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Ericas Ed-Ventures

Primary Education Ideas

Getting Started on TpT

I am often emailed and asked how to get started on TpT (TeachersPayTeachers).   I am going to be honest and tell you that I have yet to respond to those messages.  Before you go thinking that I am some big “meanie,” here is the reason: It is not some one line explanation I can give someone.   I don’t want you to think TpT is complicated, but it also is not as easy as making a PB&J sandwich.   If it were easy, no one would buy from us!  Since, I feel guilty about not answering those messages, and I do want to help, and I do value my followers, I created this post.  I plan on copying and pasting this post’s address into those unanswered messages and future messages.   I have been meaning to create this post for a LONG time but just could never find the time.  Just so you know, I spent the whole first day of my vacation working on this post – just wanted to throw that in there so you would understand and forgive me for not responding to the messages. 
I do hope this post answers questions.   I know I have wanted to show personal friends how to get started on TpT and I just don’t have the time.   When you teach, blog, and create for TpT full-time, time is something that seems to slip away fast!  
I think it also should be stressed that TpT is not some get rich quick plan.  Everyone puts in different amounts of effort and that is what is so wonderful about TpT.  There is no commitment on your part.  You are free to create as little or as many products as you like.  Remember though that your expectations for TpT have to match your level of effort and patience.  I put in an extreme amount of effort and work into TpT.  In turn, I am the top seller for NY.  I have also been selling since 2008 and making more than $20 a month did not happen overnight.  I am not a top ten seller on the site.   TpT has a huge amount of sellers and the top 10 – 20 sellers seem to keep moving around.   I try and stay positive and keep on working hard because this is something I love doing.  I may not have the current fad in my store, but who knows how the pendulum will swing.  If making things for TpT is not something you love doing, then don’t torture yourself.  If you are like me and find making products on the computer to be a great creative outlet, read on!
For some cool stats on TpT, check out their blog.
Seems simple enough, right?!  
Here is my referral link if you are all ready to sell!
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Signup/referral:EricaBohrer
Breaking it down further:
I often get asked what computer and what programs I use to make my products.   I own a Mac desktop and a MacBook Air.  I purchased Microsoft Office for them.  I love using PowerPoint and did not feel that Pages was comparable.    I did not start out creating in Power Point!  I started on TpT in 2008 and I used Word to create my documents.   Oh, how I wish I had known about Power Point back then.  I actually learned about Power Point from Rachelle Smith of What the Teacher Wants.  She posted in the TpT forums about using Power Point and I gave it a shot!
I perfected my Power Point skills with tutorials by Ladybug Teacher Files and Ashley Hughes.   You can find many other wonderful tutorials by googling.   I googled and found GCF Learn Free, which breaks it down by the version of Power Point you have.   I found that the more I used Power Point the better and faster I got with it.  It is so easy to duplicate a page, no more copy and pasting like in Word or clicking “enter” to get to the next page.  It is also a whole lot easer to manipulate and adjust graphics!   
Now you are ready to create a product!
I don’t know if this is obvious or not, but do not create products at school or during school time.  You are getting paid by your district for that time and it might be considered double dipping, if you used that time to create products.  Who has time to create during the school day anyway?!  I create all my products at home after work, on weekends, and whenever I have off from school.   I always created for my own classroom, even before TpT.  The difference is that now, I create products that are above and beyond what I would create for my own personal classroom use.  I use commercial use fonts and commercial use graphics instead of just “google imaging.”  I include directions for teachers, standards, a cover page, etc.  All of this takes time and money.   Therefore, I have no qualms about selling my products.  
