1. Ask what exactly they doubt
Do not defend the idea in general. Ask: "Is it that people won't pay, or that mine isn't different?" The answer tells you which problem to fix first. Write their objection down word for word, because buyers will say the same thing.
2. Narrow to one job title
"Productivity template" loses the argument. "Client onboarding system for freelance wedding photographers" wins it. Pick one role you understand, like solo bookkeepers, Etsy sellers, PhD students or recruiters at small agencies, and one painful workflow they run every week.
3. Find people complaining about that workflow
Search Reddit for real pain, not template talk. Try "site:reddit.com r/freelance how do you track clients" or browse r/Notion, r/NotionTemplates, r/Etsy and r/PhD for posts like "my system is a mess." Save 10 posts from the last month where someone describes the exact problem your template solves.
4. Build the smallest version in a day
Do not build a 40-page dashboard. Build the one database and two views that fix the complaint you found. Record a 60-second Loom walking through it. That is enough to sell.
5. Reply helpfully, then offer
Answer the Reddit or forum post with real advice first, then add the offer, following each community's self-promotion rules. Example: "I had the same mess with client intake. I built a Notion setup with one intake database and a status board. Here's a 60-second walkthrough. Happy to send it for $19 if it fits." Send 10 of these, not 100 generic posts.
6. DM people you already know who fit
Your doubting friends know people. Ask: "Do you know a freelance designer who struggles to track invoices? I'd love 10 minutes of their opinion." Show the template on a call, ask what's missing, and if they like it ask directly: "Would you pay $19 for this today?"
7. List it where buyers already browse
Put it on Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy with the Loom on the page, then submit it to Notion's template gallery and Notion Everything. Use the job title in the name, like "Wedding Photographer Client CRM for Notion." Charge from day one, even if it's $9.
8. Show your friends the receipt, then repeat
One sale settles the debate better than any argument. Ask that buyer what almost stopped them from buying and put their answer, in their own words, on your sales page. Hulby, an AI cofounder, can find these posts and draft these replies for you daily if you want help keeping the routine going.
Mistakes to skip
- Arguing with friends instead of testing the idea with strangers who have the problem.
- Building a giant all-in-one workspace nobody asked for.
- Posting "check out my template" in r/Notion with no context or help.
- Giving it away free to "get feedback" instead of asking for a small payment.
Want this done for your Notion template business, every day?
Hulby finds the people asking for what you built, writes every reply and email, and keeps you on it until they pay. Free to start.
Find my first customersQuestions
Do people really pay for Notion templates?
Yes, when the template solves a specific job for a specific role. Generic planners compete with free ones and rarely sell.
What should I charge for my first template?
Start between $9 and $29. Low enough to be an easy yes, high enough to prove someone values it.
How do I know my niche is too narrow?
If you can find 10 recent posts of people describing the problem, it is wide enough to get first sales.
Should I ignore friends who doubt me?
No. Use their objections as a list of what buyers will worry about, then answer them on your sales page.