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Are you interested in starting your own business selling digital planners on Etsy?
If so, you’re in the right place! In this blog post, we’ll outline the steps you need to take to start a digital planner store on Etsy and discuss the potential benefits of doing so.
By starting your own digital planner store on Etsy, you have the opportunity to tap into a growing market and potentially earn a significant income from the comfort of your own home.
Plus, with the increasing popularity of digital planning tools, the demand for digital planners is only expected to continue rising.
By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can turn your passion for digital planning into a successful business on Etsy.
So, let’s get started on how to start a digital planner store!
What Are Digital Planners?
Digital planners are electronic versions of traditional planners that are designed to be used on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
They often have similar features to physical planners, such as daily, weekly, or monthly calendars, task lists, and notes sections, but are often more customizable and interactive.
Digital planners can be used to organize and plan various aspects of life, including work, personal appointments, and daily tasks.
They are often used as a more convenient and environmentally friendly alternative to physical planners, as they can be accessed and updated from any device with an internet connection.
Digital planners can be purchased in a variety of formats, including hyperlinked PDFs, Notion templates, and OneNote Templates and can be used on a range of devices, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Digital Planner Apps
There are a wide range of apps that you can use for using digital planners. Some popular options include:
Notability: This app is available for iOS and allows you to create and customize digital planners, as well as take notes, annotate documents, and record audio. It offers a range of features, including the ability to import and export PDFs, add photos and drawings, and collaborate with others.
Noteshelf: This app is available for iOS and offers a range of features for creating and using digital planners. It allows you to customize your planner with different templates, fonts, and colours, as well as take notes and annotate PDFs. It also includes features like handwriting recognition, audio recording, and the ability to import and export documents.
GoodNotes: This app is available for iOS and offers a range of features for creating and using digital planners. It allows you to customize your planner with different templates and styles, as well as take notes and annotate PDFs. It also includes features like handwriting recognition, audio recording, and the ability to import and export documents.
Regardless of which app your customer chooses, be sure to consider the usability of the planner you’re designing across these popular apps.
Alternate Planning Apps
In addition to apps specifically designed for hyperlinked PDF-style digital planners, there are also a number of other tools that can be used for planning and organization.
Some popular options include:
Notion: This tool is available for web, iOS, and Android and offers a range of features for planning and organization. It allows you to create custom databases, pages, and templates, as well as take notes, collaborate with others, and track tasks and projects. It’s a highly customizable tool that can be used for a wide range of planning and organization needs.
OneNote: This tool is available for web, Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android and offers a range of features for taking notes, organizing information, and collaborating with others. It allows you to create custom notebooks, pages, and sections, as well as insert images, audio, and other media. It also includes features like handwriting recognition and the ability to import and export documents.
You could start a business specialising in selling planning templates for one of these apps instead of the traditional hyperlinked PDF digital planner.
5 Steps to Start a Digital Planner Store
These 5 simple steps will help you to get started on your journey of creating a digital planner business.
Step 1: Research The Digital Planner Market
Before diving headfirst into creating and selling digital planners on Etsy, it’s important to first determine if there is actually a demand for the digital planners you want to sell on the platform.
To do this, start by searching for similar products and analyzing their sales and reviews.
Take note of the number of sales and positive reviews that each product has received, as well as any feedback or suggestions that customers have left in the reviews.
This will give you a good idea of the overall demand for digital planners on Etsy, as well as any potential competition you may be up against.
In addition to researching the demand for digital planners on Etsy, it’s also a good idea to look into what types of digital planners are particularly popular.
For example, you may find that daily, weekly, or monthly planners are in high demand, or that certain types of planners, such as those for students or entrepreneurs, are especially popular.
By identifying these trends, you can tailor your product offerings to meet the needs and preferences of your target audience.
Additionally, consider creating a niche within the market by offering something unique or specialized that sets your digital planners apart from the competition.
This could be in the form of a specific design aesthetic, specialized planning features, or a particular focus, such as sustainability or productivity.
Step 2: Create Your Digital Planner Business Plan
Once you have a good understanding of the demand for digital planners on Etsy and the types of planners that are popular, the next step is to determine your target audience and how you will market your products to them.
