Are you interested in learning how to create a digital planner? I know I was the second I came across them! I had just gotten a new iPad and Apple Pencil and I wanted to see what all I could do with my new toy (besides just work on my blog). That’s when I discovered digital planners!
I loved this idea! It took away all the things I didn’t care for with a physical planner and gave me all the things I didn’t know I was missing with a digital one! Check out my post here that goes more into detail on that but for now, let’s talk about creating your very own digital planner!
Programs to Use to Create a Digital Planner
There are a bunch of different programs you can use to create a digital planner. It is all based on preference. All you really need is a program that can create a PDF. Now if you want your planner to have tabs that link to certain parts in your planner, then you would need a program that can save hyperlinks in the PDF.
I have a Mac so I have become best friends with Keynote, which is Apple’s version of PowerPoint. Keynote allows you to use hyperlinks in your PDF. Hyperlinks in your PDF is how you are able to link from the front of your planner to a certain section or month in your planner. It is also how you can link to webpages from your planner as well.
If you are using an iPad to use your digital planner then it is very easy to just use the Keynote app to create your digital planner. You just create it, save it, then upload it into the note-taking app of your choice to actually use the planner!
If you aren’t using an Apple product then no worries, there are still other ways you can create and use your PDF for your digital planner.
Some of the main programs that allow you to add hyperlinks in a PDF are:
Microsoft Word
PowerPoint
Keynote
Google Docs
Like I said there are many more but most people either use Google, Microsoft, or Apple. All of those allow you to create PDFs with a hyperlink. At least all of those programs just allowed me to when I tested them out to make sure.
So if you are using one of those and it doesn’t you may need to update it because I know that I couldn’t before on PowerPoint but now I can.
Pages to Include in Your Digital Planner
Now that you have picked a program to use you need to decide how your planner is going to look and what pages you are going to include. This is all personal preference too and the best way to decide is to do a little research.
When creating mine, I Googled digital planners and I looked through all the different ones and decided which styles I liked or didn’t like.
I decided how some of them made sense to navigate through and some didn’t. Again, just go through and get some different ideas. As long as you aren’t going to try and resell your planner it is okay to have yours similar to someone else’s.
You do not, however, want to copy someone else’s and then try and sell your planner. That’s a big no-no so don’t do that.
Important Pages
Here are some examples of pages you can include in your digital planner.
Index Page
Habit Tracker
Monthly Calendars
Daily Schedule
Weekly Spreads
Cleaning/Chores
Lists
Tasks
Stickers Page
Meal Planning
Budgeting
Medicine Chart
Important Dates
Address
Blank pages
Dotted Grid Pages (like a bullet journal)
Etc!
This is where creating your planner gets fun! You get to customize each page to what is best for you!
Add charts, graphs, and fun layouts!
Programs to Use Your Digital Planner
After you have finished creating your digital planner and saved it as a PDF you can now upload it into your favorite note-taking app.
I use GoodNotes and it is amazing, I really do love it. It is only available on Apple devices and it does cost about $8 bucks. But really $8 is pretty cheap and it’s worth it in my opinion.
You can also use Notability or OneNote. Any app that will allow you to upload a PDF and edit it. Once again, it is all about preference. You just need to be able to edit the PDF for you to be able to actually use your digital planner like a normal planner.
Once you have picked the app and uploaded your digital planner PDF, you are now free to fill it all in and get your life completely organized at your fingertips!
Need some more help?
This post is just a quick guide to explain how digital planners are created but if you are looking for a more detailed explanation and someone to help guide you through every step of the process, then check out my Digital Planner Creation Mini-Course.(Which is on an early bird sale right now until December 15, 2019!)
In my mini-course, I will help guide you through creating your own digital planner. Here is what is all included in my course:
A Walkthrough on How to Create Your Digital Planner
Which Programs to Use to Create a Digital Planner
The Different Styles and Types of Digital Planners
Here is More Information on the iPad and Accessories That I Got.
iPad Pro
This is the exact iPad that I bought. I did go with the lower storage because I need to get a hard drive anyway so this way I can just get one of those and save money on buying the extra storage.
