Saturday, September 29, 2012

female contemporary art

Your Name/Shop Name *
female contemporary art
How long have you been an online shopkeeper with a POD shop. *
2-4 years (2008-2010 start date)
What does "SEO" mean to you? And what is the most important thing you do for SEO? *
Search engine optimization
Keyword introduction (still working on this)
tags,
twitter, facebook, g+
branding my stores and links
sharing links
promoting links on tohers' websites - a lot of goodwill
How do you promote your shops? *
  • blogger
  • posterous
  • twitter
  • facebook page
  • linkedin
  • google+
  • your own website
  • business cards
  • link exchanges
What types of products do you love to sell? *
Posters, Tees, Greeting Cards, Invitations, Gifts
How many different POD's do you offer designs on *
3
What do you enjoy doing when not working on your POD sites? *
Painting
Photogrpahy
Crochet Jewellery
Gardening
T-Shirt design
Cooking - Lurve food!
Anything and everything rottweiler
Partying with friends
Do you prefer to work *
at a desk in silence
what is the best advice you would give someone just starting out? *
Practice makes perfect
Be a dog with a bone - persistance
Organisation
Learning shortcuts - quick create and sharing
Patience
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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Ixodoi arts

Your Name/Shop Name *
Ixodoi arts
How long have you been an online shopkeeper with a POD shop. *
less then 6 months (only 2012)
What does "SEO" mean to you? And what is the most important thing you do for SEO? *
SEO = search engine optimization. It is basically my way to make my work more accessible to others.

I do it by selecting names & tabs I believe people searching for my work will search and by publishing links to my work on social networks and blogs associated with the same subjects as my work.
How do you promote your shops? *
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • facebook page
  • google+
  • your own website
  • other online advertising
  • link exchanges
  • pinging
  • pinterest
  • squidoo
  • other page sites
  • other social networking sites
What types of products do you love to sell? *
I can't really say I have favorite products. It is more about the designs. I like cartoons and cute designs.
How many different POD's do you offer designs on *
8+
What do you enjoy doing when not working on your POD sites? *
mostly writing and playing with my kids. reading is a hug habit that unfortunately I have less and less time for.
Do you prefer to work *
in a comfy chair/sofa/bed in silence
what is the best advice you would give someone just starting out? *
You must never give up, things take time. It take time to build your work and time to build your name. However if you will stick with your belief and always listen to your heart you will eventually live your dream.
List your zazzle shops

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Diane Clancy's Art

Your Name/Shop Name *
Diane Clancy's Art
How long have you been an online shopkeeper with a POD shop. *
5-7 years (2005-2008 start date)
What does "SEO" mean to you? And what is the most important thing you do for SEO? *
SEO - Search Engine Optimization - means to me a way to allow people to see my art and products. My art is mainly about colors, so I use lots of different colors - I look into my paintings to see what hues I have used. Also, I have special animal companions and I put the type of dog or cat to make it more likely that someone will find their favorite. So, I try to figure out how a customer would see my art - to make it possible for them to find me.
How do you promote your shops? *
  • blogger
  • wordpress
  • posterous
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • facebook page
  • linkedin
  • google+
  • your own website
  • youtube
  • business cards
  • flyers
  • pinterest
  • squidoo
  • other social networking sites
What types of products do you love to sell? *
I have sold one skateboard and that was thrilling that someone would choose my design. I am also very excited when I sell cases for the iPhone and other electronics. Mugs, posters and cards make up many of my sales and I am happy with each one.
How many different POD's do you offer designs on *
6
What do you enjoy doing when not working on your POD sites? *
I like to create art - that is my favorite thing to do. Networking with other artists and customers ranks high on the list. But even when watching movies (which I love to do), my partner and I are always talking about the film in terms of creating art or writing scripts. Visiting with friends is great fun too!
Do you prefer to work *
in a comfy chair/sofa/bed in silence
what is the best advice you would give someone just starting out? *
I would encourage anyone starting out to network with other POD shopkeepers! My sales increased once I got more involved. Folks on Facebook tend to be very generous. Also, I would really take the time to figure out how to lay out your shop - by image or category (it is much easier to do it the way you want at the beginning). Finally I would say - MARKET - get your work out there in any way you can!
List your zazzle shops


