School of Sellers: TPT Strategies, Tips, + Seller Stories

As we get ready to begin a new year, planning is top of mind. As they say, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. While that might be a little over the top, there’s a lot of truth to it! Having a consistent planning process sets you up for success in your teacher-seller business.

I could sit here all day and share my method for planning and organization in business. But, we all have different personalities, and unique businesses, and are in various seasons of life…so we need different tools! That’s why I created a new planner personality quiz.

This quiz will give you a deep look at who you are as a TPT seller and uncover your exact planning path, tools, and superpowers to leverage this year. Ashley and I are acting as your guinea pigs and have been the first two people to take the quiz! We’re here to share our planner type results with you in this episode.

Will you be a “Go with the Flow Fran”, “Day by Day Debbie”, “Action Jackson”, or something else? Join us in Jumpstart and take the planner type quiz here. Then, share your results in the School of Sellers Facebook group!

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/episode152/

Resources:

🗓 Jumpstart Your Year: https://schoolofsellers.com/jumpstart

✏️ Planner Personality Quiz: https://schoolofsellers.com/plannerquiz

🔥 Join Ignite today: https://schoolofsellers.com/ignite

💻 Follow along on Instagram @school.of.sellers.

❤️ Loving this podcast? Rate and write a review on Apple Podcasts here!

🗣 Continue the conversation in The School of Sellers Facebook group.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 105, The Great Planner Debate: Which One is Best for TPT Sellers? (With Special Guests Lisa Mattes + Ashley Wright)
• Episode 120, Making Sense of SOPs: A Seller’s Guide to This Time-Saving Hack
• Episode 112, I Made My Business Plans…Now What? (4 Post-Planning Must-Dos)
• Episode 74, 3 Ways to Prepare Your TPT Business for the New Year

When you think about using TikTok for your business, does it excite you or make you want to run the other way? If it’s the latter, you could be missing out! When it comes to TikTok, there’s so much potential for growing your audience and even monetizing directly from your videos.

Nancy Chung is here to talk all about TikTok for TPT sellers. After hearing her present at TPT Forward last summer on this topic, I knew I had to have her on the podcast to share her experience and knowledge with you. Nancy walks us through the benefits of using TikTok for TPT sellers, misconceptions about the app, tips for easily creating content that people want to watch, and insight into the earning potential.

Nancy has seen so much success on TikTok, and with her advice, you could too. And no, you don’t have to dance! This might be the perfect opportunity for you to try something new, expand your reach, and engage with more teachers and potential customers.

Connect with Nancy on Instagram and TikTok or listen to The Schoolyard Podcast.

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/episode151/

Resources:

🎧 Listen to other episodes about diversifying your teacher business!

🔥 Join Ignite today: https://schoolofsellers.com/ignite

💻 Follow along on Instagram @school.of.sellers.

❤️ Loving this podcast? Rate and write a review on Apple Podcasts here!

🗣 Continue the conversation in The School of Sellers Facebook group.

Are you a Type B business owner who wants to run away when you hear words like organization, SOPs, and systems? If so, today’s episode might make you feel a little uncomfortable, but stick with me! I promise it will be worth it.

I’m sharing three business systems that I think every teacher seller should implement. Get ready to discover how task management, project management and brain dump systems can revolutionize your business by increasing efficiency, consistency, and communication - all while reducing stress.

Whether you consider yourself Type A or Type B, there’s no doubt about it...systems will decrease your mental load drastically! And, you have options as to how you set your systems up so they work best for your unique business and personality. Personally, having these three business systems has transformed how I work and I hope they do the same for you!

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/episode150/

Resources:

👩‍💻 ClickUp

👩‍💻 Trello

🔥 Join Ignite today: https://schoolofsellers.com/ignite

💻 Follow along on Instagram @school.of.sellers.

❤️ Loving this podcast? Rate and write a review on Apple Podcasts here!

🗣 Continue the conversation in The School of Sellers Facebook group.

