Canva makes earning money easy with design skills. Sell custom graphics and templates, create online courses, do affiliate marketing, monetize a blog/YouTube, and provide design services. Passive income streams like templates and affiliate links are most lucrative long-term.
Canva is one of the most popular and user-friendly graphic design platforms available today. With its drag-and-drop interface and extensive template library, anyone can create stunning graphics, presentations, posters, logos and more in minutes.
But did you know that Canva can also be a great source of passive income? Whether you want to earn a bit of side cash or build a full-time business, there are several ways to monetize your Canva skills and make money with this amazing tool.
Ways to Make Money with Canva
Sell Custom Design Services
One of the best ways to make money with Canva is by selling your design services to clients. Many small businesses, bloggers, entrepreneurs and others need custom graphics created but don’t have the skills or time to do it themselves.
You can cater to this need by creating and selling Canva designs tailored to your clients’ brands and needs. Social media posts, blog headers, business cards, eBook covers, infographics – the possibilities are endless. Set up a seller profile on freelance platforms like Fiverr and Upwork to connect with clients.
Pro tip: Create some samples to showcase your skills and build your portfolio. Offer packages with different numbers of designs/types of graphics to suit different budgets.
Sell Printable Templates and Elements
In addition to custom designs, you can also sell templates, graphics and design elements through online marketplaces. For example, create social media templates, planners, wall art, invitations, stickers and more using Canva, then upload them to sites like Etsy, Creative Market and Printful.
The great thing about digital downloads is that there’s no inventory or shipping costs – you simply upload your file and get paid when someone purchases it. Offer bundles and use keywords to optimize discoverability.
Pro tip: Study top sellers in the category you’re creating for to identify profitable niches and styles. Provide your templates as both PDF and PNG files for versatility.
Monetize a Canva-Based Blog/YouTube
Blogging and YouTube videos are another excellent way to profit from Canva. You can easily create beautiful graphics and thumbnails for your content using the tool. Then monetize through affiliate marketing, advertising, sponsored posts, online courses and more.
For example, you could start a blog sharing Canva tutorials, guides and templates. Or produce a YouTube channel focused on graphic design and Canva tips. The audience and influence you build can translate to passive income streams.
Pro tip: Consistently promote your blog/channel and collaborate with others in your niche to grow your following. Have a clear call-to-action to convert traffic into email subscribers.
Sell Online Courses
If you have extensive knowledge of Canva and graphic design, you could create an online course to teach others. Use Canva to design elegant course materials – promotional graphics, workbooks, slides, etc.
Platforms like Teachable, Thinkific and Podia make it easy to publish and sell your course. Set up pre-enrollment to validate demand, then craft in-depth lessons outlining your process from start to finish. An online course can earn you revenue for years to come.
Pro tip: Break your course up into small, digestible modules. Offer downloadable resources and bonuses. Use your blog/channel to direct people to your course.
Become a Canva Affiliate
Canva has an affiliate program that lets you earn commissions by promoting the tool. Simply share your unique affiliate link and you’ll get paid when someone signs up using it.
Promote Canva through your blog, videos, social media, email list and more. You can highlight its benefits for your audience and provide tutorials on how to use it. Affiliate marketing is relatively passive – earn as you regularly create content.
Pro tip: Use affiliate links selectively and ensure your promotion of Canva aligns with your brand identity. Be transparent about being an affiliate.
Keys to Success with Making Money on Canva
- Build your skills first. Master Canva’s features and learn graphic design best practices before offering paid services.
- Find your niche. Identify the types of graphics you excel at and enjoy making the most. Cater to that niche.
- Offer excellent customer service. Communicate promptly, meet deadlines, revise designs as needed. This will get you reviews and repeat business.
- Market yourself. Leverage social media, forums, freelance platforms, collaborations and more to get the word out.
- Stay on top of trends. Look at what’s popular to create designs that sell. But also focus on evergreen content that will earn long-term.
- Optimize for passive income. Templates, courses and affiliate marketing can make money while you sleep. Set them up once to earn again and again.
- Track and analyze data. Pay attention to what designs, posts and strategies earn you the most income. Then double down on those areas.
With its ease of use and endless possibilities, Canva is an amazing tool for earning extra money. Implement these tips and you’ll be on your way to monetizing your skills and making serious cash with Canva.
FAQs About Making Money with Canva
How much can you make with Canva?
There is no limit to how much you can earn with Canva. Income ranges from a few hundred dollars to over $100k/year. It depends on your niche, marketing skills and how many passive income streams you build. Many turn their Canva businesses into full-time income.
Does Canva pay you for designs?
Canva doesn’t directly pay for designs. But by selling your work on freelance sites or your own ecommerce store, you can earn money from your Canva skills. Printful and Teespring also let you sell custom Canva designs on physical products.
Is selling Canva templates profitable?
Selling Canva templates can be very lucrative. Top digital creators make 5-6 figures/year selling templates and graphic elements. Do market research to identify in-demand templates, promote your shop, and offer template bundles for more sales.
Can you make money from affiliate marketing?
Yes, affiliate marketing with Canva can be profitable. Promote your special Canva affiliate link and you’ll get a commission on signups and upgrades. Just ensure your promotion aligns with your brand and provides value to your audience.
What sells best on Canva?
Printables like planners, wall art and stationery sell extremely well. Social media templates, logo templates and presentation templates are also very popular. Make sure to optimize titles, tags, photos and descriptions to make them easily discoverable.
In Summary
With its user-friendly interface and abundance of templates, Canva makes graphic design accessible to everyone. And it also offers a variety of lucrative money-making opportunities for those looking to profit from their skills. From custom client work to passive income streams like templates and affiliates, you can earn a sizable income with this amazing platform. Use these tips and strategies outlined above to unlock the earning potential of Canva.
Last modified: October 8, 2023
