Create Page Layout in Sharepoint

Steps to Create a Simple Page Layout:

Step 1:

Site Actions --> Site Settings --> Modify All Site Settings --> Master Page and Page Layouts --> New --> Page Layout.

Content Type Group - Page Layout Content Types
Content Type Name - Welcome Page
URL Name - Sample.aspx
Title - Sample Page

Click Ok to finish creating the Page Layout.

Step 2:

Go to Site Actions --> Site Settings --> Modify All Site Settings --> Master Page and Page Layouts and click on the Sample.aspx and CheckIn --> Major Version (Publish) --> Click OK.

Step 3: Go to Site Actions --> Site Settings --> Modify All Site Settings --> Master Page and Page Layouts and click on the Sample.aspx and Approve/Reject --> Approved --> Click OK.

Open Sample Page Layout in Share point Designer (_Catelogs/MasterPages/Sample.aspx) and do the necessary changes and you can use this for your pages.