topic Attribution updates in General Zazzle Discussion

Attribution updates

Scott — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 15:58:47 GMT

Hi Everyone,

We added some information about our updated attribution here: https://community.zazzle.com/t5/creator-news/attribution-updates/ba-p/11138

If you have any questions or feedback please let us know!

Re: Attribution updates

CrazyMermaid — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 16:16:58 GMT

I am actually very excited about this. I can see people who liked a card or invitation scanning it to find out where it came from when they need something. I think the design is far less disruptive than the white stripe. There may be hiccups, but I am keeping an open mind.

Re: Attribution updates

KC — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 17:13:50 GMT

Could we have a list of what products the attribution will be applied to, and specifically which we are able to turn off, and which are mandatory?

Re: Attribution updates

Scott — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 17:47:02 GMT

The list of products is likely to change over time, which is why it was not included in the article. As of today, the product types below require attribution when posting for sale.

Flat holiday card
Flat announcement card
Folded greeting card
Folded note card
Folded holiday card
Folded thank you card
Folded announcement card

Re: Attribution updates

igiftcenter — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 19:20:32 GMT

Thankful for the heads up! Sounds like a good idea. Much better than a distracting white banner across the bottom
But now I have a few questions:
can we at least know where the QR code is going to be taking the customer? Is it taking them to our home page? To our product page?

I seem to recall a while ago being told customers rarely visit our home page and that it's less effective then landing on our product page so there's that 🙂

Re: Attribution updates

rebeccawang — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 19:32:01 GMT

@Scott

I love the idea of the QR code! It looks much nicer and is more practical.

I am going to turn back on attributions for all my greeting cards now!

Re: Attribution updates

PAZP — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 19:30:23 GMT

THANK YOU for the update, Scott

I REALLY appreciate that the QR code link refers anyone who scans it back to the product store. As @CrazyMermaid said, I too like this method of attribution for both Zazzle and creators better than the previous white strip.

Since the attribution will be added to different color backgrounds maybe there can be a consideration to make it a .png / transparent background instead of solid white around it. Thanks.

Re: Attribution updates

PAZP — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 19:32:37 GMT

I've scanned some of my products (from the screen) and the link goes to our product store.

Re: Attribution updates

Annyway — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 19:38:27 GMT

A few comments/questions: it's a cool idea, but design-wise honestly I think the QR code looks ugly on the postcards, since there isn't much space on postcards to begin with and the dark QR square stands out a lot. Maybe a different placement would help like in the lower left? I'm not sure. Also, will having the code on the back of the postcard have any effect on mailing the postcard when the post office scans it for the address? Also in the previews my store name isn't shown. Sorry about all the negativity, but I have actually been going through and changing all of my postcards to not show the attribution, so I figured I'd share my point of view in case anyone else is thinking similarly. Thanks for all of your work!

Re: Attribution updates

Annyway — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 19:39:22 GMT

Thanks for the info!

Re: Attribution updates

CrazyMermaid — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 19:51:51 GMT

I think a QR code is much more accepted by customers (especially younger ones) than just a logo. They are everywhere now and people might even be curious to see where it leads.

Re: Attribution updates

Cat — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 20:20:14 GMT

What about the foil cards where the attribution is on the inside? Any updates on that?

Re: Attribution updates

PacifierCity — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 20:21:48 GMT

I like the QR code, especially since it is leading back to ... not quiet sure, our store homepage or the product page?? Either way, I think it brings Z up to the times. I also think that the white background is good, but perhaps there could be a boarder around it... at least I think that would work best on the back of my birthday cards.

I would like to suggest that it is lowered slightly, so that it occupies the space that was previously occupied by the white stripe. The new attribution is slightly higher and it covers the web address that I had placed on my cards just above the old white stripe. I find that frustrating. I would actually prefer to leave it, than to remove it. But to keep it, I would have to remake all my cards, loose sales stats and MP placement. That is very sad to me. So please consider lowering it just a bit. There is space from what I can see.

Overall I like it much better than the last and I appreciate that Z listened to the designer community and made a change.

...................................

Re: Attribution updates

ZProDesigner262 — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 23:22:36 GMT

I agree with you. It is my opinion that designer attribution should be done by the designer, not a general site-wide mandatory implementation to conform to a Zazzle-defined code. That way, the designer would be able to work it into the design as best suits their design aesthetic and brand.

