Passive Income Brainstorm

How to Create and Sell Notion Templates

The Guide to Designing, Marketing, and Profiting from Your Notion Templates

9 min read4 days ago

Creating and selling Notion templates is one of the easiest ways to start making passive income while helping others get more organized. Think about it — people are always looking for better ways to structure their work, personal life, and creative projects. Notion is an incredibly flexible tool, but not everyone has the time or skills to set it up efficiently. That’s where you come in.

By designing templates that solve real problems, you’re not just selling a digital product — you’re offering people a shortcut to a more organized life. And the best part? Once you create a template, you can sell it over and over again without extra work. It’s a true set-it-and-forget-it income stream. Whether you’re passionate about productivity, personal finance, project management, or content creation, there’s an audience out there looking for exactly what you can create.

But let’s be real — getting started can feel overwhelming. You might be wondering: How do I come up with the right idea? What should my template look like? How do I actually sell it? Don’t worry. This guide will walk you through every step, breaking it down into simple, actionable tasks. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to go from an idea to a polished product ready to sell on Gumroad and Notion Templates.

Step 1: Coming Up with the Right thing

Before you start building anything, you need a solid idea. Not just any idea, but one that solves a real problem for people. Here’s how to figure that out:

Identify a Problem

A great Notion template makes life easier.

Just ask yourself:

What are people struggling with that Notion could help with?
What kinds of templates already exist, and how can I make them better?
Do I want to focus on productivity, finance, personal organization, project management, or something else?

If you’re unsure, spend some time in online communities like Reddit, Twitter, and Notion Facebook groups to see what people are asking for.

Research What’s Already Out There

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel — you just need to make it smoother. Check out:

Notion Templates Marketplace to see what’s trending.
Gumroad to browse popular templates.
YouTube and TikTok for Notion template reviews and walkthroughs.
Search for Notion template case studies or income reports from other creators to see what’s working.

Choose a Template Format

Not all templates are the same. Pick a style that fits your idea:

Dashboards — For organizing a bunch of info in one place.
Management Systems — Like CRMs, financial planners, or project trackers.
Journals & Planners — Daily habit trackers, goal planners, etc.
Content Creator Tools — Blog planners, social media calendars, and more.
Business & Finance Tools — Budget trackers, invoicing systems, or project profit calculators.

Think about your target audience. What kind of layout would make their life easier?

Validate Your Idea

Before you start building, validate your idea to make sure people are interested:

Ask your audience — If you have a social media following, post about your idea and see how people react.
Engage in communities — Join Facebook groups, Discord servers, and Reddit threads where Notion users hang out.
Run a quick poll — Create a Google Form and ask people what kind of template they would find useful.
Look for competitors — If other people are selling similar templates successfully, that’s a sign there’s demand.

If you get positive responses, you’re on the right track. If not, tweak your idea until you find something people are excited about.

Step 2: Building Your Notion Template

Now that you have a solid idea, let’s turn it into something real.

Set Up a Strong Foundation

Open Notion and start a new page. Here’s how to structure it:

Create an Engaging Title — Make it catchy and descriptive.
Write a Short Introduction — Explain what the template does and how it helps the user.
Organize with Sections — Use tables, lists, databases, or galleries to keep things neat and easy to navigate.
Add Smart Features — Use formulas, relations, and filters to automate processes and make the template more functional.

Make It Look Professional

A good-looking template sells better. Here’s how to make yours stand out:

Use Icons and Cover Images — These make your template visually appealing and help with branding.
Add Headings and Dividers — A well-structured template is easier to use and looks more polished.
Choose a Consistent Color Scheme — Pick a few colors that complement each other and stick with them throughout the template.
Include Example Entries — Show users how the template works by pre-filling some sample data.
Keep It Clean and Minimalistic — Avoid clutter; simplicity is key to usability.

Test and Improve

Before launching, make sure everything works smoothly:

Test Different Scenarios — Use your template in various ways to check for bugs or missing features.
Ask for Feedback — Share your template with friends or online communities to get honest opinions.
Make Tweaks Based on Real User Experience — If multiple people struggle with a certain part of your template, improve it.
Ensure Mobile-Friendliness — Notion works on desktop and mobile, so test how your template looks on different devices.

Create a User Guide

Many buyers won’t be Notion experts, so providing clear instructions will add value to your template:

Write a Step-by-Step Guide — Explain how to use each part of the template.
Include Screenshots — Show users exactly where to click and what to do.
Record a Quick Video Walkthrough — A short video can help users understand your template instantly.
Answer Common Questions — Think about possible doubts and address them in your guide.

Once you’ve tested, improved, and documented your template, it’s ready for the next step — packaging and selling!

Step 3: Packaging and Selling Your Notion Template

Once your Notion template is polished and ready to go, it’s time to package it and put it up for sale.

Create a Shareable Link

To sell your template, you need to make it easy for customers to duplicate it into their own Notion workspace. Here’s how:

Click Share at the top-right corner of your Notion page.
Toggle Share to web ON.
Enable Allow duplicate as template so buyers can duplicate it.
Copy the link — you’ll need it for your sales page.

