I just received an email this morning confirming our renewal on TPT. It got me thinking, where did this year go? What have we learned? What would I tell myself a year ago that would have been helpful?
Starting out on TPT tips:
....in no particular order
1) Research a unique name that represents who you want to be know as in the TPT world.
Make a list of names that you like or represent you. Then start typing them into TPT, as well as into blogger. For us we went through several names until we decided on Rclassroomsrus.
2) Secure your new name under all social media.
We began by securing our name on TPT, blogger, and email. Even if you don't think you will blog, it's worth saving a blog under your name just in case you change your mind if the future.
After that, we looked into twitter and a Facebook page.
3) Get a mentor
I was lucky enough to have a fellow collogue who began on TPT just a few years ago. That poor girl. I think I emailed or called her daily with questions. Having someone who has been on TPT for a while was the biggest help in the world. She guided me towards proper pricing, as well as how I could get my items out there for the world to see...and hopefully buy.
4) Get familiar in Powerpoint and PDF
Play with it, have fun with it. Try not to curse at it;)
5) Make products that you would use in your own classroom
What do you need for your classroom right now. Make it. Odds are if you need it, others do too. Remember, the first product you post must be a freebie, so make sure this best represents you and your skills.
Here's our
first product. You can tell we were very new at this...
6) If you like it then you should've put your name on it (insert destiny child's put a ring on it song here)
Put your name on every page. E.g., Rclassroomsrus©2015. I have painfully gone back and put our name on every page of our earlier packages.
I wish someone would have told me to do this from the beginning. The truth is, there are a few bad apples out there that may steal your work and post it as their own or on their blog. If you put your name on your work and save it in PDF this makes it harder for people to steal and claim your work.
7) Look for clipart, but make sure you read the fine print.
When we first began we had no money to invest in clipart. If it wasn't for
mycutegraphics.com, we wouldn't have had such cute packages. Many popular clipartist post free clipart. We also loved
Krista Wallden's free clipart.
8) Make a credits page.
This is the page that goes at the end of your package. The more clipart we use, the more we add to our end of package page. Here's an example:
9) Make a paid product and don't forget to keep your phone off silent mode.
I missed our first cha-ching (yes this is the sound your phone will make if you download the TPT app). I had it on silent. It was the best and most exciting $0.85 I have ever earned. IT would have been way better if I had heard my phone go off.
10) When the time is right, start to invest in yourself.
Here is what we began to invest in:
Clipart (I am now a fullblow addict)
Fonts
Professional looking blog make over
TPT Button
With one year down, I can't wait to see what the next TPT year will bring. Cheers and best of luck to all our TPT friends.