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Episode 149, 3 Ways to Help Future You Thrive
• Episode 129, The Ideal Brain Dump System for Creative Entrepreneurs
• Episode 121, SOP Deep Dive: A Look Inside My Product Creation System
• Episode 28, Systems That Transform Your Teacher Business

Imagine if the next time you sat down to write a blog post, it felt easy because you already had a plan for what to write. Or, what if you scheduled your next podcast interview on a day that you knew you would be feeling energized? This could be your reality if you start making future you a priority!

There are things you can do today that will set future you up for success tomorrow. In fact, in the seller world, there are some very distinct things you can start doing at this very moment that will get you to a place of work-life balance - and I’m going to tell you exactly what they are!

In this episode, I’m sharing three must-dos to help future you thrive…teacher seller style! From leaving breadcrumbs to cleaning up after yourself virtually and meeting your energy where it’s at, these small actions will save future you TONS of time and energy. Let’s take care of our future selves so that business and life can feel more enjoyable!

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/episode149

Resources:

🔥 Join Ignite today: https://schoolofsellers.com/ignite

✅ The Finishing Framework: https://schoolofsellers.com/finishing-framework/

💻 Follow along on Instagram @school.of.sellers.

❤️ Loving this podcast? Rate and write a review on Apple Podcasts here!

Have you been feeling like you’re losing your spark lately? You probably know that spark that I’m talking about. It’s your passion, excitement, and creative energy for everything you’re working on in your business. 

If that spark is fading, there’s a very good chance you’re headed straight into burnout…or maybe you’re already there. As I go into my 12th year as a TPT seller, I know this feeling all too well. When things start to feel hard or monotonous, we often blame ourselves and it can be so difficult to keep going. 

Here’s the good news. You can absolutely reignite that spark! That’s what we’re exploring inside this episode. I’m sharing my best advice for combating business burnout so you can get back to feeling passionate about your work. I hope it reminds you of the importance of your mental well-being and encourages you to protect your spark, no matter where you are in your seller journey.

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/episode148

Resources:

🔥 Join Ignite today: https://schoolofsellers.com/ignite

💻 Follow along on Instagram @school.of.sellers.

🗣 Continue the conversation in The School of Sellers Facebook group.

❤️ Loving this podcast? Rate and write a review on Apple Podcasts here!

If you liked this episode, you’ll enjoy these too:

• Episode 136, The Workcation Guide for Sellers: Getting Away to Get It Done
• Episode 123, Avoiding the TPT Burnout: 3 Ways to Balance Teaching & Passion Projects Without the Overwhelm (Special Guest Brittany Blackwell)
• Episode 68, How to Pivot When Your Plans Fail
• Episode 60, Taking a Break: How Time Away Is Actually Good For Your TPT Business
• Episode 16, Workcations: The Teacher Seller Hack You’ve Been Missing

The leaves are changing and the morning air is turning crisp, which can only mean one thing. Spooky season is here! To get us in the spooky spirit, Ashley and I are diving into some of our deepest fears - not just in business, but in life and beyond.

From TPT anxieties to real-life phobias like spiders and heights (thanks a lot, TikTok!), you’ll hear it all. We realize that some of the things we worry about are way more rational than others! Hopefully this conversation will make you realize you aren’t alone in your fears. 

We would love to hear from you! What is your biggest fear around TPT or in your personal life? Share them with us on Instagram @school.of.sellers or in our Facebook group.

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/episode147/

Resources:

🔥 Join Ignite today: https://schoolofsellers.com/ignite

💻 Follow along on Instagram @school.of.sellers.

❤️ Loving this podcast? Rate and write a review on Apple Podcasts here!

Being a TPT seller looks different for each person. Some of you are full-time TPT sellers who have left the classroom while others are in the classroom with the end goal of working from home on TPT full-time. Our guest today, Katarina Lazaris, is a full-time teacher and successful TPT seller with no plans to leave the classroom. 

