How to Upload Pins Directly into Tailwind

In case you haven't noticed from previous posts here on the blog, I'm a pretty big fan of Tailwind. That's why today I want to show you how to upload pins directly into Tailwind.

image showing words how to upload pins directly into tailwind

Now I'm sure some of you are wondering why this is even important. Yes, you could do it directly in Pinterest. But when you upload images directly into Tailwind, you're given the option of scheduling them out - or spacing them out - over time so they don't show up back to back. And I personally love this feature!

Here's the video tutorial for how to upload pins directly into Tailwind.


In case you'd rather read your directions than watch them, follow these steps.

  1. Log into Tailwind.
  2. On the left-hand side of your Tailwind main page, choose the "Scheduled Pins" tab.
  3. You'll see all of your images on the right hand side under "Your Schedule". Look above that. 
  4. Click on "Create New Pin".
  5. Then click "Upload Images". 
  6. Find your image. Click on it. Then click "Open". (On a PC, you can click "Ctrl" and click on multiple images if you want to upload more than one.)
  7. Tailwind will automatically upload your image and save it as a draft. You should then be taken directly to this draft page. 
  8. Now that you're in the "Drafts" file, you can see your newly uploaded image.
  9. You have to edit the URL! The default is going to be sending the image to your blog URL. Update that by clicking on it and typing or pasting in whatever URL you want the image directed to when it's live on Pinterest. 
  10. Edit the description. You can use up to 500 characters. What you choose to write will help you show up in Pinterest search results.
  11. Schedule your pin. You can add it to the end of your queue or give it a specific time so it doesn't change what you already have scheduled. 

If you're not already using Tailwind, I'd love for you to use my referral link. You get $15 toward your plan and I do too, which is one month FREE! (Yes, that is an affiliate link, but I've been using Tailwind nearly two years - so I strongly believe in this program.)

That's it! It seriously only takes a few minutes to upload pins directly into Tailwind. And I've gotten to the point where I do this in Tailwind instead of Pinterest because I like the option of being able to spread the pins out. 

What other video tutorials would you like to see? My goal is to update the blog once each month, so I may be able to feature YOUR request. Leave your comment below.

Learn how to upload pins directly into Tailwind with the video tutorial and directions at this blog post. This easy approach allows you to customize what time these new pins go out so you don't have to upload them all to Pinterest at the same time. It's a great strategy for bloggers who use Tailwind regularly.

1

How to Schedule Specific Times in Tailwind

Since becoming a virtual assistant for other teacher-bloggers I've found that some of my clients want to add more pins to their queue. This is totally fine, but it can sometimes mess with what I've already done. That's why today's post explains how to schedule specific times in Tailwind. This will allow you to add pins into Tailwind at EXACT times without messing with something that has already been scheduled.

If you use Tailwind for Pinterest marketing, you're going to find this tutorial helpful. You'll get a write up and video explaining how to schedule specific times in Tailwind. With this tip, you'll quickly be able to add additional pins into your queue when you realized you forgot something and you're already done pinning for a specified time period. Or you can add pins to specific boards that have more rigid rules. Click through now to learn more!

Yes, this will help if you have a virtual assistant, but it can also work if you have your own scheduling plan and realize you need to add something else. Maybe you forgot that pesky little holiday is next week, and you know you won't have time to live pin. Or perhaps you just created a new resource and want to get it scheduled out across your boards right now while you're thinking about it.

Regardless - this short tutorial will help you see how to schedule specific times in Tailwind for your pins. Watch below.

 

Are you can see, I showed you how to schedule directly from a Tailwind tribe or from Pinterest with a random pin you find. (You could even pin right from your blog or TpT store too!)

Now - if you don't like watching videos, here you go! (I'm one of the people in that boat. I'd rather read something than watch a video 9/10 times.)

Here's the gist of how to schedule specific times in Tailwind.

  • Find the pin directly on Pinterest, the pin within Tailwind tribes, the blog post, or the resource you want to schedule.
  • Click on the Tailwind button to bring up the typical Tailwind scheduler or pop up.
  • Toward the bottom, on the left-hand side, there's a little clock. (It's to the left of the "Add to Queue Now" button.)
  • Click on that clock and set the date and time you want the pin to go out. (You can schedule out to multiple boards here - even setting a specific time in between them.) 
  • When you're sure the date and time are correct, click on "Set Custom Time". 
  • Finally click "Schedule Now". 
  • Your pin should be all set to go out at a specific time!
If you're not already using Tailwind, I'd love for you to use my referral link. You get $15 toward your plan, which is one month FREE! (Yes, that is an affiliate link, but I've been using Tailwind nearly two years - so I strongly believe in this program.)

