Dos and Don'ts for Creating Products

First- one more Fry Phrase set is done!  This is for the 5th 100 words.  It's got a cute game called PB & J that I know my kiddos are going to LOVE!  I'm planning to complete the 6th 100 tonight and then I'll be done with the Fry Phrase sets!

Find it on TpT

Second- this week's Friday Facts are a bit late.  So, sorry they aren't here until today!  I had a few requests to do Dos and Don'ts for creating products.  So, here are my two cents about that:

Do create your own original ideas.  I mentioned that last week.  You can do it!

Don't forget to check and see that things can print... that includes borders fitting on the pages.  I'm a border-a-holic and now that I have started using them, I have to have them on everything or it looks naked to me!  It's easy to size them too large and then they don't quite print... I try and avoid that by doing test prints!

Do credit the font and graphics designers you use.  I use so many now that I have a general credits page that I include with products.  It lists and links to anyone and everyone that I *might* have used in my product.  This was definitely an evolution for me... I have to work on going back and changing my old ones as they are not as thorough!

Don't use copyrighted characters in your products!  Dare I even say their names...?!  A certain green, mean fellow who doesn't like Christmas.  A feline who loves to wear a red and white top hat and cause mischief.  A reading management system many of us use that was created by two female siblings... Just check out the forums for what you can and can't do and be careful.

Do ask someone else to check out your products.  I know that I become to wrapped up in my stuff that I think I know what it says and I miss errors!  I'm so thankful for patient and understanding buyers who don't get upset when I have to make corrections.  It doesn't happen often, but it's every seller's nightmare when the dreaded error is discovered!

Don't forget to put your name and/or blog on your products!  In the beginning of creating, I only included this once.  Then I had it everywhere.  Then I realized that might make people unhappy... but it protects you and it allows people to track you down for more!  :)  I am now putting just my blog address on *almost* every page in about an 8-point font.  It's small, but there so people can find me if they need me!

Do consider creating preview files and DO give detailed product descriptions!  'Nuf said.

Last... don't forget to show off how you use your products in your classroom.  Join a product swap.  Any time you can bring your items to life, it's a bonus to you!  Not only do I love seeing what ya'll are doing, but if it's working for you, I want to do it too!  I'm going to brag about my friend Tracy (and myself a little too!)... here is an OUTSTANDING example of what I'm talking about.  Tracy and I paired up for a product swap a little bit ago and she completely brought one of my items, my Partner Reading Party, to life.  I was so impressed with how Tracy used my product in her classroom!

On a side note- if you're blogging about someone else's resources, don't forget to give them a shout-out!  And then let them know about it!  :)  Talk about filling a bucket!  Not only that, but it's so nice to let people know who's helping you out in your classroom.

If you have other tips, please leave them in the comments.  I love seeing them and I know other teachers do too... they always get lots of replies!

I'll try to get this out on time next week!

Friday Facts: Product Dos and Don'ts

First... the MLKj flippy had a tiny error!  A word was missing on the text portion- the "in" before 1968.  It's fixed and re-uploaded.  I, of course, have all ready run off 25 copies, so my kiddos will be doing some editing on Monday!  :)

Second... this week's Friday Facts for new bloggers and TpTers...

It's an easy one that *should* go without saying, but I have to say it, sadly:

 

It is *SO* disheartening to see sellers who are taking freebies from blogs and SELLING them in their stores.  I am sure we would all agree that is wrong!  We would not put up with our students copying... so why are adults doing it?!

The online teaching community is such a sister(and a little brother)hood and we take care of each other!  When we find products that someone has stolen and claimed as their own, we tell one another, and try to stop it from happening again.

You can only re-invent the wheel so many times so it is understandable when some products are similar... but I'm talking about out and out COPYING.  Not bothering to even be sneaky about it by changing fonts and graphics... just blatant stealing!

So, that's why today's DOs and DON'TS are simple.  Just don't do it!  Share and sell your own original work.  We all know this and, if you're reading this post, it probably doesn't pertain to you anyway... here's to hoping someone who didn't stop and think about this will stumble on this post and have a light bulb moment!

Next week I want to do DOs and DON'TS for creating products... I'd love to hear your opinions on this in the comments so I can work them into a blog post along with my own opinions!