I also do not photograph or use my own students to promote products.  I often borrow kids I know or since I already take tons of photographs for my classroom Shutterfly site, I use those and block out the students’ faces with a graphic. 
I think creating for TpT has made me a better teacher.  I have been teaching first grade for the past 12 years and I continue to reinvent and change my teaching activities.  I am excited to try something new with my students that I created and they are excited to try it.  I also share everything I create with all of the teachers on my grade level in my district.  I don’t expect them to use it all, I just want to share and make their lives a little easier if I can.  Their positive feedback and the positive feedback I get from TpT buyers encourages me to keep creating.   It is just a lovely cycle!    With the extra money I make from TpT, I don’t flinch about buying supplies for my classroom.  I have the best classroom library around.  Other teachers come to me to borrow books!  I love that I can help them, too.   
The positive feedback makes the isolated world of working alone on your computer, feel like you are part of something bigger.  Sometimes you won’t get a “thank you” or any “praise.”  For me, that is one of the toughest things.  I will share my products or create a freebie and not one “thank you.”  I remind myself, not to let it bother me: 
Another thing you will have to get accustomed to when putting your products out there and with blogging is criticism.  Oh, it hurts, it makes you mad, it can make you nuts!  Negative feedback on TpT always bothers me.  Teachers by nature are perfectionists and I cannot allow myself to make anything subpar.  Often the feedback is just someone complaining for the sake of complaining.  I just tell myself that I did my best and that it is not possible to please everyone all the time.   If you start selling don’t let the negative feedback get you down but don’t ignore it either.  Is there some validity to what the buyer is saying?  Can you update your product or make your description more clear?  If so, do it!  You can always write a response back to the buyer explaining yourself.  Refrain from attacking the buyer.  If you are angry with the feedback, wait a couple of days to respond in a polite and professional manner. 
I ended up going through three printers before I found the printer that I absolutely love.  When you create a lot of products for TpT, you will find yourself printing a lot of TpT products.  A good printer is essential.  I recommend the HP Laserjet Pro 200 Color M251NW. 
I know my readers would never do this, but I have heard of sellers buying products and then remaking it as their own to sell.  Seriously?  Why?  That is just not the TpT way.   I actually don’t open any products other sellers email me (sorry ladies).  I just don’t want to be influenced.  I also stay away from teaching ideas on Pinterest.  Ideas are bound to be similar, don’t go jumping to conclusions thinking someone copied your product.  One of my good blogging friends and I posted almost the exact same Thanksgiving freebie the same day.  Did either of us accuse the other of copying?  Nope!  We both taught first grade, had a similar need for our classrooms, and used the same Melonheadz freebie turkey clip art.  It was just a simple coincidence or occurrence of “great minds thinking alike.”  A great way to prevent your actual product pages from getting stolen is to put your copyright mark or name on the bottom of each page.   I screenshot my image and insert it to ever page.  
Getting your own style can take a while to evolve.  Look at some of my first products on TpT and look at my newer ones! 
2008 products
2014 products
Do you remember those 2008 products above?  Did you notice the Comic Sans font and Word graphics?  Do you think those are my best sellers?  Yeah, not even close!  I do plan on eventually updating those older packets and have done so to a few.   Unfortunately, I did not make them in Power Point and I would just have to start all over rather than copy and paste from Word. 
They also sell fonts, too!