Still have questions on how to schedule specific times in Tailwind? Let me know in the questions below. I'll do my best to help you out! This should help you add a few last minute pins without messing with your schedule or the schedule your VA did for you. Good luck! 

If you use Tailwind for Pinterest marketing, you're going to find this tutorial helpful. You'll get a write up and video explaining how to schedule specific times in Tailwind. With this tip, you'll quickly be able to add additional pins into your queue when you realized you forgot something and you're already done pinning for a specified time period. Or you can add pins to specific boards that have more rigid rules. Click through now to learn more!
0

My Trademark Story...

Here I am going to share my experience with getting a trademark. This is not me telling you what to do. This is not legal advice. This is simply my story.

In May 2016 I applied for a trademark on the term Magic Square Puzzles. I believed this would be in my best interest since that was my best selling resource line on Teachers Pay Teachers. I struggled a bit with choosing which category to fill out, but I got through it and hit submit.

I posted my first Magic Square in late 2011. I remember doing something somewhat like what I made with my 4th grade teacher, but I don't remember the exact name she used for them. Plus what I remember from 4th grade and what I created to sell are slightly different. I though I made up the term (although I've now done multiple Google searches and realized that there are a variety of "magic squares" involving numbers on them. When I requested the trademark, I did NOT know it was such a common term).

My reasoning for filing a trademark was simple - I thought it would protect me. I thought it meant others couldn't use the term. I thought it meant others couldn't come after me if they created something similar since I created it. I thought it was the next step and the "right thing" to do in my TpT journey.

Fast forward, it took months for me to hear back from the trademark office. When I did finally hear from them, I had used the wrong category. Since I'm using downloadable goods, I needed to choose that option. The attorney changed it, no big deal. But this minor change took over four months to get changed. My e-mails went to the attorney's spam folder. My phone calls went un-returned. It took much longer than it needed to, yet I've since learned that some people have it take even longer.

When I finally had the right category selected, he then informed me that I could not get the trademark for anything related to math. So my trademark says, excluding math. I was severely disappointed at this, so I started to do some Google searches and realized it was a fairly common term as far as math and numbers are concerned.

In May 2017, I was finally awarded the trademark. I remember being so excited! All my hard work on TpT had paid off. The trademark was mine!

Within about a week of being awarded the trademark and getting it in the mail, I asked my virtual assistant to search TpT for the term "Magic Square Puzzles" and create a list of all the resources that used the term. She was told to NOT list anything math related, since my trademark excluded math terms.

When I got the list, I found the copyright/trademark infringement information on TpT. I made sure to list all of the information they requested and I sent off the e-mail. My understanding was that I needed to protect my trademark in order to keep it. So that's all I thought I was doing.

Within a few days I heard back from Teachers Pay Teachers that they had removed all the infringing resources and e-mailed all of those sellers to notify them. I thought it was done.

I then took a two hour drive with my family to visit my grandparents and sister for the evening. My grandparents house is old, steel sided, and gets no cell reception.

When I got home that evening, I came across a 100+ comment post in a fairly popular Facebook group for Teachers Pay Teachers sellers. It was quite obvious that I had upset people with my trademark. There were statements like, "How can a 'common term' be trademarked?" and "Why did she not tell us via Q&A rather than give our stores a strike?" and "It's just a business thing. Don't take it personally."

Another thread popped up in the same Facebook group with examples of other terms sellers could use to "get around" my trademark. They could say "Magic Square Puzzlers" or "Magic Squares" and be just fine. That was the moment I realized my trademark wasn't nearly as powerful as I had thought it would be. People could still use the exact same format - even the same numbers if it coincidentally happened - and just change the title by one little letter or one small word, and there was nothing I could do.

It took me quite awhile to fall asleep that night. People had been given strikes?! When I had contacted TpT about the cease and desist, I realized that other sellers would probably have to take their resources down - but I didn't realize the exact process. And I truly had no idea that other sellers' stores could be given strikes. Plus all they needed to do was change a word or two and they were not trying to take ownership of my trademark. What was the point? And why had I waited a year, gone through all those headaches, and spent all that money?

