Simple Digital Product: Printable Coloring Swatch Page

Introduction

A simple digital download is one of the easiest products to create and sell, mostly because there’s very little upfront cost or investment, with loads of potential for scaling up. If the product does well, it’s possible to make lots of money without increasing any effort. With many of the digital selling platforms, everything is automated, so you just need to upload the file, set up the listing, and then the platform takes care of collecting payment and delivering files. I’ve had tons of experience selling digital files (from the OG brush lettering guides to crochet patterns), so it’s pretty quick and easy for me to whip one up.

In this case, I was creating a product that I needed or wanted to use for myself and I was hoping that other people would have the same problem. It stemmed from being a TikTok Shop affiliate with tons of markers and pens to try to promote. I wanted to be able to color a swatch page with cute graphics, firstly to catch people’s attention, and secondly to show that I’m making original content even though I’m literally showing the same set of pens as markers as before. I was trying to find an existing printable swatch sheet online, but they didn’t quite fit what I wanted, so I made one myself on Canva. At first, it really was just going to be for my own personal use, but I figured I’d try to sell it and see what happens.

Keep reading to find out how I researched whether this would even be a sellable product online and how I designed it in Canva. I’ll also give you a link to the Canvas template file, so you can modify it yourself and create your own swatch sheets.

Market Research

A quick Etsy search for “coloring swatch page” yielded tons of results. This is usually a good sign because it means that other people are looking for or are creating a similar product. If it didn’t sell, there wouldn’t be so many listings and variety.

This screenshot was taken on April 6, 2026. My own listing shows up on second row.

How to Design

The quickest way to design a simple one-page printable is inside Canva. Really, all you need to do is open a new project in the size you want (in my case, a letter sized page, 8.5 × 11 inches) and start adding elements.

  • Text elements: I put a title on the top to say how many colors you can swatch, plus added my username/handle at the bottom as a designer credit.
  • Box: I added a box where the user could write in the name of the product they are swatching.
  • Icons: I originally just wanted a simple heart. I searched in the Elements section of Canva until I found a heart that I liked, and then added it to the page. Canva has built-in tools for duplicating and aligning icons, which is super helpful. I copied my heart icon over to make a row of ten icons, grouped them together, then resized it to fit the width of the design. Then I duplicated each row ten more times so that I ended up with 100 hearts.
  • After I was happy with the 100 hearts page, I tried it with other icons I thought would be eye-catching. Honestly, I picked the peach, eggplant, and poop emoji as engagement bait for TikTok.
  • After I was done designing the swatch pages, I downloaded them as PDF files (to provide as instant download to anyone who purchases, you can have them for free, linked below in the Appendix) and as PNG files (to use in a mockup for the product listing photo).
  • Product listing graphics were also created in Canva in a different project, with different dimensions. Save as PNG to upload as the cover image for your e-commerce platform.
  • Iterating in real-time: I started using the 100 color swatch pages with pens, but found the icons to be too small to color with larger markers, so I went back to Canva and made a set of sheets with bigger icons. Five to each row, and then duplicated as many times as would fit on the page.

Access this template on Canva

Pricing and Where to Sell

My plan here was to make this printable a no-brainer price of $0.99. It was originally a one-page PDF (that turned into being two pages of PDFs), so I kept the price low. I figured that if I could sell hundreds of them, that would be totally awesome.

I also wanted to keep it simple in regards to where to list online to sell. There are so many different platforms available for selling digital products and there’s a wide variety of fees and pricing structures for everything. Plus, the prices/fees change all the time. If you want me to create a spreadsheet calculator to do comparisons, let me know, I can can do that in the future. For this simple product, considering how low it was priced, I put it on two platforms that had zero fees, and then also added one of my variations to Etsy to see if it would sell within the open marketplace.

Beacons

I use Beacons as my link in profile on all my social media platforms and recently learned that they have an digital product section where you can list your items for sale. Since I planned on people wanting to buy these pages straight from my social media accounts, this seemed like the logical first place to list them. There’s no setup fees and you get paid when the product sells (minus whatever payment processing and transaction fees).

Left: Digital listings collection at the link in bio; Right: Individual product page

Click here to sign up for a free Beacons account.

Payhip

So Payhip is another storefront platform you can use with no startup costs or fees. I already had an account here, so I decided to list the swatch sheets for sale here too. If I were driving traffic to a specific website, this is where I would point them to because their transaction fees are less than Beacons. (current pricing and fees) I also like using the pay-what-you-want feature because some people will pay more than the listed price if they think it’s worth it. Or if they feel like being generous.

