2. How do I get more followers?
3. How do I make a blog button?
4. How do I get more followers?
5. What is the best way to connect with other bloggers?
6. How do I get more followers?
7. How do I re-size an image using HTML code?
8. How do I get more followers?
9. Can you tell me how to draw?
10. How do I get more followers?
11. How do I make a cute header for my blog?
12. How do I get more Followers?
13. How do I add social media buttons to my sidebar?
14. How do I get more followers?
15. Will you design and create products for TpT that I can sell?
16. How do I get more followers?
17. Should I have a Twitter account?
18. How do I get more followers?
19. Will blogging help increase my TpT sales?
20. How do I get more followers?
Although I am far from rich and famous, starting a blog had a {HUGE} positive impact on my life when I needed it the very most. And like most of the questions I receive, I too was clueless as to how to get started.
I knew NOTHING about blogging – I know – Shocker, right?
How I became a blogger…
In 20ll, I resigned from teaching (after spending thousands on a duel Master’s Degree) because I was desperate for a change of pace. For years, I had worked full-time, juggled two kids and their activities full time, went to school full time at nights, and devoted my extra time to grading papers, planning, conferences, professional development, barely talking to my own children, a strict “hi & bye” relationship with my husband, and still barely making enough to put food on the table.
A few years before started working on my Master’s Degree, my husband decided to start his own Heating and Air Conditioning business. Needless to say, I am sure that my children will have some sour thoughts about our lack of commitment to them. Actually, I don’t want to say that it was a lack of commitment. My drive to make a better life for my children just blinded me from the fact that they needed me more than anything else….
I created all of our forms, PDF’s, proposal designs, logos, t-shirts designs, business cards and the website (which we are changing now) and add that with the work-load of the Master’s program and teaching full-time, I was getting about 2-3 hours (at the most) of sleep every night. I even continued working this schedule for three weeks with walking pneumonia.
I was pretty sick and feverish on and off for those three weeks, but I kept on working and thinking that I would eventually get over it!! BOY was I ever wrong… I worked through that pneumonia until I could literally not get up one morning. I could barely talk and all I could think about was how I would ever get a sub in time. I was so sick that my own husband had to call in sick for me – bad – I know….. luckily, I had become very close with the “boss” and she was more than helpful!! My husband took me in to the ER and after taking one glance at me, the sweet nurse in the waiting room bumped me to the front of the line. I must have looked terrible!! Because I chose not to slow down when my body was giving me all of the signals, I ended up being out of work for 2 WEEKS!!! That is a LONG time when you are a teacher!!! A good lesson for all of you this year!! TAKE THE DAY… or you might end up losing two weeks!!
My point in the story is that I worked myself to complete exhaustion. While I was working on my Master’s Degree I was offered a Special Education position for 8th grade. I felt terrible having to turn down the position, but I had m=several reasons for doing so. One, the demands of Special Education teachers are beyond insanity… yes, I used the correct word… beyond INSANITY!!! Second, I am a reading and writing specialist. I love teaching reading and writing at any age and I am DANG good at it… I am not bragging… I am just stating facts – and that is a fact…. MATH on the other hand…. has no business being in my job description. I ENVY those who are great at teaching math because it is my biggest weakness!! I don’t “hate” math, I am just not very good at it and I don’t feel like I have any business teaching the subject!! Accepting the 8th grade Special Education position would require that I teach math at the 8th grade level….. Those kids need help the most and they need someone at their best in all subject areas….I would be doing those kids a disservice! Third, I needed a break. My marriage was breaking at the seams, my past had come to bite me in the “behind”, and I was beginning to feel the effects ware heavily on my mind, spirit, and body.