Ugh. This entire process was so much more complicated than I had realized.

The night the Facebook conversation within the group popped up started an entire string of messages to me that came and went for at least two weeks. (And an occasional one still shows up  months later...)
  • "Stay strong! It's just part of doing business. They'll get over it."
  • "If I use the term "Magic Square PuzzleRs", am I infringing on your trademark?"
  • "How did you go about the trademark process? That's so smart, and I want to learn more!"
These and many other messages appeared in private Facebook messages and various e-mails (even now - four months later). I also know at least one person from that Facebook grouped blocked me on FB, and multiple people said within the thread that they would "not associate" with "such a seller in giveaways or any other aspect of business".

In all honesty - I expected some backlash because people would have to take their resources down. But I did not completely think through the trademark process. I did not realize the implications of my trademarking decision. I've always been a firm believer in the "rising tide raises all ships" mentality that is TpT. And now I feel as if I've sank a few ships - or at least put dings and small holes in some boats. That was never my intention and not how I thought the trademark process worked.

Why am I writing this?

I want my side of the story out there. I want people to see that getting a trademark is not cut and dry. It is a process. It's probably in your best interest to get a lawyer involved. Definitely do a Google search to see if your term is truly all that unique! 

If you do go through with applying for a trademark, you may very well upset people. Be ready for the repercussions of your actions. 

I know my intentions were good, but my research stunk. A lot. Both my research on the trademark process and my research on the term I wished to trademark. I did not do my homework. 

Please know what you are getting into. Do your homework. Don't just ask around to your TpT friends and trust that "How do I get a trademark?" Google search that you did. It may not be enough.

I know I would certainly do things differently if I were ever to apply for another trademark. And I sincerely hope others pursue their trademark in the most ethical manner possible.

Finally, I would like to publicly apologize to those I hurt. It was never my intention to get any stores a strike. People who know me in real life know that I do my best to be a kind, honest, and upfront person. And I do my best to be the same way in my professional life.

~Heather aka HoJo~
4

When Should I Publish New Blog Posts?

You know the scene. You're super excited for the upcoming Back to School season. Not only have you spent the summer getting your classroom ready, but you have some amazing ideas to share with other teachers on your blog.

You go back to school on August 27, so you figure you'll have the post go out on August 24. That way the teachers who find your post will have a couple days to mull over your idea, print your freebies, and thank you for all of your awesomeness.

You go with your plan, hit publish, and then can't figure out why all you hear is crickets...

What happened? Why is no one reading my post?! 

When should I publish new blog posts? This is a question that goes through many teacher blogger's minds. Here are tips to help you decide when it makes the most sense to publish a new blog post, particularly those that are seasonal in nature. {teacher blogger tips, teacherpreneur blogging strategy, TpT advice}


The world of blogging - particularly blogging for teachers - has changed a LOT in recent years. Teachers used to find their favorite bloggers and check out their blogs regularly. Some literally just went right to your blog to see what was new, others subscribed to your RSS feed so they received an e-mail notification anytime you had something new, and others used a service like BlogLovin' to follow you. Regardless, they chose to follow you.

But things have changed. There are still readers out there who will specifically go to one blog to see what's new or use another method mentioned above, but that is more the minority. Instead, people are turning to Pinterest to find the latest and greatest information.

But - you know what? There's a slight problem with that. It can take Pinterest up to eight weeks to really index (or "read") your pin and begin showing it to people. Eight weeks?!? (Some experts even say it can take as long as twelve weeks. I'm going to be optimistic here and say it's just eight.)

So that blog post you just shared on August 24? It won't really take off until at least mid-October. What good does that do anyone at that time during the year? So it's not really even going to take off. Sigh. :(

What can you do?


Here are a couple ideas:

1. Post it anyway.

You can definitely publish your post on the day you first planned to do it. But know this - it may not get seen right away. However, people will eventually find it. The back to school example I shared may take off for you the following July and bring in a great amount of traffic in July and August of the next year as teachers prepare for school and start looking for ideas. 

Another thing you can do is post it and then send out a letter to your newsletter subscribers. (What? You haven't started a newsletter yet? DO IT! I wish I would have started this back in 2011 instead of 2015. It really would have helped my business, and it's the one thing I truly own if everything else went away today.) This way everyone who has signed up and shown interest in you will see your new, timely post!

