Top 5 TPT Conference Wish List!

I've been MIA for the past few days, not only for summer fun, but because I have become OVERWHELMED with trying to find all of the tips and tricks and glean from blogs, Facebook, the TPT forum and whispers in the wind as to what everyone took away from the conference last week. As of right now, I have six pages typed into Microsoft Word of things I want to do to improve my store and products to help, not only my sales, but my TEACHING and other teachers in general. Just imagine how many more pages are out there for me to grab from and add to my novel! :)

1. Alright, I'm not looking for fabulous jewels, but My WISH is that I am looking for some fabulous E-friends. NETWORKING is the word I saw over and over again in posts, pictures, and presentations. I cannot even express the brilliance I have found on the TPT forum, Facebook, and just getting my blog off of the ground. Finding all of you who DID attend the conference has been a scavenger hunt on its own, but your "jewels" of wisdom have been invaluable to me!

2. Yes, as teachers we use alliteration like a second language, rhyming like we understand the reason, and cute isn't really a challenge. What surprised me most, was that many sources reiterated the need to simplify and be clear when it comes to our titles and descriptions. My WISH: To have the where-with-all to know how precise and simplistic my titles need to be.

We do it for Google...type in exactly what we're looking for and hope to get a ping in the vast craziness...TPT has become so large, we may start to wish for the same thing. (I also read that you can type in your subject/topics/key words in the search bar, and see where your items come up in the listing...may be helpful to see what direct or specific words are being used in titles and descriptions!)

3. Know your data - We do it for our kids. We provide it for our our principals and administration. We can talk numbers and acronyms all day. Do we know our OWN info as much as we know that break down in our classroom? This was an eye opener for me - basically, is the amount of time you're putting into your Social Media Frenzy paying off in your networking relationships, classroom and store sales. My WISH: A step by step guide to figuring out my own data; or at least someone creating a really pretty sheet that I can fill in my own numbers for. :)

4. I struggle to understand all of the pieces to this one, but I have seen MULTIPLE posts and sources talking about creating your own style (personality, persona, etc) and marketing that (that's the easy part :)). From there, as you network and beg and borrow (as most teachers do)...(preferably no stealing)...(hopefully you share when someone has begged and borrowed in person at your school, too!), you need to make sure to have your work copyrighted and have the priorities and/or watermarks set in your jpegs for blogs, Facebook, Pinterest, etc. You have worked really had to be YOU...now protect it. My WISH: Understanding of all of the pieces that need to be protected from the graphics and jpegs that I create all the way to how to credit all of those that have so generously allowed me to use their work. Is just a credit at the end of my product enough? Do others use my products in a way that I don't know about? What should I do to protect myself and use others' work wisely?

And...last but not least...

5. It was stated over and over that the generous, enthusiastic, supportive staff of Teachers Pay Teachers are truly in it for the TEACHERS. Changing lives is what they are about...and ultimately, what (I hope) most teachers are about. Whether their own financial status is boosted, their classroom is rejuvenated, or their creativity is sparked, TPT has truly been a great resource for teachers and staff in the field of education. My WISH: To attend a TPT conference in the near future and be able to experience some of the excitement first hand!

Until then, hope to meet and learn from you online!Who said we had to have a conference in person?!? :)