Are you a content creator, designer, or online business owner? If so, you’ve probably heard of Canva.
Canva makes it easy to create professional-looking designs without needing advanced design skills, which is one of the reasons Canva templates became such a popular digital product to sell online.
I started creating and selling Canva templates back in 2019, and over the years I made more than $100,000 selling templates and other Canva-based products.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the basic process I used to turn Canva templates into digital products you can sell online.
My Template Journey
I originally started creating Canva templates because I needed an easier way to create graphics and marketing materials for my own business. I quickly realized other business owners probably needed the same thing.
I began creating templates to solve those problems and eventually sold them through my website and online marketplaces. Over time, they became a major source of income for my business.
You don’t need hundreds of designs to get started. The key is creating a template that solves a specific problem for a specific customer.
1. Find and validate your Product Ideas
Before you start designing, decide what kind of Canva template you actually want to sell.
Instead of starting with “What can I make in Canva?” start with “What does my ideal customer need help creating?”
Examples include Social media templates, Workbooks, Client documents and Pinterest templates.
Research what your audience is already searching for and buying. Look at marketplaces, search results, Pinterest, social media, and other businesses in your niche.
You don’t want to simply copy what already exists. You’re looking for clues about what people need, what they’re willing to pay for, and where you might be able to create something more useful or more specific.
2. Create Your Canva Templates
Canva’s drag-and-drop editor makes this part fairly straightforward.
While you design your template, think about the person who will eventually use it. It should be easy to customize and navigate, consistent in style, organized and not require lots of additional setup.
I also recommend including clear instructions wherever your customer may need a little extra help.
Want a Shortcut?
If you’d rather start with ready-made Canva products instead of creating everything from scratch, my Canva PLR Profit Pack includes customizable Canva products you can rebrand and sell as your own.
3. Set up your shop
Once your templates are ready, you need somewhere to sell them. You have several options, including:
Your website using WooCommerce, Shopify, or another ecommerce platform
Etsy gives you access to an existing marketplace of shoppers
Creative Market for design-focused templates and other digital assets
Gumroad for a simple digital-product storefront and checkout
Payhip for selling and automatically delivering digital downloads
A checkout platform like Teachery or Thrivecart
There isn’t one platform that is automatically best for everyone. Marketplaces can help put your products in front of people who are already shopping, while your own website gives you more control over your products, customers, pricing, and marketing.
I’ve used a combination of my own website and marketplaces throughout my business.
Whichever option you choose, make sure customers can easily understand:
What they’re buying, What’s included, Who the product is for, How they’ll receive it, What they’re allowed to do with it
Clear product listings make the buying decision much easier.
4. Package and Deliver Your Canva Templates
Create a PDF for your customers that includes:
- A link to the Canva template
- Basic customization instructions
- License information
- Helpful resources or next steps
- Your branding and contact info
This gives your customer one organized place to find everything they need
Want to quickly create a branded delivery PDF for all of your digital products in just a few clicks? Check out my Digital Product Delivery Creator
5. Create Your Product Listing
Your listing should quickly communicate the value and results your template provides. Include:
- A clear product title
- Strong product images
- What the customer receives
- Important features
- Who the template is for
- How it works
- License or usage information
- Frequently asked questions
Focus on the result the customer gets rather than listing every tiny feature. So instead of simply saying: “Includes 50 Canva templates”, explain what those templates help your customer create faster or more easily.
6. Market Your Templates
Once your product is live, you need people to actually find it. Choose a few that make sense for your audience and give them enough time to work.
- Marketplace SEO
- Google search
- Email marketing
- Social media
- Blog content
- Affiliate marketing
- Product bundles and cross-sells
Ready to Start Selling Templates?
Selling templates doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with one useful product, make it easy to use, choose where you want to sell it, and focus on getting it in front of the right people.
Whether you sell Canva templates, Notion templates, or both, the goal is the same: create something useful, package it professionally, and make it easy to buy.
Free Resources
canva templates
Want to Turn Canva Templates Into Products You Can Sell?
Learn how to take a simple Canva template and turn it into a journal & planner you can sell.
notion templates
Looking for Another Type of Template to Sell?
Want to sell Notion templates? Learn how to customize, design and list a pre-made template.