2. Schedule it later.

Scheduling a post for a future date is another option. Write that back to school post now, while it's still fresh in your mind. But schedule it for next summer. That way you have an awesome blog post ready to go and people will be able to find it if you post around June. 

If you really want to share your great idea now but know it's too late to post it - schedule the blog post like I mentioned above, but send a link to the freebie out to your newsletter subscribers. They'll love knowing they got something that won't be available to anyone else for nearly a year, and you'll love knowing you helped out a bunch of teachers. :) 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Regardless of which option you choose, don't let hearing crickets get you down. My blog took forever to take off, and everyone's definition of "taking off" is going to be different. There are still some days where I question why I'm blogging - but then I remember that my goal is to help teachers. My impact can go so far beyond that of the four walls of the classroom I used to teach.

Now some of you may be reading this saying, "But Heather, I want to know exactly when to publish new blog posts."

If you're a teacher blogger, you MUST check out this Pinterest ebook to make the most of the platform. You'll have my blog pageviews and increase your sales after implementing these tips. Well, sorry, but I don't have a good answer for you. There is no one magical day and/or time that is going to bring you more traffic.

Personally, I have posted weekly on my teaching blog and life blog for over a year. But it just simply got to be too much with two kids. Now I post once a month on my teaching blog - the 1st of the month. On my life blog I post on the 1st and the 15th. And on this blog I post on the 15th.

Do I believe posting at this day and time brings me more traffic? No. But I do believe that blogging consistently helps my blog out. I have a new post to promote regularly, and each new post I am able to promote means more potential traffic for my blog. 

Best of luck deciding when to publish new blog posts. Once you find a method that works for you, you'll be excited for the additional traffic! 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Do you want your blog posts to do ever better on Pinterest? Then check out my Pinterest ebook. It'll help you better your entire Pinterest game. The information on pages 9 and 10 will really help up your blog traffic if you implement it correctly! 


0

How to Host Third Party Images in Blogger

Don't you just hate it when you find out the site you've been using for almost five years to host images decides to start charging you $400/year overnight? Um....no. I don't make enough to justify that cost, and I'm just cheap.

Do you not want to pay for third party image hosting? No worries! Here you will learn to host host third party images in Blogger. It's easy and free to do. This is a great tip for anyone wanting to save some money and use a blogging platform they're comfortable with. Video and written directions both available.

So today I want to share with you how to host third party images in Blogger. It's super simple, even if you're not the most tech savvy individual. {If I can do it, anyone can!}

Let's get started with the video.

Feel free to ignore the part where I talk about the TpT UTM codes. I started going that route, and then realized I would need to log into my traffic tag - which means logging into my dashboard. I'm just not comfortable with all of internet land seeing that. ;)


If you're more of a written directions person, no worries!

  1. Log into Blogger.
  2. Create a new post.
  3. Upload your picture like you would if you were writing a normal post.
  4. When the image is uploaded, right-click on it. 
  5. Click "Copy Image Address".
  6. Now you can paste that URL into the area you need it - your TpT site, blog, or whatever other online location where you would use third party hosting. 
  7. Do NOT publish that blog post. Just save it. I named mine something so I can find it again (3rd party image hosting). 

That's it. Really!

You've now saved yourself from having to pay $400/year. And yes, there are plenty of other options out there as well - but since so many teacher bloggers already have a Blogger account (whether you currently use Blogger or have since switched to Wordpress like I have), it makes sense for us to use this platform. Free. Easy. Done! :) 

Questions about how to host third party images in Blogger? Ask below! I'll do my best to help you out. 
Do you not want to pay for third party image hosting? No worries! Here you will learn to host host third party images in Blogger. It's easy and free to do. This is a great tip for anyone wanting to save some money and use a blogging platform they're comfortable with. Video and written directions both available.

0

Help! How Do I Create Images for My Blog More Quickly?

I frequently get told, "I would blog more often, but the images take so much time."

I hear ya, my friends! And if you're anything like me, you're not the best at design, layout, or really anything to do with creating presentable images for your blog.

But - let me tell you a little secret... It does not have to be so hard! Or so scary!!

Now you're probably asking, "But Heather, how do I create images for my blog more quickly?"

