The essential steps to sell Canva templates on Etsy are:
- Identify your target audience and niche
- Plan what type of templates you want to sell
- Sign-up for Canva account
- Create your templates on Canva
- Sign-up for Etsy account
- Obtain link for your Canva template
- Produce deliverable PDF with your Canva template link
- List and publish your Canva templates on Etsy
- Set your Canva templates pricing
- Promote your Canva templates on social media
- Monitor trend and update your Canva templates
Selling Canva templates on Etsy is a profitable business model that doesn't require a high initial investment or management costs. An Etsy shop can earn $1,000 or more per month by selling Canva designs. You don't need professional design skills to create an editable template on Canva.
However, selling templates on Etsy has challenges. The creative market on Etsy is competitive with over 7 million active sellers on its platform according to Statista. This competition demands constant innovation and effective marketing strategies. New sellers will find it hard to market their listings to Etsy shoppers who prefer buying top-reviewed products. You also need to adhere to the strict policies on the Etsy Seller Handbook.
In this article, we cover the 11 steps to sell Canva templates on Etsy, covering both the lucrative and potential pitfalls. We'll delve into everything from setting up your shop to pricing strategies. We'll also introduce you to an alternative business model that offers better prospects than selling a digital product.
What Are Canva Templates?
Canva templates are ready-made designs that users can customize for personal or commercial use. Examples of Canva templates are social media graphics, flyers, invitations, business cards, resumes, calendars, to-do lists, and more. Canva has an existing template library on its platform.
Can You Make Money By Selling Canva Templates On Etsy?
Yes, you can make money by selling Canva templates on Etsy. It’s a low-cost business model since you don’t need to pay for physical materials or manage product inventory. You can earn $2,000 or more per month as a Canva templates Etsy seller.
Brandon Timothy Wong from Vancouver, Canada makes $19,000 monthly from selling Canva templates on Etsy with an 80% profit margin. His Etsy store Neptune Art Prints has achieved 39,805 sales. Brandon creates unique designs using Canva and lists them as digital products. His top-selling items include digital prints, onboarding templates, and client intake forms.
Lauren Keys from Brisbane, Queensland, Australia made $31,000 in 18 months by selling Canva-designed social media templates on Etsy. She has achieved 1,887 sales as of September 2023. She uses free elements and frames in Canva’s library to create her templates. Lauren started by selling text-based Instagram posts then added more designs to attract customers in the personal development and mindset niches.
11 Steps To Sell Canva Templates On Etsy
1. Identify Your Target Audience And Niche
Identifying your target audience and niche means knowing what customers like, what they need, and what they are interested in. Tools like Google Analytics, eRank, and EtsyHunt can help you find relevant keywords and digital products that are in demand from a potential customer. You can also look at other Etsy shops that sell Canva templates to see who they're targeting and what their top-selling products are.
2. Plan What Type Of Templates You Want to Sell
Think about who will use your Canva design. You can target businesses, party planners, social media marketers, or personal users. If you’re an existing Etsy seller, look at what customers say about the templates you already have so you can improve your designs or create new ones. Popular Canva templates on Etsy include weekly meal planners which have over 10.4k sales.
What Are The Best Canva Templates To Sell On Etsy?
1. Social Media Graphics: Templates for Instagram posts, stories, Facebook covers, and Pinterest pins are in high demand because of the constant need for fresh content on social media.
2. Business Branding Kits: These include business cards, letterheads, and email signatures, essential for small businesses and entrepreneurs looking to establish a consistent brand identity.
3. Invitations and Cards: Templates for wedding invitations, birthday cards, and other event invitations are popular, especially for customers looking for unique and personalized designs.
4. Educational Materials: Templates for presentations, infographics, and educational worksheets are sought after by teachers, trainers, and educational content creators.
5. Resume and Portfolio Templates: Professional and creative resume templates, along with portfolio layouts, are in demand among job seekers and freelancers.
3. Sign-up For Canva Account
Open your web browser and visit the Canva website.
On the Canva homepage, click on 'Sign Up' at the top right corner.
Choose a signup method. Canva will offer you several options to sign up. You can use your email, Google account, or Facebook account.
If you choose to sign up with an email, you'll need to enter your email address and create a password. For Google or Facebook, you'll just follow the prompts to log in with your account.
