How to Make Digital Planners: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Make Digital Planners: A Step-by-Step Guide

Digital planners are a fantastic way to organize your life, manage tasks, and stay on top of your goals without the bulk of physical notebooks. If you’ve ever wanted to create a personalized digital planner, this guide will walk you through the entire process. Whether you’re looking to make one for personal use or to sell online, crafting a digital planner is easier than you might think. Let’s dive into the step-by-step process!

Step 1: Choose Your Design Software

Before creating a digital planner, you’ll need the right design software. The good news is that you don’t need to be a professional designer to create a beautiful, functional planner. Here are some popular options for beginners and professionals alike:

  • Canva (for beginners): Canva is a user-friendly online design tool with plenty of templates, fonts, and icons. Its drag-and-drop features make it a great choice for those who want to create a digital planner quickly and easily.
  • Adobe InDesign (for professionals): InDesign offers advanced features and flexibility for creating detailed planners. This option is best for those with more design experience or looking for professional-grade results.
  • Keynote or PowerPoint (for beginners): Both Keynote and PowerPoint are excellent tools for creating planners, especially for those familiar with presentation software. They also allow for interactive features, like clickable links.
  • GoodNotes: If you’re specifically creating a planner for the GoodNotes app, you can design your planner directly in the app itself or create one in another software and import it.

Once you’ve chosen your software, you’re ready to begin designing your planner.

Step 2: Decide on the Layout and Purpose

The next step is to determine the layout and purpose of your digital planner.

What will you be using it for?

A general life planner?

A fitness planner?

A budgeting planner?

The purpose will guide the design and the features you include.

Here are some key elements to consider for your layout:

  • Monthly, weekly, or daily spreads: Decide how you want to structure your time. A combination of all three can offer a comprehensive planning tool.
  • Goal-setting pages: Add sections for setting short-term and long-term goals.
  • To-do lists and checklists: Include daily or weekly to-do lists to help with productivity.
  • Habit trackers: Help users track habits such as workouts, water intake, or reading.
  • Notes and brainstorming sections: Blank or lined pages for jotting down ideas or journaling.
  • Progress trackers: Add sections where users can track their progress, whether for fitness, finances, or academics.

Once you have a clear idea of the purpose and layout, sketch out the design on paper or use a template to plan how each page will look.

Step 3: Design Your Planner Pages

Now comes the fun part—designing your planner pages! If you’re using Canva or Adobe InDesign, you can either start from scratch or choose from pre-made templates. Make sure your design is clean, easy to use, and functional.

Here are some design tips for creating an effective digital planner:

  • Choose a theme: Decide on a consistent color scheme and font style. Neutral tones with pops of color often work well for planners.
  • Keep it simple: While you want your planner to be visually appealing, avoid clutter. Make sure there’s enough white space and that the design is easy to navigate.
  • Use headings and subheadings: Clearly label sections like “Daily Tasks,” “Goals,” or “Deadlines” so users can easily find what they need.
  • Use grids and tables: These are helpful for sections like habit trackers, to-do lists, or timetables.
  • Incorporate icons or images: Add icons or small images to represent different tasks, but avoid overloading your design.

It’s important to design each section with the user in mind—keep the layout functional and visually appealing.

Step 4: Make the Planner Interactive

One of the best features of digital planners is the ability to make them interactive. By adding hyperlinks to your digital planner, users can easily navigate from one page to another.

Here’s how to add interactive features:

  • Clickable tabs: If you’ve designed your planner with tabs for each section (like “Monthly Overview” or “To-Do Lists”), make those tabs clickable. This allows users to quickly jump to different sections of the planner.
  • Internal links: In tools like Canva, PowerPoint, or Keynote, you can create links that take users to specific pages within the planner. For example, clicking on a specific date on the monthly calendar could take the user to the corresponding daily or weekly planning page.
  • External links: You can also add hyperlinks to websites or resources. For example, if you’re creating a fitness planner, you could link to workout videos or meal plan resources.

The interactive features give the digital planner an edge over physical planners and create a seamless user experience.

Step 5: Export the Planner in the Right Format

After designing and making your planner interactive, it’s time to export the final product. The most common file formats for digital planners are PDF and PPT (for PowerPoint-based planners). Most users will use PDF planners on apps like GoodNotes or Notability.

Here’s how to export your planner in the right format:

  • In Canva, you can export your planner as a PDF by selecting the "Download" button and choosing the PDF option.
  • In PowerPoint or Keynote, go to "File" > "Export" and select PDF.
  • Make sure to check the option for “interactive PDF” or “include hyperlinks” so all your clickable links will work.

If you’re creating a planner for a specific app like GoodNotes, you may need to check the app’s file requirements before exporting.

Step 6: Test Your Planner

Before you distribute or sell your planner, it’s essential to test it thoroughly. Download it on the app or device where it will be used, and make sure all the links work properly, the layout looks good, and the planner functions as intended.

Here’s a quick checklist for testing:

  • Do all interactive links work correctly?
  • Are the fonts and colors consistent throughout the planner?
  • Does the layout look clean and readable on different devices (tablets, phones, etc.)?
  • Are the pages easy to navigate?

Once you’ve tested everything, your planner is ready to share!

Step 7: Distribute or Sell Your Planner

Now that your digital planner is finished, you can share it with the world! There are several ways to distribute or sell your planner:

  • For personal use: If you’re creating the planner for yourself, simply upload it to your favorite note-taking app, such as GoodNotes or Notability, and start using it!
  • For selling: If you’re planning to sell your digital planner, you can list it on platforms like Etsy, Gumroad, or your own website. Make sure to include clear instructions on how to download and use the planner.
  • For sharing: If you want to give your planner away for free, consider creating a landing page on your website where users can download it in exchange for their email addresses. This can be a great way to grow your email list while providing valuable content.

Conclusion: Start Designing Your Digital Planner Today

Creating a digital planner might seem like a big task, but with the right tools and steps, you can make a beautiful, functional planner that keeps you organized and productive. Whether you’re making it for yourself, sharing it with friends, or selling it to an audience, digital planners are a versatile and fun way to stay on track with your goals.

By following this guide, you’ll be well on your way to crafting a personalized digital planner that fits your needs and style. Happy planning!

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