You can find all of these sellers on TpT!  Did you know that when you leave feedback for purchases, you earn points towards future purposes?  I try and only buy my graphics from TpT now.  
Graphics from the Pond is a shop by an Australian teacher/graphic artist.  I love how her style has evolved over the years.   One of my favorite purchases from her store is her Scrappy Kids. 
Ashley Hughes is the sweet teacher/blogger from The School Supply Addict.  I mentioned her earlier in my post because of the awesome tutorials on her blog! 

Susanna of Whimsy Workshop is another multitalented teacher/seller.  My favorite set from her store is her farm clip art.

Little Red is a team of two sellers who sells teacher downloads and clip art!

I adore Zip-a-Dee Doo-Dah’s background papers!   She also has great sets for when you need the same image in multiple colors.

Scrappin’ Doodles recently started selling on TpT.  I usually purchase from them on their own website so I can apply a coupon code.

Krista Walden is the talented creative artist behind Creative Clips.  Her graphics are always topnotch.

Melonheadz Graphics are a favorite of sellers and it is not hard to understand why!  They are so unique and adorable.

Kari Bolt is a seller I recently discovered.  I love that she includes black-lines in her downloads.

Kimberly Geswein (KG Fonts) has all of her fonts listed as free and then you purchase a commercial single commercial use license or a license to cover all her fonts.  I LOVE all her fonts, so I bought her All Fonts License.  
My friend Cara Carroll of The First Grade Parade has proved herself to be multitalented with her CCFonts.   Can you guess which of her font names were inspired by me?  This year, she started making graphics, too!  She is one multitalented lady!   
Lettering Delights has been around since I started on TpT.  I love their “alphabets” which work like a graphic.   Click here to check out their store.  Don’t forget to purchase their commercial use products, instead of their personal use products. 
Here is my sample terms of use page, just click to download:
Here is a sample credits page:
Tanya Dwyer has a great tutorial on using Picasa:
For some reason you cannot add hyperlinks before you create a PDF with Mac.  To get around this problem, I purchased Adobe Pro.  It is pretty expensive, so if you are not anticipating making the cost of the program back in TpT products, you may want to look into other cheaper PDF editing programs.  
Here is a link for a post I did a while back on merging PDF files.  You will need to do this if you are working with both landscape and portrait Power Point files. 
More honesty: I am totally guilty of not having my PDF files all locked.  When I started selling, I thought a PDF was considered locked.  Now, apparently people can manipulate PDF files with PDF editor programs.  So it is a good thing to learn how to do.  The 3am Teacher has a great tutorial on locking your PDF files. She also has many other useful tutorials.   Take some time and check them out. 
Here is another post by Teaching with Hope:
Is your product done?  Are you ready to post it?   Well, now it is time to sign up to become a seller.
Most sellers start selling under the Free Membership.  They see how they do creating products and how their products sell.  Then once they decide to commit to creating products for TpT, they switch over to the Premium Membership.  
Now you are ready to post your first product?
Yay!  You did it!  
Now what?
You think you are done once you post a product?  Well, if you want A LOT of people to find out about your product, you need to get it out there.   You don’t have to do the steps above, but they will  help you gain followers for your store and hopefully some sales.    
Don’t have a blog?  You should think about starting one.  
Here are some blog designers I recommend:
For blog contests, you might want to purchase a TpT gift certificate to give away along with some of your own products.  Rafflecopter is a free easy program that allows you to run giveaways on your blog. 
I often get asked how do I do it all…and I always laugh because I don’t!   My house is a mess and I rarely cook.   Working two full time jobs means something has got to give.   
Do you want to ask me TpT questions in person?   I am presenting in Vegas this summer at the TpT Conference and the SDE National I Teach 1st Conference.   I hope to see you there.
Here is Cara Carroll‘s and my handout from our TpT Conference, Q is for Quality:
Here is a handout from the conference I am presenting with Cara Carroll from The First Grade Parade, Greg Smedley from The Kindergarten Smorgasboard, Deedee Wills from Mrs. Wills’ Kindergarten and Elizabeth Hall from Kickin’ It in Kindergarten.
One more thing I have to say about blogging and TpT, is that you might not gain financial riches but you will gain friends.  I think my TpT friends are worth their weight in gold!    I am so glad that TpT brought them all into my life. 

Thanks for reading!  I hope I helped you with your TpT and blogging adventure.
Scan down for some other helpful tutorials.
I have a few more tutorials to the right if you click “Blogging and TpT Tips.” 
If you have a TpT or blogging tutorial and would like to share it with my readers, please link the exact post below.  
  • You MUST link back to this post in your post (it can be an old post you updated to include the link) 
  • You MUST use this image:

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. I really appreciate this information. I have long been creating my own products and have considered become a seller. This will be a great help when I make that jump! Thanks!

