Canva is a free online graphic design tool for creating graphics for pretty much anything, including social media posts, presentations, educational materials, and print-on-demand products.
In this blog, we’ll discuss how to make money on Canva and explore various strategies to monetize your creativity.
Key takeaways
- You don’t need to be a professional graphic designer to create designs and make money on Canva.
- Canva is your gateway to passive income streams, like selling print-on-demand products, digital templates, social media graphics, educational resources, and more.
- Become a Canva Contributor by joining the Canva Creator program to earn royalties from designing templates.
- Partner with Printify to upload your Canva designs on 900+ custom products and start selling online with the print-on-demand business model.
How to make money with Canva?
Whether using a free Canva account or a Canva Pro account, there are endless ways to make money on the platform.
Let’s go through some of the easiest ways to use this graphics design tool to monetize your creativity.
Create designs for Print-on-Demand products
With the global print-on-demand market expected to reach $45.6 billion by 2032, it’s an excellent opportunity to turn your creativity into a profit.
Create images for custom products using Canva or other design tools, then go to our Product Creator to put them on t-shirts, posters, mugs, notebooks, and other merchandise.
By partnering with print-on-demand services like Printify, it’s possible to start selling awesome products with zero upfront costs and automated order fulfillment.
Here are some tips for successfully selling products in your print-on-demand store:
- Find Your Niche
Focus on a specific niche market to attract dedicated customers who are more likely to make repeat purchases.
- Create a Brand Identity
From a memorable logo to a consistent color scheme and backstory, developing a strong brand identity will help you stand out and attract customers.
- Find a Sales Channel
Open a free Pop-Up Store to sell products through a custom link or integrate with popular eCommerce platforms and marketplaces like Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, or Walmart.
- Pack Your Store With Products
Your online store should offer at least four different product categories and even more product variants to cater to a wide range of customer preferences.
- Market Your Store
Promote your business using a mix of social media, email marketing, and content marketing to reach a wider audience.
Do Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to increase your listings’ visibility.
Check out this video from one of our top sellers Cassiy Johnson, on how to use Canva to create your print-on-demand merch.
Create and sell printables and digital products
Unleash your creative freedom through Canva’s vast library of fonts, graphics, and templates to make visually appealing digital designs and printables for customers to purchase and download instantly.
Sell digital art on eCommerce channels like Shopify, Etsy, or your own website.
Here are some tips for selling digital products:
- Offer Various Printables
Design digital planners, calendars, to-do lists, or printable wall art that your customers can print and use for their schedules, tasks, or home decor.
- Provide Customizable Digital Downloads
Design editable planners, invitations, greeting cards, or worksheets to meet different customer needs and preferences.
- Offer Customization Options
Let customers request printable customization, like adding personalized text or adjusting fonts and colors.
- Sell Thematic Bundles
Combine related printables into themed bundles, offering customers the value and convenience of receiving a whole set of products with a single purchase.
- Create Subscriptions
Design a set of downloadable digital products for a monthly newsletter to establish a recurring revenue stream.
Printify Expert tip
Always gather feedback on your designs before they go live. Fresh eyes provide new views and reveal errors you may have overlooked.
Laviet Joaquin, Marketing Head at TP-Link
Sell Canva templates
Designing and selling Canva templates is one of the most popular ways to make money on this platform.
Sell templates on various sales channels or join the Canva Contributor program by becoming a Canva Creator to earn royalties each time your Free and Pro templates get used in Canva’s template library.
Keep in mind that you can’t sell pre-made templates – you’ll need to either customize existing ones or create your own.
Additionally, if you include any elements from Canva Pro, you’ll only be able to sell them through a shareable template link that directs customers back to Canva, generating new sign-ups.
Tips to start making money selling Canva templates:
- Follow Design Trends
Keep up with the latest trends and popular design choices to ensure your Canva template business offers relevant and appealing products.
- Offer Template Variety
To meet customer demand, sell Canva templates in different styles and themes for various purposes, such as social media posts, presentations, resumes, and invitations.
- Target Specific Audiences
Create Canva templates for specific niche markets and industries to cater to their unique needs and preferences, whether it’s wedding planners or game designers.
- Promote Your Canva Templates
Use social media, blogs, email newsletters, and other marketing channels to showcase your Canva template shop and attract potential customers.
- Collaborate With Canva Creators
Join the Canva Creator program to collaborate with other creators. Working together can help you learn new skills, contribute elements, gain inspiration, and sell Canva templates through shared audiences.
Printify Expert tip
We encourage all designers working with Canva to use templates for inspiration but heavily customize them with our brand elements, high-quality photos, and unique layouts.
Gary Gray, Co-Founder at CouponChief
Create social media graphics
From designing editable social media templates to eye-catching Instagram and Pinterest graphics, Canva offers many ways to make social media content and translate it into making money online.
