TeachersPayTeachers has become a big part of my professional life. I’ve had my TpT store for a couple of years, however I only really got serious a little over a year ago. When I decided to get serious, I researched and tried to learn everything I could about product creation, marketing, and everything TpT. I want to share what I’ve learned throughout this journey of selling on TeacherspayTeachers.
What I’ve Learned About Selling on TeachersPayTeachers for One Year
Use Powerpoint
I learned this the hard way, after making an entire bundle on pages (Macs version of word). Before I knew that PowerPoint was the way to go for product creation, I used pages and struggled with formatting things exactly how I wanted it. It was never perfect and it really bugged me. It also took tons of time. Then, I learned that most TpTers use PowerPoint because it’s way easier to format and move things around! Since I learned this, I’ve never looked back and I ONLY use PowerPoint when creating a product.
Using PowerPoint to Create Editable Resources
How to Make Your Product Visually Appealing: A Recommendation for Clip Artists and Font Creators
Invest in Your Business
One thing I kept hearing when listening to podcasts or researching online is to invest in your business. From the day you open a TpT store, treat it as your business, not just a hobby. When you look at it as a business, you take more seriously and so does your potential buyers.
When I started a store, I knew I wanted to start a blog to have a platform to market my products. I invested in a blogging course, Elite Blog Academy. With this course, I learned how to start my blog, what’s important in blogging and how to get my posts seen. I’ve also invested in my business by buying quality clip art. Yes, there are a lot of cute free clip art sets online, however if you want to create quality products, you must purchase some quality clip art. Although I’ve sort of become clip art obsessed, especially for Creating4theClassroom‘s clip art, I know it’ll pay off in the long run because my products have that professional look.
Learn How You Can Best Market
When you first start out on TpT, there’s so much to do and you already feel like your behind when looking at all the other TpT authors out there. I know that marketing is important for business because how are your buyers going to find you if you don’t market? What I learned was to focus on one or two platforms. I learned what platforms I was best at and enjoyed most. Those platforms are Instagram, Pinterest and blogging. I have a Facebook as well but haven’t put any time into it because I just haven’t had the time to figure it out yet, and that’s okay! Facebook isn’t something I use in my personal life, so it just didn’t call me the way the other platforms did.
How to Use Group Boards on Pinterest to Market TpT Products
All You Need to Know About Tailwind Tribes
How to Use Tailwind to Market TpT Products
Why You Should Have a Teacher Instagram
Take Your Time on Your Products
Of course I probably don’t need to tell you this, but it’s so important to take your time on your products. I’ll be honest, sometimes (especially when I’m making a big bundle) I’ll get bored with it and want to just finish it and throw it up, so that I can be done and can work on something new and more exciting. When I feel this way, I know that I’m not in my best creating mood. Instead of creating, I’ll focus on a different aspect of my business like the marketing or blogging. Then, when I’m feeling inspired or energized, I’ll work on creating or finishing a product.
Only Make What You’re Going to Use in Your Classroom
You know your grade level best which means you’re an expert in what your students are learning, what they struggle with and how to best engage them. It just doesn’t make sense for a kinder teacher like me to create fifth grade content. It also wouldn’t be helpful to me, my students or my classroom. When you make things you’re going to use in your classroom, you’re more enthusiastic and believe in your products more.
Test Out Your Products
When you create resources for the classroom, you also need to test them out. I cannot tell you how many times I’ll make something, have my students use it and they’ll say something like “it’s hard to read” or “what do we do?”. Sometimes, I even catch a spelling mistake, oops! When you test out your products with your own class, you’re able to see what works and what you need to change, before you put it up on TpT. This eliminates some not so good reviews that you could receive from having these problems.
TpT is Not a Get Rich Quick Situation
I’ve been selling for a little over a year on TeachersPayTeachers and although I have seen a ton of growth, I’m no where near a top seller or making what I want to make. It takes a ton of time and lots of energy to earn money on TpT. My advice to new sellers is to keep on making quality products and do not give up. Once I had about 50 products in my store, I saw more sales. Now that I have this blog, I’m seeing even more sales. Keep on chugging along and you will make it!
