There are five crucial mistakes that beginner sellers should avoid when starting their Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) store. Take it from my personal experience… you’ll save time, stress, and money by avoiding these common pitfalls!
Mistake 1: Choosing the Basic Seller Membership Plan
The first mistake is opting for the basic seller membership plan instead of the premium plan. The basic plan requires an upfront payment of $29, which is non-refundable, and sellers only retain 55% of their earnings. In contrast, the premium plan allows sellers to keep 80% of their profits, and the transaction fees are significantly lower. Although the initial cost of the premium plan ($59.95) might seem steep, it is a worthwhile investment if you can dedicate at least one to two hours per week to your store. Moreover, the $29 paid for the basic plan cannot be applied towards the premium plan later, resulting in higher overall costs and lost potential earnings.
Mistake 2: Niching Down Too Much
The second mistake is becoming overly niche in your store’s offerings. While it is important to have a focus, I advise against narrowing your product range too much. Initially, I focused my classroom decor store exclusively on English literature-inspired listings but later found unexpected success with American history-themed posters. The lesson here is to remain open to different possibilities and allow the market to guide the direction of your store. By offering a broader range of resources, you can better determine what resonates with buyers and adjust your strategies accordingly.
Mistake 3: Getting Bogged Down with Extras
The third mistake is getting overwhelmed by the additional tasks that come with running a TPT store, such as managing social media accounts, creating a blog, or using Pinterest. These activities can be time-consuming and are not necessary in the early stages of your business. Instead, concentrate on creating and listing high-quality products. Focusing on product creation and listing helped me achieve significant sales before I even began using social media effectively. As a beginner, your priority should be reaching a milestone of 50 resources before diving into other promotional activities.
Mistake 4: Rushing Through the Listing Process
The fourth mistake is hurrying through the process of listing products on TPT. After spending considerable time creating a resource, you might be tempted to quickly list it and move on. However, this can negatively impact the product’s success. Key aspects such as thumbnails, previews, and descriptions need careful attention to ensure they are clear, appealing, and informative. I advise against using TPT’s automatic thumbnail feature, as it often results in unattractive visuals. Taking the time to create high-quality listings can significantly improve conversion rates and attract more buyers.
Mistake 5: Waiting Until You “Feel Ready”
The final mistake is waiting until you feel completely ready before launching your store. I encourage new sellers to start sooner rather than later, emphasizing that real progress comes from gaining feedback and learning from the market. It’s like coaching basketball: improvement comes from playing and practicing, not just observing. By taking action and posting resources, even if they are not perfect, you can begin to gather valuable insights and make necessary adjustments.
In conclusion, it’s critical to: invest in the premium membership plan, stay flexible with your store’s focus, prioritize product creation over additional tasks, dedicate time to creating high-quality listings, and take action without waiting for perfection. These strategies can help new sellers build a successful TPT store more efficiently and effectively.