Sunday, October 21, 2012

First Steps Make Me Nervous...

There's this little shop that I like to frequent, maybe you've heard of it...TeachersPayTeachers.

I have a shop.  It has nothing in it.  I've been a member for a few years, but I haven't taken the time to fill my shop with the amazing cuteness that everyone else has.

I'm not the cutsey teacher that the top sellers are.  I don't create things with lots of fun graphics and borders.  My students create their own graphic organizers on notebook paper or white paper.  My copies are limited, so I don't spend my time creating stuff that I can't copy.

My Promethean flipcharts take hours to build, but I haven't uploaded any of them.  What kind of people would buy them?  Would I get negative feedback because I've embedded videos that require an account to places?

How do I determine the price for what I do?  How do you put a price on the time that you spend developing something for your kids?

I'm a nervous nellie when it comes to putting something out there for others.  I'm nervous because I don't want someone to tell me it's crap.

I have things in the works, but I haven't submitted yet.  They are sitting in my TPT file.  Waiting.  Waiting for the right moment.

3 comments:

  1. You just described my feelings. I would love to start getting a little extra something for the stuff that I create, but I'm so afraid of taking that next step. Then there is the possibility of rejection, and I would hate rejection... so I keep uploading things to Google Docs and it's just another freebie. People can't get mad at free, right? You aren't alone!

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  2. You should totally go for it! I just started putting stuff up there. I don't make cute stuff (my husband designs it), but it's fun to see things selling no matter how little it is! Plus, if you make sure to include a well-written description, people can buy at their own discretion.


    What i have learned

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  3. Emily has a good point! If you are nervous, stick some free items up on TpT to begin with. When you start seeing the number of product downloads and positive comments, maybe you will recognise how useful your work is for other teachers and you will feel more comfortable charging for it.

    If you really believe that it needs to be pretty and cutesy, you could collaborate with another 'more artsy' teacher. Then if someone says it is crap (HIGHLY unlikely!) at least you will have someone to share the rejection with =)

    Please don't let the fear hold you back! The TpT and teacher blogger communities are really accepting and encouraging!

    Also, think about how Deanna Jump's life would be different if she had let the fear hold her back...

    You can do it!

    Teacher Kirra:Maestra Kirra

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