  7. Erica, Thank you for all you do. You are an incredibly talented teacher and creator of teaching products. Which makes my life as a 1st grade teacher easier.
    Stephanie C. Ivory
    Delaware

  9. This is a fantastic post! I don't know that I will ever create for TPT, but I enjoy buying products. It is interesting to see all that goes into their creation – makes them seem an even better bargain than they already are. Thank you for all your hard work. Maria

  11. You are so generous to lay out all this info for everyone! I've been selling for a couple months now and learned a lot by trial and error. I've been looking all over for instructions on how to secure PDF files. I'm thrilled to have found this! I will definitely have to add a terms of use page to my current products. Thanks so much!

  12. Great post Erica! I use Keynote on my Mac to create my files and it is very similar to Powerpoint. Pages is more like Word. Thanks for sharing your ideas! I know I will be sending people back to this post constantly.

  14. Genius post, Erica!! I will be referring back to this post many, many times! I have recently put a few free products in my store, but there is so much more I have to learn, so I'm not ready to sell anything yet. Dippin' my toe in the pool. ; ) Thank you so much for this comprehensive and informative post. This took a lot of time for you to put together….much appreciated! : )

    Ali
    Teaching Powered by Caffeine

  16. Thank you so much for taking your time to write all this out! I just started this January and still have so much to learn! 😀

    Suzanne
    Create.Educate.Inspire

    (Check me out on my Facebook Page!)

  18. While I am in no place just yet to even attempt the hard work all of you amazing TPT sellers do, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post and hope one day I can return to it and create some products of my own. I'm so glad you showed the printer you use as I just spent the last week looking for a good one to print all of the things I buy from you (and others), and somehow I magically ended up with the same one. Glad to know you like it too! Thanks for all of your amazing products, your wonderful blog posts, and the work you do for children not just in your own class!

    -Rachelle (rrm444@gmail.com)

  19. I am sending this link to several friends who have asked me how to sell on TpT. You are right,,,it's a complicated answer but you presented it so very completely and clearly. Thank you!!! I'm also going to the conference and hope to hear you present.

    Thanks again!'
    The Teacher Next Door
    Jenn Larson

  20. When I signed up for TPT I signed up as a seller. I have always wanted to try and do it, but I have not even come close to starting it. If and when I am ready…this is a post I will come back to. You all do really work so hard and create such amazing things…that is the part I am not sure I can do. We are so glad for you and the many others who do this and make our lives easier!

  22. Fantastic post! Thank you for sharing your expertise. Just started posting some of my own products and I loved checking to see what I am missing still! I loved the 3am Teacher's great tutorial, but unfortunately I don't have a PC and do not use Pages on my Mac. I did find this great tutorial for anyone who is using a Mac and PowerPoint and needs to know how to secure their products. Thank you again! http://teachingwhope.blogspot.com/2013/10/gettin-techy-with-it-tutorial-for.html?showComment=1392515866016#c8954655211615183635

  24. Thanks for sharing!! I took the leap and it REALLY has to be something you want to do. It does take time creating and learning the entire process. I've found it's a great outlet for me to be creative and share what I'm using in my classroom.

    Would you know how to secure files in Pages? I've only attempted Powerpoint a couple of times but feel more comfortable using Pages for now.

    Thanks again for sharing.

    Laurie
    First Grade Lyons' Den

  26. This is such a helpful and valuable post! Thank you for taking the time to share what has made you so successful on TPT! I'm printing this out so I can refer to it easily. And thanks for the opportunity to share a link as well 🙂
    Diana

  27. Erica, this post is beyond wonderful! All I have in my TpT store is my free product and I put it there a year ago…ugh! After reading your post, I am re-inspired to try my hand at selling again as you have answered so many of my questions. The time that you put into just the post alone is unbelievable and so, so appreciated! I love your products, your ideas and your guinea pigs – so cute!
    Dianne
    Hopelessly Devoted to Teaching

  29. This was an amazingly informative post to read! Thank you so much for the time you put into gathering all of this information, sharing it and thinking enough of my post to include it. Though, I'm terribly guilty of not commenting enough, I continue to learn so much from reading your blog. This post is no different. I'm sure I will visit it often. Thanks, again! Heading over to FB to share it too!

