Are you wondering whether you should sell your teacher resources on your website or if it’s just one more thing everyone says you “should” do? You’re not alone. This is one of the most common questions teacher-sellers ask when they start taking their business seriously.

In today’s episode, we’re breaking down everything you need to know so you can make the right decision for YOUR stage of business. By the end, you’ll know whether selling on your website is worth it, what it actually takes to make it profitable, and how to avoid wasting time or money in the process.

We cover:

• Why so many teacher-sellers want their own website

• Shopify vs. Squarespace vs. WordPress (and what I chose)

• The truth about uploading your entire product catalog

• How long it really takes to see sales

• What you must have in place BEFORE you open a store

• Website pros, cons, and deal-breakers

• When a website becomes more profitable than TPT

• Whether you should add a TPT “buy” button on your product pages

• Why email list + trust = the secret to website sales

• The long-term payoff most teachers never talk about

If you’ve been confused, overwhelmed, or unsure whether you’re “ready” to add a store to your website, this episode will give you the clarity you’ve been needing.

If you’re not sure whether you’re ready—or you need help figuring out the next right step in your business, I offer 1:1 coaching to help you grow with clarity and confidence.

I support teachers with:

• TPT store strategy

• Website setup + offers

• Messaging + positioning

• Mindset and overthinking

• Anything your teacher brain is stuck on

If you’re craving real progress with way less overwhelm, book your coaching call: yourteacherbiz.com/coaching

• Squarespace (my website platform)

• Shopify (another popular website option)

• Emily Bryant, CPA for TPT sellers

• My 1:1 Coaching: yourteacherbiz.com/coaching

If your teacher business feels harder than it should, you’re not alone. Most teacher entrepreneurs are making decisions based on emotion, guesswork, or daily dashboard checks that send them into panic mode. In today’s episode, we break down why your business feels overwhelming and how simple data tracking can instantly bring clarity, calm, and direction.

We’re talking about what to track (and what NOT to track), how to set goals that actually fit the season you’re in, and why focusing on the right metrics will make your business feel lighter, more grounded, and easier to grow.

Plus, I’m sharing the tool that completely changed how I make decisions in my own business: ✨ The Teacher Business KPI Tracker: now available in my shop.

If you want your business to feel less emotional and more empowered this year, this episode is your roadmap.

• Why running your online teacher business feels so overwhelming
• How data helps calm your brain and reduce the “nothing is working” spiral
• The #1 metric that matters most when you’re just starting out
• What to track in Year 1 versus Years 2–3 versus later stages
• Why tracking too many things creates confusion (not clarity)
• Why TPT dashboard dips don’t actually mean what you think
• How a year-at-a-glance view can completely change your confidence
• How to choose metrics that match your season of life
• The simple tracking habit that makes business decisions easier

👉 Teacher Business KPI Tracker Get the simple Google Sheet that helps you track revenue, product growth, email metrics, website traffic, and more all in one place.

👉 Book a Free Teacher Business Clarity Call Need support deciding what to focus on in your business? Let’s talk through your goals and simplify your next steps.

Social media can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re juggling teaching, life, and a growing TPT business. Do you really need to be on Instagram? Does marketing actually work? And how do you promote your resources without living on your phone?

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Ashley Mickelson, a longtime teacher seller and self-described accidental entrepreneur. Ashley shares what she’s learned over nearly a decade of selling on TPT, building relationships online, and using simple marketing systems that don’t lead to burnout.

We talk honestly about social media, automation tools like ManyChat, and why relationships (not hacks), are what truly grow a sustainable teacher business.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between wanting more visibility and wanting more peace, this conversation will meet you right where you are.

• How Ashley accidentally turned teaching into a long-term TPT business

• Why relationship-building matters more than posting perfectly

• What ManyChat is and how teachers actually use it (in simple terms)

• How automation can save time instead of adding stress

• When it makes sense to invest in tools and when it doesn’t

• How introverted or camera-shy teachers can start showing up online

• The difference between content that lasts vs. content that connects

• How Ashley balances family life, marketing, and running her business

You don’t need to do all the things to grow your business. You need to connect with real people, show up as yourself, and build systems that support your life, not consume it.

YouTube name Teach the Teacher Author with Ashley Mikkelsen https://www.youtube.com/@teachtheteacherauthor Social media links Insta- https://instagram.com/teach.the.teacherauthor FB- https://facebook.com/teach.the.teacherauthor FB group - Instagram for Teacher Authors https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReJUNEvateyourIGChallenge Website https://teachtheteacherauthor.com/ Contact email ashley@srtaspanish.com landing page or freebie link How to start your email list: https://teachtheteacherauthor.myflodesk.com/dzu6rybc2d

If you’re a teacher who wants to build income outside the classroom, whether through TPT, digital products, or mindset work, I’d love to support you. Book a 1:1 coaching call if you want personalized guidance on income planning,