This post is all about how to use Canva to make money.
5 Genius Ways to Use Canva to Make Money
- Sell your graphics
- Print on Demand
- Sell templates/printables
- Low content books on Amazon
- Sell stock images to Canva
- BONUS Way
So, unless you’ve been living under a rock you’ve probably heard of the software Canva, but just to get everyone on the same page, we’ll start from the beginning. By the end of the post you’ll be able to answer the questions: how to make Canva templates to sell and can I sell Canva designs on Etsy? So, keep reading for more information on how to use Canva to make money!
What is Canva?
Canva is design software that was built to help anyone create professional-looking designs easily. The entry-level plan is free for all users and gives access to millions of images with thousands of new images being uploaded every week.
Canva is great for social media posts, blog graphics, presentations, flyers, posters etc. The tool also uses a drag and drop function that allows the user to easily add text, change fonts, resize images etc. in a few simple steps.
I have been using Canva for years now and it was so intuitive to learn, and I say this having zero previous graphic design skills!
How much does Canva cost?
The basic plan is free for all users. This includes access to millions of images and features.
However, to get access to certain premium features such as pro images without the watermark or transparent backgrounds then you can upgrade to the pro plan. The membership costs 12.99/month or 119.99/year.
If you’re on the fence between going with the free or pro plan, Canva offers a free 30-day trial for the pro plan.
Can you sell what you make on Canva?
The short answer is yes, you can sell what you create. The key word is “create.”
For Graphics
Canva stipulates that you can indeed sell your creations as long as they are altered in some way. So, for instance, don’t just download one of their graphics or images and try to pass it off as your own. Instead, you have to alter it in some way. This can be something as basic as adding words to an image or combining multiple graphics together to create something entirely new. If the image has an identifiable person, place or logo, then there is no guarantee that these can be commercially distributed. So, it’s probably easiest just to steer clear of these images!
For Templates
Canva states that pro content cannot be used for templates that you intend to sell, but as long as you use the free content, you’re in the clear!
This is some of the most notable information, but keep in mind this isn’t legal advice and Canva can change their policies at any time, so be sure to check their licensing page for the most up-to-date information.
Now that we’ve covered what it is, and that you can legally sell your designs, let’s cover some of the ways to start bringing in the cash!
5 Genius Ways to Use Canva to Make Money
1) Freelance
The most obvious way to make money using Canva would be to directly sell the graphics that you create. Some platforms for freelancers to sell their graphics include Fiverr, Upwork, Etsy and Creative Marketplace.
On these platforms, you can sell anything from pins (for Pinterest) to SVG files for digital downloads.
For this option to truly work it’ll be important to differentiate yourself from the crowd and make sure to play to your strengths! Are you a realtor, then how about designing a bundle for realtors including business cards, presentation packages and flyers or Facebook ads? Do you spend a ton of time watching Youtube videos? Why not delve a bit into what motivates you to click on certain videos and not others, and offer to make Youtube thumbnails.
2) Print-on-Demand
Now you may be asking yourself what print-on-demand is, and I was exactly in that position about a year ago. Print on demand is a business model in which the manufacturer, or supplier, does not keep products in stock but instead produces products when they are ordered.
So basically, you can create designs and upload them to different platforms, and the product will only be manufactured if a customer places an order. Some products include T-shirts, coffee mugs, hoodies, stickers and planners. The beauty of this model is that you just need to create the design once and size it for the different paraphernalia.
Now in terms of print-on-demand platforms, there are different variations. If you prefer to just upload your design once and be completely hands-off you can explore options like Redbubble, Zazzle or Society 6. These companies will take care of everything for the entire sale process. So, it’s completely passive. Once an order is placed they will have the item printed and shipped to the customer and you will earn a commission for the sale.
Alternatively, you could set up your own Shopify store and integrate a print-on-demand supplier (like Printify or Printiful). This would be more work as you’d have to drive traffic to your storefront, however, it also means that you would earn a larger percentage of the commission.
3) Templates/Printables
Templates and printables are exactly as they sound. They are pages that an individual can print out and use for their own means.
They include things like: journals, planners, colour sheets or guides.
Once again you can use your own life to draw inspiration from. Do you love to teach? How about a teacher planner? Do you enjoy painting? How about colour sheets designed to be filled in with paint? The ideas are truly limitless.
You can then sell these printables on platforms like Etsy or Creative Market.
If you want to learn more I encourage you to read this interview of someone making a regular income selling printables on Etsy.
4) Amazon KDP
Another option is to make full-on books! Using just Canva you can create a full book that can be sold on Amazon. Since Amazon is such a huge platform, there are millions of potential customers.
All you have to do is find an in-demand niche with low competition. Then you create a book interior and exterior in Canva. You upload these files to the KDP platform, and it’s a print-on-demand model. So, Amazon will personally print and ship the book if a customer sees your listing and places an order!
Specifically, Canva lends itself well to creating low content books like planners, logbooks and journals.
To learn more about this entire process I encourage you to check out some ofPaul Marles videos on Youtube.
This was actually one of the first ways that I started to make passive income online!
5) Upload designs to the Canva platform
You can also sell your artwork directly to Canva. There are 2 different types of individuals that contribute to the Canva catalogue, there are Canva creators and Canva contributors.
Canva Creator vs Canva Contributor
Canva creators can upload designs (images, videos, graphics and illustrations) and can additionally design templates for other Canva users.
On the other hand, Canva Contributors can just upload designs (images, videos, graphics and illustrations) to the Canva library.
In terms of payment structure, you will earn a commission each time your content is used. For every content license purchased, you will get 35% of the fee. For individuals under the pro/enterprise plan, you get a percentage of the royalty pool, and this is calculated monthly.
How to be a Canva Creator
At the time that this article is being written, the Canva creator program is currently in beta testing. You can submit an application to be added to the program’s waitlist here.
The progress involves a few simple questions as well as sharing a link to a few of your own creations. The entire process takes less than 2 minutes to complete.
How to be a Canva Contributor
The process to become a Canva contributor is actually a lot easier. You simply sign up here. Then you read through the rules and guidelines and you can start submitting content.
6) BONUS METHOD- Affiliate Program
And last but not least you can become a Canva affiliate and make a commission every time someone clicks your link and signs up for a membership with Canva.
This is included as a bonus method because while the other options have a relatively low barrier to entry this method is a little bit tougher.
First, it requires that you have an audience to share your affiliate link with (this can be done through a blog, Youtube channel, social media account). Secondly, it requires that you be accepted to the Canva affiliate program. The acceptance rate to the program is less than 50% and you can find all details on their website here.
However, if you meet both these requirements, the commission structure is pretty great with a cookie window of 30 days, and up to 36$ per each new Canva Pro subscriber.
Hopefully, this article taught you something about how to use Canva to make money!
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