How to Sell on TpT: 3 Things You Must Do First!

Have you ever created a resource for your classroom (or homeschool!) and thought, “I sure would like to learn how to sell on TpT because I think other teachers would find this useful.”  While learning anything new can be daunting, let me give you a couple of statistics that might help you overcome that nervousness.  

Last year, over five million teachers used Teachers Pay Teachers.  That’s equivalent to more than 2 out of every 3 teachers having used a resource from TpT…and these numbers are increasing every year.  Now, think about the prospect of having that many potential buyers!  

So, even if you may have NO idea where to begin, I’m here to be your guide. 

When I started selling on TpT in 2016, I had absolutely no idea what I was doing.  I sourced information from all over the web hoping I would discover how to get started.  Eventually, I did find plenty of useful info, but I spent a LOT of time researching and reading.

Whether you want to start a full-scale TpT business or you just want to have a shop that generates a little “fun” money, I want you to have all of the best information without having to jump through the same hoops.  So here are 3 tips that will answer your questions about how to sell on TpT.

Craft a Unique Name for Your Shop

Where do I begin?  Well, I’ve always found that the best place to start is at the beginning.

So, the first thing you’ll want to do is create a name for your shop.  This may seem like an odd place to start, but you need to have a shop name to create a seller account.

You may be thinking, “Can I just use my name?”  And the answer is YES!  However, you might want to also consider a unique shop name.  Remember, there are a lot of other sellers on TpT, and you want your shop to stand out.

Creating the Perfect Shop Name

In an effort to help you craft the perfect shop name, I have a few questions for you to consider.

• What adjectives describe me and my teaching style?
• Do these words also describe the types of products I want to create?
• Can the name be easily remembered?
• Is the name already taken?

To see if a shop name is available, simply type the prospective name into the search bar.  Once you determine that no other shop or person is using that name, it’s yours!  

Finding Your Shop Name Across All Platforms

When most people start a Teachers Pay Teachers shop, they’re only thinking about creating a shop.  They haven’t considered the potential for growth and the prospect for marketing in the future.

But since you want to know how to sell on TpT the right way, I highly suggest that you check to see if the name you want for your shop is available on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.  And If you are considering launching a full-scale business which includes a blog, you need to find out if the domain name is available.

To determine if a domain is available, visit name.com.  You can type the name you are researching in the search bar.  Then it will tell you whether the name is available or not.  If you want to make sure that no one else has the opportunity to grab that domain name, you will want to purchase it.

When I started my blog, I was blessed to be able to buy the domain name that matched my TpT shop name about a year after I started my shop.  I wasn’t thinking very far ahead, and therefore, I didn’t know anything about buying a domain name.

Right now, what I am telling you may seem like a ridiculous suggestion.  You’re probably thinking, “Jennifer, I haven’t even posted my first product!  I don’t need FB and IG for my shop.  And there’s no way I’ll ever need a domain name!” 

Ok, I’ll admit it…you might be right.  

But if you make sure they’re available, you have the potential to showcase and market your products later if you choose to.  This will allow your followers, customers, and potential customers to easily find you and your amazing products on all of the various social media outlets.  

Just trust me, you’ll thank me later.

Create Your Seller Account

Once you have a name you’re excited about, you will need to create your new seller account.  When you first begin, you’ll be asked to provide basic information about yourself (i.e. name, address, phone #, what grades you teach.)  After that, you will begin creating your brand new store profile.

Store Profile

As you create your store profile, you want to customize the content.  So be sure to share your teaching experience, teaching style, and honors.  This section is extremely important because it will give potential buyers insight into the type of teacher you are as well as resources they can expect to find in your shop. 

Another way you will want to customize your store profile is with your profile picture.  You can use a recent school photo or you can take it a step farther and actually create a cute logo!  If you’re not comfortable making your own shop logo, you can hire a designer to make one for you.

A logo and picture combo will allow your buyers to put a face with your shop name.  This is especially important if you want to create a business that will set you apart from the competition.  And just remember, you can always update this logo as you feel the need.    

Basic Account vs. Premium Account

One thing you need to decide when learning how to sell on TpT is whether you want a basic account or a premium account.  So, here is the quick breakdown of the two different options.

If you don’t want to put any money into a membership yet, I would just start with a basic account. This gives you the opportunity to learn how to sell on TpT without much up-front cost. However, when you do start making money, you will only see 55% of it.  

On the other hand, if you know you’re interested in creating a business with your Teachers Pay Teachers shop, then I would definitely suggest making the investment in the premium membership. I’m a premium seller, and the perks far outweigh the investment. 

Create an Excellent Free Product

Once you have your account set up, you need to create a free product.  This is a requirement for every new seller on TpT. You will NOT be able to upload a “paid” product until you have a free resource available.  And although creating a freebie when you’re hoping to sell resources seems a bit backwards, it really is a good plan.  

Here’s why:

1. Freebies bring in potential customers. Every shop has a freebie to offer and that means there are TONS of free resources available for download on TpT.  This gets more potential customers to Teachers Pay Teachers and ultimately increases your chances of making money with your paid products.
2. Freebies show potential customers the quality of your work. I love finding great free items on TpT, and I can tell you that, if a freebie is good, I’m extremely likely to check out the other products the seller offers.

After you have created several “paid” products, it’s a good idea to create another freebie.  It can be a shortened version of a larger product you offer or it can be a totally unique item.  This just shows your followers and customers that you want to give them valuable resources…even for FREE! 

I can tell you for a fact that free previews or “lite” versions of bundles have been a selling point for me personally.  I recently bought several “pricey” resources because I had an opportunity to use a small sample of the product for free. 

This let me know that the full resource was WELL worth the investment I was making.  This is just something to take into consideration as you’re contemplating what you might want to offer as your free product.

Now, I don’t want you to think that I’m done sharing all of my tips about how to sell on TpT.  I actually have a lot more information I want to provide that will help ease the uncertainty of going from buyer to seller. 

To start you off right, I have created a FREE Teachers Pay Teachers Product Brainstorming Guide that will help you get crystal clear on what types of products you would like to create for your shop.

I am so excited for you and I’m happy to answer any other questions you may have.  Just take it one step at a time and you’ll have a shop set up in no time!