    Tanya
    A+ Firsties

  33. Well, how cool is this?

    If you don't mind, I would just like one thing to your amazing list;

    For those who offer music, please record it in a real studio and use real musicians. Recording in the kitchen or just with garage band is like using comic sans when it comes to music. Quality makes a real difference across the board.

    Thank you for this wonderful post! Will share everywhere. And for the record, you rock.

  35. Great post, Erica! May I ask what you found to be lacking in using Pages vs. using Power Point? I have been using the blank template on Pages (as opposed the the blank text template) to create my items and wonder if there is a functionality that I am missing out on? I've been exclusively on a Mac for so long that I don't even remember how to use MS products. This post will be a great place to point all the newbies (and no-quite-so-newbies like myself)!

    • Kim, I really did not give Pages a fair shot. I find that you can alter the graphics easier in Power Point and align them quickly. I crop my graphics, remove the background image, add digital paper to fill fonts, all in Power Point. If I knew how to use Pages or Keynote properly, maybe I would have given it more of a shot.

  36. Thanks, Erica! I've been selling for almost a year now and this still was a VERY helpful post! Selling is definitely not easy. Especially the negative feedback part. I chuckled b/c my house is not clean nor do I cook either! I'd rather be creating for my classroom/TpT!! Thanks again!

  37. Wow! I'm just a buyer, not a seller. But I appreciate the TIME it took you to put this tutorial together and your sharing spirit. Nice job!

  39. Erica, thank you so much for this detailed post. I have often wondered how this process worked. I have been teaching for over 25 years and have always created my own products, activities etc but have enjoyed now purchasing from TPT and reading the many blogs out there. This really isn't an area I will delve into in the future but I am encouraged for those many new teachers who will eventually go this route and who will have mentors such as yourself to help them out. Bravo!

  43. Thank you for this post! I started buying products on TPT a couple of years ago and finally took the plunge into selling in May of this year. I didn't realize how long it takes to make each product until I tried to make one myself. I still struggle with having the time between my teaching job, my 2 hour daily commute, managing my house, and taking care of my 5 year old son, husband and dog! Thank you for all the great tips you have shared!

  44. Thank you so much for taking the time to share all your knowledge. You are so generous to devote your time to help others learn about TPT. I have dreamed about starting a TPT shop but have felt intimidated by all the steps involved, not to mention my lack of knowledge! I will be re-visiting this post often as I take the leap to start my shop. Thanks agin!
    A. Henne
    Pennsylvania

  48. Hi Erica!
    Congratulations to my STAR STUDENT on all your great success—and thanks for all the direction, encouragement and inspiration.
    I’m happy to tell you that Learning with Puppets is set to launch this May. It took me years to create all the content, but finally finished (for now—we are never really done, are we?).
    Continued success to you and to your lovely author mom. I hope to see you both very soon.
    Love, Mary Beth Spann, Learningwithpuppets.com.

  49. Erica, thank you for all the hours of time and effort you put into this post. Well done. I will be sharing it widely.

    Also, I haven't been to your blog in awhile and don't know when you switched over to the new ed-ventures title and "teaching and telling it like it is" tagline, but I LOVE it. It's so clever and so YOU! Great job!

  50. This is a really great post. Even has someone who has been selling on TpT for a while now, it was so great to read! Especially the parts about not giving up on yourself, not letting the negative feedback get to you, and realizing that you get back what you put into this. This post definitely took some time to put together and is very well done! I will certainly be sending others to this post when I get questions about getting started!

    I think you've helped us all answer that question for many!!

    Erin
    Creating & Teaching

  53. Erica, this is the best post! I will for sure be sending peeps your way who are interested in getting started on TpT! As I was reading through this, I kept on saying "yup", "yup", "yup". I agree with it all! Blogging is the best and I'm so happy and lucky to be a part of this wonderful community!

