How to change a Title to match an intended MP category for something new not usual to that category?

[LauraLee]

Say for instance, that I want to create a garden plant stake for houseplants, and there is no plant stakes other than the cake toppers and garden signs (which are too big for this intention, of course).  Choosing cake toppers as the product.  If I choose a completely new MP category for this like Home & Living> Garden & Outdoor Décor> Outdoor Signs & Flags, which is close but not exact.  I still get "cake topper" after my title, which is wrong, imo. 

It's my understanding (tell me if this is wrong), first choose other, and suggest a new category for this.  And then secondly, if you do change the MP category, to something for its "intended" use....why doesn't the product title drop the product title out?  Or when (or how) does the product title get removed?  In other words, we used to be able to use up all the title space so that the product title wouldn't fill in.  Now, it's automatic.  And neither does the suggested "other" category stay put to let anyone know anything.  That automatically changes back to a default product suggestion.  There doesn't seem to be a follow through on either end of helping a creator experiment with anything new or "creative" with products.   

Here's what Zazzle says at the end of their Help article on "How to Choose the Category Where You Want Your New Product to Live":  Remember to be thoughtful of the words you use in your title or in the category you specifically pick for your product to live. By not being specific or accurate on what intent your product is to be used for, it may impact your product being found in search.

Lastly my thought is, maybe Zazzle is unintentionally preventing a creator to modify the intended use with the automatic product title addition?  Or, I'm not 100% clear on why even have a help article if there is no one who can get around the automation in place.

[Barbara]

Back some years ago when they were still doing videos in which they introduced new products and ideas, one of those videos encouraged designers to do precisely what you're describing, and it was certainly easier to do so. I suspect they haven't intended to discourage outside-the-box creations, but it's certainly what's happened with all the strict and somewhat confining categorization.

I haven't checked, but is it possible to stop the department from extending into "Outdoor Signs and Flags"? I somehow doubt it, but maybe you could check this because, if you can stop at "Garden and Outdoor Decor," you'd be pretty much in the ballpark.

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[LauraLee]

Agree, that it was much easier back then!  And yes, I did make it stop with the Garden and Outdoor Decor, because to me that's the right category, at least for now anyway.  The titles continue to want to add Cake Topper.  🙄    Many of the ones being used like this in the MP have cake topper unfortunately in their title.  But my crazy self made mine say "not a" after my titles.  😄

Truly though, when you want to use a product for another intended use -and go so far as to browse the categories pulling one in for your new intended use.  It should at least, once you get to the "other" as part of the process, drop the automatic title addition.  That way, there's no need for anyone having to go back to change anything.  Or figure out if the suggestion was received at all.  If Zazzle sees a new opportunity for the intention, and goes so far as adding it later on, it could amend the titles.  Or give us a notification to amend our titles.  As it works now, I don't understand how the "other" write in works, once you add that.  Because mine does nothing but changes the entire category back to what I don't want it to be.  Which leaves me in the dark wondering did they even see what I wrote in for "other".  It's a bit deceptive.  There's a triggering point somewhere to be found, is all I'm suggesting, for each side (Zazzle and creators)...and a few work arounds.

[Barbara]

I wonder, would there be any harm to Zazzle's system if we were able to put in our own product types? Could it possibly mess up indexing somehow? Also, if the indexer is looking for specific product types, will it see the "plant stake" as a cake topper regardless and thus add it to all the other cake toppers?

I've sometimes been able to add a version of the product type to my title so the automatic version doesn't show up, but I don't know if this keeps the product from showing in the marketplace.

Good luck with your plant stakes. They're a great idea!

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