Well, this was certainly NOT how I envisioned attending TpT Forward 2020. Still, it proved to be useful. The coronavirus pandemic led Teachers Pay Teachers to host a virtual experience for their annual Sellers’ Conference.
I must admit: I was pleasantly surprised. A huge bonus this year was being able to view every presentation now through the end of the month. When you attend in person, you’re forced to pick and choose since multiple presentations are happening simultaneously in various ballrooms. I really liked how each day this week had a focus. Here are a few daily takeaways from my favorite presentations:
Day 1: Level Up Your Teacher-Author Life
- Stop setting goals. Winners and losers have the same goals. What sets you apart is consistency. Set up a solid system to keep you focused. —Erin Waters, 15 Must-Dos: No Exceptions
- Focus on your one thing. Don’t try and do it all at once. Hire out things that are not in your genius. —Jamie Sears, 8 Ways to Take Your TpT Store from Hobby to Business
- Plan every work session in advance. Use a timer to work in blocks. —Jodi Durgin and Susan Jones, Tips, Tasks and Takeaways for Less Stress Success
Day 2: Build Your TpT Business
- Use surveys to drive product development. —Beth and Jarrett Vaucher, Data Your Most Valuable and Underutilized Asset
- Assess the issue. Is it views, conversions, or both? — Kerry Tracy, 12 To-Dos When Your Kick-Ass Resources Aren’t Making Kick-Ass Sales
Day 3: Create Your Best Resources
- Revolutionize distance learning/remote education. Don’t assume students know how to do anything with technology. Be explicit in your directions. —Meghan Mathis, Trends in Secondary Education
- Learn to create Google Slides, Boom Cards, and Seesaw activities. (Admittedly, it is at this point in the conference I started to experience Zoom fatigue. This presentation is #1 on my playback list, though!) —Keri Brown, Let’s Get Digital, Digital With PowerPoint!
Day 4: Social Media & Marketing
- SEO your images. Oh, Lord, do I have a lot of work to redo! —Kristen Doyle, SEO: What TpT’ers Need to Know
- Understand social media. Look at your analytics and insights regularly! (Um, duh… but why did I never do this in such depth before?!) —MoNique Waters, BE YOU! On Instagram
Day 5: Hands-On Workshops
- Start with the data. Generate ideas and put it all together! –Kristen Doyle and Ciera Harris, Design your 90-Day Content Calendar
And that’s not even half of it. This is just a snippet of the WEALTH of information I received this last week. Honestly, if you’re a Premium TpT Seller debating whether or not to attend a conference, take this as your strong nudge to say YES. Next year, we’ll be in Boston and would love to have you!
ACTIONABLE STEPS: If you attended this year’s virtual conference, what were some of your takeaways? Remember you have access to all content until July 31st. Be sure to note and notice all the things as you watch the playback. Even if it’s something you’re not quite ready for in your Teacher Author business just yet, having detailed references for later helps. Missed out and want in on TpT Forward 2021? Registration is now open with early bird pricing through December 31st!
