Finding yourself Googling “How to Sell Teacher Resources” lately and not sure where to begin? Friend, you have been looking for ways to make money as a teacher. And you know you have quality projects that other teachers could really love. But, now that you have made that decision, you have no idea where to start. That is where I come in. You don’t have to be intimidated by the idea of opening your own TPT store and building a business. You just need to start small. Starting a TPT store can be as simple as taking five small steps. And you are on your way to make more as a teacher!
Looking for a starting a TPT store resource that you can reference over and over? I have just the thing for you. Check out my How to Become a TPT Seller Guide. With this guide, you will be able to take the stress out of opening your TPT store. If you are like me, having a checklist is the easiest way to feel confident that you won’t miss anything. This guide will help make sure you can start your TPT store with ease. Grab this How to Become a TPT Seller Guide and you will be ready to start selling right away!
Download Your FREE How to Become a TPT Seller Guide Today!
By using my How to Become a TPT Seller Guide, you will take all the stress out of opening your TPT store so you can start making more money.
Why It’s Time To Start a TPT Store
Avoid Teacher Burnout
I remember when I hit my turning point. So tired of everything teaching. I didn’t love my lessons. I was frustrated by my students. And I felt underappreciated in my workplace. I knew that I needed something to change. I wasn’t ready to look up how to quit teaching yet. But I wanted to feel like I had purpose again and beat that teacher burnout.
That’s one of the main reasons that I started my TPT store. I needed to find a way to stop dwelling on the negatives. And I want that feeling for you too. If you are feeling that you have symptoms of teacher burnout, then it’s time. Time to learn how to sell teacher resources.
Make More Money as a Teacher
One thing we can all agree on is that teachers are underpaid. Most teachers are looking for a side hustle to supplement their income. What better way to do that than to make money on resources that you have created and refined? Even though it feels like you are starting from scratch, you actually have most of the work already done. And that means that you have great ideas that you can turn into money for yourself and for your family. And who doesn’t love more income?
Rewrite Your Teacher Story
Maybe the most soulful piece of starting a TPT store is the chance to rewrite your teacher story. Right now, you might be feeling exhausted, unappreciated, and disappointed. But it doesn’t have to feel that way. You may have lots of reasons why you are starting a TPT store. But, one of the best reasons is the chance to change your outlook.
One of the best effects of selling your resources is that you are helping teachers. You are teaching them how to change up their lessons. Or maybe you are making their life a little easier. No matter the reason, when you get those resources into teachers’ hands, you start to feel good about yourself. And that is a new story for you and that rewrite is just what you need. So keep reading for five steps for how to sell teacher resources on TPT.
How to Sell on TPT
Step #1: Find Your Target Audience
I know that you are going to want to jump right in and start making resources but the first step has to be setting a goal and focus. Just like with teaching, we need to know what is the end goal and how you are going to get there. That starts with determining your target audience.
To find your target audience, you need think about your specialty and resources that you want to create. And then you need to think about who is the person that would want those products and how you are going to help them. You are going to create what we call an Ideal Customer Avatar (ICA) which focuses on building a profile for the exact person who wants your products. The most important part of this process is brainstorming their pain points and how your products will solve those problems. Once you can identify what your ICA needs then you will always products that solve their problems. And that target audience will keep coming back to you over and over again.
If you want more detailed information on this Ideal Customer Avatar check out my How to Become a TPT Seller Guide and never forget your ICA and target audience focus.
Step #2: Build Your Brand
The next step is to build your brand and that starts with choosing your store name. I recommend thinking about your target audience and creating a name is clear and appeals to your ICA. Think of a name that as soon as I see it, I know exactly your focus.
Here is a big word of caution. DO NOT SPEND HOURS THINKING OF THE PERFECT NAME! It is exciting to think about your brand and you want to be intentional. But, the store name is not going to make you money.
Once you have a brand name, create a color palette. Choose two or three colors that complement each other. One will be your primary color, and two will be your accent or secondary colors. Once again do not spend hours working on finding the perfect colors. It’s just not worth it!
Finally, put your colors and your name together to create a logo. The most efficient place to start is Canva. They have tons of logo templates that will help you get started. Create a circle logo that you will use for your TPT profile picture and add it to all your resources so that customers give you copyright credit.
If you are feeling stuck, you can check out How to Become a TPT Seller Guide that has branding brainstorming questions that will help you get started.
