How to Find the Best TPT Keywords
If you’re a Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) seller, you probably know that creating amazing resources isn’t enough. To get your products in front of buyers, you need to master TPT keyword research. Using the TPT Seller Blog’s data can give you a serious edge, and today, I’m going to walk you through how to use it effectively. Whether you’re a new seller or someone who’s been at it for years, this guide will help you improve your resource visibility and rank higher.
Watch the full walkthrough in the video below:
Why Keywords Matter for TPT Sellers
Let’s be honest: no one can buy your resource if it isn’t seen. This is where keywords play a huge role. The right keywords help your listings rank on the first page of search results, making it easier for teachers to find and purchase your content. But not all keywords are created equal. Some are overcrowded with competition, while others barely get searched. Knowing how to strike the right balance is the trick, and that’s exactly what I’ll show you.
What Is the TPT Seller Blog?
If you’ve never explored the TPT Seller Blog, you’re missing out on one of the most valuable tools for sellers. The blog is packed with data straight from TPT, including their “Data and Growth” section, which features search term trends and keyword opportunities. Since this data comes directly from TPT’s platform, it’s much more reliable than using third-party tools.
Third-party tools can only estimate search trends, but TPT SEO success requires real, actionable insights. The TPT Seller Blog delivers exactly that by showing you search behavior for a specific time period along with a list of high-potential keyword opportunities.
How Keyword Data Works
TPT updates its keyword data periodically, usually organizing it by time periods like January–March or April–June. These updates show trending search terms based on the previous year’s data.
For example, “solar eclipse” made the number one spot on both lists because it was a highly-searched term in 2024. It had relatively few resources, making it easier for sellers to rank if they created a resource with that keyword.
Here’s the catch: trends change. The solar eclipse might have been big last year, but if it’s not happening again soon, its popularity will likely drop. That’s why it’s important to stay on top of these updates and use them as reference points rather than guarantees of future success.
Breaking Down January, February, March Data
Let’s start with the January–March data. Mid-February might seem late to dig into this set, but it’s still incredibly useful. Why? Trends from earlier in the year can often provide insights you can apply to future resources or similar seasonal periods.
Take “Valentine’s Day,” for instance. It had a popularity score of 27,000 in February, but the competition was through the roof—around 180,000 existing resources. That’s not a keyword most sellers can compete on. On the other hand, a niche topic like “Jackie Robinson” had a popularity rank of 818 but only about 2,900 competitors, making it a better opportunity.
The January–March list also included broader terms like “reading comprehension.” While these keywords might seem promising at first glance, they’re often dominated by huge competition numbers (710,000 resources in this case).
Diving Into April, May, June Data
The April–June keyword data brings a fresh set of opportunities. While buyer activity shifts as the school year winds down, there’s still demand for niche end-of-year resources.
For example, the keyword “end-of-year activities” is incredibly relevant in May and June. However, with 240,000 competitors, it’s another uphill battle. Filtering the data can help you uncover less saturated terms within seasonal themes. By adjusting a spreadsheet to show only keywords with fewer than 5,000 competitors, you can narrow the focus to opportunities with less resistance.
Filtering and Analyzing Keywords
Here’s where things get hands-on. Once you have the keyword list, the goal is to find “niche unicorns”—keywords with high popularity but low competition. Using tools like Google Sheets or the TPT SEO tools available online, you can sort, filter, and analyze this data effectively.
- Get the TPT keyword list opportunities spreadsheet.
- Sort by “popularity” in descending order. This shows the most-searched terms at the top.
- Set a competitor threshold. For example, hide any keywords with more than 5,000 or 10,000 results.
- Identify low-competition gems. Focus on terms that align with your expertise and have fewer competitors.
Let’s revisit “Jackie Robinson.” In February, this keyword had a popularity rank of 818 and 2,900 competing resources. Compared to general terms like “reading comprehension,” which has over 700,000 competitors, “Jackie Robinson” represents a much clearer path to success for sellers.
Why Popularity (Search Volume) Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story
It’s tempting to rely entirely on metrics like popularity from third party TPT keyword tools, but context matters. Some keywords may appear less popular now but could gain traction later. For example, terms like “Chinese New Year 2024” might show a popularity rank of zero (because it’s not 2024), but could be worth targeting with the correct year.
How TPT Generates Its Keyword List
Here’s my best guess about how the TPT team compiles its keyword opportunity lists:
- They gather all search data from a specific time period (e.g., January–March).
- They tally the number of resources for each keyword.
- They calculate a “score” by dividing search volume by the number of resources.
- Keywords with high search volume but low competition surface as top opportunities.
It’s not perfect, but it’s an incredibly helpful framework to identify gaps in the market. However, sellers should take it with a grain of salt, as even high-“score” keywords might not always fit your store’s niche or goals.