If you signed up with an email, Canva will send you a confirmation email. Open it and click on the link to confirm your account.
Choose your account type. Canva will ask what you plan to use Canva for. Options include non-profit or charity work, teacher, large company, small business, student, or for personal use.
Once you’ve signed up, can start exploring available templates on Canva or create your design. Canva is free but you can consider upgrading to Canva Pro if you want access to more features.
Is Getting Canva Pro Account Required In Selling Canva Templates On Etsy?
No, getting a Canva Pro account is not required in selling Canva templates on Etsy. You can create a pre made template on the free Canva version. However, Canva Pro offers a wide range of perks to produce a high quality template. The subscription costs $14.99 monthly or $119.99 annually.
With Canva Pro, you can access a much more extensive library of stock photos, videos, and audio tracks (over 100 million), more templates (over 610,000), and advanced tools like background removal and Magic Switch for easy resizing and translating designs. Canva Pro also allows for more storage (1TB), uploading and using your brand assets, and better customer support.
4. Create Your Templates On Canva
After logging into Canva, select the type of design you want to create, like a social media post, flyer, or business card.
Browse through Canva's extensive library of templates and choose one that matches your vision.
Once you've selected a template, you can customize it. This includes changing text, colors, fonts, and adding or removing design elements. You can’t sell an existing template from Canva on Etsy as is. You need to make it unique to avoid issues with Canva’s user policies.
If you have specific images, logos, or graphics, you can upload them to Canva and incorporate them into your design.
Adjust the layout and composition of your template until you’re satisfied with the design. Save your design when it’s complete. You don’t need to download your template as a PNG or PDF because you’ll be sending the Canva link to customers when they buy your product.
Why Choose Canva In Creating Canva Template To Sell On Etsy?
You should choose Canva for creating templates to sell on Etsy because the platform is easy to use, even if you're not a professional designer. Canva has a library of ready-to-use templates and design elements. You can start with something that already looks good and then tweak it to make it your own. According to DemandSage, 135 million users already use it monthly.
Creating Canva templates can be done from scratch. On the home page, click on the "Create a design" button. You'll be given options for various design sizes and types. Select the one that fits your project, or choose "Custom dimensions" for a specific size. This will open a blank canvas where you can start designing.
You can add text, shapes, lines, images, and more from the Canva library or upload your elements. Use the toolbar to adjust the layout, color, and other design aspects. This approach lets you build your design exactly how you see it.
You can customize existing templates on the Canva library like posters, social media posts, or presentations. Enter your keyword on the search bar.
For example, if you search for Instagram post template, Canva will then display a variety of templates for that design type. Browse through the options and click on the one you want.
This will open the template in the editor, where you can customize it by changing text, colors, images, and other elements to make the design your own.
5. Sign-Up For Etsy Account
Go to the Etsy website.
Find the sign-up page. Click on the ‘Sign up’ button at the top right corner of the Etsy homepage.
You'll be prompted to enter your email address, create a password, and choose a username.
After signing up, Etsy will send you a confirmation email. Open this email and click on the link to confirm your new account.
Set up your shop after confirming your account. This includes naming your shop, adding listings, setting up payment methods, and defining shipping options. Depending on your country, you can add Etsy Payments, PayPal, credit, and debit cards as payment options.
Add a logo, banner, and description to personalize your shop.
6. Obtain Link For Your Canva Template
Click on the 'Share' button at the top right corner of the Canva editor when your template design is ready.
In the share menu choose your sharing options. Select 'Share a link to edit' if you want someone else to change your design, or 'Share a link to view' for view-only access.
Canva will generate a link based on your selection. Click 'Copy link' to copy this to your clipboard.
You can now paste this link wherever you want to share your Canva template on your Etsy listing.
7. Produce Deliverable PDF With Your Canva Template Link
The deliverable PDF is what you’ll send to customers when they buy your Canva template. It includes a direct link to your design on the Canva editor.
To create your deliverable PDF, you can use Canva or word processing software like Google Docs or Microsoft Word.
Add your Canva template link to the document. You can also write instructions on how to use your design.
Download as a PDF file. Open your PDF to make sure the link is clickable and directs to your Canva template.
8. List And Publish Your Canva Templates On Etsy
Prepare your template files including your deliverable PDF and any other documents you’ll send to customers.