Step #3: Set Up Your TPT Seller Account
Now that you have your brand, you are ready to open your TPT store. The first decision you need to make for your business is if you want a basic seller account or a premium seller account. Here is a breakdown of the two accounts:
Basic Seller Account:
- No Membership Fee
- Transaction Fee: $0.30 per purchase
- Earn 55% on all sales
- 200 MB upload size
Premium Seller Account:
- Membership Fee: $59.95 per year
- Transaction Fee: $0.15 per purchase unless the purchase is $3.00 or more
- Earn 80% on all sales
- 1 GB upload size
I recommend spending the extra money and pay for the membership fee because in the long run, you will benefit more from that account.
Either way, you need to head over to TPT and log in to your account. If you do not have an account yet, click “Join” and create one. Next, “Become a Seller” under your profile. This is where you will choose your seller account type.
The next step is customizing your store. As you set up your store, consider adding a profile picture and a catchy bio. Don’t forget to explore the customization options – play around with banners, colors, and layout until it screams “you.”
Want all these steps in one place, check out my How to Become a TPT Seller Guide.
Step #4: Upload Your TPT Freebie
The next step for how to sell teacher resources is to upload a free resource. TPT requires your first resource to be a freebie to help promote its mission to create a community for teachers. Even though this work is for free remember you need to create a stellar freebie. This is your chance to showcase your teaching chops, build trust with educators, and draw attention to your TPT store. Let’s break down the process step by step.
- Choose a Valuable Topic: Start by picking a topic that packs a punch – something your ICA would find genuinely valuable. Think of it as your teaching gift to the world. Whether it’s a handy worksheet, a snazzy infographic, or a time-saving lesson plan, make sure it’s something that makes teachers go, “Wow, I need this!”
- Design with Flair: Now, let’s get creative! Design your freebie with attention-grabbing visuals and user-friendly layouts. Keep it visually appealing but also easy to navigate. Consider the colors and fonts that reflect your brand (you know, that awesome brand you’ve been working on). Your freebie isn’t just a resource; it’s a sneak peek into your teaching style and what educators can expect from your paid materials.
- Craft a Compelling Description: As you upload your freebie to TPT, don’t skimp on the description. Explain why your resource is a game-changer for teachers. Highlight its benefits, share how you’ve used it in your own classroom, and sprinkle in a dash of your personality. A compelling description not only attracts downloads but also gives educators a glimpse into the educator behind the freebie.
Don’t forget any steps when creating your freebie by clicking on my How to Become a TPT Seller Guide.
Step #5: Creating TPT Resources
So, you’ve mastered the art of creating a compelling freebie, and now it’s time to take the plunge into the realm of paid resources. This is the best part of how to sell teacher resources! This is your chance to turn your passion into money. Let’s break down the process of crafting your first paid resource step by step.
- Focus on Your ICA: Refer back to the pain points of your ICA. Your first paid resource should be a reflection of your unique teaching style and cater to the specific needs of the teachers in your niche.
- Create Engaging Content: Now, it’s time to bring your vision to life. Design a resource that not only covers the curriculum but also engages and captivates students. Whether it’s an interactive worksheet, a lesson plan with creative activities, or a comprehensive unit plan, ensure that your content is both valuable and user-friendly. Think about the unique selling points that make your resource stand out in a sea of educational materials.
- Set a Fair Price: Determining the price for your resource requires careful consideration. Research similar resources on TPT to understand the market, and set a price that reflects the value of your content. Striking the right balance between affordability and the effort you’ve invested in your creation is key to enticing educators to make a purchase. Don’t forget that if you paid for a premium account, price your resource at least $3.00 and you don’t pay a transaction fee.
Also, if you want to be able to have all this information in one place, you can download my How to Become a TPT Seller Guide.
Ways for Teachers to Make Extra Money From Home
10 Successful Ways That Teachers Can Make Extra Money
Starting a TPT Store: 3 Things to Create First
9 Things to Know As A New TPT Seller
How to Start A TPT Store Now
That’s it! Now, you are ready to get started. And, you now know how to sell teacher resources. You don’t have to keep hesitating or feel overwhelmed about opening your TPT store. Because you have all the tools that you need. But, if you are feeling overwhelmed by the process, I am here to help. When you book a Free 30-minute call with me, I can help you come up with a plan to get started on your TPT journey. Reach out to me HERE!
And, if you found this blog post to be really helpful and you want to see more like it, go check out the rest of my blog posts at www.theteacherrewrite.com. And on Instagram @theteacherrewrite. I focus on helping teachers become TPT sellers and make more money. I hope to see you over there!
And as always, remember to think smart, not hard. So let’s stop waiting now that you know how to sell teacher resources and go open your TPT store.