Click here to sign up for a free Payhip account.

Etsy

With Etsy, there’s the possibility of buyers finding your item through the search function without you having to send traffic there yourself. However, that audience of buyers comes with a cost. If you don’t already have an Etsy shop, there’s a setup fee. And for every listing you post to sell, there’s a $0.20 listing fee. Then add transaction and payment processing fees. (current fees description) That means that even if you don’t sell anything, you’re out the setup and the listing fee. For a $0.99 digital product with no proven sales anywhere else, this is not ideal. So even though I have four different swatch sheet designs, I only listed one of them online, just to see if it would find a buyer. It has not.

Etsy Referral Link. If you use my link to open a new shop, both of us will get 40 free listings.

Marketing and Results

My plan here was not really a plan. I was going to actively use the swatch sheets to showcase the pens and markers that I’m promoting on TikTok shop, repost the videos on Instagram, and hope that someone would say “ooh, that’s cute, where do I get a coloring page?”. And one person did. I sold one download via my Beacons shop. That’s it.

I shared in my weekly email newsletter that new coloring swatch sheets were available in my shop, but no conversions. My email list is kind of a mess right now anyway, so it’s not an effective marketing tool. I’ll have to think of ways to optimize that another day.

I took a break from making coloring videos for awhile because I wasn’t seeing sales of the pens and markers, so then I wasn’t making any content with the coloring pages. So there’s kind of the death of the product. No content, no eyeballs, no sales.

I started posting a few coloring page videos here and there in recent months, again, trying to sell pens as a TikTok Shop affiliate. No sales on pens, but when I re-posted the video onto Instagram and Facebook, I get thousands of views. So my next plan is to try more coloring page videos, ditch the TikTok Shop link, and add text to the screen telling people that can buy the swatch page in my Payhip shop. We’ll see how that goes.

Conclusion

This product was not a hit for me. I still think it has potential. I even think that someone else could market this better than I could. Considering how many similar listings exist on Etsy, I believe that there are potential buyers. The process of creating the digital product and listing it for sale is always going to be the easiest part. The marketing and attracting buyers is the hardest part. I’m not quite ready to give up on it yet, so I’ll keep experimenting with posting on different platforms. Maybe it’ll hit someday in the future.

Also, if you want to promote these as an affiliate, sign up here and you’ll earn 50% commission.

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Penalty Box Queer Hockey Romance Book Series by Ari Baran

Game Misconduct by Ari Baran (2023)

Contemporary romance. Book 1 of the Penalty Box series. Another strong start to an MM hockey romance series. Mike is pretty lonely and used to getting into fights on the ice, most often with rival player Danny. They meet unexpectedly in an alley in a queer neighborhood in Mike’s town and have an angry backalley hookup. Only to be repeated when they see each other again after a game. This is a super slow burn romance, with the progression from Twitter DMs, to Snapchat convos, to exchanging real numbers. But once they actually realize they like each other and not hate each other, the connection between them is so much fun to read. Content warnings for Danny’s alcoholism and depression.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

Delay of Game by Ari Baran (2023)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Penalty Box series. Friends to friends with benefits situation here, with pretty boy screw up Zach and the all-around good guy captain Nate. They’ve been buddies for years, with possible deeper feelings, but no one makes a move until one drunken night. And then they keep doing it, but tell themselves it’s for good luck so they keep winning hockey games. But like, Zach is the total golden retriever who thinks he’s doing a great job at wooing Nate, but also not verbalizing his feelings. Emotional angst all around when things fall apart because both of these dummies are too scared of ruining the friendship to say out loud what they really want.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

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Home Ice Advantage by Ari Baran (2024)

Contemporary romance. Book 3 of the Penalty Box series. Workplace rivals to lovers to so much more here. Ryan is basically dumped by his wife and offered a new job all in the same week, with a new position as head coach. Unfortunately for him, the assistant coach Eric also wanted to job and is totally resentful of Ryan. What starts as angry bickering, turns to angry sex, and then a genuine connection between these two. I loved reading their relationship develop and them learning more about each other. It was just so easy for them to fall into the patterns of being real partners, especially since they see each other at work all the time. Loved this book so much. I mean, I love this whole series, so you should just read them all.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Hoopla.

