Does Social Media Help Increase Sales?

This topic has been already discussed before so I can only repeat my opinion that I don't believe in this.
Maybe only pinterest give some sense for me also because it is not time consuming (I upload image and link to CGT in few seconds - and wheather it has some impact or not? - I don't know I am more sceptic).
But using common sense - advertising give sense only for big sellers like Hum3d, Squir etc. which can provide huge models portfolio to thier customers.
I don't see any logic that somebody who needs some specific 3D model for his project would for example visit my portfolio with only 100+ models because it is advertised. It is non-sense.
Only thing which gives sense is to constantly upload new 3D models here.

Lol @zabotlama, I sold stuff the day before Black Friday and the day after it finished. Nothing during haha! Social media has helped me sell a little I think but I already have accounts with 0 friends on them and only game-devs etc. On the whole, though, I think you're right. If you have the right model at the right price at the right time, it will sell regardless of social media hits.

I can say that Pinterest does do the job though. I have had a model sell shortly after it has been saved by someone on there unless it is just coincidence?
Saying this, I will continue using social media as a platform to advertise my work. As Tesco says, "Every little helps" :)

Good luck with your sale and may you have many!

I'm in every facebook dev group there is, I'm part of several gaming communities (even though I don't play games), and I keep track of new indie games to get an idea of what will be needed in the future. Works for me :)

Yes lol, it is my main market. A lot of indie studios are run by one or two guys, usually coders and not modellers ;)

Hi PetabyteStudio,

Yes Indie Game Companies buy 3D models. Some of them make their own too but they buy on marketplace for generics models to save time and money.
I have sold my army ration cans (https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-models/military/other/australian-combat-rations-wwii ) to the CreepyJar polish studio and they used them in their main game named Green Hell. I have seen the buyer’s name but I was very surprised when I have seen my models in the game when I played it !

For indie games, there is no a specific market. Any theme, any styles, any details are available. Some need realistic but very low-poly count, some others need cartoons with details and some « AAA like » need detailed and realistic models. I know just that LODs, rigging (when it necessary) and PBR textures are very important to offer a minimum to the indie game market.

Also, it is very important to play (and analysis of course, not only play ;) ) indie games (many different types) to see what they do and try to find what they need.

The game design and the level design have an important place in the choice of the type of 3D models you can make. But you can also make models to embellish the environment in a game and never serve the gameplay, just a contemplative assets.

So, just to say there are no rules and no secret ingredient, just do the best quality and the most efficient model to hope to sell it to an indie studio. Look at my WWII ration cans, I have imagined them in an historical war game and finally they are in a survival game in the Amazon forest... but no matter, I love to see it in a game that I also play !

Answer: NO.

Best selling are low-poly, PBR models. You're not trying to appeal to Disney, you want to appeal to game-devs and the odd commercial creator to get the most sales. Whatever you do, don't spend 2 weeks making a model of a cup and then wondering why you're not getting any return for your efforts.