Want to know how we made this work? Check Out Wufoo.com

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Susan's Zoo Crew

Your Name/Shop Name *
Susan's Zoo Crew
How long have you been an online shopkeeper with a POD shop. *
6 months to 1 year(late 2011 early 2012)
What does "SEO" mean to you? And what is the most important thing you do for SEO? *
SEO means making sure that if someone types in a keyword search in a search engine such as google or yahoo, that my webpage/product will show up highly ranked so they actually see it. I make sure to have the best keywords on products I can find and to use alternate words for things when writing blogs and the like.
How do you promote your shops? *
  • blogger
  • wordpress
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • facebook page
  • google+
  • your own website
  • youtube
  • using you own products as gifts
  • pinterest
  • weebly
  • squidoo
  • zujava
What types of products do you love to sell? *
Types? I'd have to say anything with my original artwork and photography on it! I have to say I enjoy when someone does a mug or plate since I figure they will get more use out of that than say a postcard to send out.
How many different POD's do you offer designs on *
4
What do you enjoy doing when not working on your POD sites? *
Lots of things! I'm a musician, playing bass, originally percussionist, and fiddle with guitar and now keyboards. I also attempt to grow vegetables. I raise bonsai, mostly a succulent called Portulacaria afra. I have lots of other plants that are just "pretty". I have animals that keep me busy, and in what little time is left over I love to read and create "stuff".
Do you prefer to work *
at a desk in silence
what is the best advice you would give someone just starting out? *
Don't be afraid to put designs on products that seem odd. Most of my best sellers I never thought would sell like that! Work on topics that interest you and listen to people who have been successfully doing this for a while. Oh, wait, that's multiple advices....*sneaks extra advices in*
List your zazzle shops

Friday, September 21, 2012

Watersky

Your Name/Shop Name *
Watersky
How long have you been an online shopkeeper with a POD shop. *
6 months to 1 year(late 2011 early 2012)
What does "SEO" mean to you? And what is the most important thing you do for SEO? *
I'm using Pingler to ping my shops when they have new products, and gremIn to automate my tweets. After I enter a tweet, I copy it to gremIN so it will recur. I also manually enter my new products on my Facebook pages.

I need to do a lot more, including post on my exisiting blogs and starting one just for Zazzle, but time constraints make it difficult. I belong to LinkedIn and Posterous but rarely use them.

How do you promote your shops? *
  • blogger
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • google+
  • pinging
  • pinterest
What types of products do you love to sell? *
I love intense designs in high color and I love abstraction. So that's what I enjoy selling. I like the way many of my designs look on a variety of products, from case and gift boxes to kitchen items. I especially enjoy making pillows and messenger bags, as their larger size allows for more of the layered detail of a design to show through.
How many different POD's do you offer designs on *
5
What do you enjoy doing when not working on your POD sites? *
Hiking, swimming, kayaking, photography and abstract painting in watercolors or acrylics. I also love to write and have 4 young adult novel manuscripts waiting to be re-visited. But doing art takes all my available time, right now.
Do you prefer to work *
at a desk in silence
what is the best advice you would give someone just starting out? *
Do it for the joy of it. If you obsess about outcomes or lack patience, you won't be happy. Stay with your creative flow and move around the obstacles in good humor. Easier said than done, of course...

I do love the journey. It's a great adventure and I think when all is said and done, my lifeline.
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Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Flamin Cat Designs

Your Name/Shop Name *
Flamin Cat Designs
How long have you been an online shopkeeper with a POD shop. *
1-2 years (2010-2011 start date)
What does "SEO" mean to you? And what is the most important thing you do for SEO? *
SEO is something I did not know existed until I started my first shop on Zazzle. I struggle with descriptions and tags but it is a job that has to be done. I read about the latest changes with Google and make sure I am not doing anything that will hurt my SEO. It is a constant learning process.
How do you promote your shops? *
  • blogger
  • wordpress
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • facebook page
  • myspace
  • google+
  • your own website
  • pinging
  • pinterest
  • squidoo
What types of products do you love to sell? *
My favorite sale to date was a canvas print of my two Bengal cats, one cat was giving the other one kitty kisses. It makes me very happy that my beautiful cats are making someone happy. I also have gotten a thrill out of selling my Christmas Cat ornaments and T-shirts.
How many different POD's do you offer designs on *
3
What do you enjoy doing when not working on your POD sites? *
My cats keep me quite busy. I have two Bengal cats and one Savannah cat and they are both active breeds. My husband loves offroading with his dune buggy. We spend a lot of our free time camping and even take the cats with us in our motorhome on some of our trips.
Do you prefer to work *
in a comfy chair/sofa/bed with background noise
what is the best advice you would give someone just starting out? *
My advice to anyone starting out is to be active in the online communities where there are other people who have POD shops. Learn from them: how the shops function, get advice on designs and tips on promotion. I could not have gotten as far as I have today without all the help from other community members.
List your zazzle shops


