• My Account
  • My Cart
  • Checkout

Terrific Teaching Tactics

Make Learning Fun

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Shop
    • Wishlist
    • My Account
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • For Teachers
    • Blog
    • Shop My TpT Store
    • Free Resource Library
  • For TPT Sellers
    • Blog
    • Podcast
    • Facebook Group
    • TPT Seller Courses
    • Coaching
  • Contact Me
  • 0 items

My Top 10 Tips for Becoming a Successful Seller on Teachers Pay Teachers

Hi there!

I’ve been selling on TPT for years and I’ve turned my lil teacher side hustle into a full blown business. Now I want to share some words of wisdom with you on how YOU can become a successful seller on TPT.

Quick side note: I’m hoping you’ll find these 10 tips useful, but sometimes a blog post just doesn’t cover it all! If you’re looking for MORE tips and advice for selling on TPT…

Top 10 Tips

Join the Terrific Selling Tactics community by signing up with your email HERE and get free tips straight to your inbox. If you’re a social media/visual person, check out my Instagram which is FULL of free tips and advice for selling on TPT. Follow along HERE.

Anyways, let’s get started! I am going to share 10 tips that transformed my growth.

Top 10 Tips
Your graph can be like this too.

1.) Spend time (and it takes time).

TPT is ALL about time. You have to spend time creating and marketing your resources and then sit about and be patient because it takes time to see success. If you think TPT is a get-rich-quick scheme or that it doesn’t require much effort, you’ll be disappointed. So, the no.1 reason I found success was that I started spending hours and hours working on TPT. Then I was patient.

2.) Create quality products.

You can spend all the time in the world on TPT, but if you’re not making good products, no-one will buy them. When I say quality I mean fun, engaging, interesting, or original products. Trust me, I’ve made products that are boring or over-done. Sometimes I just haven’t put much effort in. They didn’t sell. My good products have ensured my success, my poor quality ones have not.

3.) Make attractive products.

You can have the most original idea in the world, but if your product is unpleasant to look at, people will not buy it. I’m talking quality fonts, clip art, and visually appealing pages. The next tips about marketing will be impossible if you don’t do this step. It’s very hard to dress up an unattractive product.

4.) Create a stunning cover.

So you’ve got a perfect product, that’s great. But no-one will ever know about (let alone buy) it if they don’t click on it. They won’t click on it if the cover is unappealing. People judge books by covers, so they’ll judge a product by its cover. Create an eye catching product cover for every product. ASAP.

Top 10 Tips
My original covers were…(cry face).

5.) Make your product listing irresistible.

So, a fantastic cover gets people to click on your product but it does NOT make them buy it. I’m referring to thumbnails, previews, and descriptions. TPT is a business. You’re asking people for money for your product. You’ve got to sell it to them with an enticing product listing that makes them think ‘I NEED this product!’ So, write an amazing description and show the product well in thumbnails and previews. Get them interested.

Top 10 Tips
An example of a thumbnail I use.

6.) Photograph your product.

That bit on my graph where it suddenly went zooming upwards? A big contributor to that was product photography. One day, I printed one of my worksheets. I filled it out, colored it in, and photographed it (during and after completing it). It literally changed my business. I use ‘in-action’ product photography shots on covers, thumbnails, pins, and Instagram posts. People need to visualize what the activity will look like. Just do it, trust me.

Top 10 Tips
In-action shots are a game-changer. Goodbye screenshots!

7.) Have a lot of products.

I’m all for quality over quantity. In fact, tip no. 2 is ALL about quality. But it’s impossible to be successful on TPT without quantity too. Think about it statistically. You could have 20 or 30 great products, but I have 300. I come up more in the search engine and I’ve got products for every topic. Unfortunately, a teacher might not find something they like in your 20 products. But they might find something in my 300. It’s simple really. You need stock. Empty shelves don’t make sales. This ties in with tip no.1 – spend time creating!

8.) Pin, Pin Pin.

Pinterest is dear to me. It was my first form of marketing and it is still my biggest source of traffic outside of TPT. Create lots of quality pins for every product and you’re set. Remember that bit on my graph that shot up? Remember tip no. 6 about product photography? Well I took those pictures and plonked them on Pinterest. In fact, I sat down and did in action photos and pins for like 100 products over a few weeks/months. I had to play catch up.

Pin
Don’t pin product covers or screenshots of worksheets. Please! Do in action photos like this.

9.) Learn from others.

