Now that you have an idea, it’s time to build the template in Notion. Focus on functionality first. A template needs to actually make life easier or more organized, otherwise it won’t stick (or go viral). Then you can polish it to look great and be intuitive.
Key steps in designing the template: - Map out features on paper or a doc: Before diving into Notion, outline what sections and databases you’ll need. If it’s a “student hub,” perhaps sections for class notes, assignment tracker, reading list, schedule calendar, etc. Think through how data might relate (maybe link assignments to class notes via relations). A clear structure plan prevents messy revisions later. - Build the databases and pages: In Notion, start creating the main databases (tables/boards/calendars) that form the backbone. Set up properties (due dates, tags, etc.). For example, an assignment database with properties like due date, subject, status (to-do, done), and a relation to a “Classes” database. - Add Notion’s advanced features for wow-factor: Consider using formulas, relations, rollups to automate things. Users love when a template does some magic for them. E.g., a rollup in a class page that shows how many assignments are pending for that class (computed from the assignments database). Or a formula that auto-calculates a progress percentage. These make your template stand out as “smart” and save user effort. - Make it intuitive: Put yourself in a new user’s shoes. Name things clearly (“Assignments” rather than something cryptic). Use Notion’s toggle lists, headers, callout blocks with instructions. For instance, at the top of the template, you might have a callout block saying “👋 Welcome! Duplicate this template to your workspace and fill in your classes in the ‘Classes’ table below. Your assignments will then auto-link in the calendar! (see guide below).” Simple onboarding notes can reduce confusion and improve shareability (people are more likely to recommend a template that’s easy to use). - Test, test, test: Run through use cases. If it’s for students, pretend to be a student for a week using it. Are you missing a piece? Perhaps you realize a weekly review checklist page would help, so add that. If possible, have someone in your target audience beta test it. Their feedback is gold. Maybe they find something unintuitive or a bug (like a formula not updating correctly).
After the template works correctly and comprehensively, then pay attention to aesthetics: - Visual appeal matters for virality: Templates that look good have an edge because people will screenshot/share them more. Use consistent emoji or icons for sections (Notion allows adding an icon to pages – gives a nice visual cue). Consider a cover image or banner (some creators add a custom-designed header to make it look branded). - Spacing and layout: Avoid giant walls of text or clutter. Use columns to utilize wide screens. Group related elements with toggle lists or indented toggles to create a visually hierarchical layout. A common approach is a dashboard style – key stats at top, then databases below. Make sure it doesn’t feel overwhelming. White space is your friend. - Theming: You could apply a theme (like minimalistic grey, or a pastel color scheme). Notion doesn’t have native color themes beyond dark/light mode, but you can use colored emoji or certain unicode characters for decorative bullet points, etc. Subtle stylings go a long way. Some creators even share template packs with a specific aesthetic (e.g., “neutral aesthetic planner”). - No bugs or dummy data left: Double-check you removed any test data that shouldn’t be in the final (unless you’re including example data to illustrate usage – which can be helpful, just make sure it’s clearly sample and easy to delete). Check all relations and formulas are properly set and reset (like if you created a linked database view filtered by your name, change it to a filter that will work for the new user generically). - Performance: If it’s large with many databases, does it load reasonably? Efficiency matters because if it feels slow or cumbersome, people might drop it.
Remember, as Nick Lafferty (who made a significant income from a single notion template) said, ease of use and design are crucial to success. People will pay for something that’s polished and pro feeling, even if there are free rougher versions out there.
You might end up iterating a few times. That’s fine – better to perfect it pre-launch so early adopters become evangelists rather than support headaches.