Making the choice to resign was very difficult. I loved teaching and I loved being in that environment!! I intended to make this post short and sweet, so let me get to the good part fairly quick… After a couple of months at home, I went crazy!!! I am not the content, happy-go-lucky stay at home type of mom…. I have accepted the fact that I am self-motivated and hot-wired to work… I became very closed up and suffered from depression after only a few months of being at home. I was not prepared for the change of pace and/or prepared to deal with the aftermath of problems I had to face after having ignored those problems in the past by staying busy.. Insanely busy!!!
Our HVAC business had slowed down dramatically and I was not bringing in an income. We lost our beautiful luxury truck – only owing $8,000 more to have it paid off!! We could barely afford groceries and I was so blessed by the people in our church that helped us with food. We had never struggled to that extent before and neither had our children. It was very difficult for all of us. We did not have a vehicle and if it weren’t for the loyalty of one of our employees, we would not have been able to keep the HVAC business running. God is forever gracious and good, I tell ya!! We were walking to the grocery store to get groceries and we were unable to take our kids anywhere for several months. We were barely making our minimum monthly bills.
I decided that I HAD to do something to bring in some money… Something from home…
This is the pivotal moment where having a TpT store made all the difference…
I started a TpT store in 2008, but I did not have the time to really put effort into making it a lucrative business. One morning I woke up and read an article about a teacher who and made 1 MILLION dollars selling products on TPT. I thought, I could do that… and I have time now…
I quickly sat down to review my TpT store and make some attainable goals for myself to work towards.
At the time I first sat down and created my goals, here were my stats from May 2008 to October of 2011… (Remember, I had about 3 things in my store and I had not visited the site in over two years)
Date: October 6th, 2011
Store Name: My own name
Followers: 19 (as in the ones and tens place….)
Sold Items: 16
Rating: (here is where it gets truly embarrassing) – 3.6!!!
My goals:
1. Remove outdated products
2. Create new products
3. Get my rating up
4. Market??
5. How am I going to get more sales… and followers???
I am telling you all this because we all have to start somewhere. I began doing a little research before creating anything new…
I began improving and adding products to my shop. I also discovered the forums!!! I had never visited the forums before this point!! I began reading tips and connecting with others right away.
By the end of December, I recorded my TpT stats once again:
Store name: Still my own name – no change there yet
Followers: 18 (WOO HOO…up one)
Sold items: 94 (again… woo hoo)
Rating: 3.7… the averages are getting better
Earnings for that quarter: $267.71!!! Wow!! Until that point, I had made a total of about $60.00 on TpT… This was very motivating for me.
Even though there was money present in my Paypal account, I did not have a business account at that time and did not have the Paypal Credit card to pull funds out. It was exciting and frustrating all at the same time. Here, I had money that I could use to buy food, but I could not pull the money out. For that first quarter, I ordered things like shampoo and other bathroom and kitchen stuff through Amazon. Where there’s a will, there is always a way…
I can’t tell you how excited I was to be able to buy simple necessities online with the money I had earned.
I quickly set up a Paypal business account, verified my bank to lift the spending and receiving limits and ordered my fancy Smanshy Paypal business card. I felt so sophisticated…hahaha
Even though I was happy that my efforts were beginning to pay off, I was a little discouraged at how long it was taking, compared to how much work I was putting in. I then read something in the forums about starting a blog!!?? Someone mentioned that having a blog was essential and directly connected to sales on TpT.
So what did I do with that new information you ask?? I set new goals…or one new goal…
Start a blog… sounds easy enough, right? WRONG!!
The first week after I started my blog, I still had no followers (aside from the three followers I created myself using my kids and my husband) hahaha… I did not know how to connect at that time and I truly was not moving towards my goals at a rate that would make any sort of a difference… I needed a plan… and fast!! My first few posts were absolutely pathetic and I was terrified by the idea that I was talking to everyone… and no one at the same time.
I turned to Google search. I can’t recall my specific search; however, I can recall the blog post that changed my life and got me headed in the right direction…
I found a blog post by a small-town blogger (tehehe) named Erica Bohrer. You may or may not have heard of her… tehehe…
Now, you might be asking yourself why I didn’t go to Deanna Jump’s blog and copy everything she did to become a millionaire and try to contact her to get with the “in” crowd?
