max / makenotwork

10.6 KB · 190 lines History Blame Raw

1	# Getting Started
2
3	Your first 15 minutes on Makenot.work, from sign-up to your first published item.
4
5	Not ready to commit? [Try sandbox mode](./sandbox.md) to explore the full creator dashboard without signing up. No account required.
6
7	## Create Your Account
8
9	1. Visit the homepage and click Join
10	2. Pick a username (this becomes your public URL: `/u/yourname`)
11	3. Enter your email and a strong password
12	4. Verify your email (check your inbox)
13
14	Username tips: Use your artist or brand name. Lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only (2-30 characters). Can't be changed easily.
15
16	Didn't get the verification email? Check spam/junk, click "Resend verification" on the login page, or email info@makenot.work.
17
18	Your fan account is ready immediately: browse, follow creators, and purchase right away. Fan accounts are free.
19
20	## Apply for Creator Access
21
22	To sell your work, apply for creator access:
23
24	1. Go to the [creators page](/creators) or your dashboard
25	2. Tell us what you make (20-500 characters). A portfolio or storefront link helps
26	3. Choose which tier fits your content type
27	4. Optionally, request a free trial (2 weeks to 3 months)
28	5. Submit your application
29
30	Most applications are approved within 1 business day. All applications receive a response within 5 business days.
31
32	### Free Trials
33
34	Check "Request a free trial" when you apply. Pick a trial length (2 weeks, 1 month, 2 months, or 3 months) and briefly describe what you want to test. No credit card required. At the end, join a tier to keep your content live or export everything and walk away.
35
36	Trial details:
37	- Trials are available by application only. Check the box when you apply for creator access.
38	- One trial per person. If you need more time, email info@makenot.work before your trial ends.
39	- When the trial expires, the same [cancellation grace period](./tiers.md#cancellation) applies: your content stays accessible for 30 days, then is hidden (not deleted). Join any tier to restore everything instantly, or export your data and leave.
40	- During the trial you have full access to all features of your assigned tier, including publishing, selling, and receiving payments (Stripe connection required for payments).
41
42	Stripe availability: Receiving payouts requires Stripe, which supports creators in [46+ countries](https://stripe.com/global). Check that list before applying if you're outside the US/EU/UK.
43
44	What we look for: Anyone who makes original creative work: music, writing, software, art, video, courses. No minimum audience or sales history required.
45
46	"Original creative work" means work you created or have the rights to distribute, including covers, remixes, and adaptations with appropriate licenses. Fan fiction is allowed where the rights holder permits derivatives. AI-assisted work is welcome with proper [AI tier disclosure](../about/generative-ai.md).
47
48	Applications are rejected only for content that violates our [acceptable use policy](../legal/acceptable-use.md).
49
50	## Connect Payments
51
52	Once approved as a creator, connect Stripe to receive fan payments:
53
54	1. Go to your Dashboard
55	2. Click Connect with Stripe
56	3. Follow the Stripe onboarding flow (legal name, date of birth, tax ID, bank account)
57	4. Complete identity verification (Stripe requirement)
58
59	Payments go directly to your Stripe account. We never hold or touch your revenue. See [Payouts](./payouts.md) for timing, schedules, and currency.
60
61	## Create Your First Project
62
63	Projects organize your work: albums, podcast feeds, or product lines.
64
65	1. From your Dashboard, click New Project
66	2. Enter a URL name (e.g., `my-album`, which becomes `/p/my-album`) and a title
67	3. Choose a category (Music, Podcast, Software, Blog, Art, etc.)
68	4. Add a description
69
70	## Create Your First Item
71
72	1. Navigate to your project
73	2. Click New Item
74	3. Choose an item type:
75
76	\| Type \| Best For \|
77	\|------\|----------\|
78	\| Audio \| Songs, podcast episodes, sound effects \|
79	\| Video \| Films, tutorials, courses, music videos \|
80	\| Text \| Articles, stories, documentation \|
81	\| Digital \| Software, plugins, files, images \|
82
83	4. Set a title and price (free, fixed, or pay-what-you-want)
84	5. Choose your [generative AI tier](../about/generative-ai.md): Handmade, Assisted (with disclosure), or Generated
85	6. Upload your content or write your text
86
87	## Publish
88
89	1. Publish your item: go to the item's settings tab and click Publish Now
90	2. Your project is public by default when created. Items appear on it as you publish them
91	3. Share your link: `/u/yourname`
92
93	## First 15 Minutes Checklist
94
95	- [ ] Account created and email verified
96	- [ ] Creator application submitted (or creator access granted)
97	- [ ] Payment account connected
98	- [ ] First project created with title, slug, and category
99	- [ ] First item created with content uploaded and AI tier declared
100	- [ ] Item and project published
101
102	## Things to Know
103
104	You are the merchant. Payments go directly to your Stripe account. That means chargebacks ($15 dispute fee) come from your balance, not ours. A $5 refund is always cheaper than a disputed charge. See [Payouts](./payouts.md) for details.