And I'm so glad you asked!

It's all about the template. 

How do I create blog images more quickly? That's a question that many bloggers and online entrepreneurs ask. This post will help you find the answer you need! Plus you'll be set up in no time. Click through to see the simple trick and everything you need to be ready to go after just a little bit of upfront work.

Seriously!! Take the time to create a template. I'm a creature of habit, and I want to keep things as simple as possible. For me - this means I create all my images in PowerPoint. It's the program I already use to create my TpT resources, so it only makes sense for me to create my images using the program I'm most comfortable with.

Do you use Canva? Or another program? That's totally fine! Find a way to create a template that works for you, and go with it! (There are even people who do all this via their smartphones. I'm not quite that techy - yet! - but I still think that's an awesome route to go!)

But this post is going to specifically talk about my template.

I actually have three. One for vertical Pinterest images, one for wider Facebook images, and a third for square images. I don't make every image for each blog post, but I have the template saved and ready.

You'll need to add your fonts, colors, and then save the images to the correct size. That's it! Really!!

As of September 8, 2017, here are the image sizes I use:
  • Facebook - Width 12.5" x Height 6.563"
  • Pinterest - Width 9" x Height 18"
  • Square - Width 8" x Height 8"
Below is a picture of what my template looks like when I have it saved right in PowerPoint. 

How do I create blog images more quickly? That's a question that many bloggers and online entrepreneurs ask. This post will help you find the answer you need! Plus you'll be set up in no time. Click through to see the simple trick and everything you need to be ready to go after just a little bit of upfront work.

The lower left corner has the link to my color palette. The middle is my three primary color choices, with the secondary colors just to the right of them. Then I also have the two fonts that I use. Finally, the upper right-hand corner has the link to download the fonts. This way I can re-assess them if I ever lose them or need to share them with a VA or someone else. 

If you're not sure I'm using the correct sizes, feel free to do a Google search for other sizes. Or simply create your template based on the size you currently use. 

I promise you, once you get the template set up it will be soooo much easier! What used to take me 30-90 minutes to do, now takes 5-10. #happydance

Any questions about your template? Feel free to ask them below. I'll do my best to answer them!

How do I create blog images more quickly? That's a question that many bloggers and online entrepreneurs ask. This post will help you find the answer you need! Plus you'll be set up in no time. Click through to see the simple trick and everything you need to be ready to go after just a little bit of upfront work.
0

Should I Hire a VA or Train Family & Friends?

I've heard several different teacherpreneurs ask whether they should hire a virtual assistant or train a family member or friend to work as a VA for them. Today I want to focus on the pros and cons to each of these options.

If you're a teacher blogger (or teacherpreneur), you've probably heard about virtual assistants at one point or another. Now the question is - should you hire a VA or are you better off training a family member or friend? This post goes into the pros and cons of both options, but you'll see a resource that can help you navigate the virtual assistant world. (There's even a FREE preview.) Click through now to see if a VA would help take your Teachers Pay Teachers business to the next level.

Should I hire a VA or train family and friends?

Pros to Hiring Family or Friends

  • You can train the person to do exactly what you want. You can even train them in person!
  • You'll be able to meet up to chat with the person about how things are going. This allows you to do more training or simply check in.
  • Your friend or family member may cost less per hour than the virtual assistant you find. 

Cons to Hiring a Family or Friends

  • Sometimes friends and family don't work as hard as we had hoped. You may need to do more checking in or even fire the person. #awkwardfamilygettogethers
  • You will spend time training the person.
  • The person you choose to train isn't going to bring anything new to the table. They'll be able to do what you want after training, but that will most likely be it. (Unless you're fortunate enough to have a social media marketing person in your circle. Then that's an entirely different story!) 

Pros to Hiring a Virtual Assistant

  • A virtual assistant is typically an expert in some area or another. Your business can grow because of this expertise without you actually having to learn the platform yourself. 
  • Many times you can find a virtual assistant who is also experienced in the teacherpreneur world. This VA just "gets" what's going on, and you won't have to train her on various platforms to help your business grow. 
  • A great VA is also someone you can bounce ideas off of to help your business grow. 
  • While a VA may cost more per hour than your family member or friend, this is their business and they may very well be more efficient. Therefore you may spend the same amount (or potentially less) than you're paying your family member or friend due to inefficiency.
  • A virtual assistant is treating this as their business. Therefore you can expect business-like interactions. If this is not the case, you can look at your contract (even before you sign it!) to make sure you know your "esccape route" - should it be needed. 

