Setting Realistic Goals for Your TpT Store: Timelines, Milestones, and Actionable Steps

Success on Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) doesn’t happen overnight. While it’s inspiring to hear about sellers earning six-figure incomes, those results come after years of hard work. For new sellers, setting realistic goals is crucial to staying motivated and tracking progress. Because - what happens first is - nothing. You won't earn a single Dollar or maybe a few by luck. I asked in one of the numerous Facebook groups when you can expect consistent earnings and the ladies said that that didn't happen for them until they had 50 - 100 resources online.

Please note: I'm not (yet) a successful TpT seller myself. We are in this together but I can support you with years of experience selling digital products. I have sold digital scrapbooking kits here at Digidesignresort for years. There is not a huge difference. As in every industry the rules are a bit different and we need to figure them out but basically it's all about getting out quality products that solve problems for others and advertising those. Because: What people can't see they cannot buy.

Maybe you are interested in resources for teachers? Follow me on TpT or check them out here at Digidesignresort.

Since I just started my TpT store I cannot tell you something about the amount of products from my own experience. But what I can tell you: It is similar in all stores. Whenever you join a new store you need a good amount of products to get noticed and then make sales on autopilot. So yes, 50 - 100 products are a good number to get noticed. But, as always, the more the better... No worries though. That is totally archivable but if you cannot work on your store every day this might take some time. If you can set aside four to five hours for your shop per day I guess a realistic timeline would be about six - eight months because you can definitely create one new resource per day, taking weekends off. If you want "quick" success you actually need to treat this like a business and on a business you work every day. But if you cannot - yes, it might take longer but that's totally ok!
At least this is how success came to Digidesignresort when we sold digital scrapbooking kits. It all happened from consistent product creation, advertising and being in touch with our community.

This guide will help you establish achievable goals, define key milestones, and take actionable steps to grow your TpT store with clarity and focus. However, you can easily apply this to a store on your own website or Etsy.

Define Your Timeline for Success

One of the first steps to success is understanding that progress on TpT is gradual. The timeline for achieving major milestones varies based on factors like how much time you dedicate, your niche, and your marketing efforts. It’s important to set a timeline that aligns with your current schedule and resources.

For example, achieving your first sale might take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the quality of your initial product and how well you promote it. Consistent monthly income, however, may take a few more months as discussed above. These timelines are not a reflection of your potential but of the organic process of building a presence in the marketplace.

Also, keep in mind: If you have just one or two products in your store it won't be very trustworthy for your customers. So what we first need are a few products so we have something people can choose from. So actually that is what I focus on right now: Creating this first 10 products for my store. Are you with me? or do you have your own goal? Here are a few to choose from.

Action Step: Set a timeline for your first milestone.

Choose one of these:

Write it down and track your progress weekly to stay accountable.

Achieving Your First Sale

Making your first sale is an exciting milestone that validates your effort and provides motivation to continue. To increase your chances, focus on creating a product that solves a specific problem for teachers. For instance, a back-to-school activity or a classroom management tool can appeal to a broad audience. Pricing your first product affordably, offering a freebie, and promoting your store on social media or within your professional network can also accelerate your first sale.

Let's get more specific. I had my first sale already and I can tell you: it felt a-m-a-z-i-n-g. But since then: crickets. So yes, from my experience here at Digidesignresort adding a freebie to each resource you offer is a great idea. People grab the freebies first and if they figured that you offer a great quality (and believe me there are HUGE differences!) they will buy from you - but maybe not today. 

Patience is essential during this stage. Many sellers don’t see sales immediately, but that doesn’t mean your product lacks value. Take this time to refine your product descriptions, preview images, and keywords to make your resources more discoverable. Actually you'll need time to figure it all out. Each site has its own rules and so does TpT.

Action Step: Identify one classroom-tested resource you’re proud of and turn it into your first TpT product. Pair it with a freebie to attract attention and promote it on at least one platform, such as Pinterest or Instagram. My recommendation here is Pinterest because you can create multiple pins for one resource. In my eyes Instagram is more for building a community - which is a great thing but that takes even longer than promoting your products with Pinterest.
Combine each product you publish with a freebie because those actually get attention. I discovered a store which has nearly 200 (!) freebies online! My guess is that she doesn't do it because she is not making sales from this strategy. You can have a look at Sasha's store here. And hey, I'm happy to promote her and give her a link because she gave me so much value for free... beside that I already purchased a lot from her 😉 

Building a Consistent Monthly Income

Reaching consistent monthly income is a longer-term goal that requires a combination of quality, quantity, and marketing. Focus on creating a diverse portfolio of products that cater to different teaching needs while maintaining high standards. Bundles are especially effective for increasing income as they offer value to buyers while boosting your average sale price.

Marketing plays a significant role in achieving consistency. Use platforms like Pinterest, email newsletters, or TpT’s own promoted listings to drive traffic to your store. Analysing data from your TpT dashboard will also help you identify which products perform well and guide your future creations.

Action Step: Set a product creation goal, such as uploading 4 new resources per month, which means one per week. Simultaneously, dedicate time to learning a marketing strategy like Pinterest or email campaigns and apply it consistently. No worries if all you can handle for now is creating these four new products per month. That is already a great achievement! 

If you are serious of building a business check out the Safari Lounge Designer Classes where I show you step by step how to build a successful TpT store, or, in general a store on your own website.

Celebrate Small Wins Along the Way

While big milestones are exciting, it’s important to celebrate the small victories that happen along the way. Whether it’s a new review, a freebie download, or a spike in views on your store, these moments are signs of growth. Recognising and appreciating these achievements will keep you motivated and make the journey enjoyable.

Each small win provides an opportunity to reflect and refine your strategy. If a particular product gets more downloads or sales, consider creating similar resources. If feedback highlights areas for improvement, use it as a chance to grow.

Action Step: Keep a journal or spreadsheet to document every achievement, no matter how small. Regularly review these notes to remind yourself of how far you’ve come.

Setting realistic goals for your TpT store is about balancing ambition with patience. By defining clear timelines, focusing on achievable milestones, and celebrating progress, you can build a thriving store at a pace that works for you. Remember, every successful TpT seller started where you (or we) are now—with an idea, a passion for teaching, and the determination to keep going. Start small, stay consistent, and let your efforts compound into success. 
Although I'm at the beginning of my TpT journey I can tell you what worked selling digital resources here at Digidesignresort and many other stores I sold my products in. It's all about giving value to your potential customers. You want them to see you as a friend rather than a seller who wants their money.
We all need to earn money to survive but we can earn our living in an ethical way. 
And that's what I'll show you in this series. Yes, we will focus on TeacherspayTeachers. But this strategy basically works for any shop you open - no matter if it's on your own website or on a third party website just as Etsy or TpT. There is no magic bullet. There is no luck involved. It's plain hard work to be successful. It's about consistency. So choose a plan that works for you and adapt it to the amount of time you have to build your business. If it's five hours per week, great - make use of them! If you can work all day, every day on your business - awesome! Sure, you'll be faster the more time you can dedicate but life is different for anyone so we need to adapt our side hustle to what we can dedicate.