Want to know how we made this work? Check Out Wufoo.com

Eye Heart

Your Name/Shop Name *
Eye Heart
How long have you been an online shopkeeper with a POD shop. *
5-7 years (2005-2008 start date)
What does "SEO" mean to you? And what is the most important thing you do for SEO? *
Getting your message out. I spend lots of time networking and adding my products anywhere that I can. This includes adding the work of others that I meet to my blogs and sites.
How do you promote your shops? *
  • blogger
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • facebook page
  • myspace
  • google+
  • email
  • business cards
  • online classified ads
  • pinterest
  • squidoo
  • other page sites
  • other social networking sites
  • other blogs
What types of products do you love to sell? *
I like to sell period. What I like to design are those items that take some thought when designing.
How many different POD's do you offer designs on *
8+
What do you enjoy doing when not working on your POD sites? *
Spending time with my hubby and cats. Now that it is summer I love to feed the humming birds. I always enjoy music and tv but I get lost in my design work and don't quite see much television/movies
Do you prefer to work *
in a comfy chair/sofa/bed with background noise
what is the best advice you would give someone just starting out? *
Don't stop creating and adding to your shop. When you get discouraged find a new site or sharing network to add your completed items to .
List your zazzle shops


Want to know how we made this work? Check Out Wufoo.com

Monday, September 17, 2012

PrimeVintage

Your Name/Shop Name *
PrimeVintage
How long have you been an online shopkeeper with a POD shop. *
5-7 years (2005-2008 start date)
What does "SEO" mean to you? And what is the most important thing you do for SEO? *
Search Engine Optimization is equally as important as designing and creating products. Without it, my products would be buried in the depths of the internet and hardly found by anyone.
How do you promote your shops? *
  • blogger
  • wordpress
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • facebook page
  • linkedin
  • google+
  • your own website
  • email
  • using you own products as gifts
  • pinging
  • pinterest
  • other blogs
  • other
What types of products do you love to sell? *
My favorites are wrapped canvases and i-pad cases because there is a lot of room for the design to show to its best advantage.
How many different POD's do you offer designs on *
5
What do you enjoy doing when not working on your POD sites? *
I love my garden and my animals, especially my dog Floppy, a big black and white collie mix. He's my constant companion and knows my working routine. As he spends so many hours waiting for me to finish work, it's only fair that we get to spend time outdoors doing things he loves - going for walks and investigating the wildlife in the woods.
Do you prefer to work *
anywhere doesn't matter if it is quiet or not
what is the best advice you would give someone just starting out? *
Don't give up and just keep working - you get out of POD's what you put in but, like most things in life, it takes time to establish a good presence on a website.
List your zazzle shops


Want to know how we made this work? Check Out Wufoo.com

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Rooky Studios

Your Name/Shop Name *
Rooky Studios
How long have you been an online shopkeeper with a POD shop. *
5-7 years (2005-2008 start date)
What does "SEO" mean to you? And what is the most important thing you do for SEO? *
Search Engine Optimization; We feed the engines with links posted everywhere possible that a real human will also find them appealing. We use Twitter and facebook for most of our link building efforts, along with our own blog.
How do you promote your shops? *
  • blogger
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • facebook page
  • google+
  • your own website
  • business cards
  • chat rooms
  • other online advertising
  • link exchanges
  • pinterest
  • squidoo
  • other social networking sites
  • other blogs
What types of products do you love to sell? *
Rooky Studios specializes in creating business cards and promotional products for horse businesses. We like designing them, and equestrians love buying them. We have many regular customers that keep coming back for more.
How many different POD's do you offer designs on *
7
What do you enjoy doing when not working on your POD sites? *
We are first and foremost equestrians ourselves, we enjoy anything that involves spending time with our own horses, and photographing horses as a very close second favorite activity.
Do you prefer to work *
in a comfy chair/sofa/bed with background noise
what is the best advice you would give someone just starting out? *
Get Busy! We encourage people new to POD's to do a lot of research and then get busy designing, and then promoting.
List your zazzle shops


