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

We're kicking off a series on diversifying with Amanda Cardenas, founder of Mudd and Ink Teaching and cohost of the Brave New Teaching podcast. Amanda chats with me about diversifying her teacher business through in-person professional development. She shares her journey from selling on TPT to discovering her passion for in-person PD and speaking engagements. 

Amanda opens up about the personal challenges she faces in embracing her role as a professional development leader, particularly dealing with anxiety and self-doubt. Her candid sharing about breaking the traditional teacher money mindset and the transition from a classroom teacher to a professional development expert adds authenticity to the conversation. 

Through the discussion, Amanda offers practical advice for those looking to transition to in-person PD, such as building relationships with schools, considering logistical factors like travel expenses, and navigating brand confusion between different facets of one's business. Amanda provides inspiring and practical guidance for teachers looking to diversify their business beyond the classroom.

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/in-person-pd

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!

Have you been looking for ways to maximize your sales on TpT, even with some of the limitations on the platform? I know many sellers wish we had a few additional features when it comes to the TpT platform. One feature I wish TpT offered is having access to our customers’ email addresses so we can stay connected with them after their purchases.

The good news is there are some hacks that we can use to help increase our sales on TpT once a customer has purchased or downloaded a product. We may not have access to our customers’ emails to follow up and promote our other products, but we can ask our customers to purchase additional products through upsells of the products they have already purchased. In this episode, I am diving into what an upsell is, three upsells you should use on TpT, and how to get started with upselling in your TpT store.

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

Resources:

Get your ticket to the Teacher Seller’s Summit! (Affiliate link)

🔥 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!

Have you thought about diversifying your teacher seller business to include supplemental income streams? Many teacher sellers, like myself, worry about the uncertainty of relying solely on platforms like TpT for income. However, we know we can’t add on something we pour as much time and effort into as our TpT stores, so what are some options for creating additional revenue streams for our businesses?

Diversification is a means of reducing risk and increasing stability in our teacher seller business. Of course, this is not something that all teacher sellers want or need, especially those still in the classroom! But for those of us who rely solely on our businesses, finding ways to diversify and bring in additional revenue can be incredibly helpful.

In this episode, I share 13 ways of diversifying and expanding your income stream beyond your TpT store. You’ll hear about online and in-person options, education and non-teaching-related ideas, and the pros and cons of different options to help you decide if these are a good fit for you!

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

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!

Do you feel like you have 25 tabs open in your brain at all times? If so, you are not alone! As a teacher, business owner, and mom, I feel like I constantly have new ideas, endless to-dos, and random things popping into my head all the time. Now, I’m sure you’ve heard about brain dumps before, but finding a brain dump system that works for me has truly been a game changer for making sure that my ideas and thoughts don’t get forgotten. 

I personally think that the mental load of a teacher business owner is unmatched. However, feeling overwhelmed by it all doesn’t need to be your norm. Once I started implementing the simple practice of a brain dump into my seller habits, my brain finally was able to feel some relief! In this episode, I am breaking down what a brain dump is, options for brain dumps, why having a system is beneficial, and my tips for a successful brain dump system.

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/brain-dump/

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!

Are you ready to successfully tackle your business goals this summer, even with kids at home? We are quickly approaching summer which means that for many of us, our schedules will be changing. There will be kids at home, summer camps, trips, and, of course, all the everyday summer fun that we look forward to. But even with the change in schedules, you can take control of your summer business plan with a little bit of planning ahead!

Balancing work and family time in the summer can sometimes feel overwhelming. As teacher sellers, we know there is so much to do throughout the year, but we also want to make summer the best it can possibly be for us and our families. In order to do that, it’s so helpful to have a solid summer business plan in place where you can identify and plan out exactly what you want to focus on and when.

As I was preparing my own summer business plan, I thought it might be helpful to share it with you as a sort of “summer business survival guide.” So today, I am walking you through the 3 main things I will be focusing on this summer, what I am doing in each of these 3 areas, and how I have my time scheduled to make the most out of work time and family time.

