Success on Zibbet The SOZ section of Zibbet’s blog, Inspire, is packed with articles that address a wide variety of topics. Unless you’re experiencing a specific technical problem with your shop, the answer to your question is most likely answered here in SOZ. To make finding articles easier, we’ve created a cross referenced index over on Zibbet’s Community Hub. You can also conduct a keyword search here in the blog.

Zibbet’s Community Hub ZCH is populated by experienced Zibbet sellers who are happy to answer questions posted there. Feel free to search and/or browse existing discussions to learn more about Zibbet or start your own discussion. The community spirit at Zibbet is like nowhere else, so don’t hesitate to become part of our sharing group of sellers.

Zibbet Help Click the Help link in the upper right hand corner of any Zibbet page to be taken to our Zibbet’s Knowledge Base. You’ll surely find answers to some of your questions here. When the Zibbet rebuild is launched, this area will be more fully developed and include answers to almost every question you may have about your Zibbet shop. Until then, we encourage you to tap into the resources listed above if you don’t find the information you need in Zibbet’s Knowledge Base.

Zibbet Support You can always contact Zibbet Support by sending an email to support @ zibbet.com. This is where you need to come for assistance with technical issues with your shop. We’re also happy to answer informational questions. Our intent is always to answer inquiries within 24 hours Monday through Friday.

Zibbet’s Newsletter Zibbet’s weekly newsletter is a great way to keep up with the latest happenings at Zibbet and occasional special offers. If you aren’t subscribed to our newsletter, send your request to support @ zibbet.com. Be sure to specify in your request the email address where you’d like to have your newsletter sent.

Best wishes for much success on Zibbet!

Vicki is committed to assisting her fellow Zibbeters improve their shops for successful online selling. She is the owner of five Zibbet shops: LOC Design Studio, Papa Spivey’s Trunk, A Stitch and a Prayer and Think Like a Fish. You can follow Vicki on Twitter and through her LOC Design Studio blog.

I get sucked in by color - bright colors - and clear photos. And sometimes cuteness as in the last item featured here.

Visit Zibbet.com’s front page often to find thousands of new art listings, craft supplies, handcrafted goods, and a great selection of vintage items, too. Refresh the page to get an ever-changing selection.

1. Art Tumblers Cups Mugs by Blue Sky Pottery $28: Easy to see how this colorful photo caught my eye. Blue Sky Pottery says, “Why drink your iced tea, lemonade, milk, mojito or other beverage out of a boring glass when you can spice up your drink with these colorful handmade tumblers?”

2. Degrees of Refraction Scarf, Purple and Blood Orange by Jhoole $75: A clear photo with a light background made this 100% silk scarf jump right out at me on the front page of Zibbet. Jhoole says, “Startling colors merge together and are accentuated by intricate white designs running the length of the scarf. “

3. The Artist-original painting by Dianas Wonderworks $55: This brightly colored original painting caught my eye. Diana’s Wonderworks says, “This cute 8″ x 10″ original painting is full of color and spunk! The edges are even painted to make display easier. You can hang it with or without a frame, and because it is a smaller piece, it can even be set on a stand and be displayed on any table top, dresser or shelf.”

4. Bracelet of red vinyl, turquoise, Baltic amber, features Tibetan mala beads by Ann Brooks Studio $42: Instant love when I spotted this bracelet on the front page of Zibbet. The crystal clear photo with the white background showed me its detail. Ann Brooks says, “This bracelet is part of my World Peace Collection … beads from the world’s cultures and religions coming together in harmony”

5. Doll in the Waldorf style 11.5 - 12 inches by Annadoll’s House $185: I’ve been in love with Waldorf dolls for a long time. This one is ultimate cuteness. Anna says, “Growth girl is only 30 cm. All materials are natural, completely handmade.” Made with all natural materials and totally eco-friendly and safe for a child as young as 2 years old. Adults love and collect these dolls as well.

very top image - Abstract Fine Art Print - View From Mazengah by Budan Art $17

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Judy writes the ‘Fantastic Five‘ column where she features 5 Zibbet items every week. She is the owner of four Zibbet shops: Portable Graffiti Graphics, Portable Graffiti buttons, Proofreader, and Wild Goose Chase vintage, crafts and supplies. You can follow Judy on Facebook.