  55. Thank you for the informative post! I have been selling on Tpt for a little over a year now, and am having so much fun! I didn't realize there was still so much to learn…I am looking forward to trying a few of your ideas – like using Picaso for arranging the pages for a preview file. I think I also need to start a blog in order to increase my followers…. Thank you again!

    http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Amanda-Garcia

  58. Thank you for all the great information. I don't think I will ever sell on TPT but I have a new appreciation for the teachers that do create and share with everyone. You're amazing

  60. Wow! What an informative blog post. I've learnt so much from this. Thank you for sharing your tips and your time. I'm an Australian newbie to TPT and can now add some more jobs to my growing list. Thanks again.
    Hayley

  62. Erica,
    This is a great post…so informative, even for people like me who are trying to become better TpT authors. I have a question about securing your graphics and all that. I've used both of the tutorials you listed above, because I have a Windows at school and a Mac at home. What should I do if my graphics become fuzzy when I save the final PDF? Have you found something that works for your?

  64. Thank you so much for all of the helpful information. I have been trying to get some information on helpful tips for selling on TpT. This has been extremely helpful. Thanks for your honesty! 🙂

  65. Erica…we have been on TPT about 1 1/2 years, so not super new but still feel like we have so much to learn! THANK YOU for this post. It is one of the most amazingly detailed and helpful posts we've EVER read about TPT!!! YOU ROCK!!!☺ We hope to see you present some day!

    2 Super Teachers
    Victoria & Tricia♥
    2super-teachers.blogspot.com
    A Happy Hearts Classroom

  67. I just started selling on TpT in January. I am so thankful for your blog post. There is a lot that I am already doing and know but I learned so much too! It definitely is a second job for me. I get lost working on products and look up to see that 3 hours have passed. I am thankful for your honesty as well… know I don't feel so bad for my messy kitchen table. Ha.

  68. Thanks so much for the information! You seemed to cover everything and in detail and I appreciate it and will use it. The 1 issue I have with a lot of TPT sellers, maybe you can pass it along– is the amount of color and extraneous text or graphics they use. A lot of us don't want color–we can't print it out at school and some of the materials are very "fluffy"! I guess I am a plane and simple type of girl who wants to get to the "meat" of the curriculum. Thanks for listening!

  69. Erica, thank you so much for this post! I really don't know how you have time to teach AND create all of your items. I am excited to try creating for TPT and your post was very helpful. Your comment about how the toughest part can be not getting the thank you's or the praise really struck me. I, too often, purchase from TPT without sending a thank you. Please know that if everyone feels like I do about the products we're buying, we're grateful!!

    Thank you again!

  71. Thank you so much for the time and effort that you put into this post- I can only imagine how long it took!!!! With its help, I just set up my own TpT store (using your referral link, of course!) Thanks for making it so simple- 1 freebie, and 1 paid product. I guess I was waiting until I had more products, but you helped me realize that it will take time and that I need to be patient. I finally took the first step, thanks to your encouragement!
    All the best,
    Karli
    Creating a Thoughtful Classroom

  72. Thanks, Erica, for your fabulous tutorial! It's a great "getting started" kit. There are some nuggets in there for even the "somewhat experienced, but still new-ish" bloggers. You suggest updating your older products as you gain experience… it's a little bit like, "Well, student-o-mine, this might be a great first try, but I'd like you to go back and try fixing up this part." I think it's time I take some of my own medicine! 🙂
    WigglingScholars

  77. Erica, this is wonderful! I'm a special ed teacher, so most of what I create is personalized for individual children, and I have no intention of selling, but your advice is still very helpful in creating resources for my students. Thank you so much!

  78. Wow, Erica! This is an answer to my prayers and WAY more detailed than I ever expected anyone would take the time to create just to help someone else out. Wish I could link to it, but I don't have a blog–yet! Thanks for taking the time to create and share it.