Want to know how we made this work? Check Out Wufoo.com

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Noteable Expressions

Your Name/Shop Name *
Noteable Expressions
How long have you been an online shopkeeper with a POD shop. *
5-7 years (2005-2008 start date)
What does "SEO" mean to you? And what is the most important thing you do for SEO? *
Search Engine Optimization - probably one of the hardest things to do for me - I'm all about the art but that being said - I realize that it is extremely important. So I utilize Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, and websites to help build links and get the word out.
How do you promote your shops? *
  • blogger
  • posterous
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • facebook page
  • linkedin
  • google+
  • your own website
  • business cards
  • using you own products as gifts
  • other online advertising
  • squidoo
What types of products do you love to sell? *
Some of my favorites things to sell are my wedding sets. I have matching and/or coordinating invitations, save the dates, response cards, rsvp postcards, stamps, table number cards and other items to help make it a very special day for the happy couple.
How many different POD's do you offer designs on *
1
What do you enjoy doing when not working on your POD sites? *
I love spending time with my family - my girls are my world! We swim, play lots of board games and love to just hang out together. I also love to read and play some games on the computer.
Do you prefer to work *
at a desk with music/tv in the background
what is the best advice you would give someone just starting out? *
Do what you love! If you love what you do - it shows. Also, if you love what you are doing, you don't get burned out as easily.
List your zazzle shops

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Flags of Nations or Flagnation

Your Name/Shop Name *
Flags of Nations or Flagnation
How long have you been an online shopkeeper with a POD shop. *
7+ years (priot to 2005 start date)
What does "SEO" mean to you? And what is the most important thing you do for SEO? *
SEO is search engine optimization. It means making your web site , or shop, a page that search engines will want to rank high. This is to help shoppers find my shop when they do a search for a particular design. I stink at it, but I still work at trying to keep my key words or tags and descriptions very relevant to the particular design because that is the best and most honest way to attract clientele to my shop.
How do you promote your shops? *
  • blogger
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • facebook page
  • your own website
  • business cards
  • using you own products as gifts
  • link exchanges
  • squidoo
What types of products do you love to sell? *
At zazzle, my absolute favorite is the little candy jar. it is just as cute as a candy jar can be. not sure why I like it so much, but I do.
How many different POD's do you offer designs on *
6
What do you enjoy doing when not working on your POD sites? *
I am very politically active, so I do stuff in that regard, but I do not want to get political here. Just that you asked what I do and that is some of what I do. I also enjoy science fiction movies and TV programs. My current favorite is TNT's "Falling Skies". I still miss "LOST", but I do love "Touch" on FOX. I am semi-active at my church, baking brownies and stuff for their events. Those things and my shops keep me pretty busy.
Do you prefer to work *
anywhere doesn't matter if it is quiet or not
what is the best advice you would give someone just starting out? *
Be patient. Rome was not built in a day. You will have to create many designs and place them on as many products as possible before you see any profit. You will have to work hard, but it will be fun and rewarding. You will, as you learn and join various groups, "meet" some of the most amazing and wonderful people, too. Treasure them.
List your zazzle shops


Want to know how we made this work? Check Out Wufoo.com

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Inspired Ambitions

Your Name/Shop Name *
Inspired Ambitions
How long have you been an online shopkeeper with a POD shop. *
5-7 years (2005-2008 start date)
What does "SEO" mean to you? And what is the most important thing you do for SEO? *
I have been selling on line for over ten years and just recently found out that this means Search Engine Optimization ? I used to use search engine placement sites but read they are out of date. I use all kinds of networking sites and blogs.
How do you promote your shops? *
  • blogger
  • twitter
  • facebook
  • facebook page
  • myspace
  • linkedin
  • google+
  • online classified ads
  • pinterest
  • squidoo
  • other social networking sites
  • other blogs
What types of products do you love to sell? *
I like anything that sells. What I like to make are items that take a bit of time in designing. Business cards are great to work with. I have a shop just for them
How many different POD's do you offer designs on *
8+
What do you enjoy doing when not working on your POD sites? *
Try to get out information on animal rescue and I love photography of all kinds. Taking photos and just enjoying them where I see them.
Do you prefer to work *
in a comfy chair/sofa/bed with background noise
what is the best advice you would give someone just starting out? *
Keep at it. There are times when you will feel that all your work is in vain but keep on designing.
List your zazzle shops


