Not A Single Sale Since January 2023

[Atwell76]

I don't feel like my designs are the issue.

 Social Media Platforms are full speed ahead. I even started using A.I to assist with my listings since about a month back. SEO looks good at best. ... 🤔 Anyone else dealing with sales decline? 

[igiftcenter]

Not directed at you CrazyMermaid but I just want to point out I know designers on here whos sales are quite brisk at this time.  If it were the economy / buyer jitters these designers would also be experiencing a slow down in sales.  I'm not trying to discourage anyone in any way by pointing this out. I just want to put this out there so those who are blaming their sales on everything around them that there's also the possibility it's something maybe more specific to those of you whos sales are down

Key points: I sincerely hope these points somehow help someone
1. If you do not log in every day and keep active you can expect your sales to slow down as this site and its algorithm seem to be based partly on the ability to stay active and provide fresh content. 

2. If you are designing with the same old graphics you've been using for years and just using them in variations on your same themes.... this could be an issue as once again this site is very much looking for fresh content to promote and display to the marketplace and the various search engines. maybe it's time to source out new graphics?

3. Competition has grown enormously over the years and you can expect if you are selling the same thing others are selling... it's time to start looking at ways to be different or make a shift to a theme that is not prolific on this site

4. When was the last time you went back to your oldest designs and made an attempt to redo them in a more professional / sellable design? I went back to my old designs which had promise but were unprofessionally done because of my then lack of experience.... and I started to see sales from designs that have not sold in ages. I redesigned and published fresh designs off these then removed the old designs if they had zero sale and zero or low views.

That's all I have for today..... as always I wish you all continued success.

[ColsCreations]

I don't think having to register to place an order is an issue. That's been the status quo most everywhere for years. Even the giant that is Amazon requires logging in to order. It may seem like a pain but I think it's beneficial to both the e-tailer and the shopper.

2. If you are designing with the same old graphics you've been using for years and just using them in variations on your same themes.... this could be an issue as once again this site is very much looking for fresh content to promote and display to the marketplace and the various search engines. maybe it's time to source out new graphics?

 I think that depends on what those "same old graphics" are.  I for a long time felt I needed to expand on the variety of designs I offer but I found myself making things that didn't really feel like me just to have more variety in my shop. Then it finally hit me a few months ago ... instead of worrying about making brand new designs just for the sake of having new designs, I should instead be focusing on making my best-selling designs/patterns and variations of them available on more things. (I would love to get into fabric, I think my style would do well there but I simply do not understand the fabric design tool and previews no matter how many times I've tried. ) Anyways, I think there are a lot of variables here. I think expanding on existing, successful designs is a better gamble than spending same amount of time on new "un-tested" designs. But if you've already tapped out that avenue, or if your old designs aren't getting sales or views, then yeah, then it's time to turn that corner into developing fresh content. (Ideally one would be doing both but noone has unlimited time to spend. )

[Barbara]

I agree. I'm not about to branch out into things that aren't my cup of tea. Each of us has a style that's native to us, and to sail off somewhere else can easily spell failure. Same for products. I tried t-shirts, sold a couple over the years, and gave up. I tried wedding stuff, but my designs aren't at all a good fit. If we're using the exact same designs without change, that's probably a good way of running out of customers, so if that's what @igiftcenter  actually meant, then I agree.

Colorwash's Home

[igiftcenter]

My apologies for my post above. I was trying to be helpful but do now realize yes the economy could certainly play a part in your sales dip IF.... your products are something that sells better when things are strong and consumer confidence is high and inflation is not an issue.  I think I have a tendency to over analyze things and every designer has a different niche, situation, skill level, marketing skill level, etc.

I wish you all better sales going forward.

[Atwell76]

I've tried a number of changes since Jan, ... Keyword change outs, SEO Ranked Tag words, I've tried adding cover photos for products, switched over to A.I for listing assistance, I promote on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn and have even tried a couple Tik Tok listings. I've ran Ads on Facebook and paid for shout outs on Instagram. I've been shared by Diamond sellers on here and still haven't seen a dime since the new year.  Have I missed anything? ... 🤔 Oh, even ran a couple videos on YouTube for Google rankings. Yelp isn't any help, considering there isn't a physical store address for them to promote. Same goes for voice listings on Alexa. Tried connecting an ETSY shop , ECWID shop and an Ebay Listing once.  I've tried Crowd Fire,  Hub Spot and a few others to gain traction. Yet, I've managed to gain nothing for these efforts. I feel like I've ran the gauntlet of sales. ... Even attempted Amazon once.  Anything I haven't tried, short of selling my soul but let's be real. If nothing is selling for me right now then I might not find a buyer for that either. LOL ???? 🤔

[Mariholly]

It is really frustrating and sad to read that all that effort is not working. All my support from here. Perhaps the only thing you have not tried is to promote products from other designers. I'm not good at this, but when I've gotten referrals it's encouraging to receive good royalties, even more so than for your own products (That's not very encouraging, but while your sales come in it's a good help).