  80. Hello,
    I can not thank you enough I am searching several blogs trying to make sure I discover everything I can about selling on TPT. I started a blog at the beginning of last summer I have maybe 4 post but I am trying to get better. I have one follower and made a special blog to her when she started following me. My blog is not much but if you are interested in at least becoming number 2 on my following list I would love to have you. I am very interested in the TPT conference in Vegas please tell me more. Thanks again for all your wonderful information I look forward to shopping at your TPT store and following your blog. Take care!

  83. Erica, this is an AWESOME post about TpT and how to get started! I've been selling since August 2013 and it is a long process. I agree, creating products is a way to let our creative energy flow! I just started a blog a few weeks ago. I'm getting there! Thanks for sharing!
    Heather
    crazycrittercafe.blogspot.com

  85. Erica, this is such a comprehensive post! I can definitely understand how it took you an entire day to put together! I know you said you use PowerPoint versus Pages, but did you give Keynote a try? I've been using Keynote instead of PowerPoint because I find it's a bit easier to use. I'm curious to know if it's worth trying to spend the time becoming really familiar with PowerPoint. I'm thinking I might check out a few of the tutorials you posted 🙂

    Theresa @ True Life I'm a Teacher!

  86. Erica thank you for the post on TPT. I started creating in PowerPint. It became discouraged but you have encouraged and inspired me again. Thank you so much.

  87. I have already started my TPT store, but this information is PRICELESS. It is beyond helpful! Thank you for taking the time to put this together! 🙂

  88. Erica, this is fabulous information on how to get started with TPT. I am just starting to create some of my own ideas and found your tips extremely helpful. I have to admit I did not read all of the comments left here and apologize if I missed the answer to this question: Do you have tips (or can you refer me to someone) on becoming a successful blogger? I have made 2 previous attempts and would like to try one last time! 🙂 Thanks again!

  89. Great info! I have created 8 products so far, but I still have so much to learn! I'm excited to get back into the classroom and start creating for my kiddos. I think that will help give me inspiration! Thank you for sharing all your knowledge!

  90. Thank you so sooo much for this post! I'm new to the blogging world and making TPT products. I'm constantly tring to come across information that will make me better in these areas. Your post was very helpful!

    Trakasha fromMrs. Paul's Corner

  91. I am so happy I came across this post. I started blogging last year (here and there) and have added a couple of products I created to TPT, but nothing much. As I read through this, I got some great ideas. I am not really worried about being a top seller, but it is nice to know that I am making my products appealing and I do want to promote them. For now, I enjoy the connection I feel talking with new people in the blogging world. It really is a wonderful community! Thanks again for the wonderful advice.

    Jackie
    GrowingKidlets

  92. Erica….thanks for this great post. I'm new to the whole TPT selling thing as I just opened my store this week. I really appreciate all the information you put into this post. It helped me a lot! It's a great resource for us newbies!

    Natalie
    The Teddy Bear Classroom

  93. Erica,

    Thank you for taking the time to write such an wonderful resource for those of us new to TPT. I recently retired and am finding TPT to be a great creative release since I no longer have my own students to write curriculum for. In your post you mentioned that Mac users will have trouble getting hyperlinks to remain active when converting to PDF. An alternative solution Adobe Acrobat pro is to simply open the Word document in Pages and save as a PDF. The links will be active. You will have to experiment to make sure no formatting is lost in Pages.

    Thanks,
    Jim Gonyo
    http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/James-Gonyo

  94. Thank You Erica! I've been wanting to enter this TPT world for a while now. I started this summer with this post on your blog and kept returning back to it as my resource. Now, I am happy to report that my TPT store is up and running…. and I am thankful for this post as it was instrumental in the process. Your work is top notch and a golden resource for teachers everywhere. Thank you for the spirit of sharing in your blog. It is very much appreciated!!

