Teachers Pay Teachers recently rolled out one of its biggest seller updates in a while: Seller Discounts!
As soon as the announcement came out, I started seeing the same questions pop up everywhere.
Should I turn them on?
Will they actually increase sales?
Is there any downside?
After looking through how the feature works, I think the answer is pretty straightforward: the discounts are a nice tool to have, but it’s not something that’s going to transform your business overnight. Like most things on TPT, it’s all about using it strategically.
How Do TPT Seller Discounts Work?
The new feature gives sellers two different ways to offer a discount on their resources.
1. Abandoned Cart Discount
If a teacher adds one of your resources to their cart but doesn’t complete the purchase, TPT can automatically send them a reminder email about an hour later. If you’ve enabled this feature, that email includes a 10% discount that’s good for seven days.
2. Follower Discount
This TPT discount allows you to send a 10% discount to teachers who are following your store. Once you activate it, it remains active for seven days. One important thing to know is that the buyer has to be following your store before you send the promotion. If they follow afterward, they won’t receive that discount.
Why I Think the Abandoned Cart Discount Has the Most Potential on TPT
Out of the two options, I think the abandoned cart discount is probably the one most sellers should consider turning on.
I believe this because you’re not trying to convince someone to buy something they weren’t interested in. You’re reaching someone who already clicked on your resource, added it to their cart, and almost purchased it.
Life happens. Teachers get distracted. They start comparing resources or simply run out of time.
Sometimes a small reminder is all they need.
Adding a 10% discount on top of that reminder may be enough to encourage them to come back and finish the purchase.
Don’t Overlook the Follower Discount
I also think the follower discount has its place, but I’d probably use it a little more intentionally.
For example, if you’ve just uploaded several new resources, refreshed older products, or are trying to bring attention back to your store during a slower season, sending a discount to your followers could be a great way to re-engage them.
It also highlights something that’s becoming more important on TPT: building an audience. If you’ve never encouraged teachers to follow your store, now is a great time to start.
Keep This in Mind About TPT Seller Discounts
One thing I appreciate is that these discounts don’t stack with TPT’s sitewide sales. That means if your products are already discounted during a major sale, buyers won’t receive an additional seller discount on top of it.
I actually think that’s a good thing. It helps maintain the value of your resources while still giving sellers another marketing tool throughout the year.
So… Should You Turn TPT Seller Discounts On?
Personally, I think it’s worth experimenting with them.
Will they double your income?
Probably not.
Will they magically fix slow sales?
Definitely not.
But if they help recover even a handful of abandoned carts or encourage some of your followers to make a purchase, that’s revenue you might not have earned otherwise.
The key is remembering that this is simply another tool in your toolbox.
The sellers who see the most success won’t be the ones who rely on discounts. They’ll be the ones who continue creating great resources, improving their SEO, and serving teachers well, while using features like this to give their business a small boost.
Ready to Grow Your TPT Store?
New features like seller discounts are exciting, but they’re just one piece of the puzzle.
If you want to build a Teachers Pay Teachers business that grows year after year, it starts with creating resources teachers want, optimizing your listings, and making smart business decisions over time.
If you’re ready to learn how to do exactly that, check out my free training here!
Because growing a successful TPT store isn’t about finding one magic feature – it’s about consistently making small improvements that add up over time.
