Designing in Canva: Anatomy of a Killer Blog Printable

June 3, 2021 by Simplifying DIY Design 2 Comments

Have you ever stared at a blank page on your computer and had no idea where to start?

I have. It sucks. It’s kind of like writer’s block but more frustrating.

Then, you just start going and sometimes you nail it and other times you can’t get it to look right no matter what you do. Or the computer is being slow, Canva is glitching, and you just want to scream.

My husband knows when I’m getting frustrated. He just says “Kara, it’s time to walk away” and I get all grumpy about it and walk away with a huff.

But he’s right (don’t tell him that though!) and sometimes you need to walk away.

However, sometimes you just need the right tools.

Printables are important! They help you engage your email subscribers, they help build your list, and they can even help you generate an income.

Taking the time to create a printable is SO important. If your printable doesn't stand out or if it's so unorganized and unprofessional looking then it will be hard to grow your blog. The perfectly designed printable has the power to grow your email list, help your readers take action, and help you generate income from blogging! Learn how to design a printable in canva!

But if your printable doesn’t stand out, or if it looks like something my 2-year-old could have designed, then it’s difficult to do that.

Luckily, when you use Canva templates — it can help alleviate a lot of the struggle of blank-page-paralysis but I still wanted to go over the anatomy of a killer blog printable.

This is something you may want to have in a printable version for your blog binder, so don’t worry- I made it pretty and stuck it in our design library under “Resources”.

Before I forget though, If you love love LOVE Canva templates like I do be sure to check out our free designs inside the library and if you’re wanting new printable templates every single month then be sure to check out the DiyDesign Creators Vault — not only do you get printable templates each month but you get social media and promotional graphics as well!

By the way, if you’d like to listen to this post, check out the video below:

OK, let’s dive in!

The anatomy of a perfect printable:

The header
The body/layout
The typography
Design elements
The message: Inspiration or action
Whitespace
The footer/copyright info
The promotion

A show-stopping (or scroll-stopping) header

I use the term “scroll-stopping” because there are SO MANY thing’s fighting for attention in the online space. People are busy and they are usually scrolling while waiting for the school bus or sitting in a waiting room. What’s going to make them stop scrolling long enough to actually read your content?

A killer cover. But, this is a printable. Instead of a cover, you have the header. It is what the eye hits first, which naturally makes it your viewer’s first impression of your product. Is your header going to help your printable stand out in the crowd?

Side note: I actually have a template of 5 killer headers for your product at the bottom of this post! Literally, all you have to do is make a copy of the template for your personal use, choose your favorite header, copy and paste it into your printable and then change the words. You can also personalize the fonts and colors to fit your brand so it’s a win-win. You can even use these headers for your paid products!

The body and layout

Naturally, you want the body of your printable to be stuffed full of super helpful, amazing content. This is your opportunity to solve your reader’s problem. Make it awesome. Make them take action. Make them want more.

Not only does the content need to be awesome, but the layout needs to be clean. It needs to be organized, easy to read and it needs to make sense to the reader. Don’t go crazy here- white space is your friend and now isn’t the time to experiment with the crazy-curly-fun font you found in the latest Creative Market font bundle.

Typography

Speaking of font, typography is a big, fancy word for text. It’s the fonts you use and how you use them. Never add more than 3 different fonts to a design. If you use brand-specific fonts; stick to them.

It will actually save you time when you have a consistent look to all your products (because you don’t have to come up with something new every time) and I promise your readers won’t mind the same look each time either. If you’re needing extra help with your brand, check out my Five Minute Brand templates!

Be consistent. If you use a font like quicksand for the body of your blog posts, use the same thing in your printables. This isn’t a deal-breaker; you can have a different font for your products (especially if you have no control over what font is in your blog posts) but, use it for all your products.

As a general rule, I like to stick with sans-serif fonts for large bodies of text because it’s easier to read. I also like san-serif in headers as well since it pairs better with script fonts. I have another cheat sheet in my design library of different font combos- so make sure you check that out too!

Design elements

Pick 2-3 design elements per design that will help you organize the layout. My favorites are banners and arrows. Banners help distinguish different sections or help identify “important” info. It also dresses it up and looks nice.

In case you are wondering, I also have a cheat sheet of design elements in the design library on my favorite design elements!

The message

Yes, this goes along with the content and body of your printable but I feel that it’s SO important to establish the goal of your overall message/purpose before designing your printable.

Do you want to inspire? Do you want to motivate? Do you want your reader to take action? Answer those questions first because it matters and needs to show in your design.

Whitespace

White space is your friend, especially if you are just starting out with a design.

White space gives a clean and organized appearance. If you use too many design elements or a crazy background color/pattern you are going to give off an overwhelming vibe.

This is likely the opposite reaction you want your reader to feel when they look at your printable.

