When I first started out as a printable designer my biggest problem was: What products should I create? Do I stick to seasonal products? Do I create products people need all year long? How do I stand out with my products? There are so many questions when you are starting out - I guess the main thing is that you need to start "somehow".
If you’re a mom looking to make extra income or transition into full-time resource creation, selling printables on Etsy, Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT) or your own website printables are a fantastic way to share your expertise. Expertise doesn't only mean that you have earned a Master Degree in designing but also your expertise as a mom of a little one exploring the world of reading, counting and more.
But no matter where you are coming from one of the biggest challenges for new and even experienced sellers is coming up with fresh product ideas that moms need for homeschooling, their own home or just for fun afternoons.
Here a quick template for a game as well as ready-made games for teachers and moms to fill out. Quick and easy learning of subtractions or additions! That's from the Groundhog Day Workbook - but not just for Groundhog Day!
Creating a high-quality, in-demand resource takes more than just an idea—it requires research, planning, and a deep understanding of your audience. In this guide, we’ll explore how to generate new product ideas that are both useful for moms and profitable for you as a seller.
1. Identify Gaps in the Market
One of the best ways to find a winning product idea is to look for gaps in the market—those areas where moms need resources but aren’t finding them. Here’s how you can uncover these opportunities:
- Explore Etsy Products or TpT Bestsellers: Look at top-selling products in your niche and read customer reviews. Are the customers asking for modifications, updates, or additional features?
- Check Q&A Sections: Many potential buyers ask questions before purchasing. This can give insights into what’s missing from existing resources.
- Browse Social Media & Facebook Groups: Join groups for your niche and take note of the challenges they mention.
- Observe Your Own Experience: If you’ve ever struggled to find the right resource, chances are other moms or teachers have, too!
Example: You notice that many kindergarten teachers struggle to find fine motor skills worksheets that aren’t overly complicated. You could create a set of simple pre-writing activities that bridge the gap between tracing and writing letters. Mom's can do them at home with their kids and teachers adapt them for early finishers.
2. Find Trending Topics on DIY and Mom Blogs
Education, DIY and decoration trends shift constantly, and keeping up with them can give you a competitive edge. Here’s how to stay ahead:
- Follow matching Blogs & Websites: Websites like Heyletsmakestuff (a huge, highly frequented site for DIY and SVGs), TeacherspayTeachers and small mom blogs help you to stay up to date - look what they write about on their blog and search from there.
- Look at Curriculum Changes: If a state updates its math standards, there may be a need for new, standard-aligned resources.
- Check Pinterest Trends: Teachers and moms alike use Pinterest for homeschooling and classroom inspiration, and it’s a great place to see which teaching topics are trending.
- Use Google Trends: Search terms like “sight words activities” or “STEM challenges” to see if they’re increasing in popularity.
Example: If you notice that social-emotional learning (SEL) is a growing trend in education, you could create SEL journal prompts or calm-down corner visuals.
3. Improve & Expand Existing Products
You don’t always have to create something entirely new—sometimes, improving or expanding on existing products is just as valuable.
- Create Differentiation Levels: If a popular resource only includes one difficulty level, make one that includes modifications for different learning styles.
- Offer a Thematic Twist: If sight word games are popular, make a seasonal version (e.g., “Fall-Themed Sight Word Bingo”).
- Bundle & Upsell: If you have multiple similar resources, offer them in a bundle at a discounted price.
Example: If you’ve already created some task cards, make a Google Slides version to appeal to moms and teachers using digital classrooms. Or: If there is a popular resource about teaching students how to make sentences with who? what? and where? - why not include a when? or with whom? - there are ways to give teachers as well as moms more options!
4. Use Keyword Research to Find What your Audience is Searching For
TpT or Etsy are search-driven platforms, meaning the right keywords can make or break your product’s success.
How to Find Good Keywords for Product Ideas:
- TpT and Etsy Search Bar: Type in a broad term like “scavenger hunt” and see what autocomplete suggests.
- Pinterest & Google Autosuggest: Type a term into the search bar and note what related phrases appear.
- Analyse Competitor Titles & Descriptions: Look at the words top sellers use in their product listings.
- SEO Tools Like Ubersuggest: Find low-competition, high-volume keywords related to your niche.
Example: Instead of just listing a product as “Phonics Worksheets,” you might find that “Short Vowel CVC Word Practice” is a more search-friendly and specific keyword.
That's just keyword research in a nutshell. If you need more help have a look at the Safari Lounge Designer Classes where we do this in depth based on TpT's suggestions! But of course you can adapt this strategy to other platforms as well.
Safari Lounge Designer Classes
Learn everything you need to know to build a TpT store that makes you reliable income.
Let's create beautiful learning resources together and add those to your store to make them your next best selling product because you know how to do SEO, market your products and design mind-blowing resources teachers need without being a graphic designer!
5. Ask Your Audience What They Need
If you already have a following, an email list, or social media presence, use it to ask your people directly what they need.
- Create a Poll on Instagram Stories: Ask followers to vote between two resource ideas.
- Send an Email Survey: Ask your people what they need most and what gaps they struggle with.
- Check Your Reviews: If customers love a product but request a different version, that’s a great next product idea!
Example: You poll your audience and discover they want interactive notebook versions of your existing science worksheets. That’s an easy next product!
Bonus Tip
The main reason moms, dads and grandmas buy printable resources is that it saves them TIME. If you think your product is to easy and can be made with just a few clicks think twice: If you are short on time you most likely spend a few Dollars rather than creating the resource yourself. It doesn't just save you a lot of time upfront it also helps you tremendously on a rainy afternoon because you know what you do next! As a mom I might have another profession on my plate rather than being there for my kids but I want to give my best when homeschooling and make sure that my kids learn everything they need. I can easily assure that when I have a PDF created by a teacher based on the curriculum! Is it worth the money? I bet!
How to Turn Ideas Into Profitable Products
Action Steps:
- Research what mums need using TpT, Etsy, social media, and reviews.
- Follow trends on other websites to stay ahead.
- Use keyword research to create products that your people are actively searching for.
- Expand existing products instead of always starting from scratch.
- Ask your audience what they want, then give it to them!
The best-selling TpT products aren’t just creative—they solve real classroom problems. Start observing, researching, and brainstorming today, and soon you'll have a list of profitable TpT product ideas that teachers can’t wait to buy!
Would you like a step-by-step product planning template to help you organize your ideas? Sign up for the newsletter and I'll send you access to the Library where you can download a printable version 🙂