Cons to Hiring a Virtual Assistant

  • You and the VA may not be a good fit. A good virtual assistant will give you a "trial period" to ensure that both parties are happy with the way things are going. (We do a month here at The Academic VA.) 
  • Communication may not be as easy. Unlike the person you know well, your virtual assistant could be on the other side of the country or world. Getting in touch via e-mail, phone, or online chat isn't as easy as sending a quick text message. (This being said, a good VA will have in their contract exactly how long you should expect - at a maximum - before hearing back from them. Always make sure to check references and do your homework before hiring someone!) 
Regardless of the option you choose, know that hiring a virtual assistant can be a GREAT thing. It frees you up to do more of what you love. There are many reasons to hire a virtual assistant, so I hope you can choose the option that is the best for you. 

If you're new to the world of virtual assistants, I highly recommend purchasing the TpT Virtual Assistant eBook I have written. This will help you get started - whether you want to train a VA yourself or hire a VA. While the book itself is helpful, you'll also be granted access to a Facebook group where you can talk to other virtual assistants and teacherpreneurs about your virtual assistant journey and what steps to take.

Here is some of the feedback received about this ebook:
Are you a teacherpreneur who is looking for a virtual assistant? This book will help you out! Are you a virtual assistant who wants to work with a TpT seller? Then this book is also for you! Click through to see how this amazing resource can help you find OR become a virtual assistant! Plus you'll gain access to a secret Facebook group for collaboration! {There's a FREE preview when you click through.}
  • This resource was very helpful! I have worked with virtual assistants before but I still found this book to be useful and helpful. Thanks for creating this, Heather!
  • So much helpful info! This is all a new world for me, and I appreciate you breaking it down specifically for teacherpreneurs! Thank you! 
  • I learned so much reading all of this great information! I haven't found a VA yet but I know exactly what to arrange and decide on together! Thanks for all your guidance and support! This is an amazing resource and a must buy for anyone who needs a VA!
Interested in seeing even more feedback and checking out more details about the TpT Virtual Assistant eBook? Click here to see it all! Or check out the FREE preview here.

If you're a teacher blogger (or teacherpreneur), you've probably heard about virtual assistants at one point or another. Now the question is - should you hire a VA or are you better off training a family member or friend? This post goes into the pros and cons of both options, but you'll see a resource that can help you navigate the virtual assistant world. (There's even a FREE preview.) Click through now to see if a VA would help take your Teachers Pay Teachers business to the next level.

0

How to Pay Through PayPal as a Teacher Blogger

Congratulations! You've hired a Virtual Assistant (or VA) to help you out with your blog and Teachers Pay Teachers store. When that first invoice comes around, it's easy to send them money. But there are several options. Do you know which one to choose? Today we're going to discuss how to pay through PayPal as a teacher blogger so you know exactly what you should be doing.

How to Pay Through PayPal as a Teacher Blogger --- Are you a teacher blogger or teacherpreneur? Then you HAVE to read this post! Make sure you are paying for items through PayPal in the correct manner. This could include paying for website design, sending money to another seller for a giveaway, paying your virtual assistant for work completed, and more. Click through for all the details and to ensure your PayPal account is NOT going to get shut down.

I'm not entirely sure what you've heard, but I'll be the first to admit that I was misinformed. Also - I'm afraid I shared this misinformation with some others - so I'm trying to rectify that today!

Let's start with PayPal's Terms of Use, or the User Agreement you agreed to when you signed up to use their services. It clearly states:

"You may not use the "send money to a friend of family member" feature in your PayPal account when you are paying for goods and services."


Here's that chunk taken directly from their website:

How to Pay Through PayPal as a Teacher Blogger --- Are you a teacher blogger or teacherpreneur? Then you HAVE to read this post! Make sure you are paying for items through PayPal in the correct manner. This could include paying for website design, sending money to another seller for a giveaway, paying your virtual assistant for work completed, and more. Click through for all the details and to ensure your PayPal account is NOT going to get shut down.

Please do not pay in this manner! 

Your virtual assistant may ask you to pay them in this way, but do not! I know people who have pre-paid for website design work to be completed via the "Friends and Family" option, only to have the designer never do the work or only complete half of it. And you know what - PayPal would NOT refund their money. :( They said the money was sent to "friends and family", so there was no way to get it back.

