How to Make and Sell Digital Planners on Etsy
In today’s fast-paced world, products that offer instant access with just a tap are all the rage. Among them, digital planners shine brightly, merging ease of use with personalization.
If you want to learn how to sell digital planners on Etsy, this comprehensive guide will take you through the ins and outs of creating and selling these digital gems as a side hustle.
Table of Contents
- What Are Digital Planners?
- Is Selling Digital Planners on Etsy a Good Idea?
- How to Create Digital Planners?
- How to Sell Digital Planners on Etsy
- Other Digital Products to Sell on Etsy
- How to Start Selling Physical Products Alongside Your Digital Planners
- FAQs: How to Start a Digital Planner Business on Etsy
- Final Thoughts
What Are Digital Planners?
A digital planner is an interactive organizer that can be used on devices like tablets, computers, or smartphones. Digital planners are used on-screen with apps like GoodNotes or Notability.
Is Selling Digital Planners on Etsy a Good Idea?
The diary and planner market is expected to reach $1.3 billion by 2028. 89 million active buyers make Etsy a lucrative marketplace and a goldmine for savvy sellers. Considering the growing inclination towards electronic solutions, selling digital planners here is not just timely but potentially very profitable.
How to Create Digital Planners?
Creating a digital planner is a blend of design aesthetics and functional considerations. Depending on your level of skills or time availability, there are two ways to make a digital planner to sell on Etsy.
Starting From Scratch
Starting a digital planner from scratch gives you the freedom to customize every detail. First, choose the right software. If you’re passionate about design, you might opt for advanced tools like Adobe Illustrator or Procreate. But if you’re just starting out, simpler tools like Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides work well.
Once you’ve chosen your tool, begin with a basic layout. Decide if you want daily, weekly, or monthly views, and think about including sections for goals, to-do lists, and notes. To make it user-friendly in a digital format, consider adding hyperlinks between sections. For example, a table of contents could link to different months.
A crucial step in design is aesthetics. Stick to a consistent color theme and font style, and consider adding decorative touches, like stickers or doodles.
Using Templates
If starting from scratch feels daunting, there’s a simpler route: using digital planner templates. Canva, for instance, is a versatile tool with an array of planner templates, graphics, and images. All it requires is an account and you can customize the template’s colors, fonts, and interactive elements.
Another is Planify, a platform specifically designed for creating digital planners. It offers specialized templates to speed up the design process. Alternatively, you could explore Creative Market and Etsy.
Both platforms feature independent designers who sell unique planner templates. Though they often come at a price, their distinct designs might be exactly the look you’re looking for.
Final Touches
After finalizing your design, it’s vital to make sure that all interactive elements function correctly. Double-check hyperlinks and other features to guarantee a smooth user experience. Once you’re confident in your digital planner design, it’s time to save it and share it.
The best way is by exporting your planner as a PDF. This format keeps all interactive features intact and is compatible with most devices and digital note-taking apps.
Make It Happen Today!
How to Sell Digital Planners on Etsy
Successfully selling digital planners on Etsy isn’t just about creating a product and listing it. It also involves a strategic approach, from understanding the market to effective marketing.
Research the Market
Before diving in, it’s essential to have a pulse on the current digital planner market trends.
- Etsy Search – Simply using the Etsy quick search bar can reveal top-selling products and current trends.
- Use Tools – Platforms like eRank or Marmalead provide insights into popular keywords, competitor data, and pricing strategies.
- Check Reviews –Etsy makes it easy to look at customer reviews on similar products to understand what buyers love and what they believe is lacking.
Decide What Types of Planners to Sell
Planners are more than just calendars to jot down appointments or tasks, they can reflect individual preferences, lifestyles, and work habits. It’s crucial to understand the needs and preferences of your prospective customers.
Tech Proficiency
Digital planners are great for tech-savvy individuals who rely heavily on electronic devices. These planners often come with features such as reminders, syncing capabilities, and integration with other apps.
Physical planners are for those who value the tactile experience of writing or want to take a break from digital devices.
Purpose of the Planner
Business planners often have meeting notes, business goals, and expense tracking sections.
Personal life planners are designed for everyday use, including sections for hobbies, personal goals, and daily chores.
Aesthetics and Branding
Does your desired target audience want a sleek, modern look? A digital planner or a minimalist physical design might be a good fit.
A beautifully crafted physical planner may be the way to go for a more nostalgic or artisanal audience.