I know chevrons are pretty but leave them on your kid’s nursery wall. (Fun fact, I actually did a grey chevron wall in my son’s nursery that turned out pretty awesome!)

If you’re completely overwhelmed with terms like “whitespace” I completely understand. I have an really in-depth course on not only Canva but graphic design concepts and how to combine the two to create social media graphics, printable, etc.

There’s a TON of step-by-step instructions and video tutorials to walk you through everything you need to know as a blogger!

If you want to check out Confidently Canva, just click here!

Footer and copyright info

I always include a copyright notice on all my printables. While this doesn’t prevent copyright infringement, it does deter it.

Call to action or Next Steps

This doesn’t have to be included in every single printable but it’s something that I think is really important and often overlooked.

The point of a lead magnet is to attract your ideal audience, those that want to buy from you (even if you don’t have your own product yet) – so let them know what their next step should be!

This can be anything from checking out another relevant resource, purchasing something, or even just connecting with you on social media.

Guiding your audience to the next step will help them further solve the “problem” they had when they downloaded your printable in the first place!

With each next step, you’re providing more value and you’re getting to help them more and more!

The promotion

While this isn’t part of the actual design, it’s just as important. If you don’t promote your printable, no one will ever see it. So get it out there!

Here are some ideas:

Share on social media
Make a landing page (this can be done with Elementor, Leadpages, or your email service provide – I love Convertkit)
Set up an ad promotion
Do a Facebook live
Write a blog post about it
Share it in relevant Facebook groups
Pin, pin, pin!

Designing printables the right way

When you want to freeze, and when you don’t know where to start, take out this cheatsheet and just start (don’t forget to download it from our resource library)!

Honestly, the first thing I start with is the header. Once the header is out of the way, everything else seems to flow so much easier. This is why I think the header template will truly help you with your design.

After the header is out of the way; rock your content lay it out, and make it professional. Put the finishing touches on with design elements and a copyright statement. Then, all that’s left is to promote it.

GET 5 FREE EDITABLE HEADER TEMPLATES TO ROCK YOUR NEXT PRINTABLE

This template is available in our FREE Design Library! Fill out the form below to get access!

When you sign up to our email list you'll get instant access to this canva template, PLUS you'll get access to all of our tutorials and tools in our design library as well!

Recap of resources mentioned in the post:

Design resource library of printables, templates, and so much more! – This is where you’ll find free Canva templates, the font combo cheatsheet, the anatomy of a printable cheatsheet, header templates, design element cheatsheet and so much more!
Confidently Canva – learn graphic design and all the Canva features, tricks, and hacks! Then learn how to combine the two to create amazing social media graphics, printables, and more!
Five Minute Brand – Establish a brand you love to use in your printable designs
DiyDesign Creators Vault – Brand new printable templates every single month

Want to save this for later? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest Board! ⬇

Find out what must-have design elements your printable lead magnets should include! Freebie worksheets and other printables are a great way to grow your email list, nurture your current subscribers, and grow your income through passive digital products-- here's how to design the perfect printable in Canva easily! #canvadesignideas #printables #emailmarketing #designforbloggers #blogdesign #printabledesign #leadmagnets

Learn Exactly What Makes The Perfect Printable To Grow Your Blog

Simple Design Hack: How to Use QR Codes For Easy Money

March 18, 2021 by Sarah Black 2 Comments

QR codes are becoming an incredibly effective marketing tool for bloggers. They boost conversions, traffic, and engagement which means you have a consistently warm audience!

Another added benefit is simplifying the customer journey. In other words, fewer hoops for your consumers to jump through!

In this article, you’ll learn how to use QR codes in your digital products so you can guide your warm audience along an effortless customer journey that results in making some serious money!

This is a guest post by Sarah Elizabeth from Sarah Elizabeth & Co.! See the end of the article for more information about her, her company, and how you can get started with chat marketing totally free!

I’m going to contradict what we’ve all been told by the top bloggers in our niche. But don’t worry, it’ll all come back around full circle.

Instead of spreading ourselves thinner than a delicious homemade crepe by doing #allthethings to “grow” our blog, we’re told to focus on just a few key areas to give it everything we have.

And, rightfully so! I completely agree with that statement!

But, what if it was actually easier, simpler, and more efficient to spread out our marketing tactics (just a bit) instead of focusing solely on email as a way to sell our digital products?

I’m going to show you how to use QR codes in your digital products to create a direct and clear customer journey that’ll keep them so warm, they’re ready to buy time and time again.

Want to save this post for later? Be sure to pin it!

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word lead magnet or even a tripwire?

A digital product, most likely.

What comes to mind when you think of a digital product?

Workbook
Planner
Checklist
Cheatsheet
eBook
eCourse

The list goes on!

Now, let’s say I sign up for your lead magnet but pass on your tripwire.

