Your Instructions Become Products! How to Sell Prompts on ‘PromptBase’ and ‘note’

Introduction: The Potential of Prompt Sales

In recent years, the rapid advancement of AI technology has dramatically transformed how we create and work. Particularly, the evolution of AI image and text generators has been remarkable, increasing the importance of “prompts” – the instructions given to these AIs – for effective utilization. Now, these very prompts are becoming “products” themselves, creating new business opportunities that generate revenue. This article comprehensively and in-depth explains the new way of working called “prompt selling,” focusing specifically on how to sell prompts using platforms like ‘PromptBase’ and the Japanese platform ‘note,’ making it understandable even for beginners.

What are Prompts? Why Do They Have Value?

Definition and Role of Prompts

A prompt is a text (instruction) given to an AI, telling it “what” to generate and “how.” For an AI image generator, a prompt might be “A white house standing on a green hill under a blue sky, in a photorealistic style.” For an AI text generator, it could be “Explain the future of AI in a way that a child can understand.”

Reasons for Increasing Prompt Value

Improved AI Performance: While AI models are becoming more capable, highly accurate prompts are necessary to achieve desired results.
Saving Time and Skill: Creating excellent prompts requires understanding the AI model’s characteristics and investing time in trial and error. Many users want to bypass this effort.
Leveraging Expertise: Prompts that incorporate specialized knowledge in specific fields (e.g., medicine, law, design) hold high added value.
Expanding Creativity: AI can generate ideas and expressions that humans might not conceive. Prompts that unlock this potential can be tools for expanding creativity.

Platforms for Selling Prompts

Several platforms exist for selling prompts. Here, we will focus on the representative ones: ‘PromptBase’ and ‘note.’

PromptBase: A Marketplace Dedicated to Prompt Sales

‘PromptBase’ is a global marketplace specializing in AI-generated content (prompts, AI art, AI music, etc.). Creators worldwide sell their high-quality prompts here.

Features of PromptBase

Specialized: Being focused on AI prompts makes it easy for buyers to find what they need.
Global Reach: Used by people worldwide, offering a broad potential customer base.
Supports Various AIs: Prompts are available for diverse AI models like Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, DALL-E, and ChatGPT.
Profitability: High-quality prompts tend to be traded at relatively high prices.

Selling Steps on PromptBase

Account Creation: Create a seller account on the official website.
Prompt Preparation: Create the prompts you want to sell and prepare high-quality sample images or texts generated using those prompts.
Product Listing: Set the prompt’s title, description, category, and price, then upload samples to list it as a product.
Sales and Revenue: When a buyer purchases, you receive the revenue minus the platform’s commission.

note: A Versatile Digital Content Sales Platform

‘note’ is a platform where various creators can sell their content, including blog posts, illustrations, music, and photos. Prompts can also be sold as “digital content.”

Features of note

Versatility: It’s easy to sell prompts alongside related know-how articles or consulting services.
Japanese Community: Primarily targets Japanese users, making it easier to approach Japanese buyers.
Ease of Use: Relatively simple to publish and sell content.
Diverse Sales Formats: Offers various selling formats like single item sales, subscriptions, and paid magazines.

Selling Steps on note

Account Creation: Create an account on note and register as a creator.
Note Creation: Create a note article that includes the prompt you want to sell, along with its description, usage examples (generated images, etc.), and terms of use.
Set as Paid: Set the created note article as paid. Decide on the price and set up payment methods.
Customer Acquisition: Announce your product within note’s social features, on your blog, or social media to attract buyers.

Strategies for Creating and Selling Attractive Prompts

1. Needs Analysis and Target Setting

Competitor Research: Investigate which prompts are popular and at what price points on platforms like PromptBase and note.
Target Audience Definition: Clearly define who you want to sell to (e.g., designers, marketers, hobbyists).
Niche Market Development: Prompts specialized in specific styles, themes, or industries, beyond general ones, can differentiate you and potentially command higher prices.

2. High-Quality Prompt Creation Techniques

Specificity: Make instructions clear and specific so the AI can understand them easily.
Comprehensive Elements: Include all elements that affect the generated output, such as subject, background, style, lighting, camera angle, and resolution.
Utilize Negative Prompts: Negative prompts are crucial for excluding unwanted elements.
Understand Parameters: Comprehend and incorporate the parameters of each AI model (e.g., aspect ratio, quality settings) into your prompts.
Trial and Error Optimization: Don’t settle for the first result; repeatedly experiment and optimize the prompt for the best possible outcome.

3. Making Product Pages Appealing

Compelling Samples: Showcase the highest quality and most eye-catching sample images or texts generated by your prompt.
Detailed Descriptions: Clearly explain what results the prompt generates, its suitable applications, and which AI models it works with.
Usage Guide: Include basic usage instructions and tips for better results as a helpful addition.
Keyword Selection: Use relevant keywords in titles and descriptions so buyers can find your product easily.