    Thriving In 2nd Grade

  96. Thanks for this amazing post. Quick question about Dollar Photo: do you know if the terms that include TPT are within the standard or extended license? I honestly cannot tell when I read their site. I have a standard license for $10/month, wondering if I need to upgrade. Thanks a million!

    Marnie Craycroft
    Carrots Are Orange
    http://www.carrotsareorange.com

  97. You are AMAZING! Thank you so much for this. I love all your products and have been attempting to make my own using Publisher. Now I have a MacBook and there is no Publisher for Mac… I am so excited to get started using Powerpoint. I cannot thank you enough for sharing this information. No one else at my school does this so I have no one to talk to about it! I feel like all the blogs I follow are "friends in my head". This has inspired me to revamp my pitiful, little blog. Thank you again,
    Libby Tyler

    http://www.firstgradeparty.blogspot.com/

  102. What an amazing refresher and post! I have a quick question…there are many teachers using graphics such as a dollar a photo…do you know any other "real" picture sites TPT sellers are using? I asked 4 sellers already…no one is sharing their secrets…I would love some help…I teach science and would love some real photos for products…

    Renee from the Science School Yard rheinric@wausauschools.org

  103. I just found this post–and it's so thorough, detailed, clear, visual, entertaining, wow! You are a great blogger. I thank you for writing this and giving us advice. I'm into my second year and the learning curve is steep! But my hiking boots are on and I'm getting it….Thank you!

  108. I have searched and searched for alternative ways to save clipart files. I create them in Photoshop, but that's a huge file. I see others do it in PowerPoint. The only problem I see is that it reduces my dpi from 300 to 150. Any advice you can offer would be so appreciated!

  109. What a useful blog post! I'm just getting started on TpT and these helpful tips will definitely come in handy. Thank you! I can't wait to start trying all of these great fonts that you recommend.

    adventuresofbeccasclassroom.wordpress.com

  110. What a useful blog post! I'm just getting started on TpT and these helpful tips will definitely come in handy. Thank you! I can't wait to start trying all of these great fonts that you recommend.

    adventuresofbeccasclassroom.wordpress.com

  111. Thank you for all the info. I have a question, what about those like me that instead of creating new resources, want to translate into another language using great ideas from other teachers? How can I do that? Any input?
    Thank you,

  112. Thank you so much for posting this friendly first-time seller guide. I have found it extremely helpful. I hope I am as lucky to have the success you have built. Best wishes…

  113. What a fantastic blog post. So helpful. Do you know of any step by step guides for using rafflecopter in conjunction with a blog and TPT. I am launching my blog soon, and would like to use a giveaway to get people to come to my blog. Also, do you think I should start my blog for a week or two, so I have a few different posts on there, and then do the official launch, or launch it with just the one blog post? Your advice would be wonderful. Cheers, Triple T (topteachingtasks@gmail.com)

  115. This has been an incredible help in creating my first products on TpT! The fonts I purchased look great on the games I've created, but aren't uploading with the same exact font. HELP!

  116. I am creating my own products but feeling nervous about selling because of font and graphic copyrights. If I use a KG font that was free to download, is that not ok?

  117. Wow! I am completely overwhelmed but wanted to say thank you! The information you have shared will help me create for my classroom. While I will probably never sell on TPT I still want to learn how to make beautiful products for my classroom.

  119. Thank you for this amazing post! You have just inspired me to start my journey into creating products for TPT. I have always found some sort of excuse to not do it (too many teachers doing it already, not enough time, I'm not that creative, etc.) I think that was just my self saboteur, preventing from trying something new. Thank you again for this inspirational post.

    Sincerely,
    Ulises Cisneros
    San Diego, CA

  120. This is an excellent resource to use! I am just starting my TpT store and have lots of great ideas. I think it will take some more research before I get busy making documents.

  121. Thanks for all of the helpful tips and info!!! I'm wondering how to create a logo/ button for your store?

    -Heidi Mandraccia
    1st Grade Teacher
    Edmond, OKlahoma