Let me answer that for you…. I did NOT know anything about blogging or its significance related to sales. Even more so, I did not want to contact anyone because I was completely embarrassed by my own store stats… I was focused on the task at hand… how to improve, grow… and feed my family… Thirdly and most importantly… it is ILLEGAL to copy someone else’s work… and… who could ever take pride in that??
There was one particular post by Erica Bohrer titled, Questions Answered… that made all the difference!!It was a short and sweet (unlike mine at this point) little post she did to answer some questions that she had received about blogging and other things. One of those Q & A topics included: How did you get your blog all fancy… and How do I get followers on my blog (DING - DING – DING) – the lights immediately came on and I was sucked in…
I already knew a lot about computers, coding and design, but I knew nothing about blogging. I knew I had to start a blog, but I didn’t know how to go about connecting with other bloggers. Now, what I am about to tell you next is a little bit embarrassing…
I read this little excerpt and followed EVERY step to its fullest…
Question 5:
"How do I get followers on my blog?"
1. Make your blog look fancy (see above).
2. Give away lots of free files. Click {here} to see my freebies.
3. Comment on other blogs. Click {here} to see Ladybug's tutorial on leaving a direct link.
4. Post pictures or sample images and Pin yourself! Yes, I know it is like patting yourself ont he back, but it works! Click {here} to follow me on Pinterest.
5. Host a giveaway. Have people follow you for an entry.
6. Make a facebook fan page and comment on other facebook fan pages. Then post links to your blog posts on your fan page.
7. Make it easier for people to comment on your blog. Click {here} for What the Teacher Want's tutorial.
Let me walk you through my thought process while reading this…
1. Well, I already have those skills…. CHECK!! Wait…. is what I have considered fancy? Is my blog too dark? Will everyone hate the name? Is the image of the “working” American girl under copyright protection? Am I legal?
Luckily for Erica, I did not have the nerve to email her with my rant of questions… mostly because I am a prideful woman…. to a fault…
2. GIVE STUFF AWAY FOR FREE?? Okay!! CHECK!
*Quick note to beginners - this should be done in balance and not the way I took it…. I was giving everything away for free and realized that I was gaining followers, but losing time and money.
3. Comment? What do I say?
4. Pin?? What is a pin and how much is this going to cost me?? hahaha
5. I need a break….
6. Facebook fan page… fun… check!!
7. CHECK!! I did that as soon as I started the blog… those robot thingys are ANNOYING!!!
Even though I was feeling a bit overwhelmed, I decided that I had to stick with it and I was excited that I had some new goals in front of me. I began keeping track of my blog stats along with my TpT stats on a weekly basis to determine what I needed to improve and what I needed to throw out!!
Here are my blog stats from January 22nd, 2012:
Followers: 11 (I AM POP-U-LAR)
Visits: 1, 358 (wait… does this mean that 1, 347 people that visited my blog chose not to follow??.. This can’t be good news…)
From February 17th, 2012:
Followers: 99
Visits: 6, 980
As you can see, sometimes people need more of an incentive to make that initial commitment to follow your blog. Especially if you are not that interesting (which I was not). I continued following Erica’s advice and learned how to effectively connect with other bloggers, host giveaways, offer freebies, and include quality content.
These steps take time and dedication, so don’t give up on yourselves. Just keep moving forward and working towards small, attainable goals, and you will get there in time.
By the end of the first quarter in 2012 (January 1- March 30st), diligently working hard every day….
