branding tpt store

3 Reasons You’re Not Making Money on TpT… and how to fix them.

Here’s a question you may have asked yourself... do I even the have the potential to make money on TpT anymore or is it oversaturated to the point where it’s not even worth trying? I’m here to tell you that you can 100% still make money even if you start your own TpT Store today.

Now are there more sellers than ever on TpT?  Absolutely, but because TpT is growing so much there are also a ton of more buyers on TpT looking for exactly what you may have to offer.

It is super important to make resources that are going to fill a need, which we’ll talk more about in another post.  But, assuming you have incredible resources, here are 3 reasons your store isn’t making money on TpT… yet.

 

You’re not putting effort into branding and searchability.

 

Imagine going into a store to look for a gift, and this just happened to me- I was picking up a bottle of wine for a friend’s birthday. Typically I go with our favorite, a Mark West Pinot Noir. We always drink it together and I know she loves it. BUT I saw this beautiful bottle by Belle Glos Clark. that really made it feel special. Since it was my friend’s birthday I said to myself, let me get this other wine instead. 

Now was this wine better than the other bottle, honestly I’m not so sure. But, will I get it again - absolutely.  Because of the branding!

How does that translate to TpT?  Your product covers, your thumbnails, your previews, your titles and your descriptions are the number 1 thing that will ultimately sell your product. Now this is going to sound strange, but they can sometimes be even more important than the product itself.  

Now does that mean you don’t need to focus on quality resources - ABSOLUTELY NOT - but what it does mean is that you have to focus just as much energy and effort into making your resources stand out.

You may have just a second or two for someone to decide to scroll on by or choose your resource over the thousands of others available. Human psychology plays a big part in why people will decide to click, or just scroll on by. People subconsciously respond to visual stimuli, and if your resources are eye-catching enough you will be able to sell more products. Quality aside, sometimes the look and feel of the product cover, thumbnails, previews, and descriptions will be the ultimate factor in you getting that sale.

Ranking on TpT is also a HUGE factor in how your products will perform. While the TpT algorithm isn’t known, and is always changing, one thing you CAN do to increase your chances of appearing on those first few pages of search results is by using your keywords strategically. This is called search engine optimization (SEO).  In a nutshell, you should have keywords that people are actually searching for in your titles and your descriptions. I actually just shared a reel about this over on my Instagram.

Basically you want to think like a google search.  Ask yourself “If I were going on TpT right now to search for something, what kinds of terms am I going to use?” Those keywords are what you want to include in your description!  A cute, clever description is more likely to make your resource hard to find.

And trust me I know that feeling of finishing a resource and once I’ve poured my heart into creating a resource, the last thing I want to do is make covers, and think of titles, and write descriptions, but don’t skimp out on these steps. They can make or break your sales.

 

You’re In “Set It and Forget It” Mentality

 

If you are just putting things up on TpT and then crossing your fingers and hoping for a sale, you are missing out on so much potential for your store and your resources!  

Will you make money this way? Maybe, probably.  At least enough for a Starbucks run every once in a while.  

Even if you have really great SEO, product covers, thumbnails, and previews, you’re not going to be able to create that consistent and sustainable income by ONLY uploading to TpT and thinking people will find them.

You also need some sort of marketing strategy to allow you to get eyes on your store and  resources, and grow a loyal following of teachers who will be repeat customers.

Now if your goal is to sell a couple of resources each month, it’s ok to skip this part.  

However, if you want to actually make a profitable and sustainable income, then you need to be intentional, and proactive.  You need to work with purpose to draw in and create those repeat customers!. 

You aren’t just going to wake up one day and poof… people have found and love your store.  You have to put in the work and be determined to do all the steps so that you can be exactly where you want to be. You need a plan for your products themselves, and a plan for how you are going to market with intention to your ideal customers. 

 

You’re Not Treating Your TpT Store Like an Actual Business.

 

One of the biggest things I hear from teacher sellers is that you don’t have enough TIME. You can’t find the time, or you don’t know how other people do it or how I do it... But here’s the thing… if you don’t make the time for your business you’re always going to feel this way.

An actual business will have a consistent plan for how you are going to be working.  You want to be super clear on your expectations and goals and the TIME that you’re going to be dedicating to making this work for you.

You have to know what you’re going to create, why you’re creating them and how you’re going to execute. These are things you can’t just put to the side. 

If you aren’t being intentional with your time, especially when it comes to your business goals you’re always going to be stuck in a cycle of “there’s never enough time”. Prioritize your growth and see how your world changes.  

Imagine saying to yourself I’m not working on my growth because it’s not a priority.  If that doesn’t sit well with you, then it’s time to make a change. 

 One thing you can do TODAY is set aside 15 minutes, and start a list of all the things you’re going to work on. 

 Then give yourself what I like to call a POWER HOUR. You need to have a set plan you’re going to execute with ZERO distractions. And when I say zero, I mean zero distractions. So no looking at emails, social media, tv, nothing at all that will allow you to stray from what is on your plan to execute.  

Yes, answering that email or dm may SEEM like you’re doing work, but that’s not work that’s going to get you to the goal you’re here to accomplish.  

How many times have you sat down to get something done and said, “First, I’ll just hop on Instagram real quick”? Next thing you know you’ve flushed 20 minutes down the drain!  I’ve done it too many times myself.

You want to go into your Power Hour with real, definitive plans.  This could be working on a particular resource or product line, creating product covers, thumbnails, and previews, setting up your email content, or batching your Instagram posts. Then use that Power Hour to get to work!

If you don’t get everything done you wanted to in that hour, it’s ok! You did accomplish something and that in itself is something to be proud of. The more you do this, the better you’ll get at picking the right amount of work for that hour.

Make this part of your business habits. If that means once a week, do it once a week. If you can schedule in more, then great. But be consistent and schedule it!  

 

Now let’s get to work on gaining that momentum and actually seeing growth that makes an impact. Remember I am here for you!

 I’d love to hear how much you were able to accomplish in your power hour with no distractions!  Come share your accomplishments in the Facebook group Teacher Instagram Boss