Their shop on Zibbet is known as CC Creations. Melisa and Eric find that creating together is a fun and relaxing way to spend time together. They are always looking for new materials and techniques to challenge themselves and improve their skills.

Please enjoy the interview, leave Melisa a comment, and then use the Share Tools so others can read it, too. Please spread the Zibbet Love!

1. Tell us a bit about yourself?

   Hi!  My name is Melisa and I create jewelry.

   My very understanding and supportive husband Eric is my partner in this venture although he doesn’t get much time to actually create these days.

2. Apart from being ‘creative’ what do you do?

   We both work full-time so we try to balance being creative with bringing home the bacon.

3. What inspires you to do the kind of work you do?

   I love being able to create something beautiful using colors I see all around me.

   I have been trying to be more aware of my surroundings and really ‘see’ the world around me to draw even more inspiration.

4. Do you look up to anyone? Who? Why?

   I look up to all the jewelry makers that start as a home-based business and work hard to make that dream grow into something great.

   I have had the pleasure of meeting several of them and they are truly inspiring!

5. What other passions do you have in your life?

   Unfortunately, there isn’t enough time in the day for all the things we would like to do but we would love to travel around the US someday.

6. What do you like most about Zibbet?

   I love the friendly atmosphere and ease of use.

   The shops look very nice once they are all set up and there are a lot of new features that will be added with the upgrade.

7. What ‘new’ things would you like to see added to Zibbet?

   I can’t wait for the guest checkout and, perhaps, a mass update feature for listings.

8. How do you promote your work?

   I promote mainly with Facebook and posting/passing out business cards.  I also have a Twitter and Pinterest account that I need to get back to updating regularly.

9. How would you recommend other Zibbeters make the most of Zibbet.com?

   Take great pictures and fill your shop up.  I personally love to browse Zibbet whenever  I get a chance and I am really drawn to the shops that have pictures that ‘pop’ and a lot of items to choose from!

10. In the future I’d like to be…

    …selling exclusively on Zibbet.

    I believe this is possible once the upgrade happens and the Zibbet name gets out there.  Self-promotion will still be a big part of it, of course, but I truly think Zibbet could become one of the big handmade sites.

Selecting a username for you Zibbet account is a very important part of setting up shop and opening for business. Your username is used to identify your shop and becomes part of the URL, or web address, for your shop. This information is provided during the registration process but unfortunately is often overlooked. As a result, new shop owners sometime find themselves with usernames that they’re disappointed with. Because usernames can’t be changed, the only thing to do to correct misspellings or whatever the desired change may be, is to create another account with a more carefully selected and entered username. Here are a few things that every seller should keep in mind when selecting a username for a new Zibbet shop…

Select a username that identifies your business. For example, if the name of your business is Jane Doe’s Handmade Whatchamacallits, consider using JDsHWhatchamacallits as your username instead of JaneDoe. The URL for your shop would become www.zibbet.com/JDsHWhatchamacallits. While the use of capital and lowercase letters doesn’t really matter, it does make your username more readable and easier to remember.

Research the usernames you’re considering both on Zibbet and one the web in general. On Zibbet, conduct a Seller search to see if the username you want to use is available. Also look for similar usernames and avoid selecting one that can easily be confused with an existing one. For example, if SuzyQsJewelryDesigns is already taken, reconsider the use of SuzyQJewelryDesigns or SuzyQsJewerlyDesign or even SuzyQsJewelry. I also recommend that you conduct a web search for names that you’re considering before you make a final selection.

Check and recheck the spelling of your username before you click the Next button on the first page of the seller sign up process. Once you’ve moved on to the next page, it’s too late to make changes to your username.

Use common sense when selecting a username, whether for a Seller or Buyer account. The image that your username portrays may make the difference between making a sale or being well received as a buyer.