Re: Attribution updates

Windy — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 23:59:19 GMT

What was your thinking on the postcard placement of the QR Code?

Re: Attribution updates

Malissa — Sat, 19 Mar 2022 00:38:55 GMT

I have my personal branded artist attribution locked and will not be remaking any old cards or postcards to change it. It was an intentional choice as an artist, but I do wonder how that will make a customer feel when/if they see a box to remove the designer/zazzle attribution and clicking that box does not remove my designer (creator) logo. It seems like it may be misleading.

This wasn't a thing that existed when I made the cards so I had no intention of misleading a customer. I don't add my logo/branding attribution to invitations so I'm just hoping it doesn't cause an issue.

I am not opposed to it since it goes to my store and as long as I know where I can put my own attribution that matches my branding where it is not covered.

Re: Attribution updates

VivianD117 — Sat, 19 Mar 2022 03:08:14 GMT

Hi — I am assuming that the customer does not pay extra for this?

Re: Attribution updates

Saints_Aplenty — Sat, 19 Mar 2022 15:11:31 GMT

I’m not against QR Codes. I have had my own on the backs of my Greeting and Note cards from Day 1 of my presence here on Zazzle. In fact, mine is larger and more prominent than the Zazzle one. Beneath it, I have URLs for my store on Zazzle as well as my own website. The difference is I chose to deploy my QR Code. I chose its size, appearance, and location. Now that we can design the entire backs of cards, when it ‘interferes’ with a design, I can and do change it to ‘match’. And, folded cards are the only place I would put it on items for sale. (I do use it on my business cards and have some Christmas ornaments that I use for gifts with a QR code.) But, save for the bottoms of coffee cups or the backs of products designed on only one side (and printed there at Zazzle’s cost), I would not choose to deploy one. On postcards, maybe, but only if moved to the lower left bottom edge.

As I noted elsewhere, I find great irony in this situation. Zazzle is a company founded on the very basis of making personalized/customized products available. Zazzle is a company that has fostered the development of individual businesses by virtue of the services it provides. Zazzle, for the most part, provides its customers with great latitude in dealing with our designs. In the matter of the QR codes, however, potentially, the designer? Not so much.

IMHO, adding the attribution should be the designer’s choice. And, the customer should not even be aware of the designer’s choice to use their own attribution or none at all--along similar lines as not allowing customization on a product. Only if, and that’s a big only if, the designer enables the attribution as is and consents, should the customer have the further option to remove it.

For me, Zazzle’s QR Code will be a redundancy and I will be continuing to turn it off. Like Malissa, I have my own locked branding on folded cards and have no intention of remaking them. But I too “wonder how that will make a customer feel when/if they see a box to remove the designer/zazzle attribution and clicking that box does not remove my designer (creator) logo.” In such cases, either the box shouldn’t be there at all or it should be retitled to more accurately reflect what’s removable or not.

Re: Attribution updates

BKMuir — Sat, 19 Mar 2022 19:34:55 GMT

I agree with others, that the QR Code is preferably over the white strip. I like that when posted for sale the code shows "Created by STORE name".
I also agree with those that are asking for the code to be moved to the left, if retained on PostCards. (I think I will send one to myself and see how it might be affected by the POST OFFICE bar codes. Have of order a pc first.) The placement of any attribution INSIDE a card of any kind is ridiculous.

I have asked my friends who use phones a lot (I do not own a cell phone) if they use the QR code. If they know what I am talking about, they state they have removed the AP to clear space for more useful ones. I'm certain those 30 and younger might be more apt to use their phones for QR links.

Overall, the new code is an improvement in the majority of cases.

Re: Attribution updates

Connie — Sat, 19 Mar 2022 20:18:15 GMT

Thank you very much for this new attribution update! That small rectangle with the QR code looks MUCH better than the white bar across the bottom, AD looks much more intentional. Even though it doesn't necessarily "match" our cards, at least it is obvious what it's there for, and looks way more professional. That white bar looked like we forgot to put the design all the way to the bottom of the card!

As far as postcards, I think it is great where it is. I sometimes have writing or a design element in the left corner, but I never put anything in the right corner because it would look out of place there. and I think the USPS prints a barcode across the bottom left side, so a QR code there would be ruined by the USPS barcode.