How do they do it?
Ever wonder how other entrepreneurs make content creation and distribution look so easy? How they make such creative and engaging graphics?
Maybe they spend more time ON the business than IN the business, outsource the tasks to a third party, or hire a full-time professional marketing manager.
or…
Maybe they do it themselves very easily, very quickly, and very well.
Want to know how I do it? I’ll let you in on my little secret.
Canva is a program that was launched in 2013 to be a simple way to design beautiful and professional graphics. It utilizes a drag and drop format that anyone can use, and I mean ANYONE.
It allows you to take your vision or message and translate it into a design. One that will grab the attention of your readers, clients, or prospects, and pull them in.
I use it to create social media graphics, presentations, videos, logos, and banner ads. I also have a long list of items I plan to use it for in the future: eBooks, welcome packets, opt-in templates, and more.
Want to know what else you can do with it?
You can publish directly from the platform. Meaning, you can create that awesome graphic and you can publish it directly to LinkedIn (or any other social media platform). You can even schedule it to post at a future date and time (which I do, a lot).
I’ll give you an example.
Every Monday, I post a “Monday Motivation” post on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. The graphics are the same every single week. The only thing I change is the quote and the name of the person quoted.
The graphic isn’t anything crazy, but it’s an example of a template I found on Canva. I recently collected 52 motivational quotes that spoke to me as an entrepreneur, copied and pasted them into the template, saved each of them, and scheduled posts for the ENTIRE YEAR. Two hours of work – one whole year of weekly content.
BOOM!
It took me longer to write this post than it did to create and schedule a year’s worth of weekly content.
The Statistics
I’m not the only one who uses Canva for all my content creation. In fact, there are more than 20 million active users on the platform. Since 2013, more than 1 billion designs have been published!
Want to hear the best part?
IT’S FREE!
The free version of the platform allows you to design anything you want. The Pro version provides even more excellent features, like resizing, font uploads, animations, unlimited folders, and over 2 million free photos.
With a free version available, you can test out the platform any time you want. No timed trial, no commitment, no worries.
So, what can YOU be using Canva for?
I put together a list of example content you could start creating today.
10 Things You Can Make for Your Business RIGHT NOW
1. Social Media Graphics
As I mentioned before, I make graphics to go along with my social media posts. Like the one that might have attracted you to this article.
Open up LinkedIn and spend a few minutes scrolling through your feed. Notice how many people are using graphics in addition to text. Social media platforms are designed to keep you scrolling, and scrolling, AND SCROLLING. If you want to create content that stops people mid-scroll, you need to grab their attention. Graphics help do that.
2. Checklists
Any business can benefit from checklists. If you’re like me, you probably have them saved all over the place.
One thing I do for my consulting clients is provide them with lots of checklists. Most of them are starting businesses from scratch and need resources in front of them that they can reference. Canva allows me to create attractive, easy to understand, branded checklists.
For example, I created this checklist for my clients who are going through the process of getting their new businesses insured. Instead of using my time to explain the different types of insurance available and/or required, I now have a nifty resource I can provide that will do the work for me.
3. Infographics
I love making infographics. An infographic is exactly what it sounds like. It’s information displayed in graphic format, rather than just text. The information is often easier to digest and distribute.
I have an infographic I like to use for my clients starting their own firms and thinking about names for their business. I put together a few of my best tips in a Word document, then I opened Canva, dragged and dropped a few boxes, changed some fonts, added a little flair, and produced a nice resource to share with my clients.
4. Lead Magnets
A lead magnet is also just like it sounds. A valuable resource you can offer to leads that will attract them to your business. I have a lead magnet on my website that new visitors can download after they join my mailing list. I turned a boring one-page Word document into a four-page lead magnet in a matter of minutes.
5. Worksheets
Worksheets are another great way to engage your clients and prospects. Instead of constantly initiating the same practices over and over again, I turned some of my more mundane tasks into activities my clients can complete on their own using worksheets I’ve provided.
For example, I like to talk to my clients about establishing core values early on in their business development. I created a core values worksheet they can use to get a better understanding of the things that are important to them as small business owners.
6. Branding Kit
Branding kits are super important when starting a new business and trying to make your content look uniform. I didn’t understand that concept well enough when I started my business and I paid the price, having to update my fonts, logos, and colors over the years. Developing a branding kit early on is highly recommended.
When I eventually figured it all out for myself, I created a branding kit for my business in Canva, so I could be consistent and on brand with all my marketing efforts going forward.
7. Logos
I’m generally team “Pay an Expert” when it comes to creating logos. I’ve actually used 99designs for most of mine. However, Canva makes it super easy to create them if you want to give it a try. They have some great templates you can start with. I created a few examples for reference.
8. Client Welcome Packets
What better way to welcome clients to your firm than to send them a customized welcome packet? You could include marketing materials about you and your firm, a list of information you need to gather from them, a calendar of events, and contact information. Get as detailed and creative as you want.
9. Calendars/Planners
Calendars and planners are another great resource you can create. I have a social media calendar in the works. It’s currently saved in one of my Canva folders. It’s a resource I plan to provide to my clients that will help them keep on track with their social media presence. The platform has tons of great templates you can use to create your own organizational resource.
10. eBooks
eBooks are a great resource for any business owner. They can be used as simple lead magnets, or they can act as paid resources for your clients.
This is one that’s been on my to-do list for a while. I’m slowly building out all my programs and content. Eventually, I’ll have enough to put into an extensive eBook, and you better believe I’ll create it in Canva.
CLICK HERE to start designing content now!
You will notice that the free version has some limitations. I pay for the Pro version and it’s worth every single penny. I have all my content saved in folders, ready to update or change at a moment’s notice. I’m able to create my own brand kit so my business fonts, colors, and logos are ready to be used for all my content.
I use the platform multiple times a day. Almost every single piece of content I distribute is made in Canva.
If you have questions about Canva or want to chat with me about my own content strategies, reach out via email and we can have a brainstorming session.
Good luck!
In some instances, I may include affiliate links in posts where I recommend specific products. If you purchase something through one of my affiliate links, I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
