Weekend Warriors: It's All About the Preview



I have seen and read so many opinions and questions about creating and making previews for TpT products. Everybody has a point of view about it. I am going to share my own experience and I hope it helps someone out there. 
PREVIEWS ARE ESSENTIAL!!!
It's a no brainer for me. All my products HAVE to have a preview. 
When I go shopping in a store, I want to touch and feel what I am going to purchase. I want to know:
 What is the quality?
 Is it worth the price? 
Why buy it here, when I can get it somewhere else? 
Your product preview needs to answer these questions and entice your potential customers to purchase from you and nowhere else.
My product previews are ever evolving. There is no "right" or "wrong" way of making them. However, I have streamlined the process over the years. Sometimes a collage preview is appropriate. Other times, the preview needs to be a close up of a few pages in a much larger product. Let me show you what I mean.

COLLAGE PREVIEWS
After I make my product and save it as a PDF to upload, I also save all the slides (PowerPoint) as JPEGs. I create a new, one page landscape file, so I can arrange all the pictures of the pages that are included. I want my potential customers to know what they are getting. I don't want them to have to guess. Here is an example of a collage preview:

This file is editable and comes with color and black and white pages. I made sure to include all the color pages in the preview, however, in the product description I explain that black and white versions of each page are also included. Product descriptions are extremely important, as well. However, not everyone reads them carefully, so your preview is the first key to getting your buyers interested. Think of it as a visual "hook." After you make your one page collage preview, save it as a JPEG or PNG file to upload to TpT.

MULTIPLE PAGE PREVIEWS:
Some products require a more detailed preview; a collage preview just won't do it justice. I use multiple page previews for larger products usually. This helps potential customers get a CLOSER look at a few sample pages. Here is an example from my 2nd Grade Interactive Language Notebook preview:

Each page is a full size. Customers can get a close look at what the pages look like once they are completed and get an idea for the quality of the product. It is important to watermark or put your blog button on every page too! Since this type of file is multiple pages, you need to save it as a PDF file instead of a JPEG. 

I hope you were able to get some ideas of how to make your previews work to showcase your products. I would love to hear how you make your previews and what you think is important to include too. 

Make sure to head on over to read some more fabulous tricks and tips from my sweet blogging pals.



Weekend Warriors: Customizing Your Own Blog Favicon

Weekend Warriors is B...A...C...K!!! This month we are bringing you some great blogging and TpT "secrets!"

Are you wondering, what the heck is a "favicon?" Why do I need to customize it? I have had my own blog for over two years now. I JUST figured out what a favicon is and how to customize it for my blog. Now I want to share my new knowledge with all of you!

Favicon is short for "favorite icon." It is the little picture next to your favorite websites. It is important because it helps with branding. Just like your blog button, your favicon helps people recognize your site. The favicon image is shown next to your blog name on the page tab when someone views your blog. It can also be seen on the address bar and in the bookmarks toolbar.

The default setting for Blogger is this generic symbol:

Now it's time to learn how to customize and install your own favicon. Let the branding begin....
DESIGN:
The first step is CREATING your favicon. I created mine in PowerPoint. But you can use Pages if you use a Mac. Your favicon is going to be SMALL. You need to keep this in mind as you create your image. In order to install the favicon, it needs to be 16x16 pixels! Don't include too many details in your design because you won't be able to see them.  Many bloggers use their blog button as their favicon. I tried using my blog button, but I felt it looked like a blur and didn't do the job of branding my blog very well.
Here is what it looks like:
Hard to tell what is there, right?
I decided to use my blog colors and the dots at the top of my blog button to create my own favicon.
More distinctive and recognizable.
Once you have created your favicon. Save it as a JPEG or PNG file. Then, make sure to resize it to 16x16 pixels so Blogger will accept the image when you go to install it.

INSTALLATION:
Now that you have your favicon created, it's time to install it. It is a very simple process. No HTML code is needed (thank goodness)! Once you are in Blogger, go to "Layout." At the TOP LEFT, you will see a rectangle labeled "favicon". Click Edit. You will either see a picture of the orange Blogger button OR a favicon that you or your blog designer already created. To change the file, click "Remove". Then, click "Choose File" and locate the favicon image you saved onto your computer. Finally, click "Save." Ta-dah!! You are all set.

If you can't see you favicon image right away, don't panic! Make sure to refresh your page. Be patient. Sometimes Blogger takes their time making updates.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you learned something new to use on your blog page. Make sure to hop on over to some of my blogging buddies and check out their tips and tricks, as well.


What Happens In VEGAS....

...gets posted on my blog!

My trip to Vegas, hands down, changed my life! Best experience E-V-E-R!

I didn't get into Vegas until the morning of the TpT Conference on Friday- BIG MISTAKE! This will be corrected next year! My blogging bestie, Aimee, picked me up from the airport and we got to the conference just in time for Jen Jones from Hello Literacy to lead our first session. Jen is super sweet and energetic. AND...lucky us, Aimee and I both won fun prizes from Jen's raffle! Not a bad way to start our conference!
This is my first selfie pic of the weekend with Aimee!

I FINALLY got to meet a bunch of my blogging buddies at lunch. We ate, chatted, exchanged gifts, and of course, took pics. 

We continued to bond after the conference where we chatted more, took more pics and got wild and crazy together. 


This group of Weekend Warrior women are "off the charts" AMAZING!
Deirdre from A Burst of First
Aimee from Primarily Speaking
Vera from The Tutu Teacher
Christy from Crayons and Whimsy
Melissa from First Grade Smiles

I got to meet the ever famous TpT founder, Paul. It was pretty incredible to meet the man behind the TpT vision.

Hanging with gals and Latoya from Flying Into First.

Here are some of the mind-blowing California bloggers! I am surrounded by awesomeness!

 A little photo booth craziness! How many bloggers can you fit into one photo booth??? Well, we fit NINE crazy women into one!!!!

The night ended with a fun dinner and drinks at Benihana with these fabulous ladies.

This weekend filled me with inspiration, motivation, love for my blogging bonds that became even stronger! Thank you to everyone for making this a trip of a lifetime! My calendar is already marked for next year.....

The super awesome Deirdre is hosting a linky party for all of us to link up or stories and pictures. Head on over to join the fun!