What I Learned While Creating My First Notion Template
Behind the scenes on building a template that wasn't just pretty, but practical.
When I decided to turn my internal Notion system into a product, I thought it would be a simple export. It wasn't. The first version was too complex — too many properties, too many automations. I had built a system for me, but not for someone else.
The turning point was stripping it down. I asked beta testers what they actually needed, then deleted everything else. That's when the template became useful. Simplicity isn't about fewer features; it's about clarity of purpose.
I also learned that documentation matters. A template without a walkthrough is like a tool without instructions. I recorded a Loom video and wrote a simple guide. It reduced support emails by half.
Now, every template I release goes through the same process: build, test, strip, document. It's slower, but the result is a product that people can use without a manual.