Are you looking to make some extra money online with your creativity? Canva could be the perfect tool to get your side hustle started. It’s a simple design platform made for beginners, letting you create great-looking designs without needing professional design skills.
You can make money with Canva in many ways, like making social media graphics or selling printable templates. Let’s explore how to get started, different ways to earn from your designs, and some helpful tips for success.
Why Canva Is Great for Beginners
Canva is perfect for beginners because it provides:
- Easy-to-Use Interface: Canva’s drag-and-drop interface is easy to use, even for beginners.
- Free and Paid Elements: Canva offers a paid subscription called Canva Pro, but you can also access many free templates, images, icons, and fonts to get started without spending any money.
- High-Quality Designs: Canva offers thousands of ready-made templates for different purposes, helping you create professional-looking projects, even if you’re a beginner.
Getting Started with Canva
Before you start making money, you’ll need to get familiar with Canva. Here’s how to begin:
- Create a Canva Account: You can start with a free account to use the basic features. If you need premium templates or advanced design tools, you can upgrade to Canva Pro.
- Explore the Templates: Canva offers templates for everything, from social media posts to business cards. Explore the different types of templates to find the ones that match your interests or skills.
- Experiment with Tools: You can add text, shapes, and colors, or try out Canva’s effects like transparency, layering, and color filters. Learning how to use these features will help you make your designs stand out in the future.
How To Make Money with Canva: Top Methods for Beginners
Once you’re familiar with the basics, it’s time to think about how to make money from your designs. Here are some easy ways to earn with Canva as a beginner.
1. Sell Digital Products on Etsy or Other Marketplaces
A popular way to make money with Canva is by creating digital products and selling them on sites like Etsy. Digital products are a great choice because they’re easy to deliver, don’t require shipping, and can be sold over and over. Here are some ideas for digital products you can make:
- Printable Planners and Journals: Design daily planners, workout logs, meal plans, or habit trackers. These printables are popular and sell well on sites like Etsy.
- Social Media Templates: Many small business owners and influencers buy ready-made social media templates to make their profiles look more professional. You could create templates for Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook posts.
- Business Cards and Flyers: Canva offers many business cards and flyer templates that you can personalize and sell to local businesses or online.
Tip: Check out the top-selling items in your category to see what customers like. Then, add your own style and ideas to make your product stand out.
2. Offer Freelance Design Services
If you enjoy designing and want more flexibility, think about offering freelance design services. Many businesses and people need custom designs, and Canva is easy to use for beginners. Some common freelance jobs include:
- Logo Design: Create simple and professional logos for small businesses and entrepreneurs using Canva.
- Social Media Content: Many businesses need help creating content for social media, like Instagram posts, Facebook ads, and Pinterest pins.
- Presentation Design: Some clients need custom presentations, and Canva is perfect for this. You can charge for creating branded PowerPoint slides or pitch decks.
To find clients, try using websites like Fiverr, Upwork, or LinkedIn. Be sure to display your work in a portfolio, which you can easily create with Canva.
3. Sell Print-on-Demand Merchandise
Print-on-demand (POD) is a popular way to make money using Canva. With POD, you can design items like t-shirts, mugs, tote bags, and phone cases. When someone buys one of your designs, a third-party company prints and ships it for you. Here’s how to get started:
- Create Simple, Trendy Designs: Think of fun, relatable quotes, minimalist art, or cute illustrations that would look good on a t-shirt or mug.
- Use a POD Platform: Platforms like Printful, Redbubble, and Teespring let you upload your Canva designs. They take care of everything else, like making the products, shipping them, and handling customer support.
Tip: Check out trends on social media or websites like Etsy to find out which styles and themes are popular in print-on-demand right now.
4. Design and Sell eBooks or eBook Templates
Ebooks are becoming more popular, and many people choose to buy ready-made templates to save time. Canva offers templates that are easy to customize, helping you create stylish, professional eBooks. You can:
- Write an eBook on a topic you’re familiar with and sell it directly to your audience.
- Design editable eBook templates that customers can buy and personalize with their own content.
For a niche, think about topics like recipes, workout plans, budgeting tips, or DIY crafts. You can start selling on platforms like Gumroad or Etsy.
5. Monetize Canva Skills through Online Courses or Tutorials
If you’re interested in teaching, you can make money by creating Canva tutorials or courses. Many people want to learn how to use Canva, especially for social media marketing or running a small business. Here are a few ideas:
- YouTube Tutorials: Start a YouTube channel to teach people how to use Canva. As you grow your audience, you can make money through ads, affiliate links, or by selling paid courses.
- Online Courses: Create a paid course on platforms like Udemy or Skillshare that teaches people how to use Canva for specific projects, such as making Instagram posts or designing branding materials.
Building an audience takes time, but it’s a great way to become known as a Canva expert and earn passive income.
Tips for Success When Making Money with Canva
Here are some tips to help you succeed as you start your Canva side hustle:
- Focus on Quality: While Canva makes designing fast and easy, it’s important to focus on quality. Make sure your products look clean and professional.
- Understand Your Audience: Know who your customers are, whether it’s small business owners, teachers, or parents. Understand what they value, and adjust your designs to meet their needs. This will help you make more sales.
- Create a Unique Style: Canva is very popular, so it’s important to make your designs stand out. Try different color combinations, fonts, and layouts to create a style that’s easy to recognize.
- Market Your Products: Once you have products to sell, make sure to promote them! Use social media, especially sites like Instagram and Pinterest, to connect with more people.
- Stay Updated with Canvas Features: Canva often adds new tools and features, so keeping up with them can help you make more creative and fresh designs.
Final Thoughts
Canva is a great way to start making money online with creative projects. It’s affordable and offers many tools to help you build a fun and profitable side business. You can sell templates, design custom products, or even teach others how to use Canva. There are plenty of opportunities, so give it a try and see where it takes you!