Maybe I want to test out your product first before committing (aka the know, like, and trust factor). Or, maybe I just didn’t have the money, yet.

Whatever the reason, you still got me on your email list but didn’t land the sale.

No big deal… Or, is it?

We’ll come back to that in just a moment.

Now, what if I DID purchase your tripwire – and loved it!

For the sake of this example, let’s say it was an eBook on how to create a self-sufficient home. (I’m sure you know what I’ve been researching lately)

I’ve learned so much from your eBook and I. WANT. MORE.

How are you banking on me purchasing the next-tiered product? Is it through your email funnel?

You and I both know that the average email open rate is *maybe* 20% with a pathetic CTR of 2.5%. And the last time I checked, the average inbox gets 100+ emails a day.

Now, I am SO not saying you need to give up on email marketing. No, no, and no. What I’m saying is, expand your marketing horizons to include more than just email.

What am I talking about?

Adding Facebook Messenger chatbots to your marketing strategy by learning how to use QR codes in your digital products!

What is a QR Code?

Before we can jump right into designing with QR codes, we need to first understand what the heck a QR code is.

Thankfully, a LOT has changed over the past couple of years regarding the use of QR codes.

It wasn’t up until recently that you needed to download an app to scan a QR code. But, it didn’t stop there.

Some QR codes were exclusive to certain apps, meaning, not all QR code scanners would work.

Talk about frustrating! Needless to say, they weren’t very effective.

So, what exactly IS a QR code?

How to use QR codes in your digital products to turn subscribers into buyers! Learn to easily design with QR codes to boost conversion rates!

To put it in non-techy terms (you’re welcome), it’s just a futuristic barcode used to store URLs that can be accessed via smartphone camera.

Oh yeah, I said camera.

All we have to do is open the camera app on our smartphone and hover over the QR code.

We’ll then get a notification at the top of our screen asking us to Open in a specific app (Chrome, Messenger, etc.).

It’s THAT easy!

We can send our audience practically anywhere in the digital world.

An in-app location, web page (sales, checkout, contact, booking, etc.), YouTube video, podcast episode, Facebook Messenger *wink wink*… The sky’s the limit!

I bet you’re thinking a little differently about QR codes now!

How to Use QR Codes

Remember when I said it wasn’t a big deal that someone passed on your tripwire?

A QR code can still land the sale because you’ve strategically placed it on your lead magnet as a ‘next step’ if you will.

So, instead of scouring a website or product page trying to figure out what product to buy next (don’t you just hate that?!), you’ve simplified the process and cut out some insane overwhelm.

Have you ever noticed how Netflix, Disney+, even Amazon will recommend something at the end of a movie or show?

It’s pretty nice, isn’t it? Not having to worry about finding something similar to watch when all you wanted was to take a day off and not do a darn thing?

That’s what adding a QR code to your digital products can do for your audience (and your business).

Here are just a few ways you can use QR codes in your digital products:

Download another freebie
Next-tiered product sales page
Scheduler like Calendly or Acuity
Video tutorial or podcast episode
Complimentary blog post
Feedback form like Google Forms
Facebook Page review or testimonial page
And more!

If you’re ready to make your very own QR code, let’s dig in.

How to Create a QR Code

There are a TON of different QR code generators out there, but we’re just going to focus on one… For a very good reason.

Chatbot marketing has proven to be more effective in:

Turning subscribers into (recurring) buyers
Lowering lead costs (not everyone’s ready to run ads)
Automating sales (so you’re making money while you sleep)
Increasing conversions (because you’ve got a warm audience)

Not to mention it’s averaging 90% open rates and, get this… 40-60% click-through rates!

Still think putting all of your marketing eggs into one basket is the best approach?

I figured not. And that’s a-okay, my friend.

The whole point of using a QR code that’s tied to our Facebook Messenger chatbot is to keep our audience warm through constant engagement.

Because chatbots have such a high open rate, we want to take advantage of all that because our audience is 70% more likely to open our Facebook Messenger message versus email.

I’ll happily take that 90% chance over 20% any day!

Build a ManyChat QR Code

Now that we know what a QR code is (and why we need to use them), let’s build a ManyChat QR code!

From your desktop:

Head to ManyChat and either log in or create a new account. From your ManyChat dashboard, click on Growth Tools from the menu on the left side of your screen.

Then, select + New Growth Tool from the top right.

Name your Growth Tool using the Enter widget name text box at the top (organization is key!) and then click QR Code under Other Growth Tools.

Choose your Opt-In Flow (where your audience will go once they scan your QR code) by either editing the default flow or replacing it with a different one. When you’re ready, select Next.

Here’s where we’ll build our ManyChat QR code!

We have the option of:

Changing the image size
Adding a logo
Changing the back and foreground color

If you need some inspiration on how to use QR codes, here’s a design we just wrapped up for a client.

