A Beginner's Guide to Using Canva for Small Business

Looking to take your marketing materials to the next level? Have you heard about Canva but feel a bit intimidated by the idea of using it? I understand! Although I’ve been using Canva as my graphic design tool of choice for years, and find it very user-friendly, I can see where it would be very overwhelming.

That’s why I thought it would be helpful to break down the barriers so you can learn how to use Canva confidently. Once you understand a few basics, Canva will get easier and quickly become your “go-to” tool for creating anything! I am so passionate about Canva — you’ll often hear me state that learning to use Canva is one of the best decisions you can make for your business.

As a small business owner, your time is precious, and you need tools that are both effective and easy to use. That's where Canva comes in. With Canva, you can create stunning graphics, presentations, social media posts, videos, logos, business cards, and more – all without needing any design experience.

Here are just a few ways Canva can benefit your business:

1. Professional-looking Graphics: Using Canva’s premade templates you will impress your audience with eye-catching graphics for your website, social media, and marketing materials.

2. Brand Consistency: Canva’s Brand Kit feature ensures brand consistency across all your materials by storing your brand's colors, fonts, and logos.

3. Save Time and Money: With Canva's easy-to-use templates and drag-and-drop interface, you can create beautiful designs in minutes, saving you both time and money compared to hiring a professional designer.

4. Access Anywhere: Canva is cloud-based, so you can access your designs from anywhere with an internet connection, whether you're in the office or on the go.

Now that you're convinced of the benefits, let's dive into how to get started using Canva to apply your business’s branding to a template.

How To Get Started In Canva

Step 1: Create Your Account

1. Visit Canva's website and sign up for a free account using your email address or social media login.

2. Once logged in, you'll be prompted to choose the type of account you want. For most small businesses, the free version of Canva will suffice, but you can upgrade to a paid plan for additional features if needed.

Step 2: Set Up Your Brand Kit

1. Navigate to the Brand Kit tab on the left-hand side menu.

2. Here, you can upload your company's logo, choose your brand's colors, and select your brand's fonts. This will ensure consistency across all your designs.

How to Create Your First Design In Canva

Step 3: Create Your First Design

1. Click on the "Create a Design" button on the homepage to choose the type of design you want to create.

2. Browse through Canva's extensive library of templates or start with a blank canvas.

3. Once you've selected a template or blank canvas, you can customize it to fit your brand by adding your logo, changing the colors and fonts, and inserting your own photos or graphics.

Step 4: Apply Your Brand Kit

1. To apply your brand kit to a template, simply click on the element you want to customize (e.g., text or shapes).

2. In the editing toolbar that appears, click on the color or font dropdown menus to choose from your brand colors and fonts.

3. You can also upload your logo directly onto the design and resize it as needed.

Step 5: Export Your Design

1. Once you're satisfied with your design and ready to use it, click on the "Download" button located in the top-right corner of the Canva interface.

2. Choose your preferred file format (e.g., PNG, JPG, PDF) and select the quality settings.

3. Click "Download" to save your design to your computer or device.

4. You can now use your design in various ways, such as uploading it to your website, sharing it on social media, or printing it for physical materials.

Exporting your design from Canva is quick and straightforward, allowing you to easily incorporate your custom creations into your marketing materials and online presence. With this final step, you've mastered the basics of using Canva for your small business!

With practice, you'll become more comfortable using the platform and unlock even more possibilities of what you can create! What I love most about Canva is that it helps your brand look professional without always relying on an experienced designer. Whether you're creating social media posts, flyers, or presentations, Canva has all the tools you need to be creative!

Looking for more Canva help? Check out another blog post from The Marketing Concierge, My Favorite Canva Tips And Tricks!

If you are anxious to dig deeper into your marketing needs as a busy small business owner, take our FREE Marketing Assessment. Once you complete this 10-minute questionnaire, you’ll receive a free report telling you where your marketing is currently working, and where you can make improvements.

Or, schedule a FREE 30-minute consultation with The Marketing Concierge HERE.