To create an ebook with Canva, write your text first in Google Docs or Word, then open Canva, search for an "ebook" or "workbook" template, paste your chapters into the pages, add your cover, and download it as a PDF. Canva's free plan is enough for most ebooks. Keep the design simple: readable fonts, plenty of space, and pages that look good on a phone screen, because that's where most Ghanaian buyers will read it.
Before you open Canva
Finish the writing first. Designing while you write slows you down and leads to half-finished books. If you haven't written it yet, see how to write an ebook in 30 days.
Have ready:
- Your final text, with chapter headings.
- Any photos, charts or screenshots you'll include.
- Your title and subtitle.
Step 1: pick a size
For ebooks read on phones and laptops, A4 or US Letter portrait is the standard. Workbooks people print also suit A4. Search Canva for "ebook", "workbook" or "guide" templates.
Step 2: choose a simple template
Pick one with:
- A clear heading style and body text you can read without zooming.
- Light backgrounds (dark pages waste ink if someone prints, and can be tiring to read).
- A few page types: cover, chapter opener, text page, checklist.
Change the colours and fonts to match your brand once, then keep them the same throughout.
Step 3: build the pages
- Cover: title, subtitle that promises a result, your name. Big and readable as a small thumbnail.
- Inside cover: who it's for and what they'll get.
- Contents page with chapter names.
- Chapters: paste text a few paragraphs per page. Don't cram.
- Checklists and tables: make them easy to use.
- Last page: what to do next and how to find you (your store link, socials, your next product).
Design rules that make it look professional
- Body text 11–14 pt, headings clearly bigger.
- Two fonts at most: one for headings, one for body.
- Margins on every page. Text touching the edge looks cheap.
- Consistent spacing: same gap above every heading.
- Your own photos or properly licensed images. Canva's free library has plenty.
- Check on your phone before exporting. If you have to zoom to read, the text is too small.
Step 4: export the PDF
Click Share → Download → PDF Standard. Use "PDF Print" only if people will print it professionally. Check the file size: smaller files download faster on mobile data.
Step 5: make a cover image for your sales page
Create a separate design (a square 1080×1080 or a 3D-style mockup) showing the cover. That's what you post on social media and use as the product image.
Step 6: sell it
On Paylead:
- Create a digital product, upload the PDF and add the cover image.
- Set a price (most ebooks in Ghana sell for GH₵ 30–GH₵ 150), or make a short version free to build your email list.
- Turn on a download limit and link expiry to make sharing harder.
- Share the link. Buyers pay by MoMo or card and get the PDF by email straight away.
Frequently asked questions
Can I sell an ebook made with a Canva template?
Canva's licence lets you use its free templates and elements in designs you sell, as long as you've changed and added your own content and aren't reselling the template itself. Check Canva's licence page for details.
What's the best format for an ebook in Ghana?
PDF. It opens on every phone and laptop without a special app, and keeps your design exactly as you made it.
How do I make a 3D book mockup?
Search "book mockup" in Canva or use a free mockup site, then place your cover on it.
Read next: how to market your ebook in Ghana and how to sell templates in Ghana.
