Are you wondering how to be a TPT seller? You might have found yourself googling, ‘can you actually make money on Teachers Pay Teachers?’ or ‘is it worth selling on TPT?”
Well, the answer is yes!
I started my Teachers Pay Teachers store, ‘Terrific Teaching Tactics’, in late 2015. I was making resources for my own students and I thought, ‘why not share them?’ so I did. I now sell on TPT full time and I really enjoy it!
I want to show you how to start selling on TPT. Maybe it will be your passion project or side hustle. Or maybe you’ll become a full time teacherpreneur some day. I can’t wait to help you.
I am going to answer some questions you might have so that you know how to sell successfully on Teachers Pay Teachers!
1.) I’ve been thinking about selling on TPT but I’m not sure. Should I try it?
Yes. Worst case scenario is you spend time uploading some worksheets and you don’t become a millionaire. But the best case scenario? You earn lots of money for things you’re making anyway for your students. Do you want to share your resources? Do you want to make some extra money? Then sign up!
2.) I want to start selling but I have no idea where to start. What’s the first thing I should do?
Make an account. If you already have a buyer account, simply switch to a seller account. It’s literally that simple!
3.) So, I am signed up as a seller. What now?
I recommend exploring the TPT website. There is nothing worse than feeling lost. Explore, explore, explore. Complete the TPT university. Let them show you the different areas. Check out the Seller’s Forum. Read blog posts and watch videos if you must. Feel confident with the platform and then you can start uploading.
4.) Okay, I know my way around TPT. What should I do first to set myself up as a seller?
Select your store name. This is a crucial step. It must be something original (search and check that no one else has it or has something similar). Make sure it describes you and make it interesting or catchy. You can always change it later (but that can be annoying).
Tip: I don’t recommend last names or grade levels like ‘Miss Thomas in Third’. If you get married or teach another grade level someday, you might regret that name. Changing names later can be a nightmare. I suggest selecting a name that fits well with your niche and the products you’re going to sell.
5.) I’ve picked the perfect name, now what?
Make sure everything is ship shape behind the scenes. Get your account in order. Provide your payment info so TPT can pay you. Ensure you’ve given TPT an email that you check. Select your email preferences so you can get their tips. Fill out your store profile. Basically ensure you’ve got everything in order on ‘My Account’.
6.) It seems there are two types of seller account. What do I choose?
This topic is worth a whole blog post (check it out here), but I’ll try to keep it brief. Start on the basic free account and set yourself up. Familiarize yourself with TPT, set up your store, and upload a few products. You can certainly spend a few weeks getting yourself ready. But you WILL need to upgrade after those first few weeks. Check out my blog post about why you need to upgrade. The image below is for your reference.
7.) I need logos and banners. Help?!
Yes, you will need to make your store presentable. But don’t feel rushed. Pretty banners can wait. Product creation is first priority. Your logo however is something you can upload. Start with a picture of you or create a logo in PowerPoint using your store name. There are some awesome people out there who can create your branding for you (they will design a stunning logo etc). Here’s someone I recommend.
8.) My store is ready. How do I upload resources to sell?
TPT requires your first upload to be a free item. This will be your ‘Primary Freebie’ so that buyers can assess the quality of your work before they buy your paid products. Yes, buyers are judging you, so make the freebie good!
Go to your dashboard and click the green button ‘add a new product’. Make your resources in PowerPoint, Keynote, or Canva. Avoid MS Word at all costs, it’s a nightmare to drag images around. Check out my blog post here for tips when it comes to uploading to TpT.
9.) How do I make my resource suitable for TPT?
Something you make for your students can’t be uploaded to TPT as is. There is a standard on TPT, where buyers expect quality resources that they can’t just make themselves. Again, this topic is a whole blog post that I need to write!
But in short, search TPT for free fonts, clip art, borders, and frames etc. Make sure you can use them for commercial use and download like crazy! Research other products on TPT. Look at how other sellers are making their products attractive. Are they using Times New Roman font on Microsoft Word with dodgy internet clip art? No!
10.) How do I protect my work?
Put your copyright at the bottom of each page (the copyright symbol + your store name + the year). Flatten your worksheets so people can’t edit them or lift clip art. Do this by saving your PowerPoint slides as images and then re-inserting them. Save as a PDF. Probably a blog post for another day!
So, I know you probably have a million other questions. I have million other pieces of advice I want to give! If you’re looking for more tips and advice, join the Terrific Selling Tactics community by signing up with your email HERE and get tips straight to your inbox!
Alternatively, follow me on Instagram @terrificsellingtactics. The free tips will keep on coming! If you’re looking for all the answers in one place, consider checking out my TPT Seller Course.
So, I hope you’ve found this post useful. I can’t wait to share more!
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