need most suggestions about is that where do I start. Like, how do I reach out to companies who want this kind of stuff? What is the preferable platform for companies like that?
Don't bump threads.
I know next to nothing about the advertising industry but based on some classes I had on advertising in high school, you'd best start by asking a real traditional print advertising agency and any local newspapers.
There is very little demand for only Still renders of "3D content"
Companies typically hire ad agencys to produce their promotional collateral.
Most ad agencies product thier products in-house
although some, on rare occasions, farm out specifc tasks to vendor who might specialize in areas the Ad agency is not equiped to produce.
The truth is that there is very little demand for "3D renders" Alone but for a larger skill set of visual design services that may include some CG/3D elements.
one of my son's friends went deep into debt to attend the
prestigous "Full sail University"
where he undertook a rigorous accelerated two year program to learn all aspects of Cg, modeling,VFX rigging and character animation as well as tradtional 2d print design.
Right now he is scraping by designing local Resturaunt Menus and defaulting on his loans.
tough market.
Sounds like he could use a gentle nudge toward content creation for Studio!
It may not be quite "advertising," but you could do a few mock ups and then put up your services offer (and price) at fiverr. If you only do a couple samples, you won't waste too much time and it might be a good test regarding whether companies, or more likely small companies and individuals, are interested in the service. I checked and see that there are some 3d product creation offers at that site.
Thank you all for suggesting. It looks like I'll be going with Worlds_Edge suggestion since it's something I was also thinking about, but wasn't sure about it. :)
I dunno. I can think of a few people around here who who would be willing to hire out their product promo work. That's advertising. I agree, in the grand scheme of things it isn't a huge market, or huge demand, but it could be something.
Do you have a gallery jonybravo? Getting a portfolio of your work together would be the very first step I'd think, in trying to sell your artwork to others.
My point is this:
A 3D render you have chosen without some context related
to some visual communication comissioned by a paying
client has no value to anyone but ..you.
I was a professional Graphic Designer for 20 years in the
Washington DC metro Area.
I know how the Advertising Industry Functions.
The OP asked about creating 3D renders for
advertisements ...not about selling "gallery art to
"collectors"nor selling IRay renders of Daz store content to DAZ PA's
To even approach an AD agency as a freelancer or even a potential Employee
You will need to be FLUENT in the Adobe Creative Suite,
an expert in typography and likely know DHTML
how to use Google analytics and All social media platforms.
This is also true if you are trying to market youself as a professional Illustrator Directly to companies/businesses
you will need to have a much broader skillset beyond
rendering premade Daz figure& content.
Not yet, no. I currently don't have a proper gallery here on DAZ. I have posted a few random pictures on here though. I could say I have a Deviantart gallery, but that's for a specific target audience.
I guess I'll take my chances on Fiverr for now and then look at what it throws out to me. Like I said, I don't want to have this as my bread and butter since I know it's not lucrative enough. I just want to pursue this as a small side job, as a hobbyist, for some extra cash. I know there is demand for 3D models out there, but learning 3D modelling is the last thing I want to do now since it's pretty time-consuming.
Again, thanks all who gave me a direction. :)
Things like 3D MockUps are no longer needed do to all the templates and tools for business to DIY with premade templates and such for very cheap.
Just check out things like https://www.mockupworld.co/free/category/packaging/ to see why simple 3D work isn't needed much.
The suggestion for Fiverr and other sites (I like freelancer.com better) is the best, but at most it is doubtful you will have much work. As it is a viscious circle you need work and a reputation to get work... but you can't get work until... you know how this goes.
I actually do some work in this area and suggest, if possible try and market to LOCAL small businesses that don't even have an advertising department and offer things like logo and branding work. This is where your 3D skills can work with 2D skills to quickly and cheaply get them new advertising and a pop on social media. If you happen to be able to "do it all" you can make good money working with just a few businesses in your local area.
