I thought I was pretty tech saavy, as I wrote in the TpT forum of how I make my previews. I was gently told that what I was creating were thumbnails, not previews. She was right!
And with that, I have promptly created my first video preview. I already see a few improvements I could make, but as my first attempt, I think it worked out well enough. Now I have a YouTube Channel!
Wednesday 29 March 2017
Monday 20 March 2017
URL Building
There is SO much to learn!
On my TpT journey, it started with creating products (lessons).
Then came the creation of a blog, facebook page, twitter account, instagram, pinterest . . . and so on!
These often seem like a time consuming exercises, but as driving viewers (potential customers) to your TpT store is the goal, it is a necessary exercise.
My latest learning curve includes the creation of URL and UTM codes. Have I lost you yet? I'm getting there! Tomorrow night is the TpT Webinar about UTM codes, so I've poured myself into it for the last week to get a better understanding of it, and so I would be part of the conversation. I am also taking a UDEMY digital marketing course, and I have certainly gained some valuable insight about how to do many new things. More to come on that topic when I'm done the course.
So, the URL is the web address of your product, blog, site, etc. This is pretty straight forward, and often very long! For example: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Interactive-Puzzles-Hummingbird-3070919 There are URL shorteners, such as Bitly.com and Goo.gl which will shorten your URL, for example, bitly.com created http://bit.ly/2nuHzHA, and goo.gl created https://goo.gl/rc7sws. Both links will direct you to the TpT website, where hopefully someone will want to buy it for classroom or personal use. That is part one.
If you go back to the bitly.com page, you will see statistics - how many clicks and where they came from. They more bitly URL codes, the more data you will receive.
The easiest QR Reader app I have found is this one. I use it on my iPhone and iPad, and it works like a charm.
From the goo.gl page, you will also see statistics - clicks, browsers, platforms and countries. It will also create a QR code for the link:
I created a spreadsheet to keep track of all the various codes, as there will be a different one for Pinterest (no shortened codes work here),Twitter, Facebook, BlogSpot, and so on. It looks something like this:
On my TpT journey, it started with creating products (lessons).
Then came the creation of a blog, facebook page, twitter account, instagram, pinterest . . . and so on!
These often seem like a time consuming exercises, but as driving viewers (potential customers) to your TpT store is the goal, it is a necessary exercise.
My latest learning curve includes the creation of URL and UTM codes. Have I lost you yet? I'm getting there! Tomorrow night is the TpT Webinar about UTM codes, so I've poured myself into it for the last week to get a better understanding of it, and so I would be part of the conversation. I am also taking a UDEMY digital marketing course, and I have certainly gained some valuable insight about how to do many new things. More to come on that topic when I'm done the course.
So, the URL is the web address of your product, blog, site, etc. This is pretty straight forward, and often very long! For example: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Interactive-Puzzles-Hummingbird-3070919 There are URL shorteners, such as Bitly.com and Goo.gl which will shorten your URL, for example, bitly.com created http://bit.ly/2nuHzHA, and goo.gl created https://goo.gl/rc7sws. Both links will direct you to the TpT website, where hopefully someone will want to buy it for classroom or personal use. That is part one.
If you go back to the bitly.com page, you will see statistics - how many clicks and where they came from. They more bitly URL codes, the more data you will receive.
The easiest QR Reader app I have found is this one. I use it on my iPhone and iPad, and it works like a charm.
From the goo.gl page, you will also see statistics - clicks, browsers, platforms and countries. It will also create a QR code for the link:
The easiest QR Reader app I have found is this one. I use it on my iPhone and iPad, and it works like a charm. So far so good? If you have it, try the QR Code above and see what happens.
Now comes the TpT URL code builder. Start here. This will explain what it is all about. Once you've done that, go here.
I created a spreadsheet to keep track of all the various codes, as there will be a different one for Pinterest (no shortened codes work here),Twitter, Facebook, BlogSpot, and so on. It looks something like this:
This takes me the better part of the evening to complete and then post to each site. Tonight, this blog is taking up the most time, but I feel it important to share what I am learning, as many TpT authors have been very generous with me.
When I go to my TpT Dashboard, and view Traffic, I can see where the clicks came from, very specifically, such as Pinterest, facebook, etc. My digital marketing course is telling me that this information is very valuable. It will tell me where I need to spend the most time with promotion as the traffic is driven from very specific places.
I often go to http://tpt.naujok.com to see my own TpT growth. Check out your own TpT store here. I have personal goals of where I want to be with my store, and the growth curve keeps me motivated. I am coming up to my second anniversary as a TpT seller and am very happy with how things are going.
What I am learning will be useful for the TpT marketing, but also for the two web-sites I manage for others. It has been worth my time and trouble and I hope I have laid this out for others to follow and understand. Please feel free to share a link to this blog if you think it was useful.
Thanks,
Doris
Friday 17 March 2017
Interactive Puzzles
My PhotoShop assignment for students turned into something completely different! I think this is the TpT product that will reach from Kindergarten to High School. And yes, I have that lava lamp in my classroom! Students love it! This is a FREE download, so please try it now! If teachers give me feedback that says it is useful, I will certainly be making more.
Wednesday 15 March 2017
Custom TpT Categories
I have been asked how I created my emoji icons in my custom categories list. Here's how!
Go to the My Product Listings page from your dashboard. See mine: Custom Categories
Select Manage Your Categories at the bottom of the list. The edit view is this:
Go to the My Product Listings page from your dashboard. See mine: Custom Categories
Select Manage Your Categories at the bottom of the list. The edit view is this:
Go to your emoji keyboard, on your iPad, and try some out. Once you commit, you will see if it worked or not by seeing the saved visual after you click.
If it did not, the category will be empty of all text, but still indicate how many projects are in the category. I suggest only changing one category at a time!
This will require some trial and error time, as some emojis do not work.
I hope this helps! Thanks for checking in, and check out a category which may be useful to you while you are at it!
All the best in customizing your page!
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