What is a Digital Planner and Why it’s a Great Product to Sell Online
Digital planners are a relatively new invention that has recently gained popularity. They are essentially the digital version of traditional paper planners, with added features and convenience. Think about it – there are thousands of people who purchase new planners throughout the year (most of which are never used…). Offering a similar option, with the convenience of accessing it on your phone, is bound to be beneficial and profitable.
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If you're looking for a profitable product to sell online, digital planners are a great option. If you are already a digital creator of printable planners, you can also convert them into digital planners! Follow along as we discuss what digital planners are, their benefits, the demographic of digital planner users, and why they're a great product to sell online.
What is a Digital Planner?
A digital planner is an interactive PDF uploaded to a platform to be used and manipulated digitally. For iPhone users, the end user could use Goodnotes, and for Android there is Noteshelf. Once uploaded, the end user can use the tabs and links of the interactive PDF to navigate the planner.
Digital planners are usually in the form of an app or software that can be downloaded and installed on a device such as a tablet, phone, or laptop. Digital planners often have features such as a calendar, note-taking, to-do lists, and fun additions like stickers!
Comparing Traditional Planners with Digital Planners
Traditional planners, specifically the ones that are created in Canva or similar platforms and then sold through sites like Etsy, vary slightly from digital planners.
- Traditional planners can include fewer pages since the end-user can reprint any needed pages.
- Traditional planners must be printed and bound in some way and then used by your customer regularly to enjoy the benefits. They also need to keep the planner with them.
When it comes to digital planners, which can also be created in Canva or similar platforms and then sold through sites like Etsy, here are the items to consider:
- Digital planners have a learning curve. While the creation process is similar, you will need to learn the necessary dimensions, add the needed tabs, and hyperlink as needed.
- Digital planners can be accessed on any device with a digital planner platform installed. You no longer need to “take” your planner with you!
- Digital planners differ because you need to create all of the pages for the planner upfront. For instance, if you have a daily calendar option, you should include 365 days in the interactive PDF. Otherwise, the end user won't have all the needed pages.
Who Uses Digital Planners?
The demographic of digital planner users varies but tends to be younger and tech-savvy. Millennials and Gen Z consumers frequently use digital planners due to their preference for technology and convenience. Freelancers, entrepreneurs, and students are also common users of digital planners due to their busy schedules and the need for organization.
But please, don't let the term “planner” limit your ideas! Anything that is completed using a pen and paper can be converted and sold as a digital planner. Teachers, students, food trucks, small businesses, dog owners, personal trainers, and on and on! The possibilities are endless.
Profiting from Digital Planner Creation
Digital planners are a great product to sell online because they have a low overhead cost and are highly scalable. They can be easily distributed and marketed, allowing for easy access to a large target audience.
Digital planners are a fantastic source of passive income. Think about it – take the time to create and link the planner – and then sell it over and over again. Once the product is correct and listed for sale, you can set it and forget it!
Furthermore, you can offer memberships with a new yearly planner for download or customized monthly pages for your end-users to add to their current downloads. I will say that while I prefer to use Canva to create my digital planners as a beginner, the platform does limit the number of pages you can create. For anything needing many pages, you may need to look at another platform or consider using PDFLinkr to merge and hyperlink on the backend of the creation process.
Another option is to look at a more robust tool like Adobe InDesign. They don't have a page limit – but their platform is known to have a steep learning curve. I've enjoyed learning how to use it, and we have complete click by click instructions inside of our membership: The MDP Advantage.
How to Sell Digital Planners Online
Selling digital planners online is the same process as selling any other digital product that you've created. You can choose the most convenient platform for you and even sell them on your blog if you have one. When choosing the correct platform, you need to consider their Terms of Service, as well as any fees that might be associated with your storefront.
Etsy is the go-to anymore, and if you are curious how to set up an Etsy store the correct way, you can snag our free Set Up Your Etsy Guide to get started. Our guide walks you through all of the steps, and includes templates to help you get started!
What to Keep in Mind
When selling digital planners, you want to ensure that the product you upload to sell works. In my Converting Printable Planners to Digital Using Canva course, I finish the course by showing you how to test all of the hyperlinks you've created.
Also, if you are making a year-specific product, meaning that the calendar pages are dated, you will need to update the product each year. I recommend keeping a list of the planners you create and then checking them in November of the year before they expire. Once you update the calendar pages, you can reupload them to your platform of choice and update the descriptions.
What's Next?
Now that we've discussed digital planners, how they differ from traditional planners, and the options to sell them online, what's next? Start creating! If you have never created a planner before, digital or traditional, jump into my Facebook Group and ask questions!
Once you get the process down, from ideation and creation to listing and selling, you can start to create your products in batches to speed the process up a bit. If you are stuck on where to start, you can grab the Beginner's Guide to Digital Planners to get started. You've got this!