Design a Sales Page

Your sales page is where people decide whether to buy your template. Here’s what it should include:

A compelling title — Make it clear and benefit-driven.
An engaging description — Explain how it helps and what’s included.
Screenshots & GIFs — Show what the template looks like in action.
Testimonials or social proof — If you have beta testers, ask for feedback.
A call to action — Make it easy for people to buy.

You can create a sales page using:

Gumroad (popular for digital products)
Notion (Super.so or Potion.so) for a clean, Notion-style page
Your own website if you have one

List Your Template for Sale

Once your sales page is ready, list your template on multiple platforms:

Gumroad — Set your price (or pay-what-you-want) and upload your template link.
Notion Templates Marketplace — Submit your template for extra exposure.
Etsy — A great place for digital downloads.
Social Media — Promote on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Promote Your Template

Your template won’t sell itself. Here’s how to get more buyers:

Share on Twitter & LinkedIn — Post about the problem it solves.
Make a TikTok or YouTube video — Show how it works.
Offer a limited-time discount — Encourage early buyers.
Use SEO — Optimize your Gumroad page for searches.

With the right marketing, your Notion template can become a steady source of passive income!

Step 4: Submitting Your Template to Notion’s Marketplace

Want more exposure? Submit your template to the official Notion Templates Marketplace.

Prepare Your Submission

Before you submit, make sure you have:

A polished, bug-free template.
A clear and engaging description.
High-quality images and GIFs showcasing your template.
A well-structured Notion page explaining how to use it.

Submit Your Template

Go to the submission page — Visit Notion’s official submission page.
Fill out the form — Provide your template details, including its purpose, features, and pricing (if applicable).
Include your Gumroad link — This is where users will purchase or download your template.
Upload images and screenshots — High-quality visuals increase the chances of approval.
Submit and wait for approval — Notion reviews submissions manually, which can take a few weeks.

Promote Your Listing

Once your template is live on Notion’s marketplace, don’t just wait for sales to roll in — promote it!

Share it on social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Create a demo video and upload it to YouTube or TikTok.
Post in relevant Notion communities and forums.
Offer limited-time discounts or bundle deals to attract more buyers.

Step 5: Marketing and Selling Your Template

You’ve built an awesome template, but now you need people to see it! Without a solid marketing plan, even the best templates can go unnoticed. Here’s how to effectively promote your Notion template and make consistent sales.

Leverage Social Media for Visibility

Social media platforms are some of the best places to showcase your template. Here’s how to make the most of them:

Twitter (X): Share behind-the-scenes content, progress updates, and success stories. Tweet Notion tips and link back to your template.
Instagram & TikTok: Create engaging video clips showing your template in action. Use trending sounds and hashtags like #NotionTemplates.
Facebook Groups & Reddit: Join Notion-focused communities and help people solve their problems. Share your template when it’s relevant.
Pinterest: Create visually appealing pins that direct traffic to your Gumroad or Notion Marketplace listing.

Engagement is key! Don’t just post — interact with comments, answer questions, and be an active part of the community.

Create In-Depth Content for Long-Term Traffic

Content marketing can generate traffic to your template for months (or even years) to come. Consider:

Writing a Blog Post: Publish an article explaining how your template helps solve a problem. Optimize it for SEO so people can find it on Google.
Recording a YouTube Tutorial: Walk potential buyers through the features of your template and demonstrate how they can use it.
Making Short-Form Video Content: Post on TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts showing quick tips or unique features of your template.

This type of content builds trust and establishes you as an authority in the Notion space.

Offer Limited-Time Discounts & Freebies

People love deals, and launching with a discount can drive early sales. Consider these strategies:

Early Bird Pricing: Offer a limited-time discount to the first 10 or 50 buyers.
Free Lite Version: Provide a simplified free version to attract users who might later buy the full template.
Bundle Discounts: Offer multiple templates together at a discounted rate.

Promoting a discount on social media or in email newsletters can create urgency and encourage people to buy sooner rather than later.

Build an Email List for Consistent Sales

An email list is a powerful tool for long-term success. Here’s how to grow and use one:

Offer a Free Resource: Create a free Notion template or checklist in exchange for people’s email addresses.
Send Valuable Content: Regularly share Notion tips, success stories, and special offers with your subscribers.
Announce New Templates & Sales: Keep your audience engaged and excited about your products.

Email marketing helps you build a loyal customer base that will buy from you again and again.

Partner with Influencers & Affiliates

Consider collaborating with influencers or other Notion creators who have an established audience. Ways to do this include:

Affiliate Marketing: Offer a commission to bloggers, YouTubers, or social media creators who promote your template.
Guest Appearances: Appear on Notion-related podcasts, YouTube channels, or live streams to showcase your work.
Cross-Promotions: Partner with other Notion creators to promote each other’s products.

The more people talking about your template, the better!

Final Thoughts

Marketing takes effort, but once you build momentum, sales will start coming in consistently. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different promotional strategies to see what works best for your audience. Keep engaging, improving, and putting your product in front of the right people — and your Notion template business will keep growing!