Research what other successful people are doing. Read blog posts, take courses, or join Facebook groups. Look at posts on Instagram (like mine!). Learn and grow. You’ll pick up tips from people who have been there, done that. They can make sure you don’t make the same mistakes that they did. But don’t do everything they do. Sometimes people pressure new sellers to do everything or spend lots of money (‘Write a blog, do email marketing, start social media, invest in this, invest in that’). Don’t end up broke and stressed. Check out my Instagram for free tips.

Insta
Follow me for free advice. And message me if you need help!

10.) Enjoy what you do.

I’ve made boring products or forced myself to do things I didn’t want to do. I just ended up resenting TPT and losing motivation. Make products that you enjoy making. Skip the boring bits and try to have fun. This ties in with tip no.9. Don’t feel pressured to do things you don’t want to do. I spent years creating products, pinning, and spending NO money. Only now do I blog, do email marketing, invest in lots of things. Because I have the money, time, and head space to handle it. Take things one step at a time. You got this.

So that’s it. My 10 tips for success. Everyone’s journey is different but some of those tips are a MUST for success on TPT. I bet you have a million more questions and you’re dying for more tips. Sign up to my email community HERE or follow me on Instagram. I’m here to help.

terrific teaching tactics

P.S, If you want all the answers in one place, check out my TPT Seller Course!

Sharing is caring!

«
»

TPT Seller Blog Posts 4

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Markela says

    December 4, 2020 at 5:29 pm

    Hey Alexandra! Very helpful tips, thank you! I’d love to read a post on how to take good photos of the products. Everytime I try, they’re just not good or visually appealing. :/

    Reply
    • Alex says

      December 7, 2020 at 8:02 am

      Hey Markela! Thank you, I’m so glad you enjoyed the post.
      That’s a great idea! I will definitely do a post on product photography 🙂

      Reply
  2. Jeff says

    July 12, 2022 at 8:04 pm

    Thanks! Good motivating infomation. Just getting started buy you gave me that confidence to keep going!

    Reply
    • Alex says

      July 13, 2022 at 5:32 am

      Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the post 🙂

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Hi, my name is Alex! I love creating fun, colorful, and engaging resources for the early years. I’ve taught 3rd and 1st grade and I’m passionate about creating interactive activities that engage all learners Read More…

Teachers

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Cart

Teacher Sellers

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Cart

For Teachers

Interested in FREE resources? Become a V.I.P.

Click here to join

For TPT Sellers

Interested in TIPS for TpT? Join the community.

Click here to join

Categories

Footer

Teacher Instagram

Comment VERBS and I’ll send a link to these swee Comment VERBS and I’ll send a link to these sweet grammar centers that are 25% off thanks to the TPT sale 🍭🍬 

#secondgrade #secondgradeteacher #secondgraderocks #secondgradeteachers #secondgradeclassroom #secondgradetribe #secondgradewriting #secondgrader #secondgraders #secondgradelife #secondgradefun #secondgradehomeschool #iteachsecond #iteachsecondgrade #iteach2nd #iteach2ndgrade #2ndgrade #2ndgradeteacher #2ndgraderocks #2ndgradeclassroom #2ndgradeteachers #2ndgrader #2ndgradewriting #2ndgradefun #2ndgradelife #2ndgraders #2ndgradehomeschool #2ndgradeadventures #iteach2 #secondgradeliteracy
Comment NOUNS and I’ll send you a link to these Comment NOUNS and I’ll send you a link to these cute centers that are 25% off right now thanks to the TPT sale! 🎉

#secondgrade #secondgradeteacher #secondgraderocks #secondgradeteachers #secondgradeclassroom #secondgradetribe #secondgradewriting #secondgrader #secondgraders #secondgradelife #secondgradefun #secondgradehomeschool #iteachsecond #iteachsecondgrade #iteach2nd #iteach2ndgrade #2ndgrade #2ndgradeteacher #2ndgraderocks #2ndgradeclassroom #2ndgradeteachers #2ndgrader #2ndgradewriting #2ndgradefun #2ndgradelife #2ndgraders #2ndgradehomeschool #2ndgradeadventures #iteach2 #secondgradeliteracy
Comment SANTA so that your students can join the t Comment SANTA so that your students can join the thousands of other students that have done this cute craft!