Best wishes for much success on Zibbet!

Vicki is committed to assisting her fellow Zibbeters improve their shops for successful online selling. She is the owner of five Zibbet shops: LOC Design Studio, Papa Spivey’s Trunk, A Stitch and a Prayer and Think Like a Fish. You can follow Vicki on Twitter and through her LOC Design Studio blog.

You will find a great selection of jewelry in her shop, Crowsdance Designs. Be sure to also see her art prints made from her original artwork.

Her earrings, necklaces, pendants and bracelets are photographed beautifully. And she has jewelry in a wide range of prices for everyone to enjoy.

Please enjoy the interview, leave Chani a comment, and then use the Share Tools so others can read it, too. Please spread the Zibbet Love!

1. Tell us a bit about yourself?

   My name is Chani Lee .  I grew up in the Portland area, but have come to love living in the beautiful High Desert of Central Oregon.  I have a wonderful and caring husband and a sweet little girl of the age of four.  I have always loved to create even from a very young age.  As a child I would watch my mom paint, sew and craft many wonderful things.  When I was old enough she would teach me how to create them with her whenever I took an interest.  In my high school years, I signed up for every art class the school offered.  I wanted to try everything my schedule had room for.  I love trying new forms of art and can never really quite sit still without planning a new design.  I carry a sketch book with me wherever I go just for this reason.

2. Apart from being ‘creative’ what do you do?

   I’m a bit of a book and video game geek.  I love to read fantasy and science fiction most often  and love a good story.  One of my favorite books is “Neverwhere” by Neil Gaiman.

   I also take care of a vegetable garden.  I am currently teaching my daughter how to take care of her own little flower garden.

3. What inspires you to do the kind of work you do?

   Inspiration is everywhere  but I find a great deal of my own inspiration when I am outdoors.  There is just something about a nice walk on a sunny day that gets my creative side going.  By the time I arrive home again I am already planning what materials to use for the new idea running around in my head.

4. Do you look up to anyone? Who? Why?

   My mother, who first taught me the joys of creating and who encouraged me when I decided to pursue my dream of making jewelry and art my career.  I also admire my dad for teaching me the value of setting goals and working to achieve them.  He taught me to never say the words “I can’t”, because nobody ever achieved anything by thinking it impossible.

5. What other passions do you have in your life?

   Aside from my art and my jewelry my biggest passion in my life is my family.

6. What do you like most about Zibbet?

   The welcoming atmosphere and friendly community I have found here.

7. What ‘new’ things would you like to see added to Zibbet?

   I would love a way to organize my wish list.  It would be great to categorize the things I have added by supplies, things I want for myself, and things I wish to buy for others.

8. How do you promote your work?

   I have a website where I post galleries of my past work that also links to the different places where my work is available, including Zibbet.

   I also post new items on Twitter, Pinterest and have a business page on Facebook.

9. How would you recommend other Zibbeters make the most of Zibbet.com?

   Take time to build up your Zibbet shop to be the best it can be.  Don’t be afraid to change things to find the best way that works for you and your shop.  Take advantage of the free business cards promotion Zibbet has with Moo.com and promote what you create.  And in the words of Neil Gaiman, “Make good art.”

10. In the future I’d like to be…

    …still be creating art in some form or another and simply enjoying life.  I don’t think I will ever truly be done creating.

After reading about this week’s Fantastic Five selected by All About The Buttons, be sure to see over 5,000 more pearls on Zibbet and over 37,000 handmade jewelry creations and over 2,000 vintage jewelry items.

1. Glitter Gold & Pearl Brads by Chayestamp $3.20: Do you like to use pearls on your scrapbooking pages or with your card making? Chayestamp offers gold glitter with pearl centered brads for your crafting fun. A set of 12 will get you started making some elegant creations and preserving memories.

2. Swarovski Pearl, Crystal, Triple Strand Bracelet by JulesJewellery $85: Julesjewellery suggests this as a bridal bracelet and it would be the finishing touch for that special day. The pearls used are Swarovski and are 6mm in size with crystal set rondelle spacers in between. It is finished with a sterling silver clasp.

