What if your SEO strategy isn’t the problem, but your conversion rate is? In this episode, Lindsay sits down with Matt Carey, creator of SEO Mantis, to unpack what’s really happening behind the Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) search algorithm. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing “all the right things” with keywords but still not seeing results, this conversation will shift how you think about SEO entirely. From understanding how conversions impact rankings to optimizing previews, titles, and descriptions, Matt breaks down SEO in a way that feels simple, doable, and actually effective. This episode is packed with practical insights, especially if SEO has ever felt overwhelming or confusing. You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of how to get found and, more importantly, how to turn views into sales. Key Discussion Points: [00:00:41] Why SEO Alone Isn’t Enough Why having the right keywords is only part of the equation, and how conversions play a major role in boosting your rankings on Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT). [00:01:41] What the Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) Algorithm Really Looks At A deeper look into factors like wishlists, cart adds, and preview engagement, and how they influence where your product shows up in search. [00:03:41] Simplifying SEO for Sellers Why SEO doesn’t have to be complicated, and how thinking of it as a “matching game” can make it more approachable and actionable. [00:05:41] The Library Analogy for SEO A powerful way to visualize how keywords, titles, and rankings work together to help buyers find exactly what they need. [00:07:41] The Importance of Visuals and First Impressions How thumbnails, previews, and descriptions mirror a book cover and summary, and why they matter just as much as keywords. [00:11:41] The Story Behind SEO Mantis How Matt identified a gap in the Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) market and created a simple, user-friendly tool to help sellers optimize their listings. [00:12:41] What the SEO Mantis Extension Actually Does An inside look at how the tool analyzes titles, descriptions, keywords, and more to give actionable feedback. [00:15:41] The First Things to Check on Any Listing Why your title, description snippet, and thumbnail are the most important elements for getting clicks and visibility. [00:17:41] Does Keyword Order Matter? How Teachers Pay Teachers' (TPT's) search predictions and trends suggest that keyword placement may play a bigger role than you think. [00:21:41] Why the Algorithm Is Always Changing Understanding Teachers Pay Teachers (TPT) as a business and why constant updates are necessary, plus how sellers should adapt. [00:23:41] Turning Views into Sales How to identify a conversion problem and improve previews, descriptions, and overall listing quality. [00:24:41] Writing Better Product Descriptions What benefit statements are, why they matter, and how to avoid overwhelming buyers with too much information. [00:26:41] Easy Wins for Better Previews Simple strategies like watermarking your full resource or using video previews to increase buyer confidence. [00:28:41] Time Management for Teacher Entrepreneurs A realistic approach to staying focused, including prioritizing top tasks and using time blocking effectively. [00:30:41] Pricing and Accessibility of SEO Tools A breakdown of SEO Mantis pricing and why investing in SEO support can accelerate your business growth. Free pro access to SEO Mantis for one month. Subscribers can use promo code LB-MONTH at checkout. They can cancel anytime. Just go to seomantis.com to sign-up Connect further: Sell Education Workbooks with Amazon KDP: https://lindsaybowden.com/KDPEarn 3-4 figures per month on TPT | https://lindsaybowden.com/startStart or grow your TPT email list | https://lindsaybowden.com/emailAnd make sure to follow me! https://www.tiktok.com/@lindsay.bowden and http://instagram.com/lindsaybowdenWatch full episodes on Youtube + Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@Lindsay.Bowden?sub_confirmation=1 Resources mentioned may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products and resources I truly love and use myself.