I’ll send you a link to this best selling letter to Santa activity! Trust me, it will be a hit in your classroom🎅🏻 

#santacrafts #santacraft #christmascrafts #christmascraft #christmasbulletinboard #xmascraft #xmascrafts #firstgradeteacher #firstgradeclassroom #firstgradeteachers #firstgraderocks #firstgradewriting #firstgradeart #firstgradecrafts #firstgradetribe #firstgrader #firstgraders #firstgraderesources #firstgradecenters #1stgrade #1stgradeteacher #1stgradeart #1stgraderocks #1stgradeteachers #1stgrader #1stgraders #1stgradelife #1stgradefun #iteach1st #iteach1
Comment INB if you and your students are sick of w Comment INB if you and your students are sick of worksheets or lined writing paper and want to try something hands-on, fun, and engaging! These interactive notebooks will help your students plan their writing ✍🏻 

 #Writingcurriculum #writingprompts #writingteachers #writingteacher #writingworkshop #writingworkshops #writersworkshop #writinglessons #writinglesson #writingcenter #writingcenters #writingforkids #writingactivity #writingactivities #iteachwriting #kindergartenwriting #firstgradewriting #secondgradewriting #thirdgradewriting #literacycenters #literacycentres #literacycenter #literacycentre #literacylearning #elateacher #elateachers #iteachela #iteachelementary #interactivenotebooks #interactivenotebook
If as a 2nd grade teacher, comment INFO and I’ll If as a 2nd grade teacher, comment INFO and I’ll send you a link to my informational writing unit that includes these posters! ✍🏻

#secondgrade #secondgradeteacher #secondgraderocks #secondgradeteachers #secondgradeclassroom #secondgradetribe #secondgradewriting #secondgrader #secondgraders #secondgradelife #secondgradefun #secondgradehomeschool #iteachsecond #iteachsecondgrade #iteach2nd #iteach2ndgrade #2ndgrade #2ndgradeteacher #2ndgraderocks #2ndgradeclassroom #2ndgradeteachers #2ndgrader #2ndgradewriting #2ndgradefun #2ndgradelife #2ndgraders #2ndgradehomeschool #2ndgradeadventures #iteach2 #secondgradeliteracy
Teachers aren’t paid well. They create a side hu Teachers aren’t paid well. They create a side hustle where they can make money from resources that they are making anyway. Resources they probably made on their own time completely unpaid. Asking them to give that away for free is why we have this problem!

It’s horrifying, but now I’m starting to see why teachers are so underpaid. Because if teachers themselves believe they should be doing things for free all the time, this problem is never going to get fixed! 

Let me know your thoughts! Whether you are pro TPT or not, I’m curious to hear. 

#tpt #teacherspayteachers ##firstgrade #firstgradeteacher #firstgradeclassroom #firstgradeliteracy #firstgradeteachers #firstgraderocks #firstgradetribe #firstgrader #firstgraders #firstgraderesources #1stgrade #1stgradeteacher #1stgraderocks #1stgradeteachers #1stgrader #1stgraders #1stgradelife #1stgradefun #iteach1st #iteach1 #iteach1stgrade #iteachfirst #iteachfirstgrade #iteachfirsties #teachersfollowteachers #teachers #teacher
I want to laugh at the irony, but it’s too sad! I want to laugh at the irony, but it’s too sad! What’s something admin has done that you think is driving teachers to leave the profession?

#iteachk #iteachkinder #iteachkindergarten #iteachkinders #iteachfirst #iteachfirstgrade #iteachfirsties #iteach1st #iteach1 #iteach1stgrade #iteach123 #iteach12 #iteach2nd #iteachsecond #iteachsecondgrade #iteach2 #iteach2ndgrade #iteach2ndgraders #iteachthird #iteachthirdgrade #iteach3rd #iteach3 #iteach3rdgrade
How do you feel about districts blocking TPT? Tell How do you feel about districts blocking TPT? Tell me in the comments!

#iteachkindy #iteachk12 #kindergarten2 #kindergartenteacher #kindergartentips #firstgradeteacher #firstgradeclassroom #1stgradeteachers #1stgrader #1stgraders #1stgradelife #secondgradeteacher #secondgraderocks #secondgradeteachers #secondgraders #secondgradelife #secondgradefun #2ndgradeteacher #iteach2 #thirdgradetribe #thirdgradeteacher #thirdgradeteachers #thirdgraderocks #thirdgradeclassroom #thirdgrader #thirdgraders #thirdgradelife #3rdgradeteacher #3rdgradelife #3rdgradersrock
Comment OPINION and I’ll send you a link to this Comment OPINION and I’ll send you a link to this second grade writing unit!

