A few months ago, I began creating only manual pins on Pinterest. My views, clicks, impressions, etc. rose 1,000% (but not my sales). That’s the actual number, not an exaggeration. Pretty impressive, right? However, creating manual pins is a lot more time consuming. So, I have a question regarding adding tags to Pinterest’s Tagged Topics data field: Is it necessary and/or beneficial for me to enter tags into this field, especially since it’s not a cut-and-paste type of field. I can only choose from a variety of pre-set Pinterest tags — which only appear (or not) when I type something into the field. Many of the options are not appropriate for the design. This process is the most time-consuming part of the manual Pinterest pin process. So, will it affect my Pinterest clicks, views, impressions, or sales if I leave this field blank? Thanks for any insight you can provide. ... View more

Since I’ve been doing so much reading about how AI handles uploaded images and digital copyright, I ended up wandering into the history of AI too and it turns out, AI is much older than most people realize. I’m not an authority on any of this; I just read a lot, usually late at night while listening to my husband’s breathing pattern and keeping my phone close in case I need to call for help. Research has become a kind of therapy for me, something steady I can focus on during those quiet hours. So here’s the simple, interesting version of what I learned. Most people think AI started in the last few years, but the idea actually goes all the way back to the 1950s, when early researchers began asking, “Can a machine think?” and built tiny programs that could play checkers or solve simple logic puzzles. Nothing dramatic  more like digital experiments. Then came the 1980s, which was AI’s first big moment. But AI back then looked nothing like today’s tools. There was no internet, no image scraping, no giant datasets. AI learned from rules, not images. Humans literally typed in thousands of “if this, then that” instructions. These were called expert systems, and they were basically giant flowcharts pretending to be smart. Early neural networks existed too, but they were tiny  more like baby neurons than anything we use today. The AI we use now the kind that can understand language, generate images, and help with creative work didn’t really take off until the 2010s, when computers finally got fast enough and we had enough digital data to train them. That’s when machine learning and deep learning became possible. And even then, the training wasn’t about copying or storing anyone’s work. It was about learning patterns, the same way a camera learns light or a child learns shapes. And since creators often ask me what AI “trains on,” here’s the part that helped me understand it better: modern AI models are trained in large batches before they’re ever released to the public. These batches come from a mix of publicly available information, licensed datasets, company‑owned material, and optional user‑contributed data (only if you turn that setting on). Public datasets are simply collections of information that are already out in the open the same kinds of things search engines have been indexing for decades. They help AI learn broad patterns, not store or copy anyone’s work. Your personal uploads aren’t added to these datasets, and the training doesn’t happen every time you use the tool. AI models don’t keep images or maintain a folder of creator uploads. They don’t store your mockups or remember your designs. They learn mathematical relationships, not artwork. That’s why platforms like Microsoft, Google Gemini, and Canva all publish clear documentation explaining that your uploads are used to process your request and then cleared according to their privacy settings. Training happens long before the tool reaches your screen, and your images aren’t part of that unless you explicitly opt in. I like knowing this because it reminds me that AI didn’t suddenly appear out of nowhere, and it isn’t quietly absorbing our personal files. It’s been slowly evolving for decades, built on published research, transparent datasets, and clear privacy controls. I’m not trying to convince anyone to use AI if it doesn’t feel right for them I just like understanding how things work, and I’m sharing what I’ve learned in case it helps someone. If you ever want to read some of the material I started with, Microsoft has a clear overview here: The History of AI. It walks through the early years, the breakthroughs, and how we got to today’s generative AI.  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-life-hacks/privacy-and-safety/the-history-of-ai ****  Oh I forgot to add this part, and it always surprises people: AI isn’t new at all. The name artificial intelligence was first used back in 1956, but the ideas behind it were already floating around much earlier. Researchers were sketching out early neural networks in the 1940s, and by 1966 there was already a little chatbot called ELIZA carrying on simple conversations. In 1997, IBM’s Deep Blue beat chess champion Garry Kasparov, and machine learning really started gaining momentum in the 2010s. By the time today’s generative AI showed up, the groundwork had been building for about seventy years…. Fun History of AI ... right?   ... View more