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/summer-business-plan

Resources:

Your Data Playbook

THE Planning Workshop For Teacher Sellers Waitlist

🔥 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!

Does spring have you feeling the need to clean, declutter, and head into summer with a fresh start? I always look at spring as a time for fresh starts and a renewed sense of energy, not just for my physical spaces but for my business as well! If you’re ready to head into the second half of the year feeling rejuvenated and with your business organized and fresh, I’ve got some helpful tips for you.

If you are feeling like you have some major organizing to do when it comes to your business, you are not alone! We all know that as busy teacher sellers, we can let our virtual or business space get a little cluttered and disorganized. But there are simple ways we can make cleaning up our virtual space seem less overwhelming this spring.

In this episode, I’m diving into some of my favorite tips to help you organize your teacher business because it’s so much more manageable to tackle spring cleaning with easy-to-do, actionable items. These tips will give you a great start to your spring cleaning and if you would like more help with organizing your teacher business, be sure to check out the Ignite Membership!

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/spring-cleaning

Resources:

Free product inventory tool

Check out the 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 are so excited to be back with you for a new season of the School of Sellers podcast! After stepping back from the podcast for a bit, Ashley from Team SOS is here with me to catch up with you, share what we have been up to, and kick off an amazing season two. We understand that as teacher sellers, you have a lot on your plate, and we can’t wait to share some helpful seller tips and stories and provide support to you this season!

In this episode, we're sharing why we took a break from the podcast, what we have been up to in our businesses, and what we're enjoying right now. We’re also looking ahead at what we have in store in upcoming episodes and inside the Ignite Membership.

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/new-season/

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!

We are bringing a listener's favorite back! It's always such a breath of fresh air to hear from someone who has experienced it all and understands the struggle of wearing multiple hats for several years on TPT.

Today's guest is Abby Mullins, the owner of the TPT store Babbling Abby. She has over a decade of experience as a TPT Seller and has many lessons to share. She will be answering ten questions from listeners like you with all her best tips and relatable advice!

In today's episode, Abby tells what led her to become a TPT seller, how she can find balance in her life and business during a decade on TPT, the importance of having support, and understanding how to delegate the right tasks. Plus, Abby shares the most significant mindset shifts that helped her achieve her success as a TPT Seller, mother, and wife.

Show Notes:  https://schoolofsellers.com/decade-on-tpt

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!

Are you wearing multiple hats and unsure how to balance it all? Many of us are teachers, business owners, and parents, and that can be overwhelming. If you're feeling like you're juggling all the things, you're not alone, and this episode will dive into how balancing a business can be done successfully.

Today's guest is Breyen Wee, the owner of the TPT store, Oui Madame Wee. She has built her business through several different seasons of life. She will share with us how she balances teaching, business, and parenthood, all while managing to take care of herself.

In today's episode, Breyen fills us in on how she got started as a TPT seller, the most significant benefits of being in the classroom and running a TPT store, how she realistically prioritizes her time to do what matters most, and the importance of having a solid support system.

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/balancing-a-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!

Are you on the verge of TPT burnout trying to excel as a teacher, parent, and business owner? You're in the right place! We are devoting the entire month of podcast episodes to those working in the classroom while also running your TPT business! 

Today's guest is Brittany Blackwell, who specializes in teacher resilience. She is a special education teacher, a mother of 5, and the host of The Resilient Teacher Podcast. She is sharing her best advice on how to balance teaching and passion projects, whether that's TPT or something else, without feeling all of that extra overwhelm and pressure. 

In our conversation, Brittany shares her background as a teacher and how it led to her current path, the importance of resilience in the classroom, how to choose what to focus on in your TPT business, and her top three tips to avoid burnout.

Show Notes: https://schoolofsellers.com/tpt-burnout

Resources:

• Join Ignite today: https://schoolofsellers.com/ignite
• Follow Brittany on Instagram @teachingmindbodyandsoul.
• Listen to Brittany's podcast, The Resilient Teacher Podcast
• Follow along on Instagram @school.of.sellers.
• Loving this podcast? Rate and write a review on Apple Podcasts here!