Scripted step-by-step lesson plans, worksheets, an assessment rubric, and task cards are not in this video but also included! 🎉

#secondgrade #secondgradeteacher #secondgraderocks #secondgradeteachers #secondgradeclassroom #secondgradetribe #secondgradewriting #secondgrader #secondgraders #secondgradelife #secondgradefun #secondgradehomeschool #iteachsecond #iteachsecondgrade #iteach2nd #iteach2ndgrade #2ndgrade #2ndgradeteacher #2ndgraderocks #2ndgradeclassroom #2ndgradeteachers #2ndgrader #2ndgradewriting #2ndgradefun #2ndgradelife #2ndgraders #2ndgradehomeschool #2ndgradeadventures #iteach2 #secondgradeliteracy

Pinterest

TPT Seller Instagram

It took me freaking ages to make this! There’s j It took me freaking ages to make this! There’s just something so overwhelmingly exhausting about social media. it requires so much effort and just gives so little in return.

Conversely, I have made about $500 this month from doing literally nothing. Yep, passively earning money from a handful of pins and blog posts that I made years ago. This is why I always go on about Pinterest and blogging. It’s less effort! 

Anyways, if you have been meaning to try Pinterest, be sure to join my course before it closes in the coming days. It’s 30% off right now! 

Comment pinterest, if you’d like a link! There’s also a link in my bio.

#Teacherhustle #teachersidehustle #teacherbusiness #teacherpreneurs #teacherpreneurship #teacherpreneurtribe #tptsellers #teacherauthors #tptauthor #tptauthors
Pinterest isn’t dead. It’s still my biggest tr Pinterest isn’t dead. It’s still my biggest traffic driver! My Pinterest account has actually grown a lot in the last year. 

But here’s the thing, Pinterest isn’t like what it was in 2018. The game is different, so you have to keep up with best practices as of 2023 if you still want to see growth.

If you want to learn all about Pinterest, comment below with a 📌 and I’ll send you a link to my course which is open and 30% off for a limited time!

#teacherauthors #teachersidegig #teachersidehustle  #teacherentrepreneur #teacherpreneurs #tptauthors #teacherpreneurlife #tpttips #teacherauthor  #teacherspayteachersstore #tptnewbie #teacherboss #teachertiptpt #teacherpreneurship  #teacherseller #teacherhustle #teacherbusiness #teachercreator #tptsellers #tptauthor #teacherpreneurcommunity  #tptteachers #tptseller #tptteacher #tptstore #teachersoftpt #teacherpreneur #teacherpreneurtribe
You want to make products that are going to sell r You want to make products that are going to sell right? 

Don’t copy other sellers or make products just because it might be fun to make or quick/easy to make ❌

Instead, focus on what your audience NEEDS! What would make their lives easier? 

Ask your ideal buyers if you can. Find a way to learn what they need 🤓

Also, consider your data, as what sells well for you now is a pretty good indicator of what is going to sell for you in your future products. 📊

One of my biggest money makers at the moment isn’t something everyone else is doing it and it isn’t something that is quick, fun, or easy to make. 

I’ve got a lot of products like that in my store. Ones that everyone else has done 1 million times. Ones that I could create in a few hours. Those just don’t sell as well and that’s a fact! 

So, in summary -
✅ Make sure that you are making things your audience actually needs! 
✅ Look at your data to determine what sells well for you, so that you can keep making more things like that. 
✅ Finally, be sure to make those hard products that no-one else is making. Trust me!

Please like or comment on this post if you found it helpful 💗

#Teacherhustle #teachersidehustle #teacherbusiness #teacherpreneurs #teacherpreneurship #teacherpreneurtribe #tptsellers #teacherauthors #tptauthor #tptauthors 
 #Teachingtips #teachingtip #teachingadvice #teacheradvice #adviceforteachers #teachertips #teachertip  #tipsforteachers  #teacherhack #teacherhacks #teachinghacks #teachinghack #newteacher #newteachertips #teachertricks #teachertrick #newteachers
Screenshot this one or save it for later! Then, Screenshot this one or save it for later! 

Then, tell me your thoughts below. Do you agree with my new way? Do you still do the old way? 🙂

 #Igteachers #igteacher #instateacher #instateachers #instagramteachers #instagramteacher #teachersofig #teachersofinsta #teachersofthegram #teacherig #teacherinsta #teacherinstagram #educatorsofig #educatorsofinsta #educatorsofinstagram
Comment FREE and I’ll send you a link to the vid Comment FREE and I’ll send you a link to the video training! 