(That’s because TPT isn’t filtering results to take out “keyword opportunities” with lots of competitors.)
What to Do About Overcrowded Keywords
Some keywords are misleadingly labeled as “opportunities.” For example, “reading comprehension” and “Easter” appear on the lists but have hundreds of thousands of competing resources. These aren’t realistic options for most sellers unless you already have a sizable audience and strong SEO game.
Here’s what I recommend:
- Skip overcrowded terms with more than 10,000 competitors unless you have a unique spin or major audience to tap into. (Even then, it’s a long game to get enough TPT SEO ranking signals like sales and add-to-cart to rank for longer-tailed keywords for those popular keywords.)
- Focus on niche opportunities with fewer than 3,000 competitors.
- Prioritize buyer intent. Create resources that solve specific problems teachers are likely to search for.
Using TPT SEO Tools
To make this entire process easier, consider using TPT SEO tools designed for sellers. These tools can help you identify keywords, analyze data, and even track your product ranking. By taking the guesswork out of keyword research, you can spend less time analyzing and more time creating.
You can check out tools like the TPT Keyword Opportunity Finder, which organizes keywords into manageable lists and includes metrics like popularity and competition. Starting with a tool like this gives you a major advantage, especially if you’re new to keyword research.
Final Thoughts
Keyword research isn’t a one-and-done task. Trends change, seasons shift, and buyer behavior evolves. By leveraging the TPT Seller Blog and updating your keyword strategy regularly, you can ensure that your resources remain visible and competitive.
Remember, the goal isn’t just to create great content—it’s to get that content in front of the right audience. With the right keywords, your products can climb the rankings and start generating consistent sales. So, dive into the data, use TPT SEO tools, and start optimizing your resources today.
Good luck, and happy selling!
REAL TPT Keyword Opportunities for January, February and March
Here are the keywords from the TPT Seller Blog for Jan-Mar with fewer than 5,000 resources.
These are sorted by number of resources, not popularity. The number at the start shows the position of the keyword on this TPT list.
| 281. puppy mind |
| 194. proper nouns anchor chart |
| 210. foldable style notes |
| 4. gradebook printable template |
| 445. b and d reversals |
| 7. 101 days of school |
| 19. leprechaun trap |
| 2. groundhog day craft |
| 5. pink shirt day |
| 29. stations of the cross |
| 36. student led conferences |
| 16. race strategy practice worksheets |
| 26. behavior reflection sheet |
| 62. newspaper template |
| 25. leprechaun craft |
| 24. nonsense word fluency practice |
| 18. martin luther king jr craft |
| 142. free martin luther king jr |
| 35. living and non living things |
| 75. constellations |
| 15. hibernation |
| 38. george washington carver |
| 33. jackie robinson |
| 8. chinese new year 2024 |
| 21. lunar new year 2024 |
| 51. pi day activities |
| 44. penguin craft |
| 69. behavior tracker |
| 65. adaptive books |
| 12. ruby bridges |
| 50. reduce reuse recycle |
| 416. get to know you bingo |
| 47. april fools day |
| 123. 13 colonies |
| 85. procedural writing |
| 28. ramadan |
| 22. r controlled vowels worksheets |
| 63. writing paper with picture box |
| 101. morphology |
| 41. elkonin boxes |
| 60. adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators |
| 32. name tracing editable |
| 73. book report template |
| 23. mardi gras |
| 46. goods and services |
| 88. adding and subtracting fractions with like denominators |
| 98. coordinate graphing mystery pictures |
| 13. pi day |
| 17. new years resolution 2024 |
| 49. subject verb agreement |
| 55. silent e worksheet |
| 45. 3d shapes worksheets |
| 54. magic e worksheet |
| 72. timeline template |
| 1. solar eclipse |
| 109. womens history month bulletin board |
| 232. holocaust |
| 280. the outsiders |
| 20. dental health |
| 56. contractions worksheets |
| 148. rock cycle |
REAL TPT Keyword Opportunities for April, May, and June
Here are the keywords from the TPT Seller Blog for Apr-Jun with fewer than 5,000 resources.
These are sorted by number of resources, not popularity. The number at the start shows the position of the keyword on this other TPT list.
| 244. parent teacher conference invitations |
| 213. hyperdoc template |
| 227. symbiotic relationships worksheet |
| 8. citizenship award |
| 74. proper nouns anchor chart |
| 221. compound words or not |
| 238. surface area cone |
| 171. alliteration cards |
| 24. money poem |
| 173. mouth model |
| 90. bingo dauber printables |
| 35. fall of Rome |
| 3. fathers day craft |
| 108. free verse |
| 103. travel day |
| 176. new student checklist |
| 1. solar eclipse |
| 206. dinosaur board |