Use Canva’s features and editing tools to make social media banners, profile photos, GIFs, and videos for your business or customers.
Check out our advice on how to use social media to grow your business.
Make money with Canva by selling any of the following products:
- Custom Social Media Graphics
Create templates and social media images, including platform-specific visuals like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest graphics.
- Animated Social Media Assets
Make animated graphics and videos with clear messaging for different social media platforms.
- Interactive Content
Create engaging content that incorporates interactive elements like polls and quizzes.
- Social Media Bundles
Compile sets of graphics, videos, and other digital assets for cohesive and consistent branding across social media.
- Social Media Ad Designs
Craft visually stunning ads for social media platforms to capture attention and boost audience engagement.
Offer social media management services
In addition to graphic design services, Canva offers all the tools necessary to streamline digital marketing.
It’s easy to schedule, publish, and track the performance of videos, stories, and posts published across various social media accounts.
This gives you an excellent opportunity to sell your Canva skills to businesses and social media influencers.
Start making money on Canva by providing these services:
- Social Media Management
Provide social media management services for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and other social media platforms.
- Custom Brand Kits
Offer tailored branding kits with logos, color schemes, fonts, and other visual elements to help businesses establish a strong and consistent brand identity.
- Campaign Materials
Design materials for specific marketing campaigns like product launches, seasonal promotions, and other sales events.
- Email Marketing Templates
Develop customizable Canva templates for businesses to use in their email marketing campaigns.
- Event Promotions
Create promotional materials for events, like posters, flyers, and invitations, to help businesses attract attendees and generate buzz around their events.
Printify Expert tip
Canva lets you upload your own fonts, and I’ve found that this feature is a game-changer. It keeps everything professional and cohesive, which is essential for building trust with our audience.
Laia Quintana, Head of Marketing and Sales at TeamUp
Design logos
A logo is one of the most important visual elements for any business. It represents the company’s identity and values in a single symbol, and many startups and small businesses will pay for professional logo design services.
Design iconic high-quality logo templates using Canva’s free Logo Maker and editor.
Go through our business logo ideas for inspiration.
Key strategies to make money with Canva logo designs:
- Offer Logo Packages
Include several different versions of the same logo, like horizontal, vertical, simplified, black-and-white, and in multiple colors.
- Provide Customization Options
Let customers request specific colors, fonts, and unique design elements that reflect their brand identity.
- Include Revision Services
Provide a set number of logo revisions to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Create Branded Bundles.
Design logos for business cards, letterheads, and social media graphics.
- Make a Portfolio
Compile a portfolio showcasing your best logo designs and branding projects to showcase your skills and attract new customers.
Create Canva tutorials
If you’re an expert at using Canva, there is money in sharing your knowledge with others through online tutorials. These can be videos, infographics, blog posts, or live webinars.
If you’re a teacher or a member of school staff looking to create a Canva course – apply to become a Canva Education Creator to earn from creating educational resources.
Here are a few ideas online course creators can cover:
- Step-by-Step Guides
Walk other Canva users through common design tasks, from creating social media graphics to designing presentations.
- Industry-Specific Tutorials
Create guides for using Canva to design industry-specific graphics, marketing materials, or presentations.
- Canva for Nonprofits
Make tutorials demonstrating how Canva can be used to design impactful fundraising campaigns, event invitations, and awareness materials.
- Canva Creator Tips
Share your Canva Contributor advice on the design process with other newcomers and graphic designers who want to master Canva.
- Join the Canva Affiliate Program
Earn commissions on Canva Pro conversions and get other perks by becoming an Empower Canvassador.
Printify Expert tip
In my early days, our designs often felt cluttered and overwhelming. By incorporating more negative space, I found that our key messages stood out more clearly. Canva’s alignment tools are great for this.
Laia Quintana, Head of Marketing and Sales at TeamUp
Sell printable educational resources
Monetize your teacher, tutor, or educational content creator expertise by selling printable resources online.
Canva’s Library is full of valuable templates and design tools for creating engaging and effective educational materials.
For additional insights and expert advice, check out our guide on selling printables on Etsy.
Make money with Canva by creating printable resources in these categories:
- Curriculum Supplements
Offer printable worksheets, activity books, and study guides in math, science, language, arts, social studies, and other subjects.
- Teaching Aids and Visuals
Design printable posters, flashcards, charts, and diagrams that teachers and students can use.
- Learning Games and Activities
Design printable games, puzzles, and interactive activities to make learning fun and engaging.
- Assessment and Evaluation Tools
Develop quizzes, tests, and assessment tools to help teachers understand how students learn and guide their teaching.
