Hi! I’d just like to know what other designers think, just out of curiosity. When you have a repeat customer—usually a business—that regularly buys the same product, like stickers, business cards, and so on, do you think it’s fair that those sales are marked as third-party? Okay, it’s not a self-referral, but third-party??? The customer comes back to Z for the product, but also for the design. Maybe it doesn’t change anything, but this kind of customer should be in a different category, and the marketing fee definitely shouldn’t apply. I really can’t consider that a third-party sale. What do you think??   ... View more

Instead of charging marketing fees that are deducted from Zazzle designers’ royalties, Zazzle could offer paid advertisements — like Etsy does — that designers pay for by setting a specific budget that is used on a pay-for-click basis. This way, Zazzle could generate the extra income they want from paid ads instead of reducing designers’ royalties. The paid ads would be placed on top of search results with a “Sponsored” notation, and the top-selling products would be displayed under the paid ads. In this case, it would be a win-win situation — not a win-lose situation, which best describes designers’ current situation. ... View more

I do not know why I never thought to have her try it out before (she is very young), but yesterday I helped my little granddaughter to use Zazzle.  We were choosing an ornament to feature a nice photo of her, as a gift for her mom. Once you are inside of the design tool, things are pretty much indestructible, so I did not have to worry about her deleting my image library or anything. (Can you imagine??!!!???). She had so much fun playing around with the options and told me she is going to keep doing Zazzle "when I grow up".  We have not quite finished yet, but will put the finishing touches on, the next time we get together. And then we will place the order, and have a lovely special keepsake she can wrap up and put under the tree this year. ... View more

A deep data cleanse in your browser "not just clearing history " is the most effective way to remove tracking cookies and referral data that could interfere with your earnings.   In Google Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear browsing data, then click the “Advanced” tab. Check “Cookies and other site data”, “Cached images and files”, and anything else relevant. Most importantly, under Time range, select “All time” to completely remove lingering data. This ensures referral cookies from other affiliates don’t override your link. Simply clearing history won’t erase these persistent trackers you must manually delete them in settings. For the record I have always did a deep cleanse in settings I don’t even know what a just clearing history is. For visual guides across browsers, check ExpertBeacon’s guide or PCMag’s walkthrough.  Opera’s blog explicitly states that clearing cookies and cache helps remove malware, adware, search hijackers, and trackers. So yes — a full cleanse does remove trackers, but the language in most articles is vague.  Next> Zazzle Referrals Tip: If a customer clicks your referral link but has cookies from another Zazzle affiliate, the sale may be credited to them not you unless the customer has cleared their browser fully through settings in their browser. Encourage them to start fresh so your link tracks correctly and your earnings stay intact.  Reminder: A quick "clear history" only scratches the surface. From now on, use your browser's Advanced settings and choose “All time” to clean cookies, cache, and site data. Soft clear won’t cut it do it the right way and protect your Ambassador revenue. Real-World Example: This is exactly why I was awarded the Ambassadors revenue even though I had a gazillion trackers following me! Deep cleanse of cookies, cache and site data for all time works, and so does clarity.  Food for Thought If you know your customers well or have built a rapport, this tip is worth sharing it empowers them and helps protect your ambassador integrity. That said, if you don’t have an established relationship, it might feel awkward or overly technical, so use your judgment and consider offering it as a general tip or blog post instead If you're still skeptical about whether clearing cookies and cached images really makes a difference, you're not alone — but the data says otherwise. Below are tech-forward sources that walk you through how deep browser cleaning helps eliminate tracking cookies, boost referral accuracy, and restore your privacy. Kinsta’s tutorial explains how tracking cookies work and how to remove them in Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. For detailed, step-by-step instructions across desktop and mobile browsers, wikiHow’s guide is a handy resource. PixelPrivacy breaks down the tech behind cookie tracking and shows how to fully remove them across browsers. Meanwhile, USA Today’s article covers how advertisers sneak in hidden trackers and how to opt out using tools like WebChoices. Finally, Norton’s privacy guide explains cookie risks and how clearing your cache and site data helps protect your browser performance and personal information.   ... View more

Right up front let me say that yes, I know this is petty, it's "only" 1 cent. I'd probably never have noticed something like this - except it was (an extremely rare for me) self referred sale and I'd been playing around with the math, had made some screenshots. (Please note that the amount for self referral in other areas was $3.99 and is still 3.99. On the royalty breakdown page the amount still shows as $1.69, it only seems to have changed on the royalty history report...) The only different I spot is it looks like the $1.69 royalty may have been before the updated earnings reporting but I'd think that shouldn't have changed any already computed amounts...... so where did that 1 cent go, why and how? Has anyone else seen this? Again, I know it's only a penny, but these days pennies add up. ... View more

