topic Re: feeling defeated in General Zazzle Discussion

feeling defeated

pichick712 — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 15:43:12 GMT

I have been creating merch for over 10 YEARS and getting nowhere. Don't tell me to spend thousands on those "special courses" because if I had thousands, I would not be writing this post. Anyone else feeling like this is just not working for them? I post on FB, Pinterest, and when I can, IG. I have thousands of items, season, and general and I can go weeks without any sales. I don't know how to get more exposure and to reach an audience that might buy from me. I am now 65 years old and living on a fixed income. I could really use a boost in sales so I don't lose everything. Please no bashing.

Re: feeling defeated

Barbara — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 17:44:48 GMT

You have great designs, so it sure isn't that, so the only other thing I can figure is that it must have to do with titles, descriptions, and tags. I looked at a few, and the first thing I noticed was the lack of descriptions where you repeated the titles but didn't write a description of the design itself. I've a sense, however, that of three spots where words are used, description is third in line of importance. Tags are the most vital, and that's where you need to beef things up. Those patriotic cats should be sellers, so it must be that the tags you're using aren't bringing in the cat lovers. The "Cute Patriotic Red White Blue Tabby Cat" house flag, for instance, doesn't mention that it's "funny" or that it might be good for a "cat lover." It's a "kitty in glasses" and a "kitten in clothes." Try to get into the customer's head and what they might type into the search box to find that special puss.

That's all I've got at the moment, so let's hope other people will come up with more ideas. I'll be 78 in a few weeks and have been on a fixed income for a long time, so I understand completely. Prices go up while income doesn't.

Colorwash's Home

Re: feeling defeated

Baylee — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 18:24:33 GMT

Another thing I noticed was that very few of your products have customizable text templates. Zazzle is most know for it's personalized products. You have some really cute designs but most of them would have a better chance of selling if you added a name or other text for the customer to personalize.

Re: feeling defeated

WHS_Designs — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 18:33:10 GMT

@pichick712

I second @Barbara 's comments.

on your WHITE WITH SHADES OF BLUE OCEAN & SEASHELLS PILLAR CANDLE | Zazzle product:

• "with" definitely shouldn't be a tag.
• "starfish" should be a tag. maybe "seascape", "pebbles" and "underwater" as well.
• consider using adjectives (e.g. "scenic", "enchanting")
• consider using more long-tailed tags (e.g. "ocean blue", "baby blue").
• think like a prospective customer. what search terms would they use to find your work among the thousands of other designs?
• your product description needs to tell a(n) alluring story, too, to bring in prospective customers. the more interesting one you can weave, the more enticing you can make your design.

consider joining other Zazzle creators' Pinterest pages and promote your products there to get more eyeballs on your products and your store.

Re: feeling defeated

Happy_Gal — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 19:48:07 GMT

I agree with all the above comments. You definitely have many beautiful designs so it's not that. I looked at the 'life better on the beach' candle as well and I agree that rethinking the tags and titles would definitely help. It's a coastal/beach theme which is very popular on Zazzle so you're definitely primed for sales in my opinion. Tweaking your tags (sounds painful, don't mean it to be) will help I'm sure. Also, perhaps add a few monograms? You could definitely do that on some of your phone cases. All the best to you!

Re: feeling defeated

LMGildersleeve — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 20:44:54 GMT

Joyce it's really hard selling now on Zazzle. But if you know a little bit about why customers come to Zazzle it helps to design with them in mind. They come here for events, gifts and personalized products.

I agree with all that has been said. When I viewed your Summer Themed Candles collection, the first thing that popped into my head was "memorial" candles. If you use the Marketplace and use "memorial candles" you'll see ways you can utilize your seashell designs for that purpose.

Make the designs (with the hearts a bit smaller and add some words similar to what you see in the Marketplace. "In loving memory" or "forever in our hearts" and names or dates are not copying anyone's designs.
Here's a blog with free advice and tips too. You may be inspired and lighter of heart.

Re: feeling defeated

1234Shine — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 21:35:07 GMT

@Barbara , Hi, just want to say I think you are incredibly amazing!!

Re: feeling defeated

Barbara — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 22:37:30 GMT

I'm not amazing, but it's amazing for someone to think I am.

Colorwash's Home

Re: feeling defeated

angelafuller729 — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 23:00:40 GMT

As others have said, you have some lovely designs. And I agree with both adding personalization and updating descriptions and tags. I checked out your baby & kids store and saw this - which has happened to me and means that the vast majority of the items in these collections are probably sitting in hidden/needs optimization status.

Re: feeling defeated

pichick712 — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 23:03:10 GMT

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

I really appreciate your feedback!!!!

