Updated Ambassador Program FAQ's

[Heather]

Hi Everyone,

We’ve published an updated set of FAQs reflecting the latest questions about the Ambassador Program.  If you’re looking for answers or want to be sure you’re up‑to‑date, please take a moment to read the updated FAQ document HERE. 

By way of additional updates, we are taking action on requests for further clarity within the backend. Specifically, we’re working on updates to the backend earnings section of your account to make it easier to understand how Royalty and Referral Commissions are calculated. More to come on that end once it’s ready, so stay tuned. 

As always, we appreciate your feedback and will keep refining these resources. Feel free to post a follow‑up question HERE.

Thank you for being a part of the community and for sharing your feedback. 

The Zazzle Team

[Cat]

Well, I'm disappointed that Zazzle won't pay us self-referrals on direct-only products, but sorta relieved because it means that I'm just not going to help customers anymore. I'll check my chats a few times a week and send everyone to customer support, but that's it. At least I'll get my life back!

[LMGildersleeve]

"Q: What happens if a Customer clears their cookies before purchasing?
A: If a Customer deletes their cookies, Zazzle may not be able to track the Referral, and a Referral
Commission might not be awarded for that sale."

Let's hope those folks who tells their customers on special orders see's this gem.

[SORS]

Not only that, but if a customer deletes their cookies they may have to put their passwords in all over again. Customers might not be very happy about this. 

[Cat]

I always thought that practice of trying to game the system to get self-referrals on custom orders was unprofessional at best, so I can understand why Zazzle is essentially putting a stop to it. But since we're only getting half royalties on most orders (at least in the wedding world - which, I'm assuming, is where most custom requests come in) and there's no system to reward us for that sort of work, it really leaves us with very little incentive to help customers. I ran the numbers, and even small requests end up just not being worth the time invested. 

[jophb]

I do not understand what you mean by:

Q: Why, in some cases, am I making less in Earnings for a Self-Promotion Instant Download/Digital Product sale than with a non-Referred Sale (i.e., says “None” in the Referral column).

"It’s important to note that these updates do not reflect a change in your eventual Earnings."

I do not understand how you can honestly say that there is no change, or even no 'significant' change.  Previously on a 'none' or even a 'self-referral' of a digital product, you would have made anywhere from $8.50-12 at a 10% rate.  Now if you end up with a self-referral on a digital, you max out at $5.42 at 10%.  How is that 'no change'. This is not an insignificant amount for people who get several digital downloads per day.  

[jophb]

Oops I meant the normal default digital rate, not 10%.

[Cat]

I have to assume that line was meant to refer to physical products where the total earnings is not impacted by the marketing fee.

On digital products it's absolutely crazy that we're punished for referring the customer. I think it just means that we have to consider digital products a nice little "extra" that we might get now and then, but not something that you'd want to promote. Zazzle certainly seems to have de-emphasized them on the product page, so perhaps they've concluded that it wasn't a financially viable thing.

At any rate, if you wanted to specifically market and sell digital products, I think you'd be much better off choosing a different platform, because Zazzle is providing a huge DIS-incentive for doing it here.

[Jadendreamer13]

Digital products appear to be selling well on Etsy….

[tsikona]

Q: What happens if I use my Referral link in a paid ad? A: You cannot use Zazzle's brand or trademarks to generate Referral Commissions via paid search ads or display network advertisements. Doing so violates the Ambassador Program terms and may result in withheld Referral Commissions or removal from the program.

As I understand we can't promote with paid ads yes?! Many of creators used to run ads via social networks (of their own products)