Shop this book via Barnes & Noble // Libro.fm

Goaltender Interference by Ari Baran (2025)

Contemporary romance. Book 4 of the Penalty Box series. Second chance romance here between Aiden and Matt. They’ve been apart for like a decade, but meet up again after Aiden is retired and Matt is in New York with his family. They start casually angrily hooking up, with very little in the way of conversation. It’s pretty much a very slow rekindling of their relationship, especially after Aiden goes to stay with Matt in Montreal. Neither of these guys is willing to be direct or ask for what they want because they’re afraid of bursting the bubble they have right now. Add in Aiden’s post-retirement depression and we have a recipe for tons of angst. Not my fave of the series, but still a great read.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Hoopla.

Shop this book via Barnes & Noble // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

Digital Reading Journal | Light Academia Notion Reading Tracker Template | Minimal Book Log & Review Planner

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Weekly Reads: April 6 to 12, 2026 (formula one romance, historical fantasy, contemporary romance)

First to Finish by Rebecca J. Caffery (2026)

Contemporary romance. Book 2 of the Pole Position series. Poor Johannes is in a rough place with his secret boyfriend being a total asshole. Heartbreak all around really. And it’s affecting his racing. Luckily, his race engineer Caleb is super competent. And also super hot. The tentative build of their friendship and relationship was so much fun to watch. Plus Caleb is way better for Johannes than the old boyfriend. Loved this one.

Advance ebook provided by One More Chapter via NetGalley.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

The Governess’s Guide to Spells and Managing Misfit Marquesses by Amy Rose Bennett (2026)

Historical fantasy romance. Book 2 of the Parasol Academy series. Governess Mina kidnaps a viscount when she thinks the young boy is in danger. A magical mishap brings her and Christopher to another ship in motion, where she meets Phinn, the Marquess of Kinsale. He’s got his own problems being a former prizefighter with a noticeable accent and stammer. However, he ends up enlisting Mina’s help with his etiquette and speech. It’s an obvious sort of slow burn romance here with Mina and Phinn falling in love, and I enjoyed how Phinn basically rescues a street urchin to have an excuse to hire a governess. It might be one of my fave microtropes. No third act breakup here either.

Advance ebook provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn (2026)

Contemporary romance. Standalone novel. Layla is about to have the most awkward week of her life, attending her ex-sister-in-law’s wedding in Paris while her ex-husband (the bride’s brother) is bringing his new girlfriend. Awkwardness made worse when she meets Grumpy Griffin on the airplane and then finds out he’s the groom’s best friend and best man. And Griffin is clearly operating under some chronic pain and major anxiety. Dual POV here as Layla and Griffin stick together to deal with the bride’s cold feet. Both Layla and Griffin are very guarded and not willing to overshare at first, but they just seem to have that instant energy connecting them. Finally learning Griffin’s backstory and how he became injured will break your heart. Ugh, the loveliest book. You should definitely read it. Avoid if you’re sensitive about a recent breakup, I think.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby. Advance audiobook provided by Penguin Random House Audio.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

.

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

Digital Reading Journal | Light Academia Notion Reading Tracker Template | Minimal Book Log & Review Planner

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

New Guide: How to Monetize Your Bookstagram (or Booktok) with ShopMy

Are you a book lover who would love to make some extra money? You don’t need a blog or a tech degree to start earning from your bookish content. I’m handing you a straightforward blueprint for setting up your ShopMy account so you can start making money. From account setup to linking your Instagram (or TikTok) posts, it’s all included in the guide.

You’ll get a step-by-step guide delivered on Notion, so it’s easy to read on your phone, video tutorials embedded in the guide, and best of all, you don’t need a blog or a website. Click here to get the guide if you’re ready to start!

Buy the guide


Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

Digital Reading Journal | Light Academia Notion Reading Tracker Template | Minimal Book Log & Review Planner

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Belles of London Historical Romance Book Series by Mimi Matthews

The Siren of Sussex by Mimi Matthews (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 1 of the Belles of London series. Another amazing romance from Mimi Matthews. Evelyn is in London for the Season and intends to make her impression on the marriage mart on horseback. And that means hiring the lesser known, but very talented habit-maker, Ahmad. It’s pretty much sparks at first sight here, on top of mutual respect for each others’ talents. But they’re different classes, different races, and a pairing between them will not solve their respective financial problems. But they definitely grow closer as Ahmad goes from just making Evelyn’s riding habits to making all of her dresses, and it’s easy to see how they slowly fall in love.