105
106	Stripe is currently the only payment processor. If Stripe doesn't operate in your country or suspends your account, you can still manage content and export data, but you won't receive payments until the issue is resolved. See [Receiving Payouts](./payouts.md) for supported countries, payout schedules, and troubleshooting.
107
108	This is a one-person operation. Source code is public, all data is exportable, and fan payments are held in your Stripe account (not ours). Support responses happen during business hours, not 24/7. See [What We Guarantee](../about/guarantees.md) for the continuity plan.
109
110	The tier fee costs money whether you sell or not. An [earn-back credit program](../about/roadmap.md#earn-back-credit-program) is on the roadmap (expected no later than January 1, 2027). Use the [pricing calculator](/pricing) to compare what you'd keep here versus percentage-cut platforms.
111
112	Moderation appeals are reviewed by the founder. Independent review is planned once the team grows. See [Appeals](../legal/appeals.md) for the full process.
113
114	---
115
116	## What Kind of Creator Are You?
117
118	The two decisions that matter most early on are how to structure your projects and how to price your work.
119
120	### Musicians
121
122	One project per album or EP. Audio items for tracks, ordered by track number. Project cover art propagates to tracks that don't have their own. Use tags for genre and mood. A "Singles" project works as a catch-all between albums.
123
124	Pricing: Pay-what-you-want with a minimum works well for music. Free streaming with paid downloads is another option.
125
126	### Podcasters
127
128	One project per show. Audio items for episodes. Your project RSS feed (`/p/project-name/rss`) works as a podcast feed; submit it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc. Use chapters for timestamp navigation.
129
130	Pricing: Most podcasts are free. Use memberships for bonus episodes or early access.
131
132	### Software Developers
133
134	One project per product. Digital items for releases with versioned uploads and changelogs. Enable license keys if your software needs activation. Blog posts for release notes.
135
136	Pricing: Fixed price with free updates via versioning. License keys for per-seat or per-machine licensing.
137
138	### Writers
139
140	One project per book or series. Text items for chapters (member-only while in progress, then bundled as a complete work). Blog posts for newsletter-style updates.
141
142	Pricing: Memberships for serialized content. Fixed price for complete works. Free blog posts to build audience.
143
144	### Visual Artists & Photographers
145
146	One project per collection or series. Image or digital items per piece. Tags for style, medium, and subject.
147
148	Pricing: Fixed price for high-resolution downloads. Free previews at reduced resolution.
149
150	### Game Developers
151
152	One project per game. Digital items for builds (versioned uploads). Blog posts for devlogs. Use download codes for press and review copies.
153
154	These aren't rules. Experiment, see what works, adjust. You can always restructure later.
155
156	### Teams & Bands
157
158	If you create with other people, there are two ways to set up on Makenot.work:
159
160	Shared account. One account for the group, one Stripe account. Simplest when the group shares finances and publishes as a unit.
161
162	Individual accounts with co-authors. Each member has their own account and Stripe. One person creates the project and adds others with [revenue splits](./splits.md). Each member can also create independent projects.
163
164	You can start shared and transition later: create individual accounts, add them as co-authors, and splits track earnings going forward.
165
166	## Your First Week
167
168	After your first publish:
169
170	1. Fill out your profile. Bio, avatar, header image, links. See [Profile](./profile.md).
171	2. Set up security. Enable two-factor authentication and save your backup codes. See [Security](./security.md).
172	3. Share your link. Post your profile URL, project URL, or direct purchase link (`/buy/{item_id}`) wherever your audience is. Purchase links are minimal pages optimized for social media and link-in-bio; fans buy in one step without an account. You can also [point your own domain](./custom-domains.md) at your profile.
173	4. Set up RSS cross-posting. Connect your RSS feed to social media or newsletter tools. See [RSS](./rss.md).
174	5. Fill in metadata. Good titles, descriptions, tags, and cover art make your content discoverable. See [Metadata](./metadata.md). Per-file size limits depend on your [tier](./tiers.md).
175	6. Check your analytics. Dashboard shows revenue, play counts, downloads, and per-project breakdowns. See [Analytics](./analytics.md).
176	7. Understand how fans find you. Published work appears on the [Discover page](/discover), searchable by tag, content type, and keyword. See [Discovery](./discovery.md).
177	8. Join the forum. Say hello at [forums.makenot.work](https://forums.makenot.work).
178
179	## Building Your Audience
180
181	Makenot.work uses [Discovery Through Exploration](./discovery.md#discovery-through-exploration). Fans find your work through search, tags, follows, direct links, RSS, embeds, and mailing lists. Every recommendation traces to a choice the fan made. See [Discovery](./discovery.md) for the full list of channels.
182
183	Bring your existing audience. Post your links where your fans already are. The platform handles selling, hosting, delivery, and payments; the marketing is yours.
184
185	## See Also
186
187	- [Content Types](./02-content.md): Items, uploads, and organization
188	- [Selling & Pricing](./03-selling.md): Pricing models and payment flow
189	- [Best Practices](./best-practices.md): Strategy and audience building
190