Spilling the Beans on My Top Tips for Running a Successful Zazzle Store

 

Starting out on Zazzle can feel overwhelming—there’s a lot to learn, and it’s easy to get lost in the maze of products, settings, and tools. I’ve definitely been there! That’s why I wanted to share a few of the things that have truly helped me grow my store—bearing in mind, of course, that there's no single "right" way to do things. What works for one person might not suit another. The key is finding a system that works for you. So, if you’re feeling a bit lost, here’s what helped me find my way.

1. Invest in Training—Don’t Try to Wing It!

If you’re new to Zazzle, I really recommend starting with some form of training. It can save you so much time and prevent a lot of trial and error. I spent ages fumbling through it on my own at first—and let’s just say it wasn't in my best interest!

There are loads of free and paid options out there. I personally started with Jen and Elke Clarke’s training, which sharpened my design skills and taught me their strategy that really worked to increase my sales and build my store.

Another brilliant resource is the Zazzle Unleashed course from Temperance Meadows— for a super affordable, one-off fee, and packed with practical info on setting up your store, using the design tool, creating collections, and more. Whether you're brand new or just need a refresh, it’s an easy win. Just to let you know this is an affiliate link and I may earn a commission should you subsequently buy at no extra cost to you.

And if you’re looking for broader business support, I can’t say enough good things about the Passive Income Society (PIS). While it's focused mainly on Etsy, a lot of the principles apply to Zazzle too—and the Zazzle Unleashed course mentioned above is included in it too! The PIS is an incredible resource, full of up-to-date training, templates, clipart, mockups and so much more. Jessa and her team are the gift that keep on giving and it's very affordable - such great value! There is sometimes a waitlist to join - it's very popular! Jessa's Template Creator’s Society is also great value at just $7/month. I started with that and loved it so much, I very quickly upgraded to the PIS as I was so impressed. Check out all Jessa's memberships including the PIS and TCS here  and you can read more about how it's helped me so much here.

2. Know What People Are Actually Searching For—And Use Titles and Tags to Match

One of the best ways to grow your Zazzle store is to align your products with what people are actively looking for. You can uncover trending themes and designs for free using tools like Pinterest Trends, the Zazzle homepage, or by searching for your niche on Zazzle or Etsy to see what’s currently popular.

I also use InsightFactory, a brilliant tool that goes deeper. It helps me spot rising trends and gives me ideas for effective titles and tags that match what buyers are typing into search bars.

📝 Top tip: The right product title and tags are just as important as your design to help your products get found! If you’re unsure where to start, I highly recommend getting help from ChatGPT to asist you in crafting keyword-optimized titles, tags, and help with descriptions. 

3. Keep Sharpening Your Design Skills

Design trends are constantly evolving, so staying fresh and adaptable is key. Even if you’ve been designing for years, there’s always something new to learn or a better way to present your work.

Being part of a training community or mastermind group can be hugely valuable here. Not only do you get expert advice, but you can also share ideas, get feedback, and gain encouragement from fellow creatives who get it. We all second-guess ourselves from time to time—having that support makes a big difference.

4. Zazzle Cover Images—Are They Worth the Time?

There’s some debate around this, but here’s my personal take: while Zazzle has improved their in-situ images on many products, I still create custom cover images for items where it makes a real difference.

Think of products with unique features (like different designs on each side), or ones that require customer assembly—like trifold table cards or vellum overlays. In these cases, cover images help set clear expectations and avoid confusion. Have you ever bought something, only to be disappointed when it turns out to be different to what you expected? Yep, me too! Frustrating isn't it? That's why I think it's so important to make as clear as possible how the item works so folk know and understand exactly what they will be getting. Here's an example showing what I mean.

I also sometimes include extra info like close-ups of the artwork, and an explanation of how Zazzle works, as below.

I also like to provide a cover image highlighting if there’s a digital version available too—especially since that option isn’t super prominent on Zazzle’s product pages (at the time of writing this).

5. Pin to Pinterest (Even the Quick Way!)

Once I’ve created a product, I pin it to Pinterest right away—directly from Zazzle. While custom, manual pins may be the gold standard, they take time. I’ve found that simply pinning from Zazzle as I go is better than not pinning at all. You can always go back later and create more tailored pins for key products.

Despite most of my pins being automatic, I still generate a number of self-referrals through Pinterest—even with Zazzle’s newer Ambassador Program in place.

💡 Top Pinterest Tip: Name your boards based on the exact phrases people are searching for.

Say you have a blue floral wedding collection and decide to name your Pinterest board “Blue Floral Wedding Suite.” While that makes perfect sense, it’s worth being a bit more strategic.

Try typing “Blue Floral Wedding Suite” into the Pinterest search bar. Switch from “My Pins” to “All Pins” and check the suggestions that appear underneath. As you’ll see (and as shown in the diagram below), for this example, only what you've typed appears—indicating it’s not a term people are actively searching for.

Now try “Blue Floral Wedding” or “Blue Flowers Wedding” instead—you’ll notice a list of related search suggestions pop up. Those are the terms real people are typing in, which makes them much stronger candidates for your board titles.

I’ve been using this approach to name my boards for a while now, and I do believe it’s helped increase my Zazzle self-referrals. Granted, self-referrals can be hit or miss depending on a variety of factors, and I’m not going to pretend I get loads (lol if only!). But I do see several each week—and I’m grateful for every single one - I look upon them as a bonus, not a given!

Final Thoughts

One of the best things about Zazzle is its flexibility—you can build a business that fits around your life, work at your own pace, and create products you’re genuinely proud of.

If I could leave you with one key piece of advice, it would be this: don’t wait until everything feels perfect to get started. It’s totally normal to feel overwhelmed at first, but the more you create, the easier—and quicker—it gets. Like anything new, it’s a learning curve, and you’ll improve with every product you make.

Zazzle isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme (though wouldn’t that be nice!). It takes time, patience, and a little bit of grit. Many people give up too soon because they get discouraged when sales don’t happen overnight—but laying solid foundations from the start gives you the best chance of long-term success.

You’ve got this—wishing you the best of luck with your Zazzle store!

I've linked to all the resources mentioned above, so if you're curious, you can check them out too. Here's to growing your Zazzle store—one product (and pin!) at a time.