[Atwell76]

Actually, been there got the t-shirt and burned it. I was promoting some Disney stuff over the course of the past 2 months and not a single bite. It's Disney for Pete's sake! lol A BIG FAT NOTHING... Go figure, right.

[Mariholly]

😔

[igiftcenter]

In response to   Atwell76 saying this:
Anything I haven't tried, short of selling my soul but let's be real

Maybe it's time to sell your soul   LOL😃

[Atwell76]

🤣🤣🤣

[goodsy · Accepted solution]

While every store's journey is unique, I understand that it takes time to see results. I started my store in March last year and made my first sale in September—just one sale. Skip October, in November, I made another small sale, but I didn't let that discourage me. Instead, I pushed myself to create more and improve my listings since January. As a result, I started seeing more sales in April and have continued to make sales until this month. If you started earlier than me and haven't seen sales yet, it might be worth evaluating your store and products before focusing on promotions. I believe your store is new, so it's just a matter of time. Keep pushing forward! 🙂

[WBartworks]

Wow!  I just looked at your site and noticed you already achieved bronze status in just one year.  And with very little product.  That's amazing!

[knightlyattire]

I'm just speculating here, could it be a reason new print on demand sites popping up due to AI Generated image trend?

[JDWFoto]

@knightlyattire what are the new POD sites?

[knightlyattire]

Google for an extensive list, but in case if you haven't heard, these are top PODs:

https://www.michaelessek.com/print-on-demand-companies/

[DancingPelican]

That article is simply one man’s opinion of who the top POD companies are.

[Atwell76]

Agreed.

[JerryLambert]

I had to look at the date on the article. I thought maybe it was ten years old or something. It reminded me that I still have a Printfection t-shirt. 

[Boki]

My sales are very, very bad, they have almost stopped... Unfortunately, the more effort and work I put in, the more sales, earnings, decrease instead of increasing,... I don't know what is happening, there is no logic. .. And it's been going on for a long time,...I'm disappointed with it,... 😞

[DE0]

I ordered 3 of my own products, and only one got reflected in my sales data.  The other 2, nope, nothing.  Contacted support.  Waiting for an explanation from them.  So there's that.  2 sales I made, but never would have known about, if it weren't me who bought them.  Of course, it makes me wonder if there are more.  What a terrifying thought.

[knightlyattire]

Did your earnings get updated on the rest of the sales?

[DE0]

No but someone posted on my thread that you don't get credit for the sale if you modify your design, I assume that means personalize.  Because I ordered 2 of my products and personalized them for my kids, but did not modify the design.  I'm still waiting for clarity on that.

[Caprice]

I don't agree - but I think that's how it works with customizing.  After all, personalization is simply doing what the product is meant to do...  🤷🏼‍

[Barbara]

@orientcourt:  Not a baby boomer. It's worse than that: I'm from the silent generation when computers were huge beasts used by the military. All distance communication was done with letters and cards that cost 3 cents to send. Air mail cost more because the majority of all mail traveled by truck. Though I've gotten used to each change over the years, the most recent ones are difficult to accommodate because they reflect and promote an isolation that isn't always recognized as such.

@cniem14: You've added to the evidence that Zazzle is right to have instituted downloadables. They may have to go further than that, giving the ability for customers to send those items directly from here, which certainly isn't a new concept. I'd bet anything they're thinking about it.

Colorwash's Home

[cniem14]

Bare with me, I promise my rambling will all tie together. I have three kids. Two in public middle school and one attends a private high school. In regards to technology, classroom structure and communication, there are significant differences between the public school versus the private school. My sons (twins) work only from a Chromebook. There are NO books. None. No paper/ notebook student planners like there were just a few years ago. My sons' assignments are all in digital format and assigned through a computer program. There was absolutely no paper assignments and no assignments to be physically handed to a teacher this past school year. All work is assigned and submitted through the digital student portal. My daughter's education still looks more familiar and traditional in the private high school. She had a paper planner.  A few notebooks, pens, pencils, etc. I have been a health care administrator for 25 years. Throughout the first 20 years in my career, there was always some changes in technology and how technology was being implemented to treat patients. These changes had been continual but gradual. In the past 4-5 years, technological advances and technology within this field have developed at warp speed. The technological advances and how work is getting done in the modern workplace is rapidly changing. Technological changes and how the world is operating no longer feels gradual. So how does this tie into Zazzle sales? I do think a piece of lowered sales has to do with the products offered. Notepads, notebooks, journals, travel diaries, etc are cute but I am not sure these products are necessarily part of the modern world. I do not use a paper planner.  In fact, I have noticed there are days I don't use a pen to write. Wedding, birthday, family reunion invites? Again, cute but modern society is or has transitioned invites to a digital format. Social media platforms are being used to invite your friends and family to parties. I can not recall the last time I got a paper invite mailed to me. I think Zazzle needs to revisit the products offered and reinvent them to accommodate modern times. I have not thought through what more modern options would look like but there has got to be newer more modern products to offer. I am not a huge store or have a following...Zazzle is something I do for enjoyment, but I can say that all of my paper products get minimal views much less sales. I believe society is moving past paper, the formal invite, notebook-style planners, and traditional greeting cards are becoming obsolete. So, I don’t think lower sales is necessarily related to anything anyone is doing or not doing. I am not even sure the economy is to blame. (Yes, I will agree summer is not the time people tend to shop so the current season could factor into sales.) I genuinely believe what we are witnessing is the next industrial revolution and it will take time for retail / POD to catch up with the evolution of these changes.