We looked into purchasing the iPad through our phone carrier to add data to it but that costs more also. Plus we found out that our T.V. provider has hotspots I can use when I am away from home. Just some things to think about!
I wanted the bigger screen so that was my main priority. I wasn’t as worried about storage because I have a bigger icloud storage plan and then again I plan to get an external hard drive to save all pictures and important documents on it.
Now I don’t pretend to be all tech-savvy, I know just enough to get by. I know that I am a busy mom and this all makes my life easier and more portable. I do want to say that it comes with a completely new charger.
Supposedly it is to be able to connect to your computer better or other techy stuff I don’t understand but my point is no more USB on one end and no more of the other normal end that all Apple products have.
The cord has the same end on each end. So either way, it connects to your converter to plug into the wall and then into the iPad to charge. Just a heads up.
Keyboard
Then since I got the bigger screen I had to get this keyboard that fits it. They are both 12.9 inches so that gives plenty of room for using your screen and typing on a good-sized keyboard, not a tiny one.
The iPad connects magnetically to the keyboard and there are three dots on the back of the iPad that connects it to the keyboard.
Then you can have it in different positions to adjust it to your liking while typing. Then when you aren’t using the keyboard you can fold it over to close and you will hear the iPad lock. Also, you can flip it around and under the iPad to quickly use the iPad only.
Apple Pencil
Then, of course, I got the Apple Pencil 2nd Generation that is compatible with the iPad Pro. It is very sleek and easy to use.
There are no buttons, it looks and feels just like a regular pencil. It doesn’t erase like one although I think it should. I keep wanting to flip it around and erase with the pencil eraser like you normally would.
But just a heads up it doesn’t work like that. Another fun feature of the Apple pencil is that it connects to the side of your iPad magnetically to charge.
This is great to keep track of the pencil and know that it is always charged up. No plugging it in or cords involved! Once you connect it to the iPad it will tell you what charge the pencil is at as well.
I don’t know if I will do that or not because with the new pencil it senses when you double-tap to erase. Also, I don’t know how the gripper affects it charging magnetically or staying safely on the side of the iPad. I worry that it might come off and I would lose it.
How to Make Extra Money for Christmas with Pinterest
Christmas is just around the corner and you are probably thinking how can I make extra money for Christmas this year? Well, what if I told you there is a way you can do that with Pinterest?
Yes, you read that correctly. There is a way to turn something you probably do all the time, pin on Pinterest, into a money-making machine.
Now there are actually multiple ways you can use Pinterest to make money. The two that I am going to share with you today are the ones that can start earning you extra money sooner than the other ways.
Affiliate Marketing on Pinterest to Make Extra Money for Christmas
You may have heard all about affiliate marketing already but let me share, for those that haven’t, what affiliate marketing is. It is pretty much getting paid to advertise for other companies.
Amazon was the first big one to roll it out. Instead of paying to advertise online they offered to give a commission back to those that advertised for them on their own sites. For example, if someone went to a blog or website and clicked on the advertisement for an Amazon product and then purchased something from Amazon after clicking that link, Amazon would pay that blog or website owner a commission for the sale.
It has since grown into a huge deal where almost all companies have some sort of affiliate or “influencer” program. And it isn’t only for purchases either, some pay for leads and other things now too.
Pinterest allows you to pin affiliate links so that is one way you could start making some extra cash before Christmas. Become an affiliate for a product you love and share it on Pinterest!
Now you can also share an affiliate link (where allowed) on your other social media accounts but they won’t get you nearly as far as Pinterest will. Unless you have millions of followers on your social media accounts.
There is more to it than just slapping some affiliate links on to Pinterest but overall that is just one option of making money for Christmas with Pinterest.
Sell Your Own Product on Pinterest to Make Extra Money for Christmas
Just like how you can create pins to sell other company’s products, you can create pins to sell your own products. This doesn’t mean you have to sell a physical product either.
If you already have a physical product that you sell and you are just looking to up your sales before Christmas than Pinterest would be perfect for that.
However, if you don’t have a physical product a very quick and much easier method is to sell a digital product. A digital product can be anything from a printable, an eBook, coloring pages, cookbook, or even a course.
