Did I mess up by choosing to use Zazzle?

[rfpaustian]

I'm genuinely concerned. I came to the forum to see if I could find answers to my questions, only to see that a lot of people, new and old, are having the same issues. For example, on the back end, where I created my products, and double triple checked that they were publicly visible, and recieved emails claiming they have been posted, it shows that they are available, after circumnavigating the broken hyperlinks, and unupdated pages. However, when someone tries to go to the Store Front page, they can't see any of the products and the product page shows `No results for ""`. I don't have a large store, with only 17 items so far. But the items I have created would absolutely sell in the community it is meant for, if the community could see those items.

I think for me there is the even bigger problem that there is one issue with the "Problem Solved" link at the top that just leads to someone complaining that the sight is more difficult to use then it was in the past, with no actual solution there.

I guess what I'm asking is, should I cut my losses and bounce before I dump anymore money into this, or are there planned fixes happening soon, that someone from Zazzle can confirm?

[DancingPelican]

Most of your products are currently visible in your collection. They are just recently posted for sale and need time to index. Give it a week or so. Indexing has been slow on Zazzle recently and it is taking longer for published products to show up in your store. You can share your collection with others and they can see the products currently showing in your collection and purchase them. Open your collection and see the share button above your products, Click that and share it with those you think would like to see what you have designed. You can also share to social media, Pinterest, a blog or website, etc.  Good luck to you!

[rfpaustian]

They weren't visible as of the original post, but the Collection at least seems to have popped up. Thank you for bringing that to my attention

[Jadendreamer13]

Go forth and fly, vampire guy.

[Barbara]

I arrived at Zazzle in March of 2014, and I sold my first product two months later. I'm fairly sure the time frame wasn't nor is unusual. My sales didn't pick up until an affiliate noticed my products and started posting them on her web site, and the way she found me was via the Show Me forum. We have to find ways to "push" our products.

What's already been mentioned about indexing being currently slow is certainly testing everyone's patience. I counted myself lucky with one of my most recent products finally showing up in the marketplace "only" four days after creating it.

You've just begun. It takes persistence and variety, which means it takes time. It's far too early to decide it's not worth it.

As for the "Problem Solved" issue, I assume you're speaking of the forums and the complaints about their ease of use. This is a reflection of the fact that the current forum format is a replacement for the one that had been here a long time and that was, in fact, easier to use. This new format isn't, however, a result of how well Zazzle itself functions. Then again, Zazzle was once also easier to use, probably because there were far fewer design tools.

Stay a while. At least a year.

Colorwash's Home

[rfpaustian]

Awesome, thank you for the advice

[ColsCreations]

I came to the forum to see if I could find answers to my questions

What are your questions?
I've said it many times but one of the best things about Zazzle is this forum. This is a very active community with many users of all experience levels willing to help with any question any time of day/night no matter how randomly specific it might be, stuff you'd never figure out reading the Help and FAQs.

But the items I have created would absolutely sell in the community it is meant for, if the community could see those items.

Anyone with a link to your products - and this includes a Collection as putting them in a Collection is providing a direct link to them - can view and buy your products even if they haven't been "indexed"  yet to appear in the general Market Place or your public storefront "All Products" tab. In a case like yours where you are selling a very specific branded design to a very specific audience, appearing in the general MP search is rather irrelevant. It is a downer to be all eager to present your store to your audience and then realize, shoot, they can't see what I see yet, but it's not the end of the world. You can either wait a little longer for the "indexing" to happen, or you can choose to start promoting your stuff to your audience via individual product links and Collections. I personally would wait until the store itself populates; what's another couple days or week when you already went your whole life without these products for sale? Know what I mean? If I was creating a store for such a specific user-base as you are, I would wait until the store itself populates to avoid questions/confusion and then announce  like ya' know "here's the official shop to browse for all kinds of X merchandise" ...

When I first started on Zazzle it was actually for this same situation - a very specific "branded" product for a very specific target group. As I recall, even then there was no instant gratification, had to wait for changes I was making  /things I was adding to show up on the public storefront. Fast forward to now, it does seem like there are frequently longer delays in things getting "indexed" but except for one circumstance, I'm not sure why that is really such a big deal.

I guess what I'm asking is, should I cut my losses and bounce before I dump anymore money into this,

What money? Zazzle is absolutely free to use, no subscription plans or listing fees.
You can bounce but anyone expecting Zazzle (or any other POD) to be an instant get-rich-quick gig is sorely mistaken.

[rfpaustian]

The collection FINALLY worked for me. I've had people asking me about it, and saying they can't see it, so I've been a little anxious about it. But at the very least that has begun working for me.

[chefcateringbiz]

Whenever there's a customer who wants some modification and I make a new product, I have to send them the link so they can access it. If you're communicating with a known group about a new product or design, you should also provide the direct links so they can access the merch prior to indexing.

[chuamishael]

To be honest, selling on zazzle is very difficult, if not, it can be very challenging. we often have these problems of product not appearing etc.., I mean even if it does, it will take a while to find a customers. a lot of creators already given up selling on zazzle because they can't earn enough to survive. we need more referral marketer. it is unclear right now on how zazzle market their product. I don't see them post ads anymore. they should actually post some more video ads again atleast on youtube.  

Right now it's mostly the pro diamond and the pro platinum who are dominating the market.

[RodneyK]

I have been on Zazzle since 2011 and also made the first sale after about two months. There was much less competition then. The real key to making sales is to create great designs that people want to buy. Your time is better spent by mostly creating designs and researching design creation. Once you are selling you can spend more time improving your visibility and sales. As you create designs on products your skills will increase and you will learn what sells. It isn't easy. But also it wouldn't be fun if it was fast and easy.