fieldnotes 10
.png)
Fieldnotes #10
It's May!
I cannot wrap my head around the fact that it is May! π€― We’re just a couple of months away from prepping for holiday designs again! What is happening to time?!
May is fixin’ to be a busy month for me! BIG NEWS: For the first time ever, I will be participating in an online summit as a presenter! ππ»π Of course I’ll be talking about Zazzle! I will be sending out a separate email about it in a couple of weeks, so watch for it - I’d love to have you join (it’s free).
And once again, I beg your pardon for the length of this month's Fieldnotes! π« I thought about splitting these topics into separate Fieldnotes, but I really feel like I need to talk about them right now, as we are all still getting our new sea-legs with the new user agreements at Zazzle. Thank you for sticking with me!
Fun Fact: Someone recently told me that too many emojis make my newsletters sound like AI. Here is my response to that: π€£ππ»π€·π»βοΈππ€ͺπ«
Seriously, though. I was using emojis before they were cool! I’m not saying I don’t use AI to tweak my content (why wouldn’t I? I mean, who wouldn’t benefit from another pair of eyes on their content - especially one as snarky as my ChatGPT is?!), but I’m the one who puts in all those emojis, I promise. π
So just for fun, I asked Chatty to give me some, um, “feedback” on my use of emojis, and here’s what it said. Remember, this is the same ChatGPT that roasted me about not having my monitor cable plugged in correctly a couple of months ago. π
“Well yes, you do use emojis like you’re getting paid by the π©. Somewhere out there, a Gen Z teen just called you ‘too much.’”
Listen, friends, after 30+ years of teaching high school English (where Gen Z teens called me "too much" on the regular! LOL), I’ve earned the right to express myself with as many emojis as I want. Call it trauma βοΈ processing π» through ππ» symbols β¨!
Alright, let's get to it. Remember, as always, you're free to just scroll down and snag that sweet freebie! You know I won't judge! π
.png)
New This Month: Field Tested Finds
Starting with this issue, you’ll find a little section at the very end called Field Tested Finds. π» This is where I’ll share some tools, resources, and products I actually use and keep reaching for.
People often ask what tools I use, who I’ve learned from, or how I streamline things behind the scenes. So I figured it’s time to pull back the curtain and start sharing the things that truly help me work smarter, design better, or just make life easier.
Yes, some of the links may be affiliate links, which just means I might earn a small commission if you try something I’ve recommended (at no extra cost to you). But I promise, nothing gets featured here unless it’s something I’ve personally used and would honestly recommend to a friend. If there’s ever a month where nothing fits that bill, this section will stay blank. I'm not just tryna' sell you stuff! π
Did you watch the Collections Video? π«£
If you didn’t catch my email about the Zazzle Collections video, here it is again:You can also watch it in your browser if you want by clicking here.
Heads up, it’s about an hour long, but there are chapter breaks along the way, so don't feel like you need to watch it in one sitting. π
β‘I also added this video directly to the Collections unit in Zazzle Unleashed, so if you are enrolled in that course you’ll always have access to it and won’t have to come back here trying to find the link.
If you’re not enrolled, you can still grab it for only $9.
.png)
Back to the Basics for Kate! (How 'bout you?)I’ve made a quiet commitment to myself this month: double down on strategic product creation on Zazzle. πͺπ» Like a lot of sellers right now, I’m watching my royalties like a hawk, and sure enough - it turns out I’ve been leaving money on the table in some very obvious places.
So I’m tackling this from both ends:
β‘I’m reviewing what is working (my best-selling products and design styles) and making sure I’m following my own advice: putting my best-selling designs on more products, and putting more designs on my best-selling products.
β‘I’m also looking at what’s not getting views or sales and deciding what’s worth salvaging and optimizing and what just needs to go or stay hidden.
While I was deep in this review, I pulled out my 101 Trending Niches & Designs on Zazzle guide to see if it needed any updates—and honestly? I impressed myself. π When I created that guide, I was very intentional about choosing niches and design ideas that weren’t tied to just 2024 or some blink-and-you-miss-it fad.
They’re still going strong because they’re what I like to call “durable design categories”. They are trend-aware, not trend-dependent. If you didn’t grab the guide when it first came out, you can still get it for free. It’s a solid foundation if you're building or rebooting your store on Zazzle (or anywhere else, really). So click below to grab it if you don't have it (or grab it again if you lost it...yeah, I'm talking to myself, too! π ).png)
While I was deep in this review, I pulled out my 101 Trending Niches & Designs on Zazzle guide to see if it needed any updates—and honestly? I impressed myself. π When I created that guide, I was very intentional about choosing niches and design ideas that weren’t tied to just 2024 or some blink-and-you-miss-it fad.