Updated Stats: First Quarter (Jan. 1- march 30st 2012):
TpT Stats:
Followers: 419
Products Sold in that quarter: 630
Earnings: $3, 355.10
Blog Stats:
Followers: 532
Visits: 42,760
As you can see from the stats… my efforts paid off in a big way!! It was not ONE MILLION DOLLARS big, but that money paid bills, groceries, clothes and more for one month. Break down the total earnings into three months and I was still only making a little more than $1,000 a month. Not much by any means, but it was a lot for me and a HUGE blessing for my family when we really needed it. By the second quarter, I made a little bit more, but I was able to purchase a used car for $3,000!!! We had been using a car of a friend of ours after winter came and it began to rain. I just couldn't stand to watch my kids have to walk to school in the rain even one more day. Since then, I have continued to set goals for myself. I believe that setting goals… ATTAINABLE goals... are very important. I never set goals for earning a certain amount of money. Slow times on TpT can’t be controlled. I did; however, find new ways to generate extra income to supplement and grow.
I have invested quite a lot of money into my business and I continue to grow in small increments. Sometimes, the payouts are larger and sometimes they are smaller. Either way, I continue to work as hard as I possibly can. I can’t bear to see my children hungry.
I am truly thankful for the amount of support and advice I have received from other bloggers along the way. I am also pretty excited and impressed by the level of talent of my circle of blogger/ Facebook friends I am the closest to. They are absolutely AMAZING and continue to motivate me in ways that I never thought possible.
Before I give you some tips and resources, I want to give a special thanks to Erica Bohrer, who unknowingly (until now), changed my life with one simple, yet thoughtful little post. If I had not come across that post that day (I read through all of her posts that day.. actually..haha), I am not sure that my mindset would have changed. I was in a pretty dark place and her post peeked through the hundreds of search results like a light at the end of a tunnel. We may have lost our house if I hadn't started at that exact time… towards a goal.
If you have not had the pleasure of visiting her blog, please take a moment of silence while I choke.... hahaha Just kidding... you can click her cute button and take a visit for yourself....
I only hope that I can impact a new blogger in the same way!! So here’s to a new adventure and setting new goals. Now for the part you have all been waiting for…
Tips for new Bloggers:
1. Make sure to have an organized and attractive blog. If it is in your budget, get a custom designed blog that will help you stand out and create a brand for yourself.
Exclusive Custom Blog Designs: I will not be available this September, but I am accepting Custom Blog Design orders now for October-December. You can click the link to complete a form to reserve a spot: CLICK HERE
I will have pre-made design choices available in October as well…
If getting a Custom Blog Design by me is not in your budget, there are many free, pre-made templates you can choose from. These designs are free to everyone, so there might be other people with your same design; however, it is something to get your blog “fancy” for the time being. The Cutest Blog on the Block has several free options to choose from & they are ALL super cute!!
http://thecutestblogontheblock.com/category/backgrounds/blogger
2. Don’t be afraid of social media – those will be your best marketing opportunities and ways to find bloggers to connect with.
My Top Social Media Suggestions for newbies:
*Facebook fan page (this is different from your personal Facebook page)
*A Pinterest Account. I encourage you to join collaborative Pinterest boards, as they are very helpful, but make sure to join boards that will help you work towards your goals. Also, make sure to follow the board guidelines, so you don’t get yourself kicked off. I have never been removed from a collaborative board; however, I know those who have… it is never fun, so make sure you know the posting rules and Pinterest Etiquette.
*A Gmail account for your business only.
Twitter is a great choice as well, but can be overwhelming for many new bloggers. If this is the case, then add Twitter as a goal for the future and stick with Facebook and Pinterest for the time being.
Here is a great video by Charity Preston to help you get started using Pinterest if you are unfamilair with it.
Getting Started with Pinterest with Charity Preston:
Pinterest Etiquette Resource Links:http://www.momcomm.com/2012/09/5-things-not-to-re-pin-on-pinterest/
http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/10_essentials_of_Pinterest_etiquette_14758.aspx#
http://dotcomplicated.co/content/2013/05/pinterest-etiquette/
3. Visit the TpT Forum every now and again to connect and learn!!
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/forum
4. Don’t whine or complain about not having enough sales or many followers. No one is likely to help a whiner, so take in all of the advice and tips you can, be diligent in your work ethics, and BE PATIENT… this does not happen overnight.
