Desktop publishing has been around for several decades, allowing anyone with a computer to create newsletters, brochures, invitations, and more. However, one drawback with many self-publishing applications is the intense effort it takes to master them. Enter Canva, the online design and publishing tool launched in 2013. With Canva, even newbies can easily and quickly design various items using Canva's WYSIWYG platform, templates, and a drag-and-drop interface. Today Canva also offers an affiliate program that many say is fantastic. If you'd like to determine that for yourself, read on. We have all the details about Canva's program below to give you the info you need to make an educated decision about becoming a Canva affiliate.
The easiest way to become a Canva affiliate is to go to their affiliate webpage and click "join now." Like several other affiliate programs, Canva's is run by Impact, and clicking the link takes you there to apply. As with anything you need to apply for, the registration page asks for the basic information, including name, address, and email, and you need to create a password. That's the easy stuff. The more difficult stuff includes the following:
• The company name under which you promote affiliate products.
• The type of platform(s) you will use to promote Canva's platform. (Website, YouTube, social media, mobile, etc.)
• The name you wish to be displayed on your account.
• The Domain name and URL of your website.
• The type(s) of promotional activities you will use to promote Canva. (Email, content marketing, SEM, social media, etc.)
• Your agreement with their terms and conditions.
Canva, like any major brand, is looking for affiliate marketers who represent their company in a positive, PG-rated light. They look for affiliates who already have an established presence online, whether through a blog, website, YouTube channel, or social media page. More than that, they look for affiliates who genuinely love design and know what makes the Canva platform so valuable and powerful.
One of the bigger and, frankly, more difficult criteria that Canva looks for in an affiliate is someone who already is getting over 1 million followers a month on whatever channel they're using. That's a huge number and, if you're a newbie, will be nearly impossible to achieve, at least for a time. Besides that, Canva also looks for the following criteria to approve your affiliate application:
Canva is all about making design accessible to the common layperson. They look for affiliates who can show and explain how their product and platform work in an interesting and entertaining way while inspiring others to pursue their design dreams. Well-written, informative and engaging content is a must.
If you're not on social media, you will want to get started before you apply to become a Canva affiliate. They look for people who are social media experts and, if possible, influencers.
We already mentioned how Canva looks for affiliates seeing 1 million+ visitors on their sites. If that's you, then a large, engaged following is something you already have and shouldn't be a problem. If not, building up your following first is highly recommended.
The good news is that once you've submitted your application, Canva will typically respond in 24 to 48 hours, so you won't be waiting long to get your answer. If you're approved, an email saying so, and giving you the instructions you need to get started, will arrive in your email. If you're not approved, it's usually due to:
• Low relevance to Canva's product.
• A following that is too small and has too few fans or traffic.
• A platform that is too new.
The only product that Canva offers is its Canva Pro subscription. They offer two flavors, if you will, including a 1-year subscription and a monthly subscription. Compared to many affiliate programs, earning commissions on a single product is rather limiting, to be sure. You get nothing if the potential subscriber doesn't pick one of the two. There are, however, several features you can promote to get your visitors, fans, and followers to sign up for a Canva subscription. You don't make money on these, just FYI, but they are good "bait" to attract visitors and make the subscription sale. They include:
• Brand Kit
• Magic Resize
• 420,000 Templates
• Background Remover
• Version History
• Content Planner for Social Media Posts
• 75 million+ Photos, Videos, and Graphics
• Video Editor
• Unlimited Folders
• Template Designer
• 3000+ Premium Fonts
• Massive Cloud Storage
• Team Accessibility
• Premium Animations
• Custom Logs and fonts
• Custom Files
• 25,000+ Audio Tracks
If a subscriber who signs up with your link chooses the 1-year subscription, you'll receive a commission of $36. and the same $36. every year they re-subscribe. If they sign up for the monthly subscription, you'll receive a smaller commission but only for the first two months that they continue subscribing.
That, basically, is it. Once someone subscribes, there's nothing else they need to purchase, so there are no other products that will pay you a commission. For many affiliates, this is a big drawback. For designers, design teachers, and those with a huge following online looking for the best design app, however, promoting Canva can be an additional source of extra income with very little effort.
Frankly, making $1000 a month through Canva might not be the easiest task. With only one product to promote that pays up to $36.00, you'll have to sell many subscriptions to the Canva Pro plan to reach that threshold. Don't get us wrong, it's not impossible, especially if you have a huge following on your website, social media, or YouTube channel. It's just that, numbers-wise, it's an uphill battle. Below are a few examples of what it would take to earn $1000 a month as a Canva affiliate.
• Canva's Pro Plan Subscription = $36.00 profit per sale.
• 28 Sales x $36.00 per sale = $1008.00
To generate 28 customers to purchase in a month, you would need a 1% conversion rate and 2800 visitors to your website or social channel per month.
• 2,800 visitors x 1% conversion rate = 28 sales x $36.00 commission per sale = $1008.00
If you had a 2% conversion rate, you could make the same $1008.00 commission but with only 1,400 visitors to your website.
• 1,400 visitors x 2% conversion rate = 28 sales x $36.00 commission per sale = $1008.00
While those numbers might not look so difficult to achieve, remember that Canva's product is very specific and niche. Only those who want to design their own stuff will need or want what Canva offers. It's also not a physical product but a virtual service, making it more difficult to sell. Lastly, Canva isn't the only self-design and self-publishing brand on the market. You've got several others, including:
• Visme
• Adobe Spark
• Design Wizard
• Easil
• Snappa
• Crello
• Stencil
• PicMonkey
One of the best ways to promote Canva is via a website, where you can show off all the company's self-publishing tools. Well-written, engaging content is the key, especially "How-To" articles that explain to newbies how to use the various Canva products and features. A YouTube channel would also be an excellent method to promote Canva and earn via their affiliate program. As we've seen, both would need to be well-established and already seeing some big numbers, traffic-wise, for the commissions to start rolling in.
• Up to $36.00 for every Canva Pro subscription based on the subscription period. (1 year or monthly.)
• Recurring income every time a referral signs up for another yearly subscription.
• Excellent customer support.
• A top-notch Dashboard showing you stats and sales.
• No payout limit and a low payment threshold
• A 30-Day Cookie, which is excellent.
• Many free promotional tools
• Canva's free plan will stop many from purchasing the Pro plan.
• They require you to be well-established first, so not a great fit if you're just starting as an affiliate marketer.
• Canva's affiliate page lacks a lot of needed information.
There aren't many self-design and self-publishing brands with affiliate programs, but there are a few that you might want to take a closer look at, including:
• Wix
• Adobe
• Pixlr
• Snappa
• PicMonkey
• Stencil
• Easil
Canva's affiliate program isn't bad, but because of its lack of products, it isn't the easiest platform from which to earn affiliate dollars. They are, however, one of the few where you can make residual income when customers who have signed up with your link re-subscribe for their Pro plan with a yearly subscription. Canva is well-known and respected and one of the best self-design / self-publishing brands on the market, with many desirable features. If you're already in the design space and have a considerable following online, becoming a Canva affiliate might be an excellent way to earn extra money.