MadeThis for Beginners: Step-by-Step Getting Started Guide

If you just signed up for MadeThis (or you're deciding whether to) and you're not sure where to start, this guide is for you.

I'll walk you through the entire process — account setup, store configuration, uploading your first product, and getting your first sale — with no assumed knowledge.

Let's go.

Step 1: Create Your Account

Head to MadeThis and start your free trial. You'll create an account with an email and password.

During onboarding, you'll be asked what kind of products you plan to sell. Answer honestly — it helps the platform show you relevant setup steps.

Time required: 5 minutes.

Step 2: Set Up Your Store Profile

Before you add products, set up your store profile. This is what buyers see when they visit your store.

Go to Settings (usually in the left sidebar) and fill in:

• Store name: Keep it simple and memorable. Your name works fine. A topic-based name works too (e.g., "The Finance Reset Shop").
• Store description: 2-3 sentences about what you sell and who it's for.
• Profile image or logo: A photo of yourself works well — it builds trust. A simple logo is fine too. Avoid leaving this blank.

Connecting a custom domain (if you have one) is optional but worth doing eventually. You can skip it for now.

Time required: 15 minutes.

Step 3: Connect Your Payment Account

Before you can receive money, you need to connect a bank account through Stripe (MadeThis's payment processor).

Go to Settings > Payouts and follow the Stripe onboarding. You'll need:

• Your legal name
• Bank account information
• Basic identity verification (standard for payment processors)

This usually takes 10-15 minutes and may require a day or two for verification, depending on your country.

Do this early so it's not blocking your first sale.

Step 4: Prepare Your First Product

Before you upload anything, make sure your product file is ready:

• PDF guides and ebooks: Export as a PDF, not a Word doc. PDFs display consistently across all devices.
• Templates: For Canva templates, you'll share a link rather than a file. For Notion templates, same thing — duplicate link.
• Spreadsheets: Export as .xlsx for maximum compatibility, or use a Google Sheets share link.
• Zip files: If you're selling a bundle (multiple files), zip them together before uploading.

Also prepare a cover image — a 1:1 or 4:3 image that represents your product. This shows up in your store and on product pages. Canva has free templates for product mockups.

Step 5: Upload Your First Product

In the left sidebar, click Products > Add Product.

Fill in:

Title: Make it specific and benefit-focused. "The Freelancer's Client Onboarding Template Pack" is better than "Client Templates."

Description: This is your sales page. Don't list what's in the product — describe what the buyer gets after using it. Start with the problem, then introduce your solution. End with a concrete outcome statement.

Price: For a first product, I'd recommend $17-37 depending on the depth of value you're delivering. Don't underprice — it signals low quality.

Category: Pick the one that fits best.

Product file: Upload your PDF, ZIP, or enter your template link.

Cover image: Upload the product cover you prepared.

Once everything's filled in, click Publish.

Congratulations — you have a live product.

Step 6: Get Your Product Link

After publishing, you'll see your product page URL. This is what you share everywhere. Copy it.

Your store also has a home page that shows all your products — you can share that URL too.

Step 7: Tell People About It

This is the part most beginners skip — and it's why most beginners don't make sales.

The platform doesn't send buyers to you automatically. You have to direct traffic to your product page. Here's how to start:

• Communities: Find 2-3 online communities (Reddit, Facebook groups, Discord) where your target buyer hangs out. Add genuine value to discussions. When relevant, mention your product.
• Social media: Post about your product on every platform you're active on. Even a small following can drive your first few sales.
• Personal network: Tell people directly. Not a generic broadcast — specific people who might genuinely find it useful.

Getting those first 5-10 sales takes active effort. After that, SEO and word of mouth start to compound.

Step 8: Write Your First Blog Post

This is the long-term traffic play. Write a 600-800 word blog post (on your own website or a blogging platform) about the problem your product solves. Link to your product page naturally.

This post won't rank in Google this week. Over 3-6 months, it starts driving consistent traffic.

Start now. You'll thank yourself later.

What to Expect in Week 1

Honestly? Possibly zero sales.

That's completely normal. First-week results are determined almost entirely by how aggressively you distribute the product link.

Most MadeThis beginners see their first sale in week 1-3 if they actively share the product. Some take longer.

Don't interpret early silence as failure. It's the market not knowing you exist yet — a distribution problem, not a product problem.

More Resources

• Pricing your products: /madethis-pricing
• How MadeThis compares to alternatives: /madethis-alternatives
• Detailed platform review: /reviews/madethis

Ready to get started? Start your free trial on MadeThis →

The whole setup takes about 2 hours. Your product could be live today.