Well for months I have had followers and friends ask me to do a tutorial on how to be successful on TPT (Teachers Pay Teachers). Finally (since I am on bed rest...) I have time to do a tutorial on how to be successful as a seller on TPT!
First, I will say...nothing come easily...it takes time. I have recently joined the $10,000 club! I could not be more excited...but I am hoping to get to the next level a little quicker! Sales are booming and I've learned so much along the way! I hope you enjoy this tutorial...and please follow me on my store for FREEBIES that can really help you see the type of products I am talking about!
My TPT Store!
The first (and more important thing to me) is the program you use to make your products! I use PowerPoint and can speak from experience to NOT EVER use Microsoft Word!! I started using word...and it was a nightmare...it took me forever and the products looked crummy! Now if you are reading this and you have mastered Word...more power to you! I could not! So I use PowerPoint!! I LOVE IT! Why??
Just always make sure your slides are set to "On Screen Show" for the size...I made a mistake with that at the beginning and had to go back and fix a lot of my products!
Another huge deal to me is the clipart you use! I know it stinks to spend money when you haven't made anything yet...but you have to spend money to make money! I use Krista Wallden from TPT for ALL of my clipart needs! She has a TON of free items...(over 80) and you can use them fore commercial use (to sell things.) Plus, I buy a lot of things from her...reasonable prices and she is always doing giveaways!
Here is a sample of one of my science products! I didn't start out with any cover pages a year ago...and things just didn't sell. It's like when you are looking at the cover of a book (I know, don't judge a book buy it's cover)...great in theory...but with books, we do judge and that is okay! Same here! Make a cover page that is attractive and people will buy! I like to give a little glimpse of the pages too on my cover page...then they can see the preview if they want a further look! Here is an example of a preview!
Collages are very popular for previews...people like to see what they are buying before they buy it! Lesson Learned: DO NOT use watermarks...I did and posted every page of my product with a watermark...and the watermark could be removed. I had to go through and redo my previews for 117 items. YUCK! Just start with collages from the beginning...it is easier. I use the program called PICASA! Found Here! It is free and SO EASY TO USE! So for all of your collage needs...that's the place to go!
First, I will say...nothing come easily...it takes time. I have recently joined the $10,000 club! I could not be more excited...but I am hoping to get to the next level a little quicker! Sales are booming and I've learned so much along the way! I hope you enjoy this tutorial...and please follow me on my store for FREEBIES that can really help you see the type of products I am talking about!
My TPT Store!
The first (and more important thing to me) is the program you use to make your products! I use PowerPoint and can speak from experience to NOT EVER use Microsoft Word!! I started using word...and it was a nightmare...it took me forever and the products looked crummy! Now if you are reading this and you have mastered Word...more power to you! I could not! So I use PowerPoint!! I LOVE IT! Why??
- Easier formatting
- Copy and Pasting Multiple Slides is a BREEZE
- Changing the File to PDF when you are done is SIMPLE
- It's PRETTY! :) #duh
Just always make sure your slides are set to "On Screen Show" for the size...I made a mistake with that at the beginning and had to go back and fix a lot of my products!
Another huge deal to me is the clipart you use! I know it stinks to spend money when you haven't made anything yet...but you have to spend money to make money! I use Krista Wallden from TPT for ALL of my clipart needs! She has a TON of free items...(over 80) and you can use them fore commercial use (to sell things.) Plus, I buy a lot of things from her...reasonable prices and she is always doing giveaways!
I also love her because all of her colors match...for example if I buy frames from her...I know the clothes on the kids clipart I already bought from her are going to match the frames. NOTHING looks worse than uncoordinated colors on clipart! lol. #matchymatchy
Besides, once you buy something, LEAVE HER FEEDBACK! When you do that...you get TPT points...and those add up. I have "bought" over $20 worth of clipart with TPT feedback points. It's as good as money! Now I hardly ever have to spend money on clipart because I have a good collection built up and I have TPT points. Also, you know you are legally safe with her stuff! Some people say you buy their clipart but only for classroom use...yikes. Give Krista a visit, you are sure to love her! She has everything!! :)
Let talk a minute about COVER PAGES! Each product you do must have an attractive cover page!
Here is a sample of one of my science products! I didn't start out with any cover pages a year ago...and things just didn't sell. It's like when you are looking at the cover of a book (I know, don't judge a book buy it's cover)...great in theory...but with books, we do judge and that is okay! Same here! Make a cover page that is attractive and people will buy! I like to give a little glimpse of the pages too on my cover page...then they can see the preview if they want a further look! Here is an example of a preview!
Also (when you start on TPT) create a Terms of Use page that you can copy and paste in your products each time. (Another reason why I love PowerPoint) I created a Terms of Use Page in a PowerPoint File...then I just open it, copy and paste it into my product and done! :) Here is an example!
Lastly, cater to the needs of the people. I am still mastering this and probably always will be...but think about what teachers need! Create products you know people will buy...#duh. But seriously...it matters. :) And don't get discouraged! Some products you spend hours on...may not sell right away. Give it time...it takes some time for products to get noticed, but when they do--wow! :)
I hope these few tips help you in your TPT journey! I am by no means a champion seller, but this extra income has done WONDERS for my family! It takes hard work...and there is a huge learning curve...but stick with it! It works! :)
Comment below for any other questions! I am sure I left some things out! Also...check out my Facebook Page! I am constantly doing Giveaways and Freebies! :) AND you can ask questions there about TPT success!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)