We kept the image size at 200px and added a logo we built in Canva. (I will say, bigger is better in this case because it needs to overpower the boldness of the QR code for it to stand out)

We really liked the transparent look, so we chose to Remove Background Behind Logo.

Lastly, we kept the black and white colors (background and foreground) because they inadvertently matched their brand.

Don’t forget to download your ManyChat QR code by clicking the button at the bottom because we’re about to dive right into our digital product design!

How to Use QR Codes in Your Digital Products

There are SO many creative ways on how to use QR codes in your digital products! But, for the sake of this tutorial (unless you want to be here for a few hours), we’ll be designing two different eBook page styles.

Honestly, you can apply this same design method on checklists, cheatsheets, swipe files…

So much room for activities!

Here’s the final product just to give you an idea of how to use QR codes in a design. Pretty swanky, don’t you think?

I’m a HUGE Canva girl (thanks to Kara’s amazing tutorials!) so that’s where we’re going to hang for the rest of this tutorial.

To start, I want you to look over the design you’d like to add a QR code to and see if there’s any empty space.

You want your QR code to compliment the contents of your digital product, not be a distraction or provide instant overwhelm.

Just like any great design, you want everything to flow naturally.

In the case of my page designs, I wanted to let my audience know what chapter 10 is about by giving a brief description of the video tutorial.

Then, I end the page with my QR code that leads them straight to Messenger where they can watch the video tutorial.

If I had added the QR code first (at the top of the page) and then went into the brief description, it could possibly cause confusion for what to do next.

Think of it this way.

Authors promote the next book in the trilogy at the end because they’re giving you the next step to take.

If it were at the beginning of the book, you may not know what order to read them in!

DESIGNING WITH QR CODES

To add your new ManyChat QR code to your digital product using Canva, head to your desktop, and let’s get to designing!

Upload your ManyChat QR code like you would any other image. Because they all look alike, I recommend creating a folder so you know what each QR code goes to.

That way you’re not testing them all out to find the right one!

2. Once you find the sweet spot on your page design, add the QR code. Feel free to change the size and angle to make it fit your design.

DESIGN TIP: Set your page to 100%, whip out your phone, and open the camera app to test out your QR code (to see if it’s too small). If your camera is having a hard time reading it, enlarge it until your camera can recognize it.

3. Make sure your QR code stands out so your audience knows it’s there! An easy way to get a QR code to pop is by adding some color behind it.

I chose Elements >> Shapes >> and a regular square box for my design. Then, I changed the size to cover the page. Easy peasy!

4. Because QR codes are still fairly new, I added a quick ‘how-to’ so my readers know how to access the video tutorial via QR code.

I also included a hyperlinked-button (“Scan or Click Here”) just in case they’re viewing the eBook on their phone because then they won’t be able to use their camera!

To add a hyperlink, just select the text or box you’d like to convert to a button and click on the Link icon in the top right of your menu bar.

5. Lastly, I included an arrow to tie it all together (and jazz it up a bit!). To do find an arrow, click Elements and type Arrow in the search bar.

Now, let’s chat about the second-page design for a moment.

This particular eBook provides both video tutorials and ManyChat templates. I don’t want to deliver the templates before watching the tutorial which is why I have that specific QR code on the next page.

I still provide a quick ‘how-to’ (for those ‘just in case’ scenarios) along with a small note section at the bottom of the page.

My intention when creating this eBook was to print and ship physical copies. So, I wanted to provide a way for my readers to keep track of any notes or questions as they watch the video tutorial.

Not to mention it’s super easy to add text if open on a computer, too!

Final Thoughts

The transition from brief description to video tutorial to free templates to note-taking paints a smooth and clear picture of what to do next.

It keeps my audience nice and warm because they’re constantly engaging with my Facebook Messenger chatbot. Plus, that line of communication is right at their fingertips should they have a question along the way.

I’m all about simplicity over here!

If you’d like to get a copy of my eBook, An Entrepreneur’s Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Profitable Chatbot with Confidence, just click here!

It’s chock-full of video tutorials and ManyChat templates to help you build a Facebook Messenger chatbot that gives you big results.

Keep in mind ManyChat is constantly updating (or should I say upgrading) their platform so we always have the most advanced features readily available to grow our business!

Now that you know how to use a QR code in your digital products, I can’t wait for you to give it a try and experience the incredible power of chat marketing for yourself!

Remember, QR codes can send your audience practically anywhere, so have fun with this!

Create numerous avenues to your content and products for a seamless (and professional) customer experience every single time!

DON’T FORGET TO SIGN UP FOR MY FREE CHATBOT FOR BEGINNERS MINI-COURSE! JUST FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW TO GET STARTED!

About the author

Sarah Elizabeth is a Facebook + chatbot marketing strategist with over 4 years of marketing experience. She has her Associate in specialized business and a Bachelor’s in entrepreneurship. Sarah is the founder of Sarah-Elizabeth.co where she teaches entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes how to use Facebook and chat marketing to rock their industry online.