PayPal actually protects the buyer! If you prepay for work, that's perfectly acceptable. BUT PayPal will refund your money (or at least part of it) in most instances if you can prove via some method (screenshots, email, etc) that the promised work was not completed. But you must be using the "Pay for Goods or Services" feature.

What does that option look like? Oh, I'm so glad you asked!


How to Pay Through PayPal as a Teacher Blogger --- Are you a teacher blogger or teacherpreneur? Then you HAVE to read this post! Make sure you are paying for items through PayPal in the correct manner. This could include paying for website design, sending money to another seller for a giveaway, paying your virtual assistant for work completed, and more. Click through for all the details and to ensure your PayPal account is NOT going to get shut down.

As of the date of this blog post, you hover over "Tools", then go down to "Send Money". These are the options presented to you. 

If you are paying for work that's already been completed, simply click on "Pay for goods or services", and you'll be on your way!

Does your VA have to pay a fee if you pay this way? Yes, they do. However, they should know this when they set up business. This is one of those (sometimes annoying) operating costs that they should take into consideration when they set their prices.

Now - one area where I'm extra cautious is when I'm sending money for a giveaway or for another blogger for a get-together or some other event or situation.

For example, I am part of a group of teacher blogger sellers who hosts a giveaway several times a year. Each time we need to send money to the gal organizing the event. No problem, right? But - how do I pay?

I still use the "Pay for goods and services" option because it's part of my business. But it can be a hassle to figure out exactly how much to pay the person when I don't know what fees PayPal is going to take out on their end.

That's where this handy little website calculator comes into play! Let's say I need to send $25.00 over to the person in charge of the giveaway. How much do I send them to ensure they get the correct amount?

First I head over to this website (which I have booked just for such occasions!). Then I simply type in my dollar amount and click "Calculate".

Look at what it shows me!

How to Pay Through PayPal as a Teacher Blogger --- Are you a teacher blogger or teacherpreneur? Then you HAVE to read this post! Make sure you are paying for items through PayPal in the correct manner. This could include paying for website design, sending money to another seller for a giveaway, paying your virtual assistant for work completed, and more. Click through for all the details and to ensure your PayPal account is NOT going to get shut down.

Now I know that I need to send the giveaway organizer $26.06 via the "goods and services" option in order for her to receive $25.

Is this annoying? Yes, a bit. BUT - I'd rather pay the extra $1.06 (which I can use as a tax write-off as part of the giveaway anyway) than have my PayPal account shut down due to using it incorrectly.

Please make sure you realize how to use PayPal correctly! I'm sure I still have plenty more to learn, but I wanted to share these tips so you also knew how to pay through PayPal as a teacher blogger. After all, no one wants to see their PayPal account shut down - especially if that's the way you've chosen to be paid each month by Teachers Pay Teachers!

Do you have another PayPal tip I need to know? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!

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Seven Reasons You Should Hire a Virtual Assistant for Your TpT Store

Are you looking for ways to grow your Teachers Pay Teachers store, but you're not sure how? Here are the seven reasons we believe you should hire a virtual assistant for your TpT store

This blog post will explain seven reasons you should hire a virtual assistant for your TpT store. Whether it's increased productivity, more profits, expertise in various areas,  saving you time, letting you be more creative, or one of the other reasons - you should REALLY read this post! You'll learn how to grow your Teachers Pay Teachers store and how to be successful, find more profits, & help more teachers worldwide. If you've been considering hiring a VA, what are you waiting for?

If you're like most other TpT sellers, you're constantly bombarded by offers for the newest, latest, and best ideas to grow your blog, social media, and store. It seems like there is always a new webinar, class, or handbook on marketing, branding, or selling. And you MUST HAVE these to grow your store and increase your profits, right?

While I'm sure the majority of these resources are valid and will help you grow your store, let me tell you about another option you may not have considered - hiring a virtual assistant (or VA). 

Here's how a VA can help make all the difference in your TpT store's growth and help boost your profits this year. 

Before we get into how a VA can help you, let's focus on exactly what a VA can do for you. Honestly - there is no right answer! Any of number of services may be completed by your VA. 