They’re still going strong because they’re what I like to call “durable design categories”. They are trend-aware, not trend-dependent. If you didn’t grab the guide when it first came out, you can still get it for free. It’s a solid foundation if you're building or rebooting your store on Zazzle (or anywhere else, really). So click below to grab it if you don't have it (or grab it again if you lost it...yeah, I'm talking to myself, too! π )
.png)
Royalties, Referrals, and Digital Downloads (Oh My!)
The furor over Zazzle’s new royalty structure has mostly simmered down, and honestly, I’m glad. π« I tend to absorb other people’s stress like a sponge, so I’ve been steering clear of forums lately for the sake of my own sanity.
That said, I have been testing some things. I raised my royalties just enough to keep my income steady after Zazzle’s new carve-outs, which ended up being about a 7–8% increase for me. If your royalties were already high, that might not work for you, but it’s worth running the numbers. And remember, no frantic royalty rate tweaking! Give changes at least a month to play out.
More than ever, promoting your own products matters. I’ve been doing a lot more “double pinning”: once with a clean link, once with my Ambassador link. It takes a little more effort, but it adds up, and I’ll share more as I watch my progress and any effect it has on my income.
Now, let’s talk Digital Downloads. I know a lot of folks are frustrated with how much less we’re earning per sale, but turning them off completely? That’s a hard no from me. Even with my DD royalties set on the lower side (mine are at 82%), I still make $1.75 per download. And often, customers buy both the download AND the printed version, which brings in even more royalties. π€ That’s money in my pocket from a toggle switch I turned on once and then never touched again. Yes, please! π And yes, I know we used to make more per sale. But I’d rather make $1.75 for doing nothing than make $0 out of protest.
Of course, at the end of the day, YOU get to run YOUR business however you want. I will support you no matter what! π I’m not here to boss you (well, maybe just a little); I’m just here to share what’s actually working for me. You’ve got the freedom to disagree. But if you’ve been on the fence about Digital Downloads, consider this your gentle nudge to reconsider before walking away from money that’s already sitting there waiting.
Mindset Moment: Is Zazzle Still Worth It?
One of the most common questions I hear (especially from longtime sellers) is: “Is it even worth putting effort into Zazzle anymore?”
Short answer: Yes…but with a mindset shift (if necessary!)
In its early years, Zazzle was very artist-centric. People came to the site to browse unique artwork and indie styles, and the POD part was almost secondary. Art was the product.
π£That’s not how Zazzle works anymore.
Since around 2018 (and especially post-pandemic) Zazzle’s marketplace has shifted. Now, the PRODUCT is the product. Customers come to Zazzle looking to solve a problem:
π“I need a baby shower invitation.”
π “I’m shopping for a Father’s Day gift.”
π “I need business cards and marketing flyers.”
So if your design happens to be artistic and serves a clear purpose, awesome! But if it doesn’t meet a need or fit a specific context, it likely won’t sell. Not because it isn’t good or Zazzle is “hiding” it, but because it’s not what people are searching for. π€·π»βοΈ
To be blunt: a lot of talented sellers are still treating Zazzle like it’s 2012, hoping it will showcase their art just because it’s beautiful. But that era is over. Zazzle today is a platform where design must function, not just exist.
π¨Now, that doesn’t mean you have to ditch your artistic soul. It just means re-framing your role. You’re not just “selling your art” on Zazzle anymore. You’re selling stationery and home decor, and your artistic style becomes your brand. Find that sweet spot where creativity meets strategy.
Zazzle still wants unique, skilled artists. But they also want to sell products. So the challenge (and opportunity) is to apply your creativity toward a clear purpose: designing with function and beauty in mind.
For some of us (hello, non-artist here ππ»βοΈ), that pivot is easier. But even if you’re a trained artist, you can make the shift. And if you do? You’re far more likely to build a sustainable and profitable business.
Now, if Zazzle is just a hobby or a place to showcase your work, that’s totally valid, too! ππ» But go into it knowing that the old “upload it and they will come” days are long gone.
Zazzle has changed. But if you’re willing to think like a product designer, not just an artist, there’s still a lot of opportunity here.
What should you be creating right now?