3. 12mm Swarovski Glass Pearls 1940s Vintage Cream 4 Pack by LupinLaneBeads $1: LupinLaneBeads has a wide variety of pearls for your crafting needs but these are true eye catchers. Perfect creamy white vintage 1940s pearls are 12mm in size and sold in a set of 4. These are the best of Swarovski. A memorable piece for a special event will be created with these pearls.

4. Chains, Pearls & Flowers Necklace Sets by One Spirit Artworks $36: Onespiritartworks shows us that pearls can be hip, modern and out of the box. Black and grey chains are layered with coordinating black beads and grey pearls. The necklace measures 24” and the earrings are included. A standout!

5. Vintage Gold Toned Swirl Pearl Rhinestone Brooch Pin by GalleriaLindaLoft $12.99: This graceful vintage gold toned swirl with pearl and rhinestones brooch reminds us of an art nouveau design. GalleriaLindaLoft brings this still somewhat contemporary piece to us. It is from the 1980s and measures 3” long in its graceful swirl and loop design. Truly, a timeless treasure

very top image - Dusty Pink/Mauve Freshwater Pearl Hand Knotted 70 Inch Necklace by StyleKittie $56

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Judy writes the ‘Fantastic Five‘ column where she features 5 Zibbet items every week. She is the owner of four Zibbet shops: Portable Graffiti Graphics, Portable Graffiti buttons, Proofreader, and Wild Goose Chase vintage, crafts and supplies. You can follow Judy on Facebook.

Zibbet’s Community Hub is a great place to post your favorite items from Zibbet shops. There are existing discussions which focus on a variety of promotional themes. Feel free to start a new discussion or contribute to an existing one. If you see an item that you just have to share with the Community, don’t hesitate! Always be sure to include a link to the item so that anyone who sees an item of interest on ZCH is just a click away from the listing on Zibbet.

Pinterest is hugely popular among Zibbeters. Zibbet also has a collection of themed boards on Pinterest called Zibbet Picks. These boards are managed by volunteers from the Community. The volunteers are constantly on the look out for great Zibbet items to post on the boards they manage. If you’d like to volunteer to manage a new Zibbet Picks board, please contact Judy. Be sure to post your favorite Zibbet finds on your own Pinterest boards. And while you’re pinning, try to send a quick message to let a fellow Zibbeter know that you’ve pinned one (or more!) of their items.

Facebook and Twitter are also great places for promoting other Zibbeters. If you write your own blog, consider occasionally or regularly dedicating a post to featuring products from a variety of Zibbet shops.

Regardless of when, where or how often you promote others, I think you’ll find that the favor will be returned by more than one Zibbet seller. Zibbeters have learned that by helping others, they are also helping themselves. You’re cordially invited to join the fabulously supportive Zibbet Community!

Best wishes for much success on Zibbet!

Vicki is committed to assisting her fellow Zibbeters improve their shops for successful online selling. She is the owner of five Zibbet shops: LOC Design Studio, Papa Spivey’s Trunk, A Stitch and a Prayer and Think Like a Fish. You can follow Vicki on Twitter and through her LOC Design Studio blog.

No ties or socks, unless he’s a collector, but a unique, often one of a kind find that you can discover in the hundreds of listings at your fingertips. And don’t forget those special grandfathers, uncles and maybe even your brother! The five items highlighted here are just a start.

After reading about this week’s Fantastic Five for Father’s Day be sure to search: Dad, Father, Fathers Day, Men, in Zibbet’s search for more great Dad’s Day gift ideas.

1. Heineken Beer Bottle Goblet Drinking Glasses Set of 2 by BoMoLuTra $14.99: Perhaps Dad would love these unique beer bottle goblets made from actual Heineken beer bottles. If your father prefers a different brand of beer, be sure to visit BoMoLuTra because there are many more choices.