Personalization and Customization
Many of us love adding or removing pages, using planner stickers, or color-coding. Offer customizable planners or add-on packs.
| Type | Production Difficulty | Costs | Shipping | Customization |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital planners | Low (once designed) | Minimal | None (instant download) | High |
| Printable planners | Low-Medium | Minimal | None (Print at home) | Moderate |
| Physical planers | High | High (Materials, printing, storage) | Yes (Costs vary) | Limited to initial design unless offering a binder system |
| Digital planners | |
|---|---|
| Production Difficulty | Low (once designed) |
| Costs | Minimal |
| Shipping | None (instant download) |
| Customization | High |
| Printable planners | |
| Production Difficulty | Low-Medium |
| Costs | Minimal |
| Shipping | None (Print at home) |
| Customization | Moderate |
| Physical planers | |
| Production Difficulty | High |
| Costs | Minimal |
| Shipping | Yes (Costs vary) |
| Customization | Limited to initial design unless offering a binder system |
Find Your Niche
Finding a niche is critical to establishing and growing a successful business. Read our comprehensive blog post What a Niche is and learn how to find yours.
Why is it important to find your niche?
- Focused Target Audience. By targeting a specific niche, businesses can cater to the unique needs and preferences of a defined group.
- Reduced Competition. By focusing on a niche, you face fewer competitors, making it easier to establish your brand.
- Build Expertise. Specializing in a particular area promotes businesses to become experts in that field. This expertise can lead to increased trust and credibility among customers.
- Efficient Marketing. With a clear understanding of your niche audience, marketing efforts can be more precisely tailored to their preferences.
- Higher Profit Margins. Customers are usually willing to pay more for specialized products tailored to their unique needs.
- Innovative Opportunities. Operating within a niche often leads to recognizing unmet needs or areas for improvement, spurring innovation.
- Personal Satisfaction. For many creative souls, working within a niche they’re passionate about brings greater job satisfaction and a sense of purpose.
So, with this information in mind, you can design specific digital planners.
- Daily/Weekly/Monthly Planners. These are essentials and cater to a broad audience.
- Journaling Pages. For those who like introspection and expressing themselves.
- Meal Planners. Catering to health-conscious individuals or those looking to diet.
- Study Planners. Perfect for students at various academic levels.
- Fitness Planners. Fitness enthusiasts can track their workouts and progress.
Beyond these functional niches, there’s ample room for creativity in the design aspect of digital planners. Themes, aesthetics, color palettes, and cultural or regional designs make your planners stand out in the marketplace.
- Minimalist Design. Clean lines, neutral colors, and a clutter-free layout.
- Boho Chic. Incorporating patterns like mandalas, earth tones, and bohemian motifs.
- Vintage Vibes. Elements from the ’50s, ’60s, or ’70s, using vintage fonts and faded color palettes.
- Nature and Florals. Designs infused with botanical drawings, floral patterns, or nature-inspired backgrounds.
- Nautical and Beachy. Themes feature seashells, anchors, waves, and tropical colors.
- Galactic Themes. Digital planners with dark backgrounds with stars, planets, and nebula patterns.
Create Your Digital Planner Designs
Crafting an impressive digital planner involves much more than merely laying out pages. It’s about understanding user behavior and optimizing functionality, while keeping aesthetics in mind.
Below is a compilation of design tips and resources to get you started on creating an outstanding digital planner.
Design tips
- Choose a Consistent Color Scheme. A cohesive color palette can elevate the design. Use tools like Coolors or Color Hunt to generate harmonious color schemes.
- Opt for Readable Fonts. While it might be tempting to go for fancy fonts, readability is crucial. Tools like Google Fonts offer a plethora of easy-to-read fonts without having to spend money.
- Plan for Portrait and Landscape. Different users have different preferences, especially if they use tools like tablets. Design digital planner layouts that are attractive in both orientations.
- Leave White Spaces. Don’t overcrowd the pages. White space helps highlight important sections and gives the page a clean look.
- Test on Multiple Devices. Your planner should look good, whether it’s on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
Resources
- Design Software: Canva, Adobe InDesign, and Microsoft Publisher are excellent for creating digital planners.
- Templates: Planify and Creative Market offer digital planner templates that you can customize.
- Icons and Graphics: For free icons and graphics, check out Flaticon or Vecteezy.
- Tutorials: Skillshare and Udemy offer courses on digital planner design. Additionally, YouTube is a goldmine for tutorials.
Create an Etsy Shop
By setting up a storefront on Etsy, you’re positioning yourself in a crowded market where millions of people frequently shop for unique items. But how do you start? Don’t fret; we’ve got you covered.
- Sign up – Create an account on Etsy.
- Shop preferences – Set the language, country, and currency preferences.
- Pick a shop name – Make sure it’s unique and reflects your brand.
- Stock up – Add the products you want to sell.
