Square Covers

After spending a LOT of time looking at TpT products, I have come to the conclusion that square product covers are generally more attractive than letter page sized covers.  (If your products don’t have covers, PLEASE add these… think of them like a magazine ad.  They really do sell products!) 

I’ve been working on converting all of my product covers from covers like this: 

To something more like this: 

The first cover looks fine, but this size can get cut off in TpT previews.  The second looks much more professional on the TpT pages.  (Keep in mind that I’m still learning.  There are many better examples of covers if you look around the TpT stores!)

So, how do you create these covers?  Do you remember in my last post when I explained how to change the size of PowerPoint slides?  This is basically all you need to do in order to make your square cover pages.

Let’s assume that you have already made a product with a lovely letter-sized cover page.  You’re going to keep that letter-sized cover on your product.  The only thing you’re going to change is the picture that you post with your product description when you upload your TpT product. 

(Please note… this is NOT a real product cover.  I made this super quickly to show you how to change the size.  Please make your covers much more interesting and appealing than this one!

You will need to start a new PowerPoint presentation.  Remember how to change the slide size?  (If not, take a look at my "Why PowerPoint beats Word" post from 5/11)

Change your slide size to 8x8 inches. 

Leave that blank PowerPoint slide open, and locate your saved cover in your files.  Open the cover and right click on the small image of the cover that is on the left side of your screen.  Click “copy”.  

Now, go back to your blank copy of the 8x8 slide and paste your cover onto the left side of the screen. (You will have a blank slide above your cover… go ahead and delete this slide.)

You will probably need to resize your background, text and images to look better in the square box.  Usually you can just drag the background and images to make them bigger, and it’s easy to resize your text in PowerPoint.  Also, now that your cover is larger you have room to add some more graphics if you want. 

There’s just one more step before you can post this cover in your product description.  Save your slide as a png or jpeg.  Now you’re ready to post it!

Why PowerPoint beats Word

 I just had one of those “DUH” moments.  You know, the ones where you just want to smack yourself on the forehead and say, “What the HECK was I thinking”?!  

When I started making products for TpT (about a month and a half ago) I used Microsoft Word to develop my products.  If you’re doing the same thing, I urge you to STOP NOW!!!  I don’t have a problem with Word.  Word is good for some things.  I’m actually writing this blog on Word before I transfer it to my Blogger site.  But Word is NOT good for making TpT products.  

I have learned that you want to use POWERPOINT for creating products.  It’s so much easier!!!  I really wish I had figured this out earlier.  In PowerPoint, you can move images around easily and copy (or delete) entire slides.  It’s just SO much more user-friendly if you have to edit your final product.  

This isn't intended to be a full tutorial on how to use PowerPoint, but here's one tip to get you started:

Change your paper size!

After you open up a new "presentation"  you will probably want to change your paper size. PowerPoint automatically starts projects at a size that is appropriate if you are going to show your pages  to a large audience using a projector.However, this is not an appropriate size if you want your pages to be printed.  So, you're going to want to click on the "design" tab at the top of the page.  (I'm using the newest version of PowerPoint.  Your screen might look a little different if you are using an earlier version.

In the newest version of PowerPoint you will see a tab that says "slide size".  Click that, and you will see a drop down menu of slide sizes.  Click on "Custom Slide Size".  From there, you will see another drop down menu.  If you want printable paper, choose "Letter Paper" .  Be sure to change the setting from "Landscape" to "Portrait"  if needed.  Then click "Ok" and you're set to go.

 In older versions you will need to take an extra step.  After opening the "Design" tab, click on "Page Set up".  This will bring you to the drop down menu where you can find the setting for "Letter Paper".  

You can also manually enter your page sizes if you want something other than letter sized paper.

Have fun experimenting with PowerPoint!  

TpT Sales Woes

TpT is having a big sale right now, and I’m having a store sale at the same time.  And guess how many sales I’ve gotten since the sale started… NONE.  Yep.  Zero.  Zip.  Nothing.  I’ll keep working on making products and hopefully things will get better soon.  I have to continue to think positively!  In the meantime, I am continuing to focus on creating great products in the hopes that they WILL sell one day. 

I’ve decided to focus on two lines of products… social/ emotional guides and science curriculum guides.  At first glance, these might seem like two completely unrelated subjects.  (And they kind of are…) but in my world, it all makes sense.  For me, it’s all about the WHOLE child.  I’m concerned about the emotional, social and academic growth of the child.  And I hope my products reflect that. 

Socialize a little!

If you’re like me, as a new TpT seller, you’re probably desperate for contact with people who know more than you do!  Have you checked out the sellers forums on TpT?  I am totally addicted to them!!!  The people who comment and post on the forums are so helpful and wise.  I’m learning a lot and I urge you to check it out.  (You can access the sellers’ forums from your dashboard)

I posted a question on the forum a few days ago and I got a response from Deanna Jump!  For those of you who don’t know, Deanna is famous for earning a bazillion gazillion dollars through TpT last year… ok, that’s a slight exaggeration, but you get my point.  She’s like the Michael Jordan of the TpT world.  Getting a response from her on a post is sort of like getting an email from the Queen of England.  

I’m touched that Deanna reached out to help me and I am also so appreciative of all the other TpT sellers who have offered me advice.  If you haven’t given the forums a chance, my advice for today is to give it a go. Start by introducing yourself and see where you go from there. 

Click to watch a video interview of Deanna Jump

Patience is a Virtue?

In my last post I mentioned the importance of being patient.  I’m going to emphasize that today.  It’s been ten days since that post, which you may remember was “my highest sales day ever”.  Since then I have made $2.60.  Can you say “DEPRESSING?!!!”  But I keep reading that it’s important to stay positive, remain focused on your goals and be PATIENT.  Ok.  I can do this! 

Woo Hoo!

Today was my highest sales day so far!  I wasn’t even planning on working on TpT today.  I’m at a hotel for my nephew’s wedding, and I just decided to check my dashboard quickly.  I was shocked to discover that I had made $10 while I was in the shower!  (Yes, you read that correctly… $10 is my highest sales day so far.  No big payots yet.  Patience is the key here!)  

What's Your Niche?

So, things have been a little slow at my TpT store.  I’ve been trying to develop products, but I haven’t really defined what I want my store to be yet.  So here’s what I’m learning…as a seller, it’s important to find a niche.  I like that word, “niche”.  It means that you need to find your own little corner of the world, where your TpT store can live and grow.  I like to think of my niche as a real place.  I figure when I know where my niche is, I will know what kind of products to make and who my buyers will be.

Here are some things to think about when looking for your niche:

Ask yourself what you are passionate about in your teaching.  (If you’re not a teacher, please apply this question to your own TpT work)  What makes your heart sing with joy?  What part of your work makes you smile? 

Where do you see a need in your area of teaching?  Is there some product that you have searched for on the Internet and couldn’t find?  Do you think you could make this product?

What type of resources do you need in your own classroom?  What type of resources would you be PROUD to use in your classroom? 

Have you ever had colleagues ask for copies of classroom materials that you have designed? 

When I asked myself these questions, I realized that I want my store to reflect my teaching philosophy.  I teach preschool, and I strongly believe in play-based learning.  I have decided to focus on products that promote hands-on learning, social development and inquiry. 

Please comment to let us know what your niche is!