Log into your Etsy account and go to Etsy Shop Manager. Click on ‘Add a new listing.’
Upload your product image. Use clear and high-quality images of your template. You can also use mock-ups to showcase how your templates look when used.
Add a title, description, and tags to your listing details. Ensure your description explains what the buyer will receive and how to use the Canva template.
Decide on a price for your template and enter it in the listing.
If your template requires a link, include the PDF with the Canva link in the digital files section.
Once all the information is entered and you’re satisfied with the listing, click ‘Publish’ to make your template available for sale on Etsy.
9. Set Your Canva Templates Pricing
Pricing your Canva templates depends on the product demand, competition, and the amount of work involved in creating your design. You also need to decide on a pricing strategy and calculate costs. Some common pricing models for digital goods are:
Value-based pricing
This strategy involves setting a price based on the perceived or estimated value of your digital product to the customer. It might cost you $20 to create a business presentation template based on the time and resources used. The perceived value of your product is high since it saves the customer time. Competitor pricing sits at $15 to $30. Your value-based price will be around $40.
Cost-plus pricing
This involves adding a markup to your costs. For example, if it costs you $5 to create a set of digital planners on Canva, you might add a 50% markup on Etsy. The price would be $7.50.
Competition-based pricing
Setting a price based on competitors’ prices. Lara McLean, an Etsy seller from Burlington, Ontario, Canada, recommends setting a slightly lower price than competitors selling the same product. If a competitor’s price for Instagram Highlight Cover templates is $6.29, you might price yours at $4.15 so it’s more appealing to customers.
Be prepared to adjust your prices based on your Etsy sales performance and customer feedback. You also need to consider the fees Etsy charges. These include:
Listing Fee:
$0.20 regardless if the product gets sold or not
Transaction Fee:
6.5% of the sale price when an item is sold
Etsy Payments Processing Fee:
$0.25 plus 3% of the sale price
10. Promote Your Canva Templates On Social Media
Promoting your Canva templates on social media will help increase product visibility and sales opportunities.
Focus on the social media platform where your target audience is most active. For visually appealing Canva templates, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook are the best choices. You can also use Etsy ads and cross-platform marketing to attract a potential buyer who may be using multiple platforms to shop online.
Use your actual templates to create engaging social media posts. Showcase the versatility of your templates in these posts to attract potential customers.
It’s important to engage with your audience. Respond to comments, engage in conversations, and even ask for feedback. Community building on social media increases your brand presence and fosters customer loyalty.
Monitor and adapt your content through the analytics tools provided by social media platforms. Knowing what types of content perform best will help you refine your strategy. Consider using user-generated content in marketing to show how actual customers use your templates.
11. Monitor Trends and Update Your Canva Templates
Monitoring trends and updating your Canva templates involves staying aware of current design trends and customer preferences, then adjusting your templates accordingly to remain relevant and appealing.
Stay updated with the latest graphic design trends. Websites like Behance, Dribble, and Pinterest are great for seeing what's popular.
Tools like Google Trends and social media analytics can help you understand what designs and themes are currently in demand.
Observe your competitors to see what works well for them. You can also attend webinars or take online courses in Etsy marketing.
Based on your research and feedback, make necessary updates to your templates. This could mean introducing new designs or tweaking existing ones.
3 Profitable Perks Why You Should Sell Canva Templates On Etsy
1. Access to a Large Customer Base
Etsy is a popular platform with millions of active users interested in unique and creative products. According to Statista, there are over 95 million active buyers on Etsy. This offers a great opportunity to reach a diverse and large audience without the need to build your customer base from scratch.
2. Creative Freedom and Niche Targeting
Canva templates allow for immense creativity, and Etsy is known for its appreciation of unique, personalized items. This combination allows you to target niche markets with custom designs, catering to specific needs or interests, which can often command higher prices.
3. Passive Income Potential
Once your templates are created and listed on Etsy, they can generate income with minimal ongoing effort. This makes selling digital products like Canva templates an attractive option for earning passive income.
What Are The Best Templates You Can Sell To Make Money On Etsy With Canva?
How Much Money Can You Make By Selling Canva Templates On Etsy?
