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Fieldnotes #04
Welcome to November!
Welcome to November!
π€ͺ I know why you're here! You want that video on how I made 100 products in 1 week on Zazzle! Well, don't worry, it's here, but you'll have to wait until the end to see it. If you have no self control you can just scroll down. I won't judge. π
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What’s up at Zazzle! Do you ever look at the Creator News? There’s a running feed of it on your store’s “Home” tab (when you’re logged in), but you can also access all the news here.
What’s worth noting?
SO…MANY…NEW…PRODUCTS! Just scroll through and look at some of them: Coir Fiber Mats, Retractable Pet Leashes, Otterbox and Casemate Phone Cases (for iPhone 16!), Bar Mats, Windchimes, Curtains, and so many more! They’ve also updated some popular products to add different styles, sizes, and shapes (t-shirts and magnets, to say the least). And the products on the Creator News page are just the ones we (creators) are allowed to make. Zazzle often adds products with “limited creator access” - not because they’re trying to keep you down (remember - Zazzle isn’t out to get you! π), but because they have so many product releases going on!
Why does it matter?
Well first of all, it speaks to a healthy Zazzle marketplace as well as confidence in consumer spending. But it also provides us with a LOT more products to design on!
Now, that being said, remember that the key with Zazzle is NOT just to put allll your designs on allll the products. That is a really (REALLY) hard way to go about things. You want to be very deliberate about what you are posting - post products and designs that customers want and that make sense. For example, your cute Baby Shower design probably isn’t going to sell well as a Retractable Pet Leash. And that “Kid’s Book Club” tote bag you made that is so cute? Yeah - let’s not transfer that to a Bar Mat, okay? ππ
My point is that yes, there are lots of new products, but it’s important that you look at them with a business eye - consider which ones will work for your store. Don’t get “shiny object syndrome” and just add all the things. Spend your time wisely, and reap the rewards later!
What should you be promoting right now?
π¦πThis is key promotion time for Thanksgiving and the winter holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years).
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Short News Month! π
β‘ In case you didn’t notice, I reopened Zazzle Unleashed! Yes, I know I said I was going to keep it closed until next year, but I’m a helper at heart, and I got so many emails and messages about it that I decided to reopen it. I did it without any fanfare, but it’s open, so if you or someone you know wanted to get in on it, grab it here. Yes, it’s still only $9.
π’ I’ve gotten a lot of requests for more lessons on Collections, so that is moving to the top of my to-do list. I can’t promise it by next month, but I will do it.
π§ I'm switching email service providers in November, so your next email from me may look slightly different. It's still me, I promise! π
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Alright, let’s get to the real reason you came here today! My 100 Products Experiment!
You asked for it, you got it!
The results of our poll last month are in, and 73% of you wanted a video about my 100-products-in-1-week adventure! I suspect some of you just wanted to see me sweat, but I still love ya! π
I'm thinking of turning this into some kind of challenge or mini course. If you have thoughts about that, be sure to email and let me know! π
The video is about 35 minutes long. The original video was actually closer to 45 minutes long, but near the end my microphone poozled out on me and the sound suddenly got really scratchy and weird. So I just edited that part out, which does make the video end abruptly - but now you know why. Probably for the best, though, because I did get a bit rambly at the end! ππ
Here’s the video:
And here's a link to a Google Doc with all my notes in it (for the 19% of you who asked for a written post).
And here’s the condensed and much-less-rambly version of what I said during that last, cut-off part:
1. Be sure you are creating quality products that customers WANT. You can make the most awesome looking product out there, but if no one is searching for that or wants that, you’re not going to get the sales you want to get. π‘
2. If you’ve been on Zazzle for a while now, but you’re not seeing a lot of sales (despite having a lot of products with good titles and tags), it’s time to take a hard look at the QUALITY of your products.
There is a LOT more I could say on this topic, but I find myself up against a couple of “mental blocks” when it comes to talking about it. π
First, it’s hard to tell someone that the quality of their products isn’t really up to snuff…even if they are seeking that critical feedback. I know I come across as a tell-it-like-it-is kind of gal (and I am - trust me, if you need someone to tell you if there’s food in your teeth, I’m your girl! π ), but I’m also a chronic people pleaser, so having to say the hard thing to people doesn’t come easily to me.
Second, like many people, I struggle with imposter syndrome. I LOVE sharing about my own Zazzle journey and how I have learned and grown along the way - even how my own designs have changed and how I’ve had to double down and learn how to design when I’m NOT an artist or designer! But I also don’t want to come across as THE source of all things design. I’m actually still learning, myself! And I know for a fact that some of my subscribers ARE professional designers, so that adds a whole additional layer of anxiety to any attempt on my part to “teach” or show you how to make good designs.
I don’t know how to deal with it, if I’m being totally honest. I want to help, but would it even be helpful? Maybe you can tell me.
If you’re in the situation I described above, how would YOU like me to help you? Would you like some kind of design advice from me - like a video or even a short course? Or would you rather I put together a curated collection of good design videos (done by others)? Or something else altogether? If you have any ideas or just thoughts about the whole thing, please drop me an email at [email protected] I would LOVE to hear from you. Thanks, friend! ♥
Freebie Time!
This month’s freebie is connected to the 100 products video. As I was explaining what I would do differently next time, it occurred to me that it might be easier to see this in “worksheet” format, so that’s your freebie this month! Inside the worksheet there’s also a link to a short (8 minute) explainer video so you know how to use it.
