Avoiding Common Mistakes as a New TPT Seller: A Step-by-Step Guide to Success

Holly cow! Starting to sell on TpT was definitely a steep learning curve! It was all new: The shop interface, the colors you had to use (yes, actually the more colourful, the better!) and even the language wasn't common for me as a German. Was it worth it? Hell, yes! Here are some mistakes you can avoid when you are starting out as a TpT seller!

It took me some time to figure: You need to show your product in action! That means: Print it out, use it, put it on a table and start drawing - or have your little one doing it for you!

Avoiding Common Mistakes as a New TPT Seller: A Step-by-Step Guide to Success

Selling on Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) can be an incredibly rewarding venture, both professionally and financially. However, as many seasoned sellers will attest, the journey to success is often filled with trial and error. If you’re just starting your TPT journey, avoiding these common mistakes can help you save time, reduce frustration, and build a successful store.

1. Thinking You Need Perfection Right Away

Many new TpT sellers fall into the perfection trap. They delay uploading resources because they feel their products aren’t “perfect” or that their store needs to look flawless from day one. The truth is, progress beats perfection on TPT. It’s better to start with good-quality products and improve over time based on feedback and experience.

Pro Tip: Focus on quality over quantity initially but don't wait too long to upload your first resource. Your first few products are learning experiences, not final masterpieces. Maybe you are not selling any of these - that's fine! But you learn a lot along the way!

If you wanna learn how to create educational printable for your TpT store, for Etsy or for your own website, join the Safari Lounge Designer Classes!

2. Ignoring the Importance of Keywords and SEO

One of the biggest mistakes new TpT sellers make is neglecting search engine optimisation (SEO). Without effective keywords in your titles and descriptions, your products won’t be discovered by potential buyers.

Actionable Steps:

• Use keyword research tools or browse TPT to identify high-traffic terms related to your resource. You just need to place the cursor in the search bar and you already see what is popular on TpT!
• Incorporate keywords naturally into your product titles, descriptions, and previews.
• Focus on both broad and specific (long-tail) keywords to reach a wider audience.

Right now, we have the middle of December and based on the season you see what is popular right now. You can be sure that this changes weekly, maybe even daily. So this should be definitely your first research.

If you have a specific product in mind type in the keyword for it:

See how much this can already help? Sure, right now it's all about Christmas. But you see that a "Write the Room" activity is also combined with winter or even kindergarten (which will make the resource less seasonable).

In any case: This will help you to figure not only which products are popular but also which keywords to use in your product description. 

3. Not Understanding Your Target Audience

Another common pitfall is creating resources without a clear target audience in mind. For instance, creating a general math worksheet may not resonate as much as a targeted product like “Spring-Themed Addition Practice for 2nd Grade.”

How to Fix This:

• Identify your niche, such as grade levels, subjects, or specific classroom needs.
• Research what buyers in your niche are searching for by exploring similar stores or asking teacher friends for feedback.
• Or maybe ask your neighbour! She might be a mum of three searching for educational resources to keep her kids busy with valuable games while doing the laundry.

4. Failing to Create Eye-Catching Thumbnails and Previews

Your resource may be incredible, but if your thumbnails and previews don’t grab attention, potential buyers may scroll past.

• Thumbnails: Should be bright, clear, and showcase the product’s theme and grade level. It's not wrong to create colourful previews on TpT. Search for the bestsellers over there and have a look at their previews. Of course don't copy but get inspired, it's definitely worth it!
• Previews: Offer enough detail to demonstrate the resource's value without giving away the entire product.

Pro Tip: Canva is an excellent tool for creating professional-looking thumbnails and previews. However, you can also create them in Powerpoint because I guess that is what you already have on your computer to create your educational material. If you don't know how to create previews and the resources in general the Safari Lounge Designer Classes are your place to go!

5. Overlooking Marketing and Promotion

Relying solely on TPT's search engine isn’t enough to grow your store. A strong marketing strategy is essential. Many new sellers struggle with where to start, but small steps can make a big difference.

Strategies to Boost Visibility:

• Share your products on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook.
• Build an email list to promote your resources directly to interested teachers and parents.
• Offer freebies to attract and engage potential buyers.

6. Pricing Too Low or Too High

Pricing can be tricky for new sellers. Many make the mistake of pricing too low, undervaluing their work, or too high, scaring away potential buyers.

How to Price Effectively:

• Research similar products to understand the market average.
• Factor in the quality and value of your resource when determining its price.

7. Failing to Analyze Data

Once your store is up and running, it’s essential to analyze what’s working and what’s not. Many new sellers overlook the importance of tracking their sales and adjusting their strategies accordingly.

Track Metrics Like:

• Best-selling products
• Keywords driving traffic
• Conversion rates (how many views lead to purchases)

At the beginning you might not have any sales to track, no worries - that's fine! But still: If you e.g. create Pins for Pinterest and see traffic coming in the chance is good that these people are coming from Pinterest. If that works - do more! You can do the same with any other platform. Have a marketing plan in place and do that whenever you finish a new product. 
It could look something like this:

• Create 5 Pins and post them on 5 days.
• Create 2-3 Reels on Instagram and post them on various days
• Create a little freebie and give it the same love: Post Pins for your freebies and some Reels
• Additionally, you can post your product and freebie on Facebook

That's just a very short marketing plan but if you do that for each new product and you create one per week it definitely adds up over time and helps to increase your sales. While posts on Instagram might not be seen anymore in a few days from now Pins will be. So maybe focus your effort on Pinterest! Another great idea is to create a blog post and advertise that one, again, on Pinterest and Instagram (just to name two).
You see how much you can already do? Marketing is not waisted time but done right it helps to grow your business over time.

8. Comparing Yourself to Others

The TPT marketplace is vast, and it’s easy to feel discouraged when comparing yourself to top sellers. Remember, every successful store started small. Focus on your journey and celebrate small wins, like your first sale or positive review.
Be a member of TpT Facebook Groups (there are soooo many!) and see what problems others have. Maybe you can relate to? Or maybe you already solved that problem and can help? Great! It's a good idea to get in touch with other teachers and maybe work together - there is then no such thing as competition if you support each other.

9. Neglecting Customer Support

Building relationships not just with fellow teachers but also with buyers is crucial for long-term success. Ignoring questions or failing to address issues quickly can harm your reputation.

Best Practices for Customer Support:

• Respond promptly to buyer inquiries.
• Offer solutions to issues, such as replacing missing files or offering guidance on using your resource.
• If you can: Link up your customer to your blog for the answer.
• Offer a Freebie and link him up - maybe you have a new newsletter subscriber!

Each customer counts. So do what Amazon does and make each and every customer happy.

10. Not Continuing to Learn

The TPT marketplace evolves constantly. Sellers who stay informed about trends and adapt their strategies are more likely to thrive.

Stay in the Loop:

• Follow TPT blogs and seller communities.
• Attend webinars and workshops to learn best practices.
• Keep experimenting with new product types and marketing approaches.

If you need help along the way and have someone to stay on track for you - well, join me in the Safari Lounge! I teach you all you need and more. 

Every TPT seller makes mistakes along the way. By learning from others’ experiences and avoiding these common pitfalls, you can set yourself up for a smoother and more successful journey. Remember, consistency and adaptability are key to thriving on Teachers Pay Teachers.