You can make $1,000 to 2,000 per month selling Canva templates on Etsy according to Ryan Houge, creator of Ryan's Method Passive Income School from Springfield, Virginia, US. Top-selling Canva template shops can earn $20,000 to $30,000 a month.
Is Selling Canva Templates On Etsy Profitable?
Yes, selling Canva templates on Etsy is profitable. You can set a 50% to 80% profit margin on your digital products and earn a minimum of $1,000 per month. Canva is free to use so you don’t need to spend a high amount on capital. Top Etsy sellers make $18,000 or more depending on their niche.
Is It Legal to Sell Canva Templates On Etsy?
Yes, it is legal to sell Canva templates on Etsy as long as you follow GDPR compliance for digital sellers. You need to be aware of important legal guidelines on Etsy and Canva. If you're using Canva Pro, you're allowed to sell the designs you create since Canva Pro offers commercial use rights. With the free version of Canva, some elements might not be licensed for commercial use. It’s important to check the licensing agreements for any assets you use.
Etsy has specific seller policies for digital products. This includes accurately describing your product, ensuring it meets Etsy's quality standards, and providing simple instructions for use. You must also adhere to Etsy's policies on intellectual property so your designs don't face copyright infringement.
Is It Easy To Sell Canva Templates On Etsy?
No, it's not easy to sell Canva templates on Etsy because digital products are a very competitive market on Etsy. For example, there are over 10,000 listings for Instagram templates alone on the Etsy marketplace. The Etsy algorithm puts the highest-selling and top-reviewed products at the top. You won’t stand out as a new seller with listings that have 0 reviews.
Kirbie Earley from Westerville, Ohio, US owns the Etsy shop Digital Whimsy Prints which sells digital templates like invitations, calendars, and seasonal template designs. She says that the top 1% of sellers are those that have been on the platform for years. They already have a large following, so it’s easy for them to sell more. It’s hard for beginner Etsy sellers to achieve high sales on their digital products right away.
3 Risky Downsides Why Selling Canva Templates On Etsy Is Not Easy
1. High Competition
According to Statista, there are over 7 million active sellers on Etsy. The high level of market saturation makes it highly competitive for Canva template sellers. Sellers must engage in market analysis to understand what competitors are offering and develop a competitive strategy that highlights their unique selling propositions. This often involves crafting a distinct brand identity and innovatively designing templates that stand out in the crowded marketplace.
2. Constant Need for Innovation and Updating
The digital design market is dynamic and trends change rapidly. Sellers must continuously update their designs and offerings to stay relevant. This requires not only a keen eye for evolving design trends but also a commitment to regularly creating new content. Failing to innovate or update your templates can lead to a decline in sales as customers often seek the latest and most trendy designs.
3.SEO and Marketing Challenges
Achieving visibility and sales on Etsy depends on a seller's proficiency in digital marketing. Sellers must learn and implement effective Etsy SEO optimization to rank their product listings for Etsy's search algorithm. This includes keyword research and understanding e-commerce analytics to track performance. Sellers may need to engage in digital marketing efforts outside of Etsy, such as social media promotion or paid advertising, to drive traffic to their listings.
Why Owning Digital Assets Is Exceptional Than Selling Canva Templates On Etsy?
Owning digital assets is better than selling Canva templates on Etsy because it allows for greater control and scalability. While selling Canva templates requires constant creation of new designs and adapting to market trends, owning digital assets like websites can provide more stable and passive income streams. This approach minimizes the need for continuous updating and competing with numerous sellers on a crowded platform like Etsy. With digital assets, you have the potential for long-term growth and a more sustainable business model, without the high-pressure demand of constant innovation and marketing.
Local lead generation is a better business model because it involves high-income skills, which create a significant barrier to entry. Unlike simpler tasks, mastering skills like ranking in Google and generating free traffic is more challenging, offering a more secure and profitable long-term business. Lead generation is highly scalable without substantial initial investment, unlike physical businesses or real estate. It allows for operation from anywhere in the world, building digital assets in various locations. The return on investment is also high, with profit margins around 95%, since it primarily involves generating free traffic and selling information rather than physical goods, leading to lower costs and higher profitability.
If you're considering starting a business, think about exploring local lead generation. It might offer a more stable and potentially lucrative opportunity compared to the ever-changing and competitive world of selling digital products like Canva templates on Etsy.