Beginner to Profitable: An Entrepreneur’s Step-By-Step Guide to Creating a Profitable Chatbot with Confidence is now available for purchase! Get it now for only $7!

3 Updates With Canva You Need To Know About

January 7, 2021 by Simplifying DIY Design 3 Comments

Canva updates ALL the time, but there are a few new things I’ve noticed that I’ve been extremely excited about. Let’s jump in!

I’ve been known for “Canva hacks” and “work-arounds” and I’m always trying to learn and teach new things in Canva.

That being said, It’s super exciting when you don’t NEED a time-consuming workaround anymore! That’s exactly what we have here!

The new Canva “kids” will never know the struggle!!

Multiple Links in One Text Box

Most of you that have followed me for a while are aware of my workaround for this.

It involved making multiple text boxes, reducing the transparency of them and overlaying them on top of the original paragraph.

We don’t need to do this anymore! You can now add as many links per text box as your heart desires!

Simply highlight the word you want to turn into a link, click on the “link” button, and type in the URL. Hit apply and repeat as many times as you’d like!

The Line Tool

Canva has pretty much always had lines. This isn’t new.

The problem with the lines that Canva had was that they were extremely difficult to adjust the size/weight of them.

You’d spend forever tinkering and it ultimately ended in frustration.

Want to save this post for later? Pin to your favorite Pinterest board!

Find out what updates canva has made that will eliminate the workarounds and help you design faster than ever!! Ever blogger NEEDS to read this!!

My workaround for this was using the font “Cinzel” and typing underscores.

This was the best font for this because the underscores were perfectly smooth (no dashes) and after you had a line or two done, you could highlight what you already typed and then copy and paste.

Within seconds you had a perfect page of “notebook” style lines.

Well, Canva now has a line tool that allows you to adjust the weight of your lines with a slider! So EASY!

When you add a line to your design, you’ll notice some options pop up next to the color box.

The first one allows you to adjust the weight of the line.

Slide it down to make it thinner, and up to make it thicker.

The next option allows you to quickly change the line into a dotted or dashed line.

The last option allows you to change the front and ends of the line so you can customize it to exactly what you need.

Don’t get me wrong, this is GREAT but if you need an entire page of lines, it still may be faster to do the Cinzel font trick but if you wanted to use the lines, you can always copy and paste them down the page.

Curved Text!

While I love ALL of the text effects the curved text option is probably the effect that I most FREQUENTLY got asked about!

Below is my youtube tutorial on all of the text effects:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZV8oIC9fExY

If you enjoy Canva, design, and blog tutorials please feel free to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more!

As far as the curved text effect goes– this one wins biggest time saver!!

My workaround was quite time-consuming! It involved created a circle in the arch that you wanted and then placing individual letters and rotating them following the arch of the curve.

Then you’d delete the circle at the end of it.

Whew- so glad that will never have to be a thing again!

Now, with a simple click of a button, you can create curved, or even circled text.

Simply type out your text and click on “Effects” then choose “Curve” and use the slider to adjust the curve.

You can make it curve either way and even all the way around into a full circle if you want. Finally!

If you haven’t tried Canva or you’re looking to try out pro– click here to get started! Pro is worth its weight in GOLD in my opinion.

Simply being able to create folders galore is worth the price EASY!

Updates are happening all the time to make the platform better and easier to use.

I LOVE providing design templates, it’s so much fun but I would be lying if I didn’t completely geek out over design tricks/hacks!

I love that these updates make designing even faster (another reason I create templates— I love helping people save time) and I hope you learned a new trick or two!

Don’t forget to sign up for my free Canva templates! Just fill out the form below to get started!

GET ACCESS TO OUR DESIGN LIBRARY

Learn how to increase your traffic, skyrocket your income, build and future your list and increase conversions all through DIY design when you join our email list. Plus get instant access to our design library of templates, tutorials, and other design tools!

How To Set Blogging Goals That You Can Actually Achieve

December 9, 2020 by Simplifying DIY Design 4 Comments

I wasn’t a planner person.

I wasn’t a schedule person. I had two tiny humans with the oldest being 3 when I started Simplifying DIY Design, so having to “adjust” is just something I’ve to deal with when it came to my business.

I can’t even tell you how many times I relied on nap time to get things done but one of them didn’t want to sleep or woke up after a half hour. Things change. We adjust.

Learning to set blogging goals that I could actually achieve and plan them out made all the difference with my blog. I needed to have crystal clear focus on WHAT I was working on. It HAD to be something that was going to move the needle forward in the least amount of time.

I struggled a long time with this. I could set the goals but figuring out how to achieve them was a whole other obstacle. I tried Trello a few times and other planning systems but I couldn’t figure it out.