4. Pricing Strategy

Quality and Scarcity: Set prices based on the prompt’s quality, uniqueness, and scarcity.
Reference Competitor Pricing: Consider competitor prices while factoring in your prompt’s added value.
Tiered Pricing: Offering different prices for basic and advanced prompts can be effective.

5. Customer Acquisition and Marketing

Social Media Use: Share information about your generated art and prompts on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
Community Participation: Join AI-related online communities to exchange information and share your sales information.
Blogs and Portfolios: Introduce your prompts on your blog or portfolio site and direct users to your sales page.
Leveraging note: Selling paid articles on prompt creation know-how on note and cross-promoting your prompts within them can be effective.

Case Studies: Learning from Success Stories

Case Study 1: A Designer Selling High-Priced Prompts on PromptBase

A graphic designer developed numerous prompts for generating high-quality illustrations in specific styles (e.g., cyberpunk, fantasy) using Midjourney. They prepared multiple highly polished sample images generated by each prompt and listed them on PromptBase. Prompts specialized in complex character designs and landscape depictions, in particular, received high praise from other creators and game developers, selling for prices ranging from $10 to $50 each. They regularly add prompts in new styles and themes, continuously generating revenue.

Case Study 2: A Marketer Selling Prompt Creation Know-How with Sets on note

A marketer named A created and sold a collection of prompts on note for generating compelling product descriptions and ad copy using ChatGPT. Instead of just listing prompts, they created a detailed article titled “Boost Sales with ChatGPT! Practical Prompts & Usage Guide,” which included instructions on how to use the prompts, examples of revised generated text, and tips for effective prompt creation. This “know-how + prompts” format resonated with buyers, leading many marketers and sole proprietors to purchase it, allowing A to achieve a stable monthly income of tens of thousands of yen.

Pros and Cons of Prompt Selling

Advantages

Low Startup Cost: Primarily requires only a PC and internet connection, with no significant equipment investment needed.
Location Independence: Being entirely online, it’s suitable for remote work or as a side hustle.
Skill Development: Prompt creation enhances understanding of AI, language skills, and analytical abilities.
Revenue Potential: High-quality prompts can become a continuous source of income.
Creative Fulfillment: Offers the satisfaction of turning your ideas and skills into revenue.

Disadvantages

Intensifying Competition: Although the prompt selling market is new, low barriers to entry may lead to increased competition.
AI Model Updates: AI model updates might render existing prompts less effective.
Quality Assessment Difficulty: For buyers, it can be challenging to distinguish truly high-quality prompts.
Income Instability: It may take time to achieve stable income, especially in the initial stages.
Copyright & Terms of Use: Understanding copyright issues related to AI-generated content and platform terms of use is essential.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can beginners start selling prompts?

A1: Yes, they can. However, creating high-quality prompts requires understanding AI model characteristics and dedicated trial and error. Start by practicing with free AI tools and gradually aim for prompts that meet selling standards.

Q2: What kinds of prompts tend to sell well?

A2: Prompts for popular themes (e.g., anime-style characters, realistic landscapes, business documents), those specializing in specific styles, prompts handling complex instructions, or those optimized for specific AI models (e.g., Midjourney V5+) tend to sell well. Content bundles that include usage instructions and application examples are also popular.

Q3: How should I price my prompts?

A3: Set prices based on the prompt’s quality, uniqueness, scarcity, and the value of the generated output. Reference prices of similar prompts on PromptBase or note, while considering the added value your prompt provides. Starting with a lower price and gradually increasing it as you gain実績 (track record) is also a viable strategy.

Q4: Are there copyright issues?

A4: Copyright issues concerning AI-generated content are still an evolving legal area. Always check the terms of use for each platform and the AI model you are using. Generally, whether prompts themselves are copyrightable is debated, but the usage rights of content generated by prompts must adhere to the terms of each AI service. It is recommended to clearly state the terms of use when selling.

Q5: What AI tools can I use to create and test prompts?

A5: For AI image generation, representative tools include Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, and DALL-E 3. For AI text generation, ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are commonly used. It is essential to input prompts into these tools, observe the generated results, and iteratively refine your prompts for improvement.

Conclusion: Create the Future with Your Instructions

Prompt selling holds significant potential as a new way of working in the AI era. As AI technology advances, the value of the skill to utilize it – “prompt engineering” – will only increase. By leveraging specialized platforms like ‘PromptBase’ or versatile platforms like ‘note,’ your ideas and skills can translate directly into revenue. The key is to understand user needs and create/provide high-quality, valuable prompts. Furthermore, executing attractive product page creation and effective customer acquisition strategies is crucial. Taking inspiration from this article, dive into the world of prompt selling and create new value with your instructions.

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