[Caprice]

Interesting point. I believe downloadables represents Z attempting to catch up in some areas.

[Rebeccazazzle]

I think Zazzle's introduction of instant downloads was supposed to be their acknowledgement of how the world is changing as far as paper products.  I do think that Zazzle might be offering almost <b>too</b> many products at times, and items that actually sell well can get lost.

[Atwell76]

Seems like the popular status is an astounding "Sales are suffering" from everyone. Maybe Zazzle could do more on their end of things to offer better exposure for creators by partnering up with newer third-parties or sales channels. Sort of seems like the water has become stagnant and murky and there's almost not as many fish left in the pond that can even see the products to get a bite. Or maybe it's the crossing over to A.I that's hurting some of our sales? 

[Barbara]

Those who have been through at least two summers here on Zazzle loathe summer--maybe Zazzle does too--because it's when sales dip, and can dip badly. It happened last summer and the summer before that and so on. If this is your first summer, it can be quite shocking. I had one summer where I thought I'd get through it unscathed because I was selling nicely...until the middle of July when the bottom dropped out.

I'm sure there are various reasons for the cycle, but what I think is that summer is when people are out and about, when they go on vacation, when they have outdoor get-togethers, when the kids are underfoot, when they're pulling weeds in the garden. They're thinking about things other than staring at a computer screen, maybe even their phones.

Use the time to spruce up your products and design new ones. Pay attention when you're out and about to what people are doing, wearing, buying, talking about. Society is always changing and so must our designs.

Summer sales suck, and that's a fact.

Colorwash's Home

[Mariholly]

True, summer is very slow. Around the 4th of July it is usually very, very slow, but there are a lot of complaints of low sales for months, it must be something else. In addition, as I can see, it seems that it especially affects an average seller profile, which grew moderately month by month, like myself. Sales have been falling and falling since February... if this continues like this, I might be the one who should pay Z on the 15th. In any case, not all designers stop by to tell us about their experiences, we don't know if the big sellers are experiencing the same problems of falling sales, therefore we cannot have more specific data, they are always biased.

[Barbara]

@Mariholly: You're right. It seems to be more than just the summer doldrums, but what? Societal change? Economy? New trends replacing the old ones? Probably all of those and things we might not even be thinking about. I design for another POD, too, and sales there have turned sporadic, so the things Zazzle is doing can't account for most of the downturn here, though I do wish they'd stop wiping us out by heaping all kinds of Editors Choices on top of the majority of us.

Colorwash's Home

[Mariholly]

@Barbara I also think it is a combination of circumstances. In my case I am "blessed" with editor's pick and my sales do not increase, nor do the covers. On the contrary, I see that very different products are being sold and that they are not my best sellers... I wonder if the downloads have affected physical sales? I'd like to know what other designers think, it's a shame we don't have more opinions.

[Barbara]

One thing I've wondered is if there's a lessening of the number of affiliates. The second or third year I was here, an affiliate picked up on my music designs, and she and I did very, very nicely, but she seems to have disappeared. I wonder if other affiliates have also disappeared. If so, what would be the reason for this? Is it getting harder and harder to be successful at that end of the business? I can see people trying to do it, but trying and succeeding don't necessarily go hand-in-hand.

A lot of the designers have felt the downturn but can do nothing about it, not without knowing what's causing it. If it's the economy, then all we can do is wait it out.

Colorwash's Home

[ameliacarrie]

My sales have gone down too. Most likely to the increase in stores. Over the past two years I've seen a lot of my designs copied so I'm pretty much competing for sales against myself.  For example, I had a beach tee that I really thought was cool.  I did a search and found that 11 different stores had copied my design exactly. They copied other people's popular designs as well.😭

[chriiisss]

zazzle stores? 😮

[Mariholly]

Stores on Zazzle? But this must be reported to Zazzle!

[ameliacarrie]

I did, but, the designs are still up, probably different stores though.  So, I'm just not going to bother with it.  Anyone can open a store and steal designs.  It's not Zazzles problem, and, trying to catch these people is like playing wack a mole. 

[1234Shine]

@ameliacarrie , Do you have tips on how to do searches to find designs similar to yours?

[ameliacarrie]

Well, this particular design was a tshirt with a surfboard. It was retro vintage style so I did a search and all the shirts that matched up.  In all I counted it for sale in about 11 different stores.  So, just add relevant keywords.

[Caprice]

I've noticed view numbers are the same, maybe even increased - but people just aren't opening their wallets...