Click here to make a copy of your Free Worksheet. This is a Google Doc; you can work directly in it, or download it to your computer.
Designers Toolkit members, I didn’t forget about you! I've added a darling set of Gentle Spring Patterns to the Bonus section of the Designers Toolkit in Teachery. I love these patterns - they're actually part of a larger bundle of Spring Patterns that will be going into a future Toolkit! And they're seamless, too!
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If you want these patterns but you don't have the Designers Toolkit yet, you can still get it for $9 (including all the past bonuses, too!).
Remember, I'm adding these monthly bonuses to the original Designers Toolkit until the end of 2024. You can still get the Toolkit for $9 until then - including all the sweet bonuses I've added since it launched! But in 2025 I'll be revamping that Toolkit and raising the price to $17 (because it will include all those items I've added!). So if you still haven't gotten your hands on it, click here to grab it before the end of 2024.
β‘ In case you didn’t notice, I reopened Zazzle Unleashed! Yes, I know I said I was going to keep it closed until next year, but I’m a helper at heart, and I got so many emails and messages about it that I decided to reopen it. I did it without any fanfare, but it’s open, so if you or someone you know wanted to get in on it, grab it here. Yes, it’s still only $9.
π’ I’ve gotten a lot of requests for more lessons on Collections, so that is moving to the top of my to-do list. I can’t promise it by next month, but I will do it.
π§ I'm switching email service providers in November, so your next email from me may look slightly different. It's still me, I promise! π
Alright, let’s get to the real reason you came here today! My 100 Products Experiment!
You asked for it, you got it!
The results of our poll last month are in, and 73% of you wanted a video about my 100-products-in-1-week adventure! I suspect some of you just wanted to see me sweat, but I still love ya! π
I'm thinking of turning this into some kind of challenge or mini course. If you have thoughts about that, be sure to email and let me know! π
The video is about 35 minutes long. The original video was actually closer to 45 minutes long, but near the end my microphone poozled out on me and the sound suddenly got really scratchy and weird. So I just edited that part out, which does make the video end abruptly - but now you know why. Probably for the best, though, because I did get a bit rambly at the end! ππ
Here’s the video:
And here's a link to a Google Doc with all my notes in it (for the 19% of you who asked for a written post).
And here’s the condensed and much-less-rambly version of what I said during that last, cut-off part:
1. Be sure you are creating quality products that customers WANT. You can make the most awesome looking product out there, but if no one is searching for that or wants that, you’re not going to get the sales you want to get. π‘
2. If you’ve been on Zazzle for a while now, but you’re not seeing a lot of sales (despite having a lot of products with good titles and tags), it’s time to take a hard look at the QUALITY of your products.
There is a LOT more I could say on this topic, but I find myself up against a couple of “mental blocks” when it comes to talking about it. π
First, it’s hard to tell someone that the quality of their products isn’t really up to snuff…even if they are seeking that critical feedback. I know I come across as a tell-it-like-it-is kind of gal (and I am - trust me, if you need someone to tell you if there’s food in your teeth, I’m your girl! π ), but I’m also a chronic people pleaser, so having to say the hard thing to people doesn’t come easily to me.
Second, like many people, I struggle with imposter syndrome. I LOVE sharing about my own Zazzle journey and how I have learned and grown along the way - even how my own designs have changed and how I’ve had to double down and learn how to design when I’m NOT an artist or designer! But I also don’t want to come across as THE source of all things design. I’m actually still learning, myself! And I know for a fact that some of my subscribers ARE professional designers, so that adds a whole additional layer of anxiety to any attempt on my part to “teach” or show you how to make good designs.
I don’t know how to deal with it, if I’m being totally honest. I want to help, but would it even be helpful? Maybe you can tell me.
If you’re in the situation I described above, how would YOU like me to help you? Would you like some kind of design advice from me - like a video or even a short course? Or would you rather I put together a curated collection of good design videos (done by others)? Or something else altogether? If you have any ideas or just thoughts about the whole thing, please drop me an email at [email protected] I would LOVE to hear from you. Thanks, friend! ♥
Freebie Time!
This month’s freebie is connected to the 100 products video. As I was explaining what I would do differently next time, it occurred to me that it might be easier to see this in “worksheet” format, so that’s your freebie this month! Inside the worksheet there’s also a link to a short (8 minute) explainer video so you know how to use it.
Click here to make a copy of your Free Worksheet. This is a Google Doc; you can work directly in it, or download it to your computer.
Designers Toolkit members, I didn’t forget about you! I've added a darling set of Gentle Spring Patterns to the Bonus section of the Designers Toolkit in Teachery. I love these patterns - they're actually part of a larger bundle of Spring Patterns that will be going into a future Toolkit! And they're seamless, too!
If you want these patterns but you don't have the Designers Toolkit yet, you can still get it for $9 (including all the past bonuses, too!).
Remember, I'm adding these monthly bonuses to the original Designers Toolkit until the end of 2024. You can still get the Toolkit for $9 until then - including all the sweet bonuses I've added since it launched! But in 2025 I'll be revamping that Toolkit and raising the price to $17 (because it will include all those items I've added!). So if you still haven't gotten your hands on it, click here to grab it before the end of 2024.
That's it for November ♥
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!
Be sure to reach out if you have questions
or just want to say hi!
Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!
Be sure to reach out if you have questions
or just want to say hi!
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