Author | Jackie

Would you love to add a digital planner to your Etsy shop? Well, it isn’t as hard as you might think if you use the right tools and a well-designed template. In fact, you can have your first digital planner ready to sell on Etsy in a matter of hours - yes, really!

Below, we’ll look at the 5 Steps to take you from generic template to a beautiful, functional, customer-focussed digital planner to sell on Etsy:

• Step 1 | Choose a well-designed template
• Step 2 | Customise the style
• Step 3 | Customise the page layouts
• Step 4 | Customise the cover
• Step 5 | Export the final planner

Step 1 | Choose a well-designed template

Why? Because, if you use a template, the more complex elements like structure and hyperlinking have been done for you. And, in the case of hyperlinks, the more time consuming and error-prone elements have been done and tested for you!

Using a template means you can focus on your digital planner’s style, creating a planner your customers will love. No staring at a blank screen not knowing where or how to start any more.

Templates are the perfect way to create a unique digital planner without having to know everything about the software. Templates mean you can learn about design one step at a time, one skill at a time.

And, you can expect to have your first digital planner in your hands (well, on your tablet!) in a matter of hours! 

Templates from Make Your Own Digital Planner Course

Step 2 | Customise the style

A well-designed Template should be created using Master Pages, Global Swatches and Text Styles. And if it is, you will find customising your style a walk in the park!

Customising a template with colours and fonts is not only easy to do with Global Swatches and Text Styles, it kickstarts the transformation from a simple template into the digital planner you can see in your mind.

Without a doubt, adding your own colours makes the biggest difference. If your template uses Global Swatches, you will see your own colours ripple through the document in seconds!

Your use of fonts and text on a planner is not only for functionality but can also help you add your unique style and branding. Adding your fonts to a template adds character, particularly to headings and covers where there is scope to use more ornate fonts or more creative font layouts. 

You can find out more about developing a style for your planner in the How to Create your own Digital Planner Style Guide.

How to Create your own Digital Planner Style Guide - from inspiration to style guide in five simple steps

Step 3 | Customise the page layouts

The biggest change you make to your template will be to the page layouts. This is where you get the opportunity to build your own unique pages. No more frustration from using a ready made planner!

Ever used a digital planner and wished the layout was just a little different? I’m sure we all have and this is undoubtedly one of the reasons people start venturing into designing their own planners!

Page layouts are also where you have scope to really make your planner different from everyone else’s, even when you start with the same template. With a focus on your customer’s needs, this is the place to make a digital planner your customers need and want.

Example of same template page with different customisation

Step 4 | Customise the cover

The Cover is where you have space to get really creative! No need to worry about choosing a legible font for the tiny side tabs or table headings. Here you have scope to add a flourish with a Script font or add character with a Display font.

Simple design tools like the shape tools and text tools are all you need to make a huge range of cover layouts. You are only constrained by your imagination!

Including multiple covers in your Etsy kit will add real value to your digital planner product. Creating image previews is essential for any shop product page. Having ‘extras’ like digital stickers or covers will add interest and clickability to your shop listings.

Make Your Own Digital Planner with Affinity Publisher | including cover templates

Step 5 | Export the final planner

That’s it! Your template customisation is complete and you are ready to export your first digital planner to sell on Etsy. Easier than you thought?

Packaged up with digital stickers or a range of beautiful planner covers, you have a customer-focussed, fully customised, sellable digital planner that bears no resemblance to the template you started out with.

In a matter of a few hours, you can produce a beautiful digital planner kit to sell on Etsy you can be proud of.

How to get started

I've created a range of free resources to get you started. I can recommend starting with Make Your Own Digital Planner, the 3 questions you must ask before you sit down to design. 

Make Your Own Digital Planner | 3 questions you must answer before you sit down to design

How to make a digital planner to sell on Etsy

I would imagine creating a digital planner to sell on Etsy is easier than you thought. 

The key to making this easy and fast is the use of templates. This will give you the chance to focus on just a few key elements like page layouts and style, without worrying about working out how to start from scratch and do everything on your own.

My advice would be to find a template that is well designed to start with. You need to look for the use of Master Pages, Global Swatches, and Text Styles. If a template shop listing doesn’t state this, make sure you get in touch with the seller before buying and ask. 

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