Mistakes I Made as a TpT Seller (So You Don’t Have To)
If you're starting your TpT store and feel like you're just trying to figure things out as you go, I get it. I’ve been there. I’ve been doing this since 2017, and while I’ve built a store I’m proud of, I’ve also made a lot of mistakes along the way. It’s almost embarrassing.
So in the spirit of full transparency, I want to share some of the biggest missteps I’ve made — the things I wish I’d done differently, so you can hopefully skip a few of the hard lessons.
Let’s dive in, ugh, I want to crawl into a corner with some of these, but here we go.
Mistake #1: I Chose the Wrong Name (Twice)
When I first opened my store, I called it Wandering Minds — inspired by a Carl Sagan quote. It sounded poetic and kind of creative… but it had absolutely nothing to do with the resources I was selling (upper-level science, mostly physics and chemistry).
Eventually, I rebranded to The Captain’s Desk, which felt a little more grounded in the classroom. But again, it didn’t clearly reflect what I was building, and when I started blogging and creating resources for TpT sellers, it didn’t scale.
Finally, I landed on Elizabeth Smith Education (or ES Education). It is clean, clear, and professional. It gives me room to grow and makes sense across multiple product lines and audiences.
Lesson: Choose a name that aligns with what you actually offer — and one that has space to evolve as you do.
Mistake #2: I Created Everything with No Plan (and Burned Myself Out)
In the beginning, I was in full creation frenzy. I made everything: PowerPoints, pacing guides, warm-ups, academic games, exit tickets, forms, reviews, labs, STEM workbooks, video guides, WebQuests — you name it. I had no strategy, no true niche, no product lines or focus. Just raw energy and caffeine.
Without a plan, I created products that were all over the place. Now I have a huge backlog of resources that need updating, organizing, and fixing.
Some even had typos and errors — things I still find years later. It’s embarrassing and time-consuming to clean up, and I’ve learned the hard way how important it is to start with a plan, slow down, and check your work.
Lesson: Focus on quality, not quantity. Plan your product line and take the time to get it right. Your future self (and your buyers) will thank you.
The TpT Store Playbook includes worksheets to help you reflect on your niche and product plan before you upload anything. It’s the foundation I wish I had at the start.
Mistake #3: I Didn’t Plan for Bundles
This is one of my biggest mistakes. When I started creating curriculum, I didn’t think ahead to how I’d bundle it. I just made one-off lessons and uploaded them as I went. Later, when I tried to bundle them… it was a mess.
I even created one bundle completely wrong. It included duplicate content across files, and it didn’t deliver anything cohesive. I eventually took the whole product down, which means the two buyers who purchased it only have access to what they originally downloaded. That still makes me cringe.
Lesson: If you think you’ll bundle something later, start with that in mind. Build intentionally, and make sure your bundles offer real value without repeating content unnecessarily.
If you're planning to build a curriculum or resource line, the TpT Store Kits help you map out your bundles first, so everything works together and you’re not backtracking later.
Mistake #4: I Didn’t Treat My Store Like a Brand
For a long time, I thought of my TpT store as a side hustle. The slush fund. I didn’t think about branding, consistency, or customer trust.
But the truth is, branding matters — a lot.
Buyers want to feel like they’re buying from someone who knows what they’re doing. Once I got serious about:
Consistent thumbnails
Preview files that actually previewed
A color palette and font system
Cohesive product lines
…my store started to feel more legitimate, and so did my sales.
Lesson: You don’t need a full-blown marketing department. But you do need to look like you take your store seriously if you want others to take it seriously, too.
The free TpT Store Playbook includes space to outline your why, your goals, and your first few product ideas — so you start with a sense of direction, not burnout.
Mistake #5: I Didn't Plan My Time (or Protect My Energy)
I’ll admit it: I’ve spent a lot of time creating based on what I felt like doing, not what was strategic or timely.
That worked for a while... until it didn’t. I’d find myself burned out, juggling too many projects, or halfway through a resource with no motivation to finish.
Now, I plan ahead. I map out my projects by quarter, batch content when I can, and give myself room to breathe. I’m still a work in progress here, but the more structure I give myself, the more sustainable this business becomes and the more tasks I actually get done.
Lesson: Your time and energy are limited — plan and protect them. Map out your big goals so you’re not always reacting or chasing the next idea. Remember that you cannot get back the time you spent. So use it wisely.
What I’d Do Differently (and What I Recommend for You)
If I could go back, I’d do these five things from the start:
Choose a brand name with clarity and growth potential
Focus on building one strong product line at a time
Treat my store like a business — not a hobby or slush fund
Build bundles with a plan (not as an afterthought)
Set realistic timelines and stop working in creative chaos
If you’re looking to build your TpT store the smart way — with templates, tools, and direction — the TpT Store Kits can help you do exactly that.
They include setup checklists, branding guides, Canva templates, and more — everything I wish I had when I was just starting out.
Final Thoughts
You’ll make mistakes — that’s part of the process. I sure did. But the goal isn’t perfection — it’s progress.
Learn as you go. Reflect often. Give yourself permission to pivot. And above all — build your store in a way that works for you.