For example:
  • product proofreading and editing
  • researching & implementing SEO for your TpT resource pins
  • using SEO to help your blog posts gain traction on Pinterest and with search engines
  • scheduling your pins on Tailwind
  • adding your evergreen pins to BoardBooster so they loop indefinitely
  • live pinning your TpT resource pins to ensure you meet the needs of each collaborative board you're on
  • scheduling social media
  • and much more! 
(You can see a more extensive list of VA duties on page 5 - marked p. 3 - in this FREE resource.)

Now that you know what a VA can do for you, let's take a look at why you should hire one and how a VA (or VA team) can help boost the growth of your TpT store. 

Seven Reasons You Should Hire a Virtual Assistant for Your TpT Store

1. Expertise

Even though we'd like to think we can be an expert at everything related to TpT and online marketing, we just can't. There are not enough hours in the day to keep up with all the info that's out there - especially when it's growing all the time! 

Your Virtual Assistant is a specialist who can focus on any or all of those areas for you! Contact the VA you're considering to see what area/s they specialize in. 

2. SEO 

Do you have the time to learn all the secrets of SEO? Probably not, but your VA does! (In case you're really confused, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization - that means the keywords and terms you need to rank higher in search engines like Google and on Pinterest, among other things.) Plus - Google and Pinterest (two of the biggest platforms where SEO matters) are constantly changing! Quit trying to keep up with all the changes! Let your VA do that!

Your VA can learn all about those all-important search engine keywords, phrases, and ranking. They can even take that knowledge and all of the SEO best practices to help you get more Google pageviews and referrals - as well as help your Pinterest traffic!

3. Time

Do you always feel as though your to-do list for both life and TpT is out of control? Hiring a VA to do many of the time-consuming (and often monotonous) tasks related to your business will free up your time for TpT product creation. Or use that new-found time to devote to your children, family, friends, exercise, pets, and life in general!

4. Creativity

As mentioned above, when you hire a VA to do the tasks you don't enjoy or are not an expert in - you can spend your time on the TpT related tasks that you do enjoy and find worthwhile! You'll no longer feel weighed down by other tasks, and - as a result - your creative energy will start to flow more readily! You'll find yourself inspired to create more useful and helpful resources for teachers across the world. 

5. Rules

Have you looked at all of the rules for your Tailwind tribes and collaborative Pinterest groups lately? WOW! There are soooo many! Your virtual assistant will take the time to get to know the rules, ensuring you don't get kicked out of anywhere. They can even analyze which boards are proving worthwhile for your business and help you decide which ones it may be time to leave. 

6. Cost

By now you may be thinking, "But I can't afford a VA!" However, have you taken into account all of the growth your store will experience as a result of your time being freed up to do more of what you love? The growth of your store will turn into profits for you!

7. Profits

After you've hired a virtual assistant for your TpT store, your store will prosper! Even if you choose a VA to do one small thing (and it's ok to start small!), your store will grow! Buyers will have an easier path to finding you and the wonderful resources you create.

While Heather and her team here at The Academic VA, LLC provide virtual assistant services for others, Heather also often hires out help. Ghost writing, Wordpress blog design, some product photography, and even editing are all services Heather has hired out in the past. She started small by hiring out just one little thing - but each month she finds herself getting more and more help with her blogs and store. 

And guess what? It continues to pay off each month! Heather is able to spend more time with her family, create more resources to help students across the globe, and continue to grow her VA team and business to be able to help more educators reach teachers worldwide. 
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It only makes good sense to hire a virtual assistant for your TpT store. Let your VA take over an aspect of the business that you're not strong in or a part that you don't enjoy. This way you can focus on the parts that bring you joy!

Whether you're convinced you should hire a virtual assistant for your TpT store or not, it's certainly worth your time to give it some serious consideration. 

If you still have virtual assistant related questions, feel free to contact Heather right here at The Academic VA, LLC. Or check out the Virtual Assistant ebook she wrote specifically for teacherpreneurs and aspiring virtual assistants.  

This blog post will explain seven reasons you should hire a virtual assistant for your TpT store. Whether it's increased productivity, more profits, expertise in various areas,  saving you time, letting you be more creative, or one of the other reasons - you should REALLY read this post! You'll learn how to grow your Teachers Pay Teachers store and how to be successful, find more profits, & help more teachers worldwide. If you've been considering hiring a VA, what are you waiting for?
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