Want to know how we made this work? Check Out Wufoo.com

Friday, September 7, 2012

oddlotpaperie

Your Name/Shop Name *
oddlotpaperie
How long have you been an online shopkeeper with a POD shop. *
5-7 years (2005-2008 start date)
What does "SEO" mean to you? And what is the most important thing you do for SEO? *
SEO means search engine optimization! I do this my adding niche shops to zazzle or niche designs that are usually only for a certain holiday and customer...like skulls. I make sure I tag things appropriately both in my keywords on zazzle and on my own sites off of zazzle.
How do you promote your shops? *
  • blogger
  • wordpress
  • twitter
  • facebook page
  • google+
  • email
  • business cards
  • using you own products as gifts
  • other blogs
What types of products do you love to sell? *
I LOVE selling anything offbeat and not run of the mill. My favorite thing to design for is theme or offbeat weddings. These kinds of weddings are so fun and unique that I never tire of designing for them and helping the brides!
How many different POD's do you offer designs on *
2
What do you enjoy doing when not working on your POD sites? *
I love making art for video game companies. I also do that as my own business for over 12 years now and really enjoy it. www.juliefarrell.com if you want to see some of my professional career work. and when I get time from designing I take a break and play online social games or the new latest hit that comes out on the market. Im big into movies also. I have kids and a dog that is like a kid, so anything that involves them and getting out of the house we are there! :)
Do you prefer to work *
at a desk with music/tv in the background
what is the best advice you would give someone just starting out? *
Success isn't going to happen overnight. Stick with what you love, have a goal for yourself everyweek. Be organized, make contacts and network your butt off!
List your zazzle shops

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Mind Garden Designs

Your shop name *
Mind Garden Designs
Zazzle to me is a... *
Hobby that I wish would become a part time job
What is the best advice you have received from a fellow shopkeeper about your shops or designs you would like to pass on to another shopkeeper? *

Love the Zazzle forum. Other shopkeepers ask all kinds of questions that I should ask but never think of! Lots of good advice there, and well worth taking the time to read through for ideas on how to promote your store or solve problems that may have come up. Especially when you are first starting out. Zazzle shopkeepers seem to be very open with suggestions on how to make it all work, which is good, because the more of us that it is successful for, the more success we all are likely to have.

Encouragement from other users really boosts morale too. Having people drop by and make a comment about a product or the look of the store helps to keep me working on it.

What PODs do u currently use or have shops on? *
  • Zazzle
  • Imagekind
What did you do with your free time before zazzle or other POD's....and what do you do with it now? *
I paint, draw, do photography, write and wander in nature as much as I can. Nature is always reflected in whatever media I happen to chose that day.

Before I got involved with Zazzle I used to sell my works individually and in person. This is so much better and less time consuming. I can spend my time creating and exploring.
What programs do you use to make your designs *
  • Photoshop (any version)
  • Other photo-editing software
Tell us more about what you like and do not like about each software you use, what makes it special. *

Adobe Photoshop CS2 - I like because I can save in a variety of different file types, which means I can transfer to other programs fairly easily. I do not like the fact that it can be cumbersome to create some of the effects I would like to create.

ArcSoft PhotoStudio 4 for Canon - works well with my Canon camera for editing photos easily, but also contains several paint-style features that I find easy to use when creating art work from scratch. Gives me user friendly control over editing. Do not like the fact that there are few file format choices to save as. To save as .png I have to save my work, then open the work in Photoshop and save as .png from there.

Will you make custom orders? *
Yes - no prepay required
Elaborate on your answer above regarding custom orders... *

Custom orders can be challenging because you frequently get customers who change their mind mid-stream. I would do the work with no pre-pay required unless the design included aspects that would not allow me to sell to anyone else, particularly if the customer cancelled the order or returned it dissatisfied. For example, if they wanted a design that I could easily adapt for 'anyone' I would not charge ahead of time - if they wanted t-shirts for their business with their logo, name, or other personal aspects on, and I could not adapt to selling to 'anyone', I would ask for pre-payment.

List your shop URL's *


Want to know how we made this work? Check Out Wufoo.com