5. Offer quality freebies. I once received a question from someone I helped learn a few things and she asked: “I have a few old sets that are not great compared to what I am doing now, I am thinking about making these freebies on TpT. What do you think?”
If you have also had this thought cross your mind – ERASE IT!!! If you offer your worst as a freebie, people are less likely to trust that your quality resources are worth paying for. I am not telling you to create a resource with over 70 clip art images or 100 pages of activities and offer that for free…. by all means…. refrain from doing that!! Create small freebies, but put forth your best work. What is the point of creating anything if you are not going to do your very best?
Some things take me several months to complete… but I do not rush the process. Don’t rush just to have the most products. Some of the very top sellers have fewer than 100 product listings!
I have seen many clip artists adding one image in a million colors onto their shop and then bragging that they have X amount of product listings… big deal…. I can assure you that anything that is up there can most likely be created by anyone and will be created by more people. Create unique products that reflect your talent and set you a part from the crowd. DO not worry about the number of product listings you have, but rather the quality of the listings you have. There are so many people taking every opportunity to copy and the less unique a product is, the easier it is to duplicate… don’t be afraid to take your time. You will be glad you did in the long run.
6. Join linky’s, but make sure your blog does not become a staple for giveaways only… Trust me, it is difficult to turn down the opportunity to join, but saying no is sometimes necessary for your own sanity…. If you join too many all at one time, then keeping up with all of them will be very difficult. It is more meaningful to put forth your effort to a few than a bunch that you will have no time to post about. I have been there… trust me….
7. Have fun meeting people from around the world!!
I have gained such a great deal of knowledge and respect for bloggers all over the world! I started this to help support my family, but gained a HUGE family in the process. The friendships I have built and the people I have met has truly become what I look forward to. I am never amazed by the talent and love of the bloggers that I have connected with and I am blessed by the life-long friendships I have made. One of my long-term goals is to pack a back and visit all of my close bloggers friends - what an adventure that will be!!!
8. Get used to the idea that you could be a bit of a celebrity “in the blogging world anyway”… hahaha
Funny Story: When I purchased my car, my husband surprised me by ordering a custom license place: 3AMTCH. One afternoon, I was a little early to pick up my son (not normal behavior for me) and I was waiting in the car for the bell to ring. I pulled out my phone to get a little FB fix when I noticed someone staring at me from the passenger side window…. It was not someone I knew, not someone I had ever seen before, but there she was… standing at the window with a big smile on her face and waving…. I rolled down the window, hoping that I didn’t forget that I knew her from somewhere or thinking she might need some help with something… and right away she asked me, “Are you The 3AM Teacher?!!!” Her legs began to wobble just a bit… sort of like a cute kindergartener wanting to show you something they made… I told her I was as my face began to turn beat RED… possibly hot pink… not quite sure about that, but I did feel the heat rise heavily in my cheeks. Then she said, “I LOVE YOUR BLOG AND YOUR ART - I can’t wait to tell my friends that I met you!!”
I had no idea how to take that, but I did thank her while trying not to cry…. how sweet and strange that experience was….I did not think I was a big deal, but she did… then I thought… I would probably feel the same if I spotted some of the bloggers I admire in person!!! I was truly embarrassed, yet completely blessed. My point… don’t ignore someone staring at you through your car window when your blog gets more out there… you might have a fan… not one who likes your looks or how famous you are, but someone who genuinely admires your talent and love for others…. there could be no better complement than that!!!
Thank you for visiting - now go on and start your own adventure!!!!
Click the links below to check out some great tips from fellow bloggers and more. Don’t try to do it all at once, but take small steps in the right direction and you will be blessed for your efforts and diligence!!! I will continue to add more links as I go through my files....