If there is something you are knowledgeable about and you can create a digital product to share it with others than you can create a pin on Pinterest and sell your digital product.
Don’t worry about it not being perfect or professionally made. You can create your product in a Word Doc and save it as a PDF and ta-da! You now have a digital product to sell on Pinterest.
Keep in mind that your product should be more than just words on a paper. You will want to give it a cover page, an index, chapters, resources, and so on.
Make sure that you are solving a problem for your readers and make it worth buying. I just want to be clear I am not suggesting to just throw something together.
Think about if it is something you would spend money on? Yes? Then you are fine! If not, then you need to fix it up a little before trying to sell it.
Speaking of Christmas I have an awesome Christmas deal for you!
Grab all these printables that fit in 8×10 frames for only $1! This is a very easy, simple, and inexpensive way to add more Christmas decor to your house this year!
Questions on How to Make Extra Cash for Christmas with Pinterest
You probably have a bunch of questions right now like:
Do I need a special Pinterest account to do all this?
How do I find affiliate programs?
How do I sign up for affiliate programs?
What are the rules that go along with all this?
How do I get paid for selling my own products on Pinterest?
How long does it take to get paid?
Do I need a website or blog to do this?
And many more I am sure. It really isn’t as complicated as you think so stick with me and I will answer those questions for you.
Do I need a special Pinterest account to do all this?
Yes, you have to have a Business Pinterest Account.
How do I find affiliate programs?
You can go to affiliate networks that host a bunch of the big name company’s affiliate programs or a simple Google search works too. If all else fails it is usually listed on the company’s bottom menu on their website.
How do I sign up for affiliate programs?
Each program is different and if they host their own affiliate program you just follow the steps they provide. Or if you go through an affiliate network then you follow the steps provided on there.
What are the rules that go along with all this?
There are a few different rules to make sure you are compliant with the FTC and disclose that you are an affiliate of that company, not the actually company. Also this openly let’s people know you are receiving a commission for sales made. Make sure you read through the terms of each affiliate program to see if they allow you to pin on Pinterest. Then make sure you add in your Pinterest pin description #affiliatelink to disclose it is an affiliate link.
How do I get paid for selling my own products on Pinterest?
Depending on if you have physical or digital products is how you will get paid. You need to use some sort of platform to make the transactions through. Example: Etsy. You can use Etsy for either your physical or digital homemade product. If you are looking to just do digital and you don’t want to go through the hassle of setting up an Etsy store, you can also try SendOwl. They offer a free trial and a very low plan after that.
How long does it take to get paid?
Each affiliate program has its own payout schedule so that just depends. I would say the average is 30 days. However, if you sell your own products you could get paid the same day the sale is made.
Do I need a website or blog to do this?
Technically the answer to this is no. You don’t have to have a website or blog. Some affiliate programs may want you to but not all of them do. For selling your own products, you don’t have to have a site either besides somewhere that you can make the transaction through for your product. If you are wanting to start a blog and promote your affiliate links on there for more added income than you can learn more here.
This sounds perfect but I have more questions, help me!
Don’t worry! If you are thinking “Yes, pinning on Pinterest sounds like the perfect way to make extra money for Christmas!” But you still have some unanswered questions then check out Paid by Pinterest by Elise McDowell.
I took this course and it walks you through exactly what you need to do to start earning money by pinning on Pinterest. Elise started earning money on Pinterest when she created a quick PDF and listed it for sale by pinning it on Pinterest. She also made her first affiliate sale in 24 hours. Then the rest is history! Now she shares all of her success and how you can achieve it too in her course!
How to Prevent Your Pinterest Account from Getting Suspended
1000+ Group Boards for All Different Niches
Free Canva Templates by Social Digital Designs
10k in 12 months eBook
I tend to make things more complicated than they need to be so I love how straight and to the point Elise is on getting you up and running to make extra money and just in time for Christmas! Check out Paid by Pinterest and get started today!
Affiliate Program Checklist
Once you start applying to different affiliate programs it can get confusing to try and remember which ones you have applied to, which ones you’ve been accepted in, which ones allow pins on Pinterest, etc. So, I created this free affiliate program checklist to help you keep track of all of your applications. I hope it helps keep you organized!