A lot of Zazzle creators have been asking me what different AI tools actually do with uploaded images, mockup images especially when it comes to AI training data and digital copyright, so I wanted to put everything I’ve learned in one place. I’m not an authority or anything like that I just read a lot, and because I’m a full‑time caregiver, I tend to do my research late at night when the house is quiet. It helps me stay focused and calm, and when someone asks me a question about AI, copyright, or privacy settings, I like to go find the answer. One of the biggest questions I get is whether uploading an image into an AI tool means the AI takes it for training or affects your copyright ownership. With Microsoft AI tools, uploading an image does not transfer your copyright. Microsoft confirmed directly to me that I retain the copyright on my mockups and any uploaded images. Their privacy settings and documentation explain exactly how uploaded data is handled, and nothing is automatically added to AI training data. If anyone wants the official source, Microsoft publishes everything here: https://privacy.microsoft.com/en-us/privacystatement. Since many Zazzle creators also use Google Gemini, I checked that too. I asked Gemini directly whether I keep my copyright when I upload my own images, and they told me yes  especially when the image is something I created myself. Google’s documentation supports that, stating that they don’t claim copyright over what Gemini generates and that users keep ownership of outputs created with their prompts. Their privacy settings explain that uploaded images are stored temporarily for processing and may be used to improve AI models only if you opt in. You can also manage or delete your data in your Google Account activity. When I was invited to be a beta tester for Google’s AI several years ago, they required an explicit opt‑in for data use, and I chose not to opt in after reading the fine print. And just yesterday, Gemini didn’t follow my instructions and the mockup came out terrible, and a human actually reached out afterward to see what went wrong, which I appreciated because it shows there are real people involved in quality control. Google’s official privacy hub is here: https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/13594961. Since Canva is another tool a lot of creators use for mockups and design work, I looked into Canva’s privacy settings as well. Canva is very clear about how they handle uploaded images and AI training data. Your content on Canva is not used to train their AI unless you turn that setting on yourself, and that permission is off by default. You can check all of this in your Canva privacy settings  they let you control whether your content can be used to improve AI, whether your general usage helps them build features, and whether your design activity is shared with collaborators. Your designs are private unless you choose to share them, and Canva employees don’t automatically see your work unless you specifically share something with support. Canva’s official documentation is here: https://www.canva.com/help/manage-privacy-settings/ and their Trust Center privacy overview is here: https://www.canva.com/trust/privacy/. I’m sharing all of this because I like to understand how things work, and when someone asks me a question about AI, copyright, or uploaded images, I want to give them the most accurate information I can find. Copyright still belongs to the creator, and Microsoft, Google Gemini, and Canva all publish exactly how they handle uploaded data. If anyone has questions or wants me to break anything down, I’m happy to help. If you have any questions, just ask…or send me a message at Susan’s Nature & Seasonal Studio ... View more

Hello everyone. I am new on Zazzle, just getting my store set up. Can someone please clarify the difference between cross promotion and self promotion? I think cross promotion is where I link someone elses product (on Pinterest?) and self promotion is when I am promoting and linking my own products. I am currently only using Pinterest and I create my own pins and write my own copy (I guess they are called 'manual pins'). I am confused on when I am supposed to add my ?rf# at the end of the link. I just read something that said if I add my ?rf# at the end of my self promotion, it changes the commision from 50% down to 15%. I'm a bit confused with all of this - and input would help. Thank you so much! ... View more

  Lifestyle mockups and lifestyle advertising have been around for decades. This isn’t some new invention or hidden secret that only a few know of.  it’s a practice that’s been taught in fashion merchandising schools, used in catalogs, and refined in every era of product presentation. From department store window displays in the 1950s to styled magazine ads in the 70s, lifestyle imagery has always been about one thing: helping customers imagine themselves with the product. Fast forward to today, and POD sellers are just continuing that tradition in digital form. And here’s the truth: nobody should be paying to learn how to do lifestyle mockups. The information is already out there, free and accessible. A quick Google search will bring up millions of “how‑to” guides, templates, and tutorials. What really makes lifestyle mockups successful isn’t the technical side  it’s the ideas and prompts behind them. Talking with other POD creators, sharing what settings work (cozy home scenes, outdoor adventures, styled fashion shots), and swapping prompts is often the best way to learn. Community conversations spark inspiration that no single class can capture. I have another discussion at the community forum where creators are sharing what free AI’s are best for mockups, what prompts work, and problems that they are having.  It’s a great discussion because we are helping each other. That is how you learn more about lifestyle mockups.  I searched online for the historical timeline of mockups through the years and this is what I found…sharing just for fun. 1950s–1960s: Department store catalogs and window displays staged products in lifestyle scenes. 1970s–1980s: Magazine ads and fashion shoots leaned heavily on lifestyle imagery to sell products. 1990s: Digital tools like Photoshop made polished mockups easier to create without full photo shoots. 2000s–2010s: E‑commerce marketplaces adopted lifestyle mockups as standard practice for online selling. Today: POD sellers use digital mockups and AI tools to place products in endless lifestyle contexts. Let’s talk about lifestyle Mockups: How do you use lifestyle mockups in your store? What prompts or settings have helped your products connect with customers? Do you prefer natural everyday scenes or more styled, aspirational ones? ... View more