Now that we’re thinking like product designers, the next step is simple: figure out what people are shopping for, and create to meet that need.
Summer is coming up fast, so focus on:
π4th of July / Independence Day party supplies
πSummer BBQ invites and signage
πFamily reunion gear (shirts, name tags, welcome signs)
Start prepping now for Fall shoppers:
πAutumn-themed wedding invites
πFall baby and bridal shower suites
πCozy seasonal home and event decor
Back to School is also ramping up, so don't forget:
βοΈTeacher gifts, school labels, lunchbox notes
βοΈCustom planners and class-themed supplies
Need more ideas? Grab the free Niche & Trends Guide (or dig into it if you already have it!). It’s full of design prompts that solve real customer needs.
What should you be promoting right now?
π Graduation season isn’t over yet! Schools in some states go through mid-June, and year-round programs hold ceremonies as late as July. And here’s a fun fact: mid-year grads shop in November and December too! This is a year-round niche always worth promoting.
π¨π§ Father’s Day is right around the corner (June 15 in the U.S.) Shoppers are already browsing, so now’s the time to promote giftable items like mugs, shirts, cards, and personalized keepsakes.
π Graduation season isn’t over yet! Schools in some states go through mid-June, and year-round programs hold ceremonies as late as July. And here’s a fun fact: mid-year grads shop in November and December too! This is a year-round niche always worth promoting.
π¨π§ Father’s Day is right around the corner (June 15 in the U.S.) Shoppers are already browsing, so now’s the time to promote giftable items like mugs, shirts, cards, and personalized keepsakes.
.png)
This month I’ve got a cute, trendy pack of hipster skater animals showing off their best tricks on wheels! πΉ They’re great for all kinds of things: birthdays, nursery art, back to school, t-shirts, stickers, name labels, and more! I really love them - I’m actually considering adding them to a future Toolkit (π€«)! But for now, it’s my gift to you, for putting up with my rambling!
Seriously though, thank you for sticking with me and letting me be part of your journey! And remember, all of our products (freebies included) come with our generous POD and PLR license. You can click here or on the image below to grab this pack now and get designing!
.png)
.png)
Product Spark: I’ve tested a lot of GPTs for product listings, but none that really get Zazzle, until now. My friend Kimberly Costa created Product Spark, and it’s hands-down the best listing assistant I’ve ever used!It’s built specifically for Zazzle, Etsy, Shopify, and Amazon, and it actually understands things like formatting, character limits, SEO (for each platform!!), and even Pinterest descriptions.
Here’s how I use it: I create a product, screenshot the preview, drop it into Product Spark, and ask for a Zazzle listing + Pinterest description. Within seconds, I get titles, descriptions, tags, and SEO - all optimized for Zazzle (or whatever platform I'm on - Etsy, Amazon, etc.). Don’t love the first batch (or need to list multiple similar products)? Just ask for more. You can even use the templates she provides to plug in your brand voice so everything sounds like you.
It’s solid gold for reviving old listings, too. I’ll be honest, I’ve been a slacker about optimizing my hidden listings, mostly because reworking titles and tags is such a slog. π But with Product Spark, it’s lightning fast now!
Oh, and if you’re an Etsy seller this thing is a lifesaver. It comes with amazing templates to help you define your brand voice, audience messaging, and product details so your listings feel polished and consistent. (And yes, those same templates work great for your Zazzle brand, too. But let’s be real: Etsy listings are their own kind of chaos. π« )
I’m not going to sugarcoat this part: Yes, it’s $97 (but that’s the early bird price, so I’m guessing it will go up). But if listing drains you, this tool pays for itself in no time. I originally bought it because I’m a big fan of Kim’s work and knew she’d overdeliver. But now that I’ve actually used Product Spark, I can say with zero bias that it’s one of the most useful tools I’ve added to my workflow in years. I’d buy it again in a heartbeat, fan or not.
And yes, it works with the free version of ChatGPT. ππ»
You can take a look at it in detail here (yes, that’s my affiliate link).
♥ That's it for May♥
If you're reading this, I wish I could make you understand how much it means to me that you are still here! THANK YOU!
I know my weaknesses, and rambling is a big one!
I swear I'm trying! π
Be sure to reach out if you have questions or just want to say hi!
If you're reading this, I wish I could make you understand how much it means to me that you are still here! THANK YOU!
I know my weaknesses, and rambling is a big one!
I swear I'm trying! π
Be sure to reach out if you have questions or just want to say hi!
.png)