A blogging friend, Kristen from Blog Your Genius, told me about her whiteboard system that she uses in her office. Around the same time, I took the 12 Week Blog Growth Strategy.

Armed with those things, I created a Trello board system that actually worked for me! Since then, I’ve added in Cultivate What Matters PowerSheets planner.

Creating this system that worked for me was seriously a game changer!

I want to walk you through how I set my Trello board up. However, if you want to really understand how to effectively break down goals into actionable steps that you can essentially “roadmap” through each quarter, I highly recommend The 12 Week Blog Growth Strategy. Plus, you can also get $10 off if you use the coupon code: FIDD

>>Click here to check out the 12 Week Blog Growth Strategy <<

Trello Goal Setting System for Actually REACHING Your Blog Goals

Before you get super excited and rush off to create your own Trello board (don’t have Trello? It’s FREE- just sign up here) I actually have this as a Trello Board Goal Setting Template in my design library. You can sign up at the end of the post or just click right here.

At the end of this post is a video tutorial that walks through this entire system. Be sure to check it out if you learn best with video!

Let’s get started! First, we want to identify our 3 goals for the quarter.

These should be attainable, but big enough to push us a little. I personally find that when my goals are too “easy”, I don’t feel motivated. However, if they are too big, I end up feeling defeated.

It’s a balance.

I also like to choose goals that directly related to my bigger blogging goals.

So, if my BIG blogging goal is to make 6 figures per year, then my quarterly goals need to bring me closer to that.

For this example, let’s choose 3 goals:

Make $100 blogging
Increase subscribers
Increase traffic

Now- if your goals look like this then I need you to stop right now.

Blog and business goals need to be specific and measurable.

Let’s go back and refine those goals:

Create a tripwire product to generate $100 per month
Increase subscribers by 100 new subscribers for the quarter
Increase traffic from 10k monthly views to 20k monthly views

Now we have more specific goals. We have not simply stated that we want to make money but we’ve designated a task to accomplish that (for example, the tripwire product). In addition, we’ve specified how much we want to grow our email list and how much we want to increase our traffic.

The first column of my Trello board system is for the goals. It’s there so that I can see them all the time.

Next, we want to break down our goals into a master task list

For this, I want to brain dump all the possible things I would need to do to reach each one of those goals. If it’s a task that I need to do but it doesn’t DIRECTLY relate to one of my THREE quarterly goals, then it does not go in the list.

Sometimes, if I feel the task is still important, I’ll add it to an overflow list.

I spend a decent amount of time (and sometimes, research) stepping out these goals into tasks. If I’m not sure how to break it down then my first step is researching because it’s something I’m going to need to learn about.

For example, if you have no idea how to grow an email list- how are you supposed to know what tasks to do? You’ll need to learn about email lists first.

Pro tip: It helps to label each of the three goals from the first step with colored labels so that you can identify which task goes with each goal OR you can make “sections” in your task list (as shown below)

To add a colored label, simply click on those three little dots and choose “Edit Labels”. Choose a different color for each goal.

Now that you have all your goals stepped out into tasks, arrange them in the order that they need to be completed.

If you find that one of them can be broken down into even more steps, simply add a checklist to that card. To do that:

Click on the card
Located the “Checklist” option on the right side of the card
Add tasks to the checklist
When you complete a task, just click on the checkbox to mark as done

As a side note: I try to assign due dates for each of my goals which I used to map out on extra large peel-and-stick dry erase calendars on my wall. I found that printing blank calendars worked even better because I could bring it with me wherever I had my laptop open. I’m a big picture person and I need to see my entire quarter at a time. Once I have it mapped out on my calendars I assign the tasks due dates in Trello.

Next, I plan my week!

For me, I plan by the week. Trying to plan each day is just too hard. I drag and drop tasks from that master list into the next column. I choose as many tasks as I can reasonably complete in a week. If you want to make another column for daily tasks, then absolutely do that!

Why is this is magic? I never have to think about what I “should” be doing when I sit down at the computer.

My time is so limited and when I have 5 minutes to work, they need to be highly focused blocks of time that I can complete focus on one of my tasks that are directly related to my goals.

Once your tasks are completed, move the card into the “Done” column!

It’s oddly satisfying, trust me.

Watch the video below!

(Side note: if you enjoy this video, please check out and subscribe to my YouTube Channel for more!)

So there you have it. Are you ready to set blog goals and rock them?

Everything I do for my blog has a rhyme or reason. It’s pushing me to my bigger business goals.

This is why so many people turn off comments. They have apps that block social media during working time blocks. They need focus. They can’t waste a single second.

This method is what works for me. It gives me focus when I sit down to work.

It helps me reach my goals every quarter.

I can also see what tasks are constantly being pushed aside and evaluate why I’m not getting them done. If something needs to be broken down more, I do it.