#Teacherhustle #teachersidehustle #teacherbusiness #teacherpreneurs #teacherpreneurship #teacherpreneurtribe #tptsellers #teacherauthors #tptauthor #tptauthors #tptseller #tpt
Tell me in the comments, do you struggle with SEO? Tell me in the comments, do you struggle with SEO? For me, it’s finding the time/energy to do all the research and trial and error!

 #teacherssupportingteachers #teachersoninstagram #educatorsofinstagram #elementaryteacher #elementaryeducation #educatorsofinsta #teachersrule #igteacher #teacherlifestyle #igteachers #edugram #educatorsofig #teachersconnect #iteachelementaryschool #teachertalk #teacherblogger #teacherbloggers  #teachersofthegram #instateachers  #instagramteacher #elementaryschoolteacher #teachinglife #teachersofaustralia #teachersoninsta #teachersrock #teacherinstagram #teachergoals #tptseller #tptsellers
Don’t make guesses and don’t just try to figur Don’t make guesses and don’t just try to figure things out on your own. ❌

If you want to do something correctly in your business, learn how to do it properly! ✅

There are so many podcasts, blog posts, YouTube videos, and courses to help you with everything you need to know.

Whatever you do, try to get it right in the early days. 

Don’t throw ad money down the drain, make a mess of SEO, follow bad practices on Pinterest/social media, send terrible emails etc when you can learn how to do all these things!

But most importantly, get your products looking good early on. I’m constantly doing updates to resources. So much of the time I’m wasting now would have been preventable if I had taken the time to learn things or if I had invested money into my business earlier.

These are just today’s thoughts. Thanks for reading my ramblings. Do you agree? 💗

 #teacherspayteachersresources #teacherauthors #teachersidegig #teachersidehustle  #teacherentrepreneur #lifeafterteaching #teacherpreneurs #tptauthors #teacherpreneurlife  #tpttips #teacherauthor  #teacherspayteachersstore #tptnewbie #teacherboss #teachertiptpt #teacherpreneurship  #teacherseller #teacherhustle #teacherbusiness #teachercreator #tptsellers #tptauthor #teacherpreneurcommunity  #tptteachers #tptseller #tptteacher #tptstore #teachersoftpt #teacherpreneur #teacherpreneurtribe
Full disclosure - I’ve always been very upfront Full disclosure - I’ve always been very upfront that Pinterest and my blog together are my main traffic drivers.

My email list is next and it also drives traffic to my products. It’s nice to make money by just spending 20 minutes writing an email here and there 🙌🏻

FYI - Terrific email, my email marketing course for TPT sellers, is closing cart in 24 hours! There’s a link in my bio, so don’t miss out! 

#Teacherhustle #teachersidehustle #teacherbusiness #teacherpreneurs #teacherpreneurship #teacherpreneurtribe #tptsellers #teacherauthors #tptauthor #tptauthors
Not every resource in your store is going to be a Not every resource in your store is going to be a part a product line. Sometimes you just make a one off unique product that’s completely standalone and that’s fine! 

But it can be really handy if a lot of your products are in a product line because it allows you to use templates. 

You can just switch out the clipart and text, etc. but you aren’t starting from scratch every single time when it comes to formatting the actual resource. 

It’s not just the product itself where you can save time! When you create product lines, you can copy and paste descriptions and use the same cover, thumbnail, and preview templates. 

Product lines and templates are truly one of the best time saving strategies to try! 

The other really cool thing? Product lines can be insanely profitable! Especially when they lead to a bundle. But mostly because they encourage people to become repeat buyers. If they like one of the resources, they can come back for something similar!

Hit the 💗 if you found this helpful! 

 #Peteacher #artteachers #artteacher #artteacherlife #artteachersofig #socialstudiesteachers #iteachsocialstudies #teacherlibrarian #scienceteacher #scienceteachers #spedteacherlife  #spedteachersofinstagram #frenchteacher #frenchteachers #frenchteachersoninstagram #spanishteacher #spanishteachers #spanishteachersofinstagram #canadianteacher #canadianteachers #frenchimmersionteacher #secondaryteacher #secondaryteachers #secondaryteaching #schoolprincipal #iteachesl #iteachfrench #languagesteacher #iteachsecondary #highschoolteachers

Copyright © 2023 · Website + Branding Design by Christi Fultz

Save 10% on your first purchase! Use the coupon code TERRIFIC10 at checkout. Dismiss

We noticed you're visiting from Australia. We've updated our prices to Australian dollar for your shopping convenience. Use United States (US) dollar instead. Dismiss