Collection Cover Images - Injected into Product Pages?

[SwissVillage]

I am confused by the statement that Collection Cover images will be injected into our product pages.  What does this  mean exactly? 

In the image that is shown on the guide page, it appears that the cover image in the sample automatically becomes part of the media manager group of photos.   I have a few questions about this.

1. I haven't seen this happen yet to any of my collections.  Is it not turned on yet, or is it perhaps only for the cross-sell groups?  (I guess that would make sense). 

2. For some of my collections, having the cover image there is only going to be confusing.  Is the idea that we should specially create media images with multiple products?  Or that somehow just show the overall design. 

3.  Will the collection image link through to the collection.  Will there be some kind of text overlay on it that says visit the collection or something that helps shoppers understand this image is not of the individual item for sale but of related items?

I am very confused about this and how it will work, and it doesn't seem to be functioning yet in my shop at least.  If anyone has a collection example of this working as it should, please do share a  link!  Seeing it in practice would help.

[KeegansCreation]

It isn't yet enabled so it's anyone's guess how it will ultimately appear on the product page.

[Jadendreamer13]

If Zazzle wants creators to create designs, cover photos, and up to 10 media files for collections, then creators deserve a greater portion of the profits when an item sells. If not, then essentially creators will be working many additional hours for the same pay.

[angelafuller729]

I don't think it's turned on yet, but I do think it's a good thing for a couple of reasons:  

1. Zazzle mentioned "above the fold" which I understand, because I have many collections that have 15 or 20 items of the same design ...  over the years, people have manually transferred the design because they didn't see a particular item in the collection at the bottom of the page.

2.  Having that collection photo on the product page gives me another option when sharing to Pinterest (my main marketing channel)  -   Pinterest will consider it a unique URL for the product, so in essence, I can both the product as a pin and the collection as a pin using the same cover photo, without getting dinged by their algorithm.  Make sense?

[Connie]

It's only a good idea if it isn't the first image! What's the point of all the hundreds or thousands of hours we've put into cover images for products, if they will be overshadowed by the collection covers?! Not that I intend to do collection covers any time soon. I'm burned out already, and unless I can find some good templates, it'll take me hundreds of hours more to make up covers with multiple products (weddings aren't too bad, but home decor and gifts certainly would be a nightmare!)

[angelafuller729]

Actually, (using a cover photo I just did for a collection) it's a good idea to not use the first 4 images - that way they don't repeat below the cover photo for Pinterest shares, but in this case, it gives me the opportunity to showcase 8 total products. On the product page, it's the same concept - even if it's on a product that is shown in my collection cover photo, it still shows 3 additional coordinating products. 

[Connie]

No, I mean it isn't a good idea for Zazzle to use it as the first image of our product images. That'll overshadow our product cover photos that we put hundreds of hours of work into.

[angelafuller729]

Gotcha. I'm really curious to see how it fleshes out across Zazzle and various social media platforms.