Friday Facts: tips for bloggers and sellers {on Wednesday this week!}

Well, my post last week on ways to help your TpT and blogging was a great success and it seems like everyone had something to contribute to how we can all support each other better through comments.

So, I think I am going to start posting new tips for bloggers and sellers each week... I'm thinking on Fridays.  This week it's Wednesday because I already have a post (and giveaway!) scheduled for Friday that you'll definitely want to check out!

This week I am going to focus on TpT feedback for purchased items.

This is another one that we've had lots of discussion about in some of my online teacher communities; what makes good feedback?

I think this image says it all...  I've got to get better at being concise!  I'm even long winded in my graphics making! 

The name of the game when it comes to feedback on TpT is CONSTRUCTIVE.  Don't just say you didn't like something- tell what worked for you and what didn't.  And, better yet, contact the seller first to see if there is something they can do to help you!  Most sellers include their e-mail addresses in their products so that they can help take care of anything that might leave a buyer scratching their head!

And if you liked something, that's GREAT!  Sellers love to hear happy things about their products.  As a seller, I SO don't mind short and simple feedback like "Thanks!  It's great!" or some other thing... but  leaving a period (which happens, folks!  Yes a period.  Like this- . ) isn't good feedback!  How about "My kids loved it!" or "The activity was really fun!" or "I got lots of compliments on the craftivity!".  No more periods for feedback!

I also think it's SO important that buyers take responsibility to know what they are buying.  As a buyer, I always read the description!  If there is a preview, I download it!  There's also info at the bottom of the listing for the grade-levels that the seller feels it is appropriate for.

Nothing is more sad to a TpT seller than receiving bad feedback- especially about something that could have been cleared up via e-mail or by a buyer carefully reading the listing... please use that Q&A section!  Ask questions before your commit to buy.  Ask questions before leaving feedback if you need help with something. 

Last... and this is a biggie... if you download a free product, please leave feedback!  I have a freebie on TpT with over 7,000 downloads and only 9 comments.  I'd love to know what the other 6,991 people think of my product.  Not only does it help me know what I should work on in the future, but it just feels good when someone thanks me for sharing a freebie that I spent time on and spent money purchasing graphics and fonts for!  We would never tolerate our students not thanking us for sharing treats with the class... freebies from other teachers are treats for us!

Alright- I think that's it!  I'd love for you to share your own feedback tips and also other things you'd like me to share as far as tips for bloggers and sellers goes!

You can check out Lisa at Learning is Something to Treasure too for her opinion on this if you're interested!

Two Newbies, Font Contest, and a big THANKS!

First off... two newbie products!

I'm teaching past tense verbs this coming week and wanted something fresh and fun for my kiddos... so this was born:

 Find it on TpT

Galactic Tenses!  CCSS aligned for 2nd and 3rd grades and full of fun... including a classroom or hallway verb hunt... my favorite!!!!  I know my boys will love it!

And, my bite from the font bug is just getting bigger!  I have 10 new fonts!!!!

Find them on TpT

I'm so proud to say that every font in the Galactic Verbs pack above is one of my own!  :)  Hubby requested I name a font "Magnifico"... so that's for you, D!

Font contest...  If you can tell me which of those fonts is in honor of my favorite musical and how you know, I'll send the first person with the right answer the set for FREE!  Here's a hint... RENT is my fav.

*Update*  Wow- you guys are good!  I can't believe my font contest was so dang easy!

And last... a big THANKS!

On Friday, my blog post was one I was nervous about; I gave a lengthy explanation of how to successfully grow your blog and TpT store followers.  I didn't want to offend anyone or come off as preachy but, based on the number of views, pins, and comments that post got, it's obvious that it was well received and a good reminder.

This post wasn't aimed at anyone in particular.  It came about from conversations bloggy friends have been having for a while.

I'm going to begin, each Friday, doing a post with tips and tricks for new bloggers and sellers... and reminders for us oldies too.  This coming week (on Thursday this week) I'm going to do the dos and don'ts of leaving feedback on TpT.  If you have any topics you'd like me to share my opinion about, let me know in the comments here and I'll try and tackle them.  I also plan on having some guest bloggers on these topics too... so I might be calling on you for your help too!

If you missed Friday's post and want to read my opinion or the comments from others- which are GREAT- click the image below to go to the post.

That's it!  Happy Sunday!  It's my last day off before heading back tomorrow.  I'm ready to get back in the swing of things.  How about you?