Are you looking for an overview over the "How to build a TpT Store" Series? Have a look here and jump to the help you need right now!
When I first discovered TpT I thought it's something like Etsy but for teachers 🙂 But actually it's more than just a marketplace; it’s a platform for passionate educators to share their expertise, creativity, and love for teaching. But is it for everyone? While anyone can start a TpT store, certain traits significantly increase the likelihood of success.
In this post, we’ll explore three characteristics—creativity, persistence, and a passion for education—that define thriving TpT sellers. Each section will include actionable steps to help you build or strengthen these qualities.
Please don't forget: I'm also just starting out on TpT. While I have a lot of experience here from Digidesignresort designing resources and being a teacher really helps to create educational resources I'm new to TpT. All the things I know are collected from my own (limited) experience but also from other experienced TpT Sellers who genuinely share their expertise in different Facebook Groups and on YouTube as well as in memberships.
Maybe you like to join my journey on TpT? Follow my store there here!
Creativity: Turning Ideas into Engaging Resources
Photo with friendly permission from from Pixabay
Creativity is at the heart of successful TpT stores. Being able to think outside the box, solve classroom challenges in innovative ways, and design visually appealing materials will make your products stand out. And standing out is definitely necessary because, yes, let's face it - there are already a lot of resources although I wouldn't speak of saturated.
Creativity doesn’t mean you need to be a professional graphic designer or come up with groundbreaking ideas—it’s about adapting your teaching experience into resources that resonate with other educators.
Successful TpT sellers often draw inspiration from their own classrooms. For example, if you’ve created a fun, effective way to teach fractions to 4th graders, that’s a creative solution other teachers will value. Creativity also extends to presentation; well-designed covers, clear instructions, and engaging content all contribute to a product’s appeal.
If creativity feels intimidating, remember it’s a skill that can be developed. Explore tools like Powerpoint or Affinity Designer (and yes, even Canva works somehow) to simplify the design process. Experiment with templates and layouts until you find a style that works for you.
And no worries - it takes time to develop this skill. Yes, you might be an experienced teacher or an avid homeschool mum but turning your ideas into resources is a skill to learn and that definitely takes time.
Action Step:
Take one lesson, activity, or strategy that’s been a hit in your classroom (or at home with your own kiddos) and turn it into a plan for a TpT resource. Just sketch out your ideas and do some research on TpT. Find a similar resource and see what the designer/teacher has done. Can you do something similar and even improve it? Just start by sketching it out with pen and paper.
I know how overwhelming it felt to create my first resource (although I have a lot of experience designing digital products) so I do not recommend that just now.
Safari Lounge Designer Classes
Learn everything you need to know to build a sustainable Business for Educational Printables. Let's create and plan your business together, and then: Market your products. It's all there,
personal coaching included! In case you just wanna have fun and create some printables for your little ones - that's inside as well!
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Persistence: Staying Committed Through Challenges
Building a successful TpT store takes time and dedication. Many new sellers start with excitement but quickly become discouraged if their first products don’t sell immediately. Persistence separates those who quit from those who succeed.
Persistence means committing to continuous improvement. Analyze your products, learn from feedback, and refine your designs and descriptions. Successful TpT sellers understand that progress is incremental. They don’t expect instant results but instead focus on steadily building their portfolio and honing their skills.
Don't forget: If you create a Valentines resource now it might be that you do not sell it this year. But: Your future self will thank you for staying persistent and already having a Valentines resource ready when Valentines comes next year!
It’s also important to set realistic expectations. Most top TpT sellers didn’t achieve overnight success. They built their stores piece by piece, learning from each upload. Viewing setbacks as opportunities to learn, rather than failures, will keep you motivated and moving forward.
Always ask yourself: What can I do to improve? Better description? Better previews? A video? It's all about improving along the way!
Action Step:
Set a small, achievable goal for your TpT store, such as creating one new product per month. Celebrate each milestone and reflect on what you’ve learned, focusing on gradual progress rather than immediate results.
Passion for Education: Sharing What You Love
A genuine passion for education drives the most successful TpT sellers. They aren’t just in it for the money; they care deeply about helping teachers and students succeed. This passion shines through in their resources, whether it’s a meticulously designed lesson plan, an engaging classroom activity, or a beautifully crafted bulletin board set.
Passion also fuels resilience. When challenges arise, your love for teaching and the impact your resources have on others will keep you going. TpT isn’t just a business—it’s a way to extend your influence beyond your classroom and contribute to the global teaching community.
To cultivate this passion, focus on the areas of education you love most. Are you passionate about early literacy, STEM, or classroom management? Let that enthusiasm guide your store’s niche. Remember, your passion will resonate with buyers and make your products more relatable and valuable.
Action Step:
Write down your favorite aspects of teaching and brainstorm how to turn them into resources. For example, if you love fostering classroom discussions, consider creating discussion prompts or lesson plans that encourage critical thinking.
TpT is for anyone willing to combine their love for teaching with creativity, persistence, and passion. These traits not only help you create valuable resources but also sustain you through the ups and downs of building a store. By focusing on these characteristics and taking actionable steps to develop them, you’ll be well on your way to success in the TpT marketplace.
So, is TpT right for you? If you’re ready to embrace the challenges and joys of sharing your teaching expertise, the answer is a resounding yes. Start small, stay consistent, and let your passion guide the way.
But don't forget: As I teach in the Safari Lounge Designer Classes TpT should just be the start! At the beginning it's great to have a build-in-audience to get your first customers. But with time you should not rely on someone else's business but have your own and that definitely means having your own store, website and funnel to find new fans and fellow teachers along the way!
Click on the image to find the resource in my store.
Here an example: I've already created a few resources and got my feet wet. But since it's not different if you sell digital scrapbooking kits or learning resources (at least not a lot of difference when we just speaking of the product itself) I have also set up my own store and added my freebies and products there - that way I build my business at the same time although I'm also dedicated to TpT and building my audience there.
Wanna learn how to build your own store and your TpT business without going crazy? Join me the Safari Lounge Designer Classes!
Safari Lounge Designer Classes
Learn everything you need to know to build a sustainable Business for Educational Printables. Let's create and plan your business together, and then: Market your products. It's all there,
personal coaching included! In case you just wanna have fun and create some printables for your little ones - that's inside as well!