I've always been a lover of planning, from meticulously crafted to-do lists to the creative artistry of bullet journaling. However, it wasn't until a couple of years ago that I discovered the world of digital planners. These digital counterparts offer an incredible blend of functionality, aesthetic appeal, and portability.
In this article, we'll dive into the realm of digital planners and explore how you can create and sell your own on Etsy.
*This post contains affiliate links
The Beauty of Digital Planners
A digital planner is a versatile and customizable planner that exists in a digital format, typically as a PDF or interactive file. What sets digital planners apart is their ability to emulate the look of traditional paper planners while offering enhanced functionality and convenience. With stunning designs, realistic textures, and interactive features, digital planners bring planning to life in a whole new way. They can be seamlessly integrated into digital note-taking apps, allowing you to carry your planner with you wherever you go on your tablet.
Beyond Day-to-Day Tasks
Digital planners aren't limited to daily planning and task management. They can also serve as powerful tools for event planning, project management, goal setting, and more. The flexibility of digital planners allows users to adapt them to their specific needs, making them an indispensable asset for various planning endeavors.
Getting Started
For those new to creating digital planners, the easiest way to begin is by purchasing pre-made planner templates with a commercial use license. These templates provide a foundation on which you can build your own unique planner designs. Here are a few recommended pre-made planner templates and related courses that I've personally purchased and loved. All links opens in a new window.
The Digital Planner Template
When it comes to digital planners, one name that stands out is Michelle Rohr, a talented entrepreneur whose work has captured the hearts of planner enthusiasts worldwide. Her beautifully designed digital planners have set the bar high and inspired many to embark on their own plannerpreneur journey.
She's also the person who introduced me to digital planners, when I discovered the podcast she hosts with her business partner Aimee, and then ended up in their beautifully crafted digital world. Their designs are just breathtaking!
With this template you get a fully finished planner, which you can alter as you want. There's also helpful, easy to follow videos that will show you how to alter the planner. There's also lots of bonuses included, like digital paper textures, realistic looking coils, and Canva templates for Etsy and Pinterest. If you have a Mac, you can use the free Keynote program which is already installed on your computer to edit the template, but you can also use inDesign or Affinity Publisher.
By starting with a pre-made template, you can focus on the fun stuff: design! Customise and add your personal touch to create a digital planner that reflects your unique style and meets the needs of your intended audience.
The possibilities for customization are endless. You can tailor the planner's layout, color schemes, graphics, and interactive elements to align with your brand and resonate with your target market. Embrace your creativity by incorporating features such as habit trackers, goal-setting sections, inspirational quotes, and more.
Learn how to make a hyperlinked planner from scratch
If you want to learn how to make realistic planners from scratch with hyperlinked tabs, the PDF Glow Up course is perfect for you. And a great bonus is that if you buy this and like it, you get a coupon code equal to what you paid for PDF Glow Up to use toward the signature course (read more below), which is my favourite!
Learn from the best
Time for my favourite Michelle & Aimee-product, Passive Income Planner Girl, where you learn how to step into your zone of genius and get lots of help on how to start your Etsy shop. There's mindset coaching, lots of inspiration and plenty of helpful Canva templates, like Etsy shop banners and listing pictures. If you want to learn from successful, creative entrepreneurs who've made planners into a million dollar business, these are your girls!
Selling Your Digital Planners on Etsy
Lastly, let me wrap up this post with a few words about selling planners on Etsy.
Etsy provides an ideal platform for selling your digital planners. Create an Etsy shop and set up your listings, showcasing your stunning planner designs with enticing visuals and compelling descriptions. I've not finished customising my templates yet, so currently I only sell stickers and digital paper in my shop, but I am excited to finish my first planner!
Consider offering different versions of your planner, such as dated and undated options. Don't forget to highlight the unique features and benefits of your digital planner to entice potential buyers. There's lots of planners on Etsy, so it's key to stand out visually or cater to a specific niche.
Pretty generic looking planners. Plenty of opportunities to stand out among the competition.
Creating and selling digital planners on Etsy opens up an exciting opportunity to turn your passion for planning into a profitable venture. With the availability of pre-made planner templates, you can get started on your plannerpreneur journey much quicker than if you were to make the planner from scratch. Embrace the creative freedom that digital planners offer and infuse your personal touch to craft stunning and functional designs. But be mindful that this is not a get-rich-quick sort of thing, it requires some work, but it's a lot of fun as well!
Psst: If you start your Etsy shop by clicking on my referral link, we both get 40 listings for free! This is a great way to save some money from the get-go when you start your shop.
I hope this post was helpful! You might also like my blog post How to get high quality clipart and digital paper for free for commercial use, if you're planning on selling digital products.