Re: feeling defeated

pichick712 — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 23:04:15 GMT

THANK YOU!!!!

Re: feeling defeated

pichick712 — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 23:04:49 GMT

THANK YOU!!!!!

Re: feeling defeated

pichick712 — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 23:07:00 GMT

YES, I hate that "your item needs optimization" bs. Like we ALL have time to go through ALL our designs to make sure they are how zazzle wants them.

Re: feeling defeated

angelafuller729 — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 23:29:56 GMT

I don't think it's b.s., nor do I think Zazzle is some taskmaster trying to make store owners do random tasks. It's marketing. (It's also frustrating and overwhelming at times) BUT, it is a misconception of many to think that they only need to create a design and list the product to sell, and that's it. By and large, it just doesn't work that way. You have to get eyes on your fabulous things, and that takes a combination of title/tags/descriptions, cover photos, shares etc. 😊

Also, you mentioned Pinterest, but when I follow the link you have posted on your profile, only a handful of boards have been added to in the last 5 weeks, the rest have been dormant for 2yrs+, which means those pins aren't seeing traffic either because they've been lowered on the Pinterest algorithm. Usually I try to create a new pin right after I optimize one of the product listings. For me, it just becomes a checkmark on the to-do list, and I don't have to touch that product again for awhile.

Re: feeling defeated

Barbara — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 01:37:30 GMT

I'm a hit-and-miss pinner on Pinterest, and that sort of behavior proves your point because most times when I spend a bit of time with it, I get self-referrals, though not necessarily for the specific products I've pinned. I may pin a note card to my note card board and sell another of the cards. Too bad I'm so lazy about it. It has appeared to me that there's a window of only a few days before traffic goes down on a new pin. Again, your point proven about keeping at it.

Colorwash's Home

Re: feeling defeated

JLynnW — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 03:11:20 GMT

When I'm asked, "How are you?" I try to respond: Amazing, Excellent, Exceptional ... and so are You. No matter how I feel or what I truly believe, I usually get a response that makes me smile and hopefully brings about a smile on the person that asked. So simple, but so very difficult at times. Like most things in life, the more difficult it is, the more "amazing" it can be.

Re: feeling defeated

Barbara — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 12:01:46 GMT

@pichick712: It's been suggested you use more editable text templates since that's what Zazzle is all about. It's an important suggestion, but it would involve remaking a lot of products. That's a daunting task, so you might try what I did when I realized none of my oldest products had no templates. If something had sold even once, I generally left it alone. I deleted those products that hadn't sold and and probably wouldn't even with a template. I then remade those products I thought might have a chance. Mugs were a big one, but I didn't attack them all at once because the thought of doing so was unbearable. A few at a time, and after a while, I'd fixed them all...I think. Even now after a number of years, I trip across one of them, usually when it gets hidden because of no views.

What I'm trying to say is to not tackle all of it at once because you'll suffer burnout.

Colorwash's Home

Re: feeling defeated

CreativeLeahG — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 19:42:32 GMT

A quick look and your products do not appear to contain template fields. This would be the first area I'd correct as customers come to Zazzle for customizable products in the main. This is how the prices are justified. Competing stores and the high street that also have no customizable fields tend to be much cheaper. The ability to add names and commemorative messages justifies the higher prices. It also increases the product's function as a 'gift' item.

Re: feeling defeated

MarilynR — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 01:36:23 GMT

We started in 2010 and had a good start but we weren't able to stay with it. The last seven years our stores were mostly abandoned. We started when using quick create and putting designs on every available product was recommended. Our zrank was steadily at 4 but dropped to 3. We did make some changes over the seven years. We dropped all products that we just weren't selling like electronics. When the controversy occurred over the TOS, we took down all photographic design images. I also took down a few designs such as my nursery rhyme series and my jellly beans. We also stubbornly raised our royalty to 30%.

We have been back working on our stores this year. We started with the cover images but discovered a few early products had lousy titles and a few were missing the store category. Our Zrank went back to four. Then we decided to reduce our royalty to 14.9. Our zrank rose to five with our fabric store at six. We believe the fabric store is at six because of the ratio of products sold to the total number of products. We are getting increased looks and have gone from 0 sales to 7 in the last few months. One was our largest ever sale involving favor boxes.

So my questions are:

What is your royalty?

What is your zrank?

Do you have products in your stores that could be pulling your zrank down?

Re: feeling defeated

chuamishael — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 03:03:01 GMT

Hello there, first of all, DO NOT spend on any special courses, because they are all USELESS, you probably get more just by watching youtube. are you sure you started 10 years ago? you have plenty of nice looking products, did you add them 10 years ago? or just added them recently? how many products do you have? 1000? 2000?