How do we see what the "recommended products" / "slots" are??

[ColsCreations]

I have a Collection (created before this big change) with 9 products in it that was automatically assigned as "Cross-Sell/Event Suite" --> "Business & Corporate". Which is appropriate (I think) so great, I'm trying to use this Collection to start poking around and learning the new way of things.
It's clear that all nine existing products have been classed as "Bonus products" but here's the problem

There is no Recommended section above, and therefore no "slots" to look at and fill. I guess I was expecting actual blank "slots" prompting for Product type A and Product type G and Product type W etc. But since that's not a thing, where do I find what the recommended products/slots are?

[Baylee]

All the different combinations of events/occasions and types haven't had recommended products added yet. I imagine Zazzle will be adding more of those in the future as this new process gets refined over time. You can see which do have recommended products assigned if you click on the different event and type options.

[ColsCreations]

I don't know where you mean to click? The FAQS say

 and

That makes it sound like there are Mandatory products, then Recommended products that are optional, then Bonus products for anything else you want to include. But I'm not finding anything anywhere telling me what the Mandatory or Recommended products are, and there are no "slots" (empty or otherwise) to click on.

I thought starting my Collection training on an existing "Active" one that already fit an existing Type and Event would be the best way to learn but I already feel like I'm chasing my tail.

[Sara_H]

@ColsCreations The collection type you're starting with "Cross-Sell/Event Suite" --> "Business & Corporate" hasn't any slots allocated to it yet so all product you add will appear as bonus. Similar to the Halloween Cross-Sell/Event Suite - no slots have been created by Zazzle yet so we don't know which products are mandatory

As an example - I changed one of mine collections to Birthday - Kid's - Cross-Sell / Event Suite and it's showing as needs attention as the marketplace place button (once clicked) says - Please resolve the following issues to make this collection visible in this channel:All required products must be added"

The only 'required' product is an invitation but will need at least 4 other slots filled (I think) to be active.

I would try creating a brand new collection with dedicated slots already available (ie create a Birthday - Kids/ Birthday Adults/ Christmas/ Wedding just to see how it works) - which is what I did, Makes sense once you use one with the slots already available.

A lot of the Cross-Sell / Event Suites attached to other occasions that aren't birthdays/wedding related haven't been activated as far as I can tell so will appear as bonus products

[HeartsInGreece]

Hi @Baylee and @Sara_H 

Am I correct in believing that only Cross-Sell/Event collections have recommended and required products?

I have four collections so far, one gift theme, two similar style/theme and one cross-sell/event suite. Only the cross-sell has suggestions. Is that normal?

[Sara_H]

@HeartsInGreece  totally normal. Only the cross sell has suggestions - the rest are pretty free flowing and you can add whatever you like (according to the rules of the type of the collection eg -gift - being giftable  and the similar style with the other etc)

Continue on and make more collections with your products!

[HeartsInGreece]

Thank you! I shall!

[Barbara]

This makes me suspect that, other than the already filled-out collection types like mentioned above, we might want to hold off on anything else, given we'll have to revisit all of them to add in the requirements.

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[Susang6]

I am a bit confused with all the collection updates...what are bonus products?   Are they add-on products for a multiple transaction sale?   I have never seen anything about Bonus products except in conversation in the community. 

[Laura]

If you haven't yet noticed, the Business & Corporate cross-sell/event suite collections now have slots for recommended and bonus products.

[PAZP]

Thanks for that update. 

[TShirtfort]

Collections have changed? I just went to mine and they seem the same. Very limited categories, stats all say zero (so what even is the point) etc... This is the one I checked, can't see what changes I should make as I can't find the fun tees and gifts/food/pizza time category. 

https://www.zazzle.com/collections/119874011480838717 

[Barbara]

If your pizza collection is typical of the sorts of products you create, then you and I are in the same boat: You (and I) don't design for any particular kind of "occasion" or "event" at all. Thus, we most often land in the "Other" category, which involves activities, hobbies, etc. which Zazzle doesn't promote.

I gave up on collections a short time after discovering the above, just putting almost everything in the "Other" category. I very nearly gave up on Zazzle altogether because I figured they don't want people who design for that sort of thing and will ignore us. However, I waited and found myself selling in spite of Zazzle's perception of the world. This is probably because of being very careful with keywords for my products.

With the current dearth of sales, it's hard to tell what, if any, effect those categories might have.

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[TShirtfort]

Zazzle hates other so I add most stuff to home and living. I do get confused by the sub catergories though. Cross Sell? I mean sure you can buy a pizza totebag and a shirt too. Or it's called different themes yet it's supposed to be the same thing and the example is only (yawn) paper products. Gift theme sounds good but it has to be tied to a holiday for some reason. Ugh! Expand the catergories make it make sense!

[Barbara]

I can't figure out what some of the stuff is, which includes cross sell. Has this labor-intensive change in collections increase sales?

The uncategorized way, is how I exist as do a lot of other people. We were born into a world of "other."

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[Sara_H]

@Barbara  @TShirtfort 

Create Back to School cross sells where there are premade slots for your products

eg - Back to school for music lovers @Barbara "Rockin’ Back to School "

@TShirtfort  Pizza-Lover's School Essentials

maybe?

[Barbara]

The only  problem with  music products is that I'd have to push my brain hard to come up with back-to-items. Hmm...when I was in a university setting, there was the School of Music, but the only attention I paid to it was when in the building walked down the hall past the doors, all of them leaking a specific sound from within. Classical here, scales there, a bit of jazz in another room. It was eerie and magical all at the same time.

See what happens when you nudge the memories of an old biddy?

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