If I don’t know how to complete a task, I research it.

I actually almost NEVER ask questions in facebook groups because I will get sucked into facebook. I go to google or youtube and type in my problem and 99% of the time find my solution without the time suck of social media.

Another tip from someone that’s been there: get a crockpot and use it! I set up dinner while I’m making lunch for my kids.

By the time my husband gets home, I go upstairs to knock out some tasks, come down and eat dinner, then go back upstairs for another hour.

I come down, hang out with the family until bedtime and then after the kids go to bed, it’s back to work. It gives me back SO MUCH TIME and my family still has a yummy dinner.

Don’t forget to grab my Trello board goal setting template (there are TWO other Trello boards in the design library too for content planning and design organization) Just fill out the form below!

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3 Myths About Creating and Selling Digital Products That Are Holding You Back!

September 18, 2020 by Simplifying DIY Design Leave a Comment

In this article I want to go over the three biggest myths about creating and selling digital products that are holding you back and why these things don’t need to stop you from creating digital products for your audience!

Looking to create a digital product? I have a free ebook template located right inside my design library! You can click here (or the button below) to get instant access!

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE CANVAA EBOOK TEMPLATE!

I became hooked on digital products even before I had my own. I was the graphic designer for a blogger and we made a workbook.

It was the first workbook I ever made and I made it in Canva. Her content was amazing and shortly after she launched this workbook she had already generated six figures in sales from it.

Something we made once and she sold it over and over. (As someone that used to sell handmade, personalized blankets on Etsy, this was a GAME-CHANGING concept to me)

Not only that, but she was changing lives! The testimonials she was getting would bring tears to anyone’s eyes (this was in the budget niche) and it was the most amazing thing ever.

When I stated Simplifying DIY Design I knew I wanted to go the product route and to do that I had to really, really know my audience.

I got really good at learning what they wanted and creating digital products.

I even created the Product Creators Ultimate Toolbox which is a digital product creation system complete with templates for every step of the process.

Here’s what I learned are some of the biggest myths holding bloggers back from creating products:

“No one will want what I’m selling”

This is why knowing your audience is SO important. How do you get to know your audience? Ask them!

You can simply ask for a reply to an email (the welcome email is great for this) or you can send them a survey.

I’ve used surveys to help me actually map out my product and I’ve used them to help me with my marketing. When you literally create something for specific people, those people will want it!

I recommend getting to know the following details:

What they are struggling with
What they’ve tried before and why it didn’t work
Why it matters to them to have the problem solved

Even these three little things can make so much difference in the creation and marketing of your digital product!

Again, if you create something specifically for your specific people then you should never have to wonder if anyone will want what you’re selling.

Want to save this article for later? Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board!

“Selling is spammy and I don’t want to spam people”

Selling definitely doesn’t have to be spammy.

Here’s the thing, yes you make your digital product so you can make money (and that’s OK- everyone deserves the chance to provide for their families) but you also make your product to HELP your audience.

If you don’t put it out there then you will not help them and that’s actually a disservice.

I know it’s hard to actually ask people to give you their hard-earned money but you earned it! Products take a lot of time and effort.

I never really valued a digital product until I made one and then I realized why some are so pricey!

It’s time-consuming and it doesn’t stop when you’re done creating it. It then becomes: answering questions, troubleshooting, customer service, and updating content.

If you have a Facebook group attached to your product then it’s even more ongoing.

You are providing value. You are providing a transformation and you deserve to get paid for it.

Besides, if someone is so inconvenienced by launch emails or a light mention of your product in a related blog post that they forget all of the FREE value you give them the rest of the time then they are definitely not your people.

As long as you always work to provide value above all else you never have to be spammy.

(and yes, launch emails are a GREAT place to provide value as you educate your people on why they might need your product

“I can’t afford a graphic designer to create the thing!”

I get it, I’ve been a graphic designer and I know what they charge. Not everyone can afford that especially when it comes to the first product since you may not be making an income yet from your blog that you can re-invest.

The thing is you don’t actually need to hire a graphic designer, you can create digital products yourself using simple design tools like Canva!

Don’t have Canva yet? Click here to get started! You can also check out my free Canva mini-course to help you start getting familiar with the program.

You can also use design templates if you want a professional jumping-off point for your design. All you have to do is change the colors and fonts to match your brand and paste in your content. Super easy and even faster than starting from scratch!

Plus with design templates you can get the same professional look at a fraction of the cost, in fact my whole product creation system (which includes TONS of product design templates along with templates for everything else) costs a fourth of what I’ve been paid to create a simple workbook for a client.

Templates are the most cost-effective way to get a professional finish.

I even have a FREE ebook design template in my design library- yep, totally FREE!

Don’t let these things hold you back from creating a digital product!

I understand that anytime you put yourself out there it can be scary. I understand that it stings when you create a product and you put your blood, sweat and tears into it just for it to fall flat.

