Tuesday’s TPT Tip

Yay! Another exciting tip from another favorite blogger/material creator. Today’s post is by Home Sweet Speech Room. Make sure you stop by her welcoming blog for lots of great information!

DOs:
-DO make your store unique.  Create products that will set you apart.
-DO create your own style.  Use a unique font, style of clipart, etc.
-DO create quality activities over the quantity of activities.
-DO use custom categories.
-DO create descriptive yet concise titles for your products.
-DO provide an accurate and complete description of your product in the “description” section.
-DO choose appropriate grade levels, categories, and page numbers so readers know exactly who it was designed for and what they will be getting.
-DO follow other sellers.  Support them and also see what they have created so you don’t create a similar product.
-DO set an example for buyers by leaving feedback on your purchases.
-DO respond to some or all of the feedback left by your customers!
-DO listen to the constructive feedback left by customers.
-DO check for trademark and copyright infringement issues.  This is a huge area and can result in some big trouble if you’re not careful.   Avoid Pete the Cat, Dr. Seuss, and Elf on the Shelf for sure, among others!
-DO contact any authors if necessary when creating book companions. Some authors require permission, Eric Carle being one of them.
-DO leave blank pages in your packets/products when appropriate so buyers can add relevant examples to their set as needed.
-DO send monthly notes to your followers on TpT.  These can be about a sale, a new product, or all of your newest products from that month.
-DO participate in TpT forums, or at least read them.  Valuable information is said here.
-DO your homework before you start. Know what all is involved, how to price, recommendations on page lengths for freebies, etc.

DON’Ts:
-DON’T copy another’s work. If you have a similar idea as another blogger, email them to discuss it and make yours different enough.
-DON’T blatantly violate trademark or copyright issues. Don’t do it at all, but certainly not intentionally!
-DON’T claim someone else’s work as your own.
-DON’T forget to state where you got your clipart, any facts or other information, or the author of a book.
-DON’T reward your followers with frequent freebies or flash freebies. Instead resort to some sales.
-DON’T compare yourself to others and their success.  Instead focus on your store and blog.
-DON’T be rude or arrogant when responding to feedback.  If you don’t agree, state a simple “Thanks for the feedback” and move on.
-DON’T under or overprice items. Pricing is SO hard, but make sure your work is priced at a fair value for your time and effort!  Just be careful not to overprice it or people won’t buy it!
-DON’T forget to be patient. Building up a set of buyers takes time!

There you have it.  Those are simple, straightforward DOs and DON’Ts of TpT, but they are important that you follow them if you’re selling or planning to sell on there.

Carissa blogs over at Home Sweet Speech Room.  You can also find her on Facebook, Teachers Pay Teachers, Pinterest, and Twitter.  She is a second year graduate student, is training for a half marathon, loves cooking, and is addicted to Pinterest.