- Payment methods – Set up how you’ll get paid.
- Set billing – Decide on payment methods for Etsy fees.
Dive deep into this comprehensive guide on How to Start an Etsy Shop that lays out each step in detail. And if you’re more of a visual learner, check out this clip (and other video tutorials in the playlist):
Set Up Your Digital Planner Listings
Before you start to sell digital planners on Etsy, you need more than a stellar product. You also need to make sure your listing grabs attention.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to setting up a listing;
- Go to your Etsy shop and click on the Shop Manager button.
- Go to Listings and then click Add a Listing.
- Select Digital files as the product type.
- Give your product clear and concise titles and descriptions that accurately describe it.
- Upload product files.
- Set a price that is in line with similar products on Etsy.
- Add tags to help people find your product.
Preview your listing and click Publish.
Market Your Listings
The Etsy marketplace is vast, so standing out demands both organic and paid strategies.
- Use effective Etsy SEO. Etsy SEO (search engine optimization) enhances your listings so that they appear higher in search results. As mentioned above, use relevant keywords in your titles and descriptions, and high-quality images.
- Run paid ads. Paid ads are a great way to reach more people and drive traffic to your listings. You can run paid ads for planners on Etsy and other platforms such as Google and Facebook.
- Use social media. Platforms like Pinterest are golden for Etsy sellers. Create pin-worthy images of your planners and use promoted pins to reach a broader audience.
Additionally, consider running ads on Instagram and Facebook, especially if you’ve grown an audience there.
- Offer discounts and promotions. Offer discounts on your digital planner listings, or run contests and giveaways.
Start your Etsy print on demand business today!
Other Digital Products to Sell on Etsy
Selling printables and other digital products is a great way to satisfy the instant gratification craving of your shoppers, as there is no wait time – instant downloads mean immediate satisfaction.
- Printables. Offer items like checklists, coloring pages, or event invitations. Read more at How to Sell Printables on Etsy.
- Digital Planner Stickers. Digital stickers are super popular among digital planner users.
- Digital Graphics. Icons, clipart, and design elements for personal or commercial use.
- Digital Prints. Art pieces, quotes, or photos ready for download and printing.
Related post: How to Sell Digital Downloads on Etsy
How to Start Selling Physical Products Alongside Your Digital Planners
Digital file downloads are great. But imagine selling physical products as well. The best way to do it is via the print-on-demand business model.
How does it work? It’s simple. When a customer orders a product from you, the selected Print Provider starts the fulfillment process – they print and ship the product directly to the customer.
This means you can sell physical products without holding stock, from anywhere in the world.
Create a Printify Account
First, sign up for Printify. It’s fast and free. You only need a valid email address and password. Add your payment information where you’ll receive money from your sales.
Pick and Design a Product
From our Catalog, select products you want to design and sell. This will take you to the Mockup Generator, where you can start creating goodies for your online business.
Connect and Publish to Etsy
Thanks to our easy Integrations, connecting to Etsy and listing your products takes just minutes – create descriptions, set prices, and you’re good to go.
Start Selling
Now you’re an official Etsy seller! All you need to do is market your designs to your desired audience.
FAQs: How to Start a Digital Planner Business on Etsy
Can you make money selling planners on Etsy?
Yes. There are many successful Etsy sellers who make a full-time income selling digital planners. Check out what AmethystGarnet, HappyDownloads, and Plannercollective are doing and get inspired to create your own.
How much can you make in a month selling digital planners?
The amount of money you can make selling digital planners on Etsy will vary depending on a number of factors, such as the amount of marketing you do and the competition in your niche. However, it is possible to make a significant amount of money from digital planner sales on Etsy.
What app can I use to create digital planners to sell on Etsy?
There are many online tools that you can use to create digital planners to sell on Etsy. Some popular options include:
- Canva
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Illustrator
- Planify
- Creative Market
How to start selling digital planners
- Create an Etsy shop. This is free, and it only takes a few minutes.
- Set up your digital planner listings. Add photos, a description, and a price for each planner.
- Market your listings. You can market your listings on Etsy by using SEO, paid ads, and social media.
Final Thoughts
Selling digital planners and digital planner stickers on Etsy can be a great way to make money from home. By following the tips in this article, you can create and sell high-quality digital planners that your target audience will love.
Key takeaways:
- Do your research and find a niche that you’re passionate about.
- Create stunning designs that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
- Market your planners effectively using SEO, social media, and other channels.
- Provide excellent customer service to keep your customers happy and coming back for more.
Sell digital planners and physical goodies and start making money from the comfort of your home.
Make It Happen Today!
Written by
Zane Bratuskina
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