I’ve been there and done that.

But I also know how it feels to get heartfelt emails full of thanks and appreciation. I know how it feels to have people tell you that you’ve changed everything for them and that you’ve made their life easier and solved a problem for them.

It’s so, so worth it! If you haven’t created a digital product or you haven’t been successful with your digital product I don’t want you to hold yourself back! Start with your audience, ask them the questions I mentioned at the beginning of the article and go from there!

Want more resources on learning how to create and sell digital products? Check out my Product Creators Quickstart Kit and my Product Design Planner!

Don’t forget to grab my free Canva ebook template! Just click the button below for instant access!

CLICK HERE FOR INSTANT ACCESS TO MY EBOOK TEMPLATE

How to Schedule Your Social Media Posts Directly From Canva

August 18, 2020 by Simplifying DIY Design 13 Comments

This article is a tutorial to show you exactly how to use the “Schedule” feature inside of Canva. Now you can save even more time when making your social media graphics by never having to leave the Canva platform!

Need help with social media graphics? I have free Canva templates inside my design library! You’ll find social media templates, video pins, and so much more! Just click the button below to get instant access for free!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE DESIGN LIBRARY

I’m all about saving time when it comes to design, so when a little pop-up alerted me of a new feature inside of Canva, I was all over it. Turns out, this feature actually lets you post your designs directly to the social media platform of your choice.

Game changer! Between using a design template and then scheduling directly from Canva, the time-saving potentials are endless!

Haven’t tried Canva yet? Click here to get started!

What platforms can you schedule to from Canva?

Currently, you can schedule to the following platforms:

Facebook Page
Facebook Group
Twitter
Pinterest
Tumblr
Slack
Linkedin Page
Linkedin Profile

I was somewhat disappointed that Instagram wasn’t on the list, but hopefully, someday *fingers crossed*.

Let’s get into how to do this step by step. If you don’t already have a Canva account, click here to get started.

Want to save this tutorial for later? Add it to your favorite Pinterest Board!

Step One: Complete Your Design

You’ll want to complete your design or use a design template. I have several free Canva templates inside my design library and several templates for purchase in my shop.

You can also read more about creating social media images here.

Step Two: Click on “Schedule” Located in the Drop Down Box

Located next to the “download” option is a small arrow. Clicking on the arrow will bring down the drop-down box. You’ll choose “Schedule” from this menu.

Step Three: Choose Your Date and Time

You’ll be able to schedule the date and time that you want your design published. Once your settings are complete, hit “done”.

Step Four: Schedule and Connect Accounts

If this is your first time scheduling a design from Canva, you’ll need to connect your accounts. To do this, click on “Schedule to…” and choose the platform you want to connect.

I recommend going through the first time and connecting all the accounts that you want to be able to schedule to.

Each platform will have a pop-up that walks you through the connection process.

Once you are connected you’ll be able to choose where you want your design to go.

For example, with Pinterest, you’ll be able to choose which board you want the design to go to.

Step Five: Fill in Your Content

Once you choose which platform you’ll schedule to, you’ll select the page and write your social media description.

For me, I’m very happy that I can choose the page that I want to schedule. I often keep my design templates in one Canva file so that I can quickly find the design I want to edit, and then I download just that one page.

To be able to schedule just one page is amazing!

That being said, you can also choose to publish all the pages in the design or multiple pages (just check the ones that you want to publish).

Next, you’ll fill in the social media description. Be sure to write a compelling short paragraph that uses keywords and inspires the potential reader to click, just as you would if you were posting any social media image.

I recommend including a call to action such as “click the image to read more”.

You’ll see a “destination link” section, this is where you can add the link to your image, which is great for Pinterest! If using the scheduler to post an image to Facebook you can also add the link to the description and it will be clickable.

Finally, click “Publish Now” and you’re done! How cool is that?

Inside the Content Planner

Once you schedule your post, a pop-up will appear that will ask you if you want to go to your content planner. This is where you can see all of your scheduled posts, edit your scheduled posts, and plan ahead.

You can also get to your content planner by clicking on “Content Planner” in the main menu.

If you click on the picture of your scheduled post, you’ll be able to edit it.

A menu will appear that will give you several options such as changing the time, editing the design, making a copy, and deleting the post.

You’ll also be able to plan ahead by hovering over the future day and clicking on the “+” sign that shows up in the corner.

I’m all about saving time when it comes to social media design!

This is why I love templates! I love finding shortcuts and hacks to save time. As a busy mom and full-time blogger I can use ANY shortcut I can get.

Being able to schedule your posts directly from Canva once you’re done designing is such an awesome tool to save time when it comes to designing and scheduling your posts!

Don’t forget to grab the free Canva templates inside my design library! You’ll find social media templates, video pins, and so much more! Just click the button below to get instant access for free!