Hi everyone, As we move through seasonal sales cycles like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Winter Solstice, and Christmas, it’s easy to focus on individual product tags but don’t overlook your storefront tags. These quiet champions play a big role in Zazzle’s internal search visibility and external SEO. Recently, I realized my store tags hadn’t been updated since 2009 (😳), and when I refreshed them with trend-driven, seasonal keywords like “Christmas in July,” I saw a clear increase in traffic and sales. Within five days, I sold a table lamp and 21 sheets of tissue paper. Coincidence? Maybe. But when your storefront  speaks the language of the season, customers (and algorithms) tend to listen. So what does updating store tags really do for you?  Features of a Seasonal Tag Refresh: Highlights your current niche, such as “Halloween decor,” “Yule gifts,” or “Christmas in July tissue paper” Helps Zazzle correctly categorize your shop for algorithm placement Aligns your brand with current search behavior and seasonal buyer intent  Benefits You Might See: Increased impressions during trend-driven searches More engagement with in-season products Sharper brand identity that evolves with the calendar Better alignment between About Page, homepage visibility, and customer expectations How to Update Store Tags Effectively: Use 5–8 specific keywords that reflect current offerings Rotate quarterly or monthly depending on your niche Explore trending phrases in Zazzle’s search bar or Google Trends Keep the language customer-friendly and seasonally relevant (e.g. “Spooky Halloween Invitations” vs. “October cards”) If your store’s still rocking tags from a bygone decade (guilty as charged), consider giving it a seasonal refresh your future views and sales might just thank you. Footnote: The strategies shared here came out of some weekend house cleaning. While updating my About section, I scrolled down and realized my store tags hadn’t been touched in years and they no longer reflected what was happening in my shop. I updated them using SEO phrases based on how customers actually search when shopping online. For anyone curious, Zazzle offers its own tagging recommendations in the Maker Manual: Make Your Tags Count and their broader Title, Description & Tagging Best Practices guide.   ... View more

Just wanted to share a few thoughts that might help bring clarity, kindness, and perspective back into the conversation. There’s something we sometimes forget in the creative rush. When we post in the Zazzle forums, we’re not just speaking to other designers we’re speaking to the internet. These discussions aren’t private. They’re publicly visible, and many are indexed by search engines like Google and Bing. That means your comment, your store link, even your phrasing can appear in search results and be read by potential customers, bloggers, or anyone curious enough to click. So, what does that mean for how we show up? It means kindness isn’t just polite it’s professional. It means tone matters just as much as content. And it means every word we write becomes part of our brand’s footprint. Whether you’re offering a tip about seasonal store tags, sharing a strategy for product visibility, or including a relevant link to your storefront, the ripple effect is real. We don’t always know who’s watching. A fellow designer might thank you, a future customer might click your avatar, and a buyer who found your Christmas in July collection in a search might read your post and feel a connection. That’s why it’s worth staying respectful, structured, and sharp. Just take a breath before you hit “reply.” Read your words like a stranger would. Because in the age of visibility, professionalism is more than manners it’s momentum. And if you’d like Zazzle’s official word on etiquette, their Community Guidelines are always worth revisiting. This Creator Forum overview also reminds us that these threads are meant to support and elevate the whole creator space. So, as we build, share, and connect, let’s do it with care. Our voices carry. Let’s make sure they resonate. And maybe just remember what so many of us were taught growing up:  “If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.”  Simple, timeless, and still the best kind of marketing advice. Thanks for stopping by; hope you have a creative and blessed day. Susan Golis ... View more

1 tee shirt sold today coming from 3d party, royalties : 0.80 $ 🤐😠😱 All that work for that! working on the design, on the mockup, posting on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram, it doesn't even pay for the electricity used and the time spent! Can they prove to me that the sale comes from a third party? no I know that I'm not the only one, but compared to other POD platform, it's 👎 ... View more

The "About Hot Sauce Bottle Favorss" section title should be "About Hot Sauce Bottle Favors". ... View more