Consider who your ideal customer is and what they are looking for in a digital planner. Are they students, professionals, or entrepreneurs?
Do they have specific planning needs or preferences? By identifying your target audience, you can tailor your marketing efforts and product offerings to better appeal to them.
In addition to identifying your target audience, it’s also important to set clear goals for your store.
This could include how many planners you want to sell each month, how much you want to earn, and any other specific milestones you want to achieve.
Setting goals will help you stay focused and motivated as you build and grow your business.
Finally, you’ll need to determine your pricing strategy and how you will handle shipping and fulfilment.
Consider the cost of materials such as clipart, templates and digital paper, time spent creating the digital planners, and any other expenses you may incur.
You’ll also need to consider the shipping options you will offer and how you will handle fulfilment, such as whether you will offer digital downloads directly on Etsy or create a Delivery PDF that has the links to the planner.
By carefully considering these factors, you can set competitive prices that allow you to turn a profit while also providing value to your customers.
Step 3: Design and Create Your Digital Planners
Once you’ve determined your target audience and set your goals, it’s time to start designing and creating your digital planners.
One of the first steps in this process is deciding what software you will use to create your digital planners.
Some popular options include Adobe InDesign, Canva, Affinity Publisher and Apple Keynote all of which offer a range of features to help you get started.
If you’re new to design software, you may want to consider starting with digital planner templates to help you get started quickly and get a feel for the software.
My favourite Digital Planner Template Kit is Secret Owl’s Society’s Template. I seriously knew nothing about Affinity Publisher when I got the kit, in fact, I bought the software because of the kit and now it’s my favourite go-to piece of design software.
Their template allows you to not just create your own digital planner quickly, but to understand how digital planners work and how to use the software of your choice to get it done.
As you design your digital planners, be sure to keep your target audience in mind and consider offering a variety of styles and formats to appeal to different preferences.
For example, you might want to offer daily, weekly, and monthly planners, as well as different styles such as minimalist, colourful, or traditional.
This will give your customers more options to choose from and increase the chances that you’ll be able to meet their needs.
Finally, it’s important to test your digital planners to ensure they are functional and easy to use. This could include testing the layout, formatting, and any interactive features, such as links or forms.
By thoroughly testing your digital planners, you can identify and fix any issues before you start selling them on Etsy.
Step 4: Set up Your Etsy Store
Once you’ve designed and created your digital planners, the next step is to set up your Etsy store.
To get started, you’ll need to create an Etsy account and complete the necessary steps to set up your store.
This will involve adding a store name, description, and logo, as well as photos of your products.
Once your store is set up, it’s time to create listings for each of your digital planners.
Be sure to include detailed descriptions, pricing, and shipping information for each product. Shipping is important as you have to make it clear that these are digital products for instant download and nothing physical will be shipped.
It’s also a good idea to include high-quality photos that clearly show the features and design of your digital planners.
Step 5: Promote Your Store
Once your Etsy store is up and running, it’s important to promote your store and attract potential customers.
One effective way to do this is by using social media and other online marketing channels to promote your products.
This could include sharing product updates and promotions on platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook, or running paid ads on social media or Google to reach a wider audience.
In addition to promoting your products online, you may also want to consider offering promotions or discounts to encourage sales.
This could include offering discounts to first-time customers or running limited-time sales to drive traffic to your store.
Finally, it’s important to engage with your customers by responding to reviews and messages in a timely manner.
This will help build trust with your customers and show that you value their business. By taking the time to engage with your customers, you can create a loyal customer base that will continue to support your business.
Conclusion
In conclusion, starting a digital planner store on Etsy can be a great way to turn your passion for planning and organization into a successful passive income business.
By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can research the market, create a business plan, design and create your digital planners, set up your Etsy store, and promote your products to attract potential customers.
By offering a range of high-quality, digital planners and engaging with your customers, you can build a loyal customer base and turn your digital planner store into a successful and rewarding business on Etsy.
So, if you’re interested in starting your own digital planner store, don’t wait any longer – get started today and take the first steps towards turning your passion into a successful business!
Why not invest in the future of your business by investing in the Secret Owl’s Society Digital Planner Template Kit and the essentials you need to start a digital planner store on Etsy?
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