Katarina is the face behind Lessons for Learning and a 6th-grade full-time teacher. She started her TPT store during her very first year of teaching and the rest is history! If you love being in the classroom but also love growing your TPT business, Katarina is proof that you can do both.

In our conversation, Katarina shares why she stays in the classroom even though her TPT store brings in a full-time income. She also breaks down how she manages her time in both roles to avoid burnout. If you dream about being a full-time teacher while running a thriving TPT store, I have a feeling this episode will leave you feeling inspired!

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/episode146/

Resources:

🗓 The Finishing Framework: https://schoolofsellers.com/finishing-framework/

🔥 Join Ignite today: https://schoolofsellers.com/ignite

💻 Follow along on Instagram @school.of.sellers.

❤️ Loving this podcast? Rate and write a review on Apple Podcasts here!

We’re kicking off a new series on the podcast: seller book club chats! In the first episode of this series, I sit down with Janice Cook and Kassaundra Foster to dive into Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear”. Big Magic talks a lot about creativity and breaking out beyond fears and hesitations to live happier lives both as people and business owners. 

Throughout our conversation, we talk about balancing creative freedom with business pressures, managing perfectionism, and the unique challenges faced by teacher sellers. We also touch on the emotions that come with "dead ideas" and how we respond when other sellers have similar ideas that we do.

You’ll hear what we deeply connected with in the book…and what we couldn’t quite relate to! I think this is the perfect read if you’re feeling detached from the creative spark that led you to becoming a TPT seller in the first place. If you’ve read Big Magic, we would love to hear your thoughts too! Tag us on Instagram @school.of.sellers and share your takeaways.

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/episode145/

Resources:

🔥 Join Ignite today: https://schoolofsellers.com/ignite

💻 Follow along on Instagram @school.of.sellers.

❤️ Loving this podcast? Rate and write a review on Apple Podcasts here!

Connect with Janice and Kassaundra:

• Janice’s Instagram: @teacherjaniceva      
• Kassaundra’s Instagram: @fostercontentsolutions

Do you have more than one way that you’re bringing in income from your teacher business? Today we’re diving back into the world of diversification with guest, Brittany Naujok. Brittany is a long-time member of the School of Sellers community and this episode marks the second time I have had her on the show (check out her first appearance here!). 

Brittany gives a snapshot of her journey as a teacher, seller, and entrepreneur. Her story began in late 2012 thanks to a friend’s suggestion to start selling her teaching resources. In 2014 she decided to fully commit to this new venture and has been creating resources for middle school grades ever since!

Now she diversifies her business through three main paths: affiliate links, co-hosting a podcast, and having a website shop. Brittany shares the pros and cons of each diversification method and reminds us of the importance of pursuing what brings you joy and fits your lifestyle!

We hope this gives you some ideas on how you can diversify your business! If you want to hear more stories from sellers who are diversifying, check out out these episodes!

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/episode144/

Resources:

🔥 Join Ignite today: https://schoolofsellers.com/ignite

💻 Follow along on Instagram @school.of.sellers.

❤️ Loving this podcast? Rate and write a review on Apple Podcasts here!

In our comeback episode (episode 126), I sat down with Ashley, one of the faces behind team SOS. We had a casual conversation and received lots of great feedback, so we’re bringing it back today. 

Ashley joins me again for a coffee chat to talk about our opinions on the TPT storefront design, what type of eating competition we would win, product inspiration, and more. I must have been hungry while planning this episode because a lot of our questions revolve around food! So, grab your snacks and your coffee, and join us for a chat!

Do you have a weird food combination that you love? Have a funny story behind a TPT product that you’ve created? Share your feedback from this episode with us on Instagram @school.of.sellers or in a written review on Apple Podcasts!

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/episode143

Resources:

🔥 Join Ignite today: https://schoolofsellers.com/ignite

💻 Follow along on Instagram @school.of.sellers.

❤️ Loving this podcast? Rate and write a review on Apple Podcasts here!