I did a spec job for a T-Shirt mockup which anyone can do with free templates, but I gave them this instead...
Now I do all of their design work and posters!
So as we all know 3D is more appealing, but it will take some work. Try to find the areas with no competition and work local if you can.
This is where having a broad visual communications skill set is crucial for the freelancer.
looking at your shirt design I would say it could have easily been done with the vector tools of Adobe Illustrator and maybe Photoshop.
I am not sure what the OP skill set is, but if it is just rendering the premade content of Daz studio that will not be enough ...not even close.
Even if you find clients that needed some 3D imagery
the probability of them wanting images of something already in your Daz content or the Daz store is very low.
and since you say you have zero modeling skills
you will not be able accomodate them with any custom made 3D assets to use in a render.
That is a really nice idea! May I ask how did you reach out to them or did they reach out to you? I'm trying to find some local companies since I live in a poor country where advertising costs a lot, and there isn't much competition regarding this field.
I can say I have a somewhat grasp on Photoshop and some video making softwares, like Sony Vegas. I feel like they can help me if I do get a chance for these 3D mockups.
I'm not saying you shouldn't try, I am saying you should enjoy creating your art even with the likely prospect of commercial failure. Yes, that is likely outcome even with exceptional artistic and and technical talent. Look at the troves of good and excellent oil paintings and other art of unknown artists in the pre-digital age if you doubt that. I've bought a few of those unknown 1800s oil paintings in picobella shops for less the 500 CHF total because they were better and cheaper than buying modern commercial art prints; so the failure is in a commercial sense only.
Of course I've never worked in the advertising business professionally. It's their trade websites and trade magazines that you should be reading and learning from; not me.
Well ...without a portfolio there is always fiver.com and contract work sites like upwork.com time allow you to compete for work globally rather effectivly and you can get paid by the hour or project. Its a great way get in the biz on a level the playing field.
While everyone is going to give you "real world" advice...take it with a grain of salt. Try to keep in mind the advice here just to prepare yourself for the long road ahead, but don't let it be a detourant from atleast trying for yourself.
If all you have is Daz Studio skills with a little Photoshop and video editing (but you got to get beyond Sony Vegas, bruh)...expand on that. You're going to have to stand out from all the rest, so you are going to have to put the work in for sure.
And make sure you got a good support group as well.
I know I'll be welcomed by failure wholeheartedly, lol. I learned that when I first started making 3D artwork. Most of my artworks weren't 'upto the mark' and people didn't like it either, but I learned that this is bound to happen.
Yeah, Fiverr is my first go-to priority since I don't have much experience in this field.
For sure! Thanks. :)
The design for the shirt is done in CorelDraw (vector) been using it for 20-30 years... I'm 53 now. I would encourage wannabe designers to get into the Vecotr world as fast as possible. So CorelDraw, Aodbe Illustrator or even free software is fine.
As for how to find clients, cold call or email the #2 company in your area. Before you do, figure out 1 or 2 things the #1 compnay is doing or maybe not daoing and then sell them those things to compete or beat the #1 company.
Service businesses are good like Chiros, dentists, car repair. We still get Snail Mail Advertising. Call them! You know they have a budget, they are still looking for more customers, but when I see the same piece month after month I know its NOT working (probably) since a good piece of advertising will fill the need the first time!
As for Xenocon, I was recommended when their "friends that were experts" could NOT give them what they wanted. Folks still wanna think a smart kid in high school or college knows art, design and advertising... nope that is both knowledge and experience.
Be well rounded and learn. You can get lots of good education by reading online and INVESTING your time.
Just for fun here is the new version for this October. They like kind of a cheesy old school look to the design. I made the dates onto the dice and we settled on a permanent font.
Duplicate
This actually gave me a direction now. Thanks, JazzyBear.
you can set up a nice, clean FREE Design portfolio at coroflot.com
here is my current one
http://www.coroflot.com/anabran