With the introduction of Zazzle’s marketing fees in April, many of us began reevaluating what our creative work is truly worth. I tried to offset those costs by raising my royalty rate hoping it would balance the equation without disrupting sales. Instead, my sales plummeted. I assumed shoppers were passing over my now higher-priced products in favor of similar designs at lower price points.  Longtime gift shop buyers who used to stock my cards and tissue paper disappeared. Then in June I lowered the royalty on my most popular items, and soon after, the orders returned. Did I discover my “sweet spot”? Not quite. What I found was my long-lost repeat customers and while selling to them again brings joy, earning significantly less for the work I’ve poured my heart into remains discouraging. So now I’m curious: Have you adjusted your royalty rate to accommodate the marketing fees? Did it affect your visibility or sales? How do you strike that balance between pricing with integrity and staying competitive? Let’s talk about what’s working, what’s not. ... View more

Here’s a little strategy that might boost your Pinterest visibility (and yes it will help those Zazzle listings too!). If you’ve been wondering why some Pinterest boards get tons of views while others just float in silence, here’s a trick that I recently learned.  I tried it and its working wonders for me: start your board in secret before going public. I just launched my Winter Solstice board today after building it quietly with keyword-rich pins and a visual appealing layout.  Its been public only a few hours and it's already getting tons of views! Keeping the board private while curating let me shape it just right: My Winter Solstice: Cards, Gifts & Seasonal Spirit board has 90 pins, all seasonally themed and ready to support my latest Zazzle designs and has a few other designers’ products also. I worked on the secret board for a few days and once it looked visually appealing and purposeful, I made it public and views started rolling in. I read that Pinterest (and even Google) reward that kind of curated effort. For me it feels like launching a gallery rather than just tossing up a wall. You can find Pinterest’s official explanation on Secret Boards in their Help Center. It covers how to create them, edit them, and why they’re useful for inspiration and organization.  Also this blog post expands on why creators use them strategically: How to Make Your Pinterest Board Secret (And Why You Should).    Once you make the board public, Google can begin indexing it, especially if it’s well-optimized with keywords, a strong title, and a visually appealing layout. This is why creators often build boards privately first so they can polish the visuals and SEO before launching it into the searchable world. Have you tried this approach with your pinboards?  Did you find it was better to keep your board secret until you had an average of 90 pins?   ... View more

I would like to see Zazzle add a new product for us to sale both in girls and women's sizes all over print nightgown. There are so many cute ways to design artwork for them. I can think of a million ways to design for them. When I shop for my granddaughter, there are not too many cute nightgowns out there. Everyone uses them so there is a demand for them. My granddaughter has Autism but wears a women's medium most medium sizes are not always friendly for her to grownup of a theme.  It would have to be an allover print not just a box in the front of the nightgown. All over prints are just cuter. So many fantastic designers on this site I can just imagine the beautiful and fun nightgown that could be created.  ... View more

  After receiving a lot of passionate feedback around referral tracking and cookie behavior, I did some deep digging into browser data settings and customer-friendly cleansing methods. I know some creators feel this process is too inconvenient or ineffective, but I wanted to share a practical approach that supports both shoppers and designers. I stayed up late scouring tech resources and testing strategies, and turned it all into a more detailed, accessible blog post aimed at educating and empowering users not just about removing cookies, but why it matters for independent creators trying to earn fair commissions. If you're curious about how to clean browser cookies without losing your mind—or your bookmarks—here’s the guide: Shop Smart, Support Designers: The Referral Guide Every Shopper Should Know Thanks to everyone who’s help to move this conversation forward. It’s not just about tech—it’s about respect, transparency, and giving creatives a real shot. ... View more

    Two things (imo) would make the new earnings reporting better: 1. Show Zazzle referred sales as Zazzle referred instead of 3rd party. 2. Add a line showing designers actual royalty earned after all the fees are carved out. (For example, looks like I end up with about 9% on a 40% category item that has royalty set at 16.9%) Regarding secondary content image/elements: When secondary content is added to a primary product design, are the creators of secondary content image/elements charged a marketing or any other kind of fee ? I don't quite understand why different categories have different marketing fees - some 35% others 50%. What if a customer transfers a design from one category fee to another? Say a design is transferred from a 35% t-shirt to something in the 50% category, which marketing fee amount applies? IMO the above makes it less appealing to put a design on a higher fee category product b/c I know I'll lose a bigger chunk of my royalty in fees. (Unless royalty is jacked up to try to cover some of it which may make the product less likely to sell - it's a vicious circle 😞 )   ... View more