- Classroom Decor and Organization
Create Canva templates for classroom labels, bulletin board displays, and calendars to ensure an inviting and functional learning environment.
Create infographics
Capitalize on the popularity of informative content by creating and selling highly shareable infographics.
Use Canva’s design tools to make custom infographic templates or go with premade options to present complex information in an easily digestible and engaging way.
Here are a few ideas on how to make money with Canva infographics:
- Sell Infographic Templates
Create Canva template designs in different styles and color schemes for informational, comparison, and timeline infographics.
- Design Social Media Infographics
Produce eye-catching infographics to drive engagement and adjust them for mobile, widescreen, and tablet devices.
- Make How-To Guides
Create step-by-step infographics that provide practical instructions or tutorials on various topics, making complex processes easier to understand and follow.
- Offer Custom Infographic Services
Design tailored infographics for businesses and individuals to meet their specific needs and branding guidelines.
- Sell Infographic Bundles
Provide sets of infographics on related topics or themes, making it easy for buyers to get comprehensive visual content.
Build websites
Creating websites with Canva is easy and a great way to generate income.
Use Canva’s free Website Builder, which offers customizable templates and drag-and-drop tools, to design visually stunning pages for any online business.
Make money with Canva by selling any of the following products:
- Portfolio Sites
Design portfolio websites for artists, photographers, or designers to showcase their work.
- Business Websites
Use Canva’s tools to design online stores, business profiles, and service pages.
- Landing Pages
Develop high-converting landing pages to drive traffic and generate leads for marketing campaigns.
- Blogs and Personal Websites
Offer to set up custom websites for individuals looking to share their stories, expertise, or hobbies.
- Custom Web Pages
Provide color schemes, typography, and graphics for web page customization.
Sell eBooks
From sharing your personal opinion to crafting compelling fiction, these digital products offer Canva users an excellent opportunity to enter the creative market and establish a steady income stream.
Use Canva’s free eBook Maker to design captivating covers and create eBooks with reflowable or fixed layouts.
Here are a few ideas on how to make money with Canva eBook designs:
- Sell eBook Covers
Create professional and eye-catching eBook covers for self-published authors and offer your designs on platforms like Etsy, Fiverr, or your own website.
- Publish Novels
Write and design your own eBooks with engaging covers and professional layouts to sell on platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing or Apple Books.
- Enter Collaborations
Work with other writers and experts to co-author eBooks, expanding your reach and introducing your work to new audiences.
- Sell Workbooks and Journals
Design interactive workbooks, journals, and planners for self-improvement, education, and business niches.
- Create eBook Design Courses
Use your Canva expertise to create high-quality eBooks and sell online courses or workshops on eBook design.
Create videos and thumbnails
The demand for high-quality video content and attention-grabbing TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube thumbnails can lead you to financial freedom.
Use Canva’s template features and the free Video Editor to design professional, click-worthy content for online creators.
Here’s how to make money with Canva with video content and thumbnails:
- Offer Video Editing Services
Use Canva’s editing features to crop, trim, speed up, resize, and remove background noise from videos, ensuring a top-quality final product for your customers.
- Sell Video Thumbnails
Create engaging YouTube thumbnails that accurately represent the content of associated videos and drive clicks.
- Create Promotional Videos
Offer to design engaging videos for businesses, services, new products, and sales events to amplify your customers’ marketing strategies.
- Offer Social Media Videos
Create videos that meet platform-specific aspect ratio and duration requirements to maximize engagement.
- Sell Brand Bundles
Prepare sets of short-form and full-length videos with matching thumbnails based on customer requirements.
Learn how to sell art online and browse our ideas on making money as an artist for expert advice and inspiration.
Why use Canva with Printify?
Your Canva designs can be printed on a wide range of custom products, including apparel, accessories, and home decor.
Just like opening a Canva account, creating and selling custom products online with Printify is totally free!
Zero upfront costs
Start creating graphics, customizing products, and selling them online without spending a cent on subscriptions or stock management.
No minimum order
Order exactly what you need, whether it’s a single item or a bulk order, without worrying about minimum order requirements.
Multiple sales channels
Use our integrations to list your products on popular eCommerce sales channels like Shopify, Etsy, or TikTok, or open a free Pop-Up Store to sell your products via a unique link.
Large product Catalog
Browse our Product Catalog of over 900 custom products to find the best match for your design and customers’ needs.
Global suppliers
We’ve partnered with trusted Print Providers worldwide to ensure high-quality production and fast shipping, no matter where your customers are.
Summary
Now that you know how to use Canva to make money with Print on Demand and all the programs, tools, and features this popular platform offers, it’s time to unleash your creativity and turn your ideas into profit.
Join the creative market and start earning passive income by partnering with Printify!
