I've spent way too many hours in Canva building notebook and planner templates, and I keep seeing the same mistakes tank sales:

1. No visual hierarchy. If every page uses the same font size and color, the eye has nowhere to land. Pick ONE accent color and use it sparingly — for headers, dividers, or icons only.

2. Templates that only work for the creator. A notebook template with your own quirky habits baked in (weird date formats, niche categories) doesn't generalize. Design for the most common use case first, then offer a 'pro' variant with extras.

3. Zero preview strategy. Buyers can't feel a digital notebook before buying. If your listing doesn't show a scroll-through mockup (even a simple screen recording), you're leaving money on the table.

The fix for all three is the same: design fewer pages, but make every page earn its place. A tight 20-page notebook that flows well will outsell a bloated 80-page one every time.

If you're starting from zero and want the full step-by-step (fonts, layout grids, export settings, and how to package for sale), I put together a guide on exactly this. Happy to answer questions here either way.