Getting Started: The Basics
1. Make at least 2 products (1 free, and 1 paid).When I first started, I created everything using Word. I then saved my final products to a PDF. Take it from me, it is MUCH EASIER to create your resources in PowerPoint first- and then save it to a secured PDF file!
2. Join Teachers Pay Teachers and set up your store. (Please use my referral link if you are using this post to help you.) You can join as a seller for free. You also have the option to pay to be a premium seller, where you will keep a higher percentage of your profit. (I waited until I made $100 before I paid for the premium membership.
3. Promote your products. (I prefer Facebook and Pinterest.)
Creating your Products
1. Use a program that you are comfortable with, but steer clear of Word. Trust me!
2. Use Commercial Use Fonts, Graphics, and ClipArt.3. Respect Copyright Laws!!! If you did not create it, you must have permission. All clipart and photos must be carefully chosen. When you want to use clip art, be sure to read the "Terms of Use" section.
4. You should also place your own copyright information on the products you create. I put my information on the bottom of each page, and I also include information with my own terms of use. You may want to include information such as the number of teachers who can use each product.
5. Make it pretty! I don't mean for you to add glitter or fairy dust to your resource. (I'm partial to polka-dots.) However, you do need to make it attractive so buyers will notice it and find it appealing. The quality and creativity of your work will determine whether or not you have repeat buyers!
What Should You Create?
Start with creating resources for your own classroom. What will make your life easier as a teacher? What skills do your students need to practice? You are an expert at knowing what your classroom needs! You can test your own product.
The reason I started my journey with TPT is a simple one. I needed more resources in my classroom to help my students with a new type of question they were required to answer: Multi-Select Questions. No longer were my students going to have multiple choice questions where only one answer was correct. Now more than one answer is correct and occasionally all of the answer choices were correct answers!!! Uggggg! I used what my school was given, but my students needed more practice. My next step was to turn to Teachers Pay Teachers and see what others had created. There was very little, and what was created didn't suit my needs. So I created it for myself, and before I new it my entire team was using my resources. Within a few months I was creating multi-select math curriculum/ practice for all of the teachers is grades 3-5 in my school. And it all started because I needed it, so I created it. One of my products is a bundle for third grade, however, some of the fourth and fifth grade teachers in my school use it as well to differentiate in their classroom. It is also currently my best selling item. Here is the link to that bundle of math goodness!
Many of the resources that I created for my classroom I post for free. These are items that were relatively simple to create, but I did not have them in my class. For instance, last year I taught 5th grade Math and Science. So for Open House I needed a unique and specific PowerPoint presentation. I created it, and then shared it on my TPT page. Here it is in case you would like to use it. You can edit it as you see fit.
I also needed to update my center rotations last year to a more simple format. I redid my rotation clipart and then posted it here for others to enjoy.
Make even more money! Once you are a seller, refer other teachers! Teachers Pay Teachers will pay you a bonus for two years!!!
How Referrals Work:
- For each new seller who uses your unique Promo Link to open a store, you will earn 5% of their sales for their first two years as a seller on Teachers Pay Teachers. Nice, right?!?!?!
- TpT gives you this bonus to you, AND is not taken away from the person you referred.
- Everyone must use the link TPT assigns to you, and create a new account when they sign up. If they don't click through your link you will not get credit.
- Simple!!!
Feeling Overwhelmed?
1. Don't expect to do everything all at once. Take it slow. Breathe!
2. Make sure that your freebie and paid resource has attractive, colorful cover pages and include directions as well.
3. This is not a competition. Spend some time reading the information in the Seller's Forum. There is a wealth of information there as well.
Thanks for reading this post! I hope that I helped you with your TPT endeavor! I am still learning myself. I try to go into the Seller's Forum at least once a week, but during the crazy, hectic school year... it is more like once a month. If you have any tips or feedback please leave a comment below.
Happy Creating!
Sandra @The Happy Learning Den
:-)