Ebook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews (2022)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Belles of London series. This one is a marriage of convenience story with Beauty and the Beast vibes. Julia is the daughter of sickly parents and has social anxiety. She thinks that no one wants to marry her because of her awkwardness, but Captain Jasper Blunt is very much interested. He needs a wealthy wife to restore his estate and care for his three illegitimate children. Nevermind that he’s known as a monster and has a huge scar on the side of his face. But Julia sees beyond the rumors and the appearance and notices that he’s actually very kind to her. So when she needs help getting away from her parents, she proposes to him. It’s delightful seeing her being both vulnerable and bold, and I love a protective husband. And Jasper is keeping secrets, which are so much fun to uncover. Another stellar book from Mimi Matthews.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

The Lily of Ludgate Hill by Mimi Matthews (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 3 of the Belles of London series. If you want to talk about yearning, this book is the one to read. We spent the first two books of this series seeing the animosity between Anne and Hart, but really, they have a history as childhood friends and then a brief romance followed by a huge falling out. When Anne needs a favor, she asks for Hart’s help in rescuing her friend. And he has conditions. But as they spend more time together, it’s clear that they still have feelings for each other, buried under all that bickering. This whole book is super angsty and makes you feel all the feelings. I loved slowly uncovering what went wrong all those years ago and what they’re doing now to make things right. Loads of family drama on both sides of the relationship, which definitely brings more challenge to the romance. Loved this book.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews (2024)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 4 of the Belles of London series. Final book of the series and ties back to the Parish Orphans of Devon series. Stella and Teddy had a brief meeting once at an art gallery (in Book 3) and she’s shocked to find him at the Christmas house party that she’s attending. She’s especially embarrassed because she normally has grey hair but has dyed it for the party. He’s just happy to see her because he’s an artist who is captivated by her beauty and wants very much to paint her. But that’s not at all proper and they seem to disagree how to the proceed here. What follows is a super slow burn romance with each of them dealing with their separate troublesome families. I loved seeing these two assert their independence together and learn to trust each other.

Ebook and audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

Digital Reading Journal | Light Academia Notion Reading Tracker Template | Minimal Book Log & Review Planner

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Weekly Reads: March 30 to April 5, 2026 (historical romance)

Can’t Get Enough of the Duke by Lenora Bell (2026)

Historical romance. Regency-era England. Book 2 of the Thunderbolt Club series. Dex is shattered by war and made a battlefield promise to his lieutenant to find and care for the man’s daughter. It takes him a few years to track her down, but he’s able to find Analise and bring her home as his ward. The goal is to find her a husband and get her settled, but she’s a fiery hoyden who’s not interested in that at all. She wants experiences and adventures to write about in her novels, and ends up in a compromising situation with Dex himself. Luckily, he’s ever the honorable sort, so they end up married. She’s got all the tempestuous emotions and slowly breaking down his walls, and he’s totally enamoured of her, even if he’s slow to admit it. Delightfully entertaining.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Advance audiobook provided by Harper Audio.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

The Scoundrel and the Siren by Christy Carlyle (2026)

Historical romance. Victorian-era England. Book 2 of the Princes of London series. Awkward first meeting for Dom and Tess who are at odds in a noblewoman’s library. Luckily, they meet again very soon at the site of an archeological dig. Attraction is strong between these two, but Dom is usually the carefree rake and Tess has been burned by a gentleman before. They have to work together at the dig and grow closer along the way. The flirtatious banter is delightful and I loved seeing Tess be the one to tame Dom. Loved it.

Advance ebook provided by Avon Books via NetGalley. Audiobook borrowed from my local library via Libby.

Shop this book via Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Bookshop.org // Libro.fm

Want to keep your own reading organized? Try this digital reading journal template!

Digital Reading Journal | Light Academia Notion Reading Tracker Template | Minimal Book Log & Review Planner

Thanks so much for reading this post! Looking for more bookish resources and romance book reviews? Read the archives!

Useful Resources:

Read more about getting the most out of your library card

Want an intro to historical romance series? This post will help!

Learn more about Kindle Unlimited

Get my massive guide of all the romances I’ve read on Kindle Unlimited

Read an introduction to fanfiction

Learn more about sources for reading fanfiction

Follow me on Instagram at @randomolive

Shop my handmade bookmarks on Etsy

Support this page with a donation

Affiliate links may be used within this post. If you make a purchase, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.

Thanks for reading Random Olive Reads! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Who’s Olive?


Hi, I'm Olivia, aka Olive. I'm always trying out random crafts and things... so this blog shows the evolution of all the stuff I'm interested in.

Hobby Timeline:
2014-2015: Photography, digital scrapbooking
2015-2017: Brush lettering
2018-2021: Crochet
2021-present: Romance book reading