I was scrolling through leggings at marketplace today and discovered that there is a blind spot in the mockup designs and that blind spot is probably costing creators sales.  When leggings are shown styled as activewear / fitness the customers may scroll past thinking “I have enough workout gear” I am not sure why creators don’t show the legging or tank top in different mockups such as a casual shopping at the mall or work at the office look. In my opinion I think showing the mockups styled with different fashion looks would help sell the top or legging.  (Attract another customer) not just activewear.  Isn’t it better to sell a possibility, with your mockup by showing them “this legging isn’t just activewear” In my opinion I think you might sell more leggings and tank tops if you showed the customer how to put together the casual, business, or date night look.   ( I am adding  3 fashion look mockups to products to show customer how to create a unique style) I want to create a need for a product, I want to sell style, plus active or jean looks.   This is what I am working on… Business look Chic Abstract Gold Dusting on Black by FunkyAbstract_Gifts     Seasonal Look Autumn Leaves on Black by Susang6 Shopping Look Black and Silver Glitter Zebra Print Chic by Susang6 Dressy Casual look Abstract Copper Feather Print on Black by FunkyAbstract_Gifts ... View more

For about the last few days I've been getting many visits from the same places- City exactly matches Lanzhou (China) in conjunction with  visits listed from City exactly matches Singapore. The visits are landing on quite a few (hundreds) of my zazzle products. I hope they're not copying the images to clone my items.     ... View more

Right now, all sizes of gift bags – Large, Small, Medium, and Wine –  are sold out, in both matte and glossy 😟. Will they be available again soon... before Christmas? ... View more

The large and medium sized Bath Mats have been sold out for quite some time, and they were good sellers for me.  Please tell me if the bath mats are just out of stock and not actually being discontinued!! ... View more

Did you know….. Zazzle discussions are public, and that means anyone including potential customers can read what we post in the Zazzle community. Every customer must create a free account to complete a purchase, which makes them a member of the platform, but even non‑members can browse products in the Show Me section and see community threads. Only registered Zazzle creators and customers can actively participate by posting, commenting, liking, or saving products to their wish lists. Because the forum is intentionally public and indexed by search engines, our words and our tone can be discovered outside of Zazzle, giving products and creators more visibility. That’s why it’s so important to choose respect over snark. We are all Zazzle creators with the same goal to succeed and share our creativity. Respectful collaboration strengthens the Zazzle community and reflects positively on our work when outsiders come across these discussions. I’ll admit that in the past I sometimes responded with sarcasm when I felt attacked, but I’ve grown to see that it only pulls me away from what matters. My energy is better spent on encouragement, sharing what I’ve learned, and helping fellow creators succeed. I’m choosing to rise above negativity, stay positive, and continue supporting others. No one can discredit the value of respectful collaboration. Visit my store for creative designs that celebrate every season and every moment. ... View more

I have been keeping a blog for a few years, but the posts were never regular. However, I decided to work earnestly at it in June of this year - and since then I have been creating a new post every day. My posts would be on a variety of subjects, all chosen because I could use products from Zazzle to illustrate each subject. Using the clever Affiliate Helper Tool I would be able to paste around 40 product images with links into each article. I would normally then spread them evenly throughout the text. Having devoted so much time on the blog I decided to look at Google Search Console to see how I was performing.   At the beginning of August I had 40 pages Not Indexed, and 30 pages that were Indexed. To my horror, yesterday I found that I had 115 pages Not Indexed, and only 7 Indexed! Therefore previous pages that HAD been indexed have now been removed from the indexing! Yesterday I ran all this information through ChatGPT. I also Showed ChatGPT the HTML of several pages, asking it to evaluate and explain the problem. It advised me that the most likely reason was that I had too many affiliate links - even though they have “No Follow” built into them. So I have now been working hard going through each article and removing the Zazzle affiliate links. Instead, I have created another blog to run alongside, with indexing turned off from search engines, and I am using this to create Gallery pages - each devoted to a subject allied to each article in my main blog.  I decorate the old blog pages with product images still, (but only 2 or 3). These images and their captions link to the new Gallery pages, each with rel:NoFollow instructions. (I ran this theory through ChatGPT first and  was advised that it was "a smart strategy".  Of course it will take time for Google to reconsider the blog pages and hopefully index them again, and to help them speed things up I am creating a “Summary page” at the end of each month that contains descriptions and links to all the posts from that month. (ChatGPT easily writes the HTML for this - I simple give it the post links from a spreadsheet I compile.) Then I submit the Summary page to Google for review, knowing that it will follow all the links contained therein. Here’s the Summary page I have done for August. It is simply text only to feed the links to Google easily.  ... View more