2. Personalised Hand stamped Guitar Pick Pendant or Keyring by Expressive Mementos $25: Here’s a great gift any father would love. He’ll feel really loved when you say, “You rock my world Dad!” signed with kisses. Whether he plays guitar or just loves rock music, sure to be a rockin’ gift.

3. The Kinks (Victoria) Collectible Drink Coaster by Rock and Roll Drink Coasters $6.50:  This Zibbet shop, Rock and Roll Coasters has a large selection of actual 45RPM records made into collectible coasters. They have cork backs and they measure 4×4 inches.

4. Guns Don’t Kill Tshirt Father’s Day by Not Your Mom’s Vinyl $16.99:  Here’s another take on the popular “guns don’t kill people” saying shirts. This t-shirt by Not Your Mom’s Vinyl would make a great gift for father from a teenage daughter.

5. #1 Dad Coffee Cup by Mug Quotes $12.95: This cute vintage mug by Artist Gary Patterson, portrays Dad as having very little skill at putting toys together. Mug Quotes has a wide assortment of fun vintage coffee mugs for Father’s Day.

very top image - World’s Greatest Dad Duo, Etched Glass Beer Mug, Coffee Mug by Brad Goodell $37

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Judy writes the ‘Fantastic Five‘ column where she features 5 Zibbet items every week. She is the owner of four Zibbet shops: Portable Graffiti Graphics, Portable Graffiti buttons, Proofreader, and Wild Goose Chase vintage, crafts and supplies. You can follow Judy on Facebook.

CWPoppets is the name of her shop on Zibbet. Her original art sculptures are truly unique. Christine will also take custom orders. How about a one-of-a-kind sculpture made of someone you know?

Please enjoy the interview, leave Christine a comment, and then use the Share Tools so others can read it, too. Please spread the Zibbet Love!

1. Tell us a bit about yourself?

   Hi, my name is Christine Wex. I was born and raised in Africa, I’ve been living in Canada for 8 years and right now I live in a quaint little village on a lake in Germany.

   Having  always been an impatient person I started making my one-of-a-kind miniature figures (animals and dolls) while waiting for my first child to arrive.  From that time on making my creations is a big passion for me.

2. Apart from being ‘creative’ what do you do?

   I’m mother of  a six year old boy and a one year old  girl which is pretty time consuming. I’m also working part time. I have a dog, a cat, a huge garden and there was a husband somewhere,  too.

3. What inspires you to do the kind of work you do?

   Everything. It can be a book, a painting, a movie, a person I see somewhere  or even a piece of fabric.

   I get ideas from all around me.

4. Do you look up to anyone? Who? Why?

   There are a lot of wonderful animal and figurative artists who inspire me and  motivate me  to   improve my  technique or experiment with different materials.

5. What other passions do you have in your life?

   Too many for the little time I have. I love cross stitching, gardening, cooking, hiking in the Alps and reading

6. What do you like most about Zibbet?

   I like how easy and affordable it is to set up a shop!

   I also like the blog which is very informative.

   And it is very exciting to see it growing.

7. What ‘new’ things would you like to see added to Zibbet?

   I would like to see more detailed information and graphics for my shop stats like links, comparisons, etc.

   I also would prefer to have other means of payment methods offered.

8. How do you promote your work?

   I have a blog where I post regularly.

   Pictures of my “poppets” can be found at flickr and ArtWanted. I also just started getting into the world of facebook.

   Furthermore I attend one miniature fair and one doll exhibit per year.

9. How would you recommend other Zibbeters make the most of Zibbet.com?

   If you think you have something of quality that people would like to buy give it a try and set up a shop. Otherwise buy from Zibbeters whenever you can. Spread the word.

   Link Zibbet with your blogs, facebook page, … whatever you have. Keep this place lively and growing.

10. In the future I’d like to be…

    an figurative artist full time. I would love to have more time to make my figures.  I would also like to have more contact to other artists.

    Everything else I wished for is already in my life.

Your Shop Policies should address important concerns that shoppers may have about making a purchase. For example, do you accept returns? If applicable, what are the terms for making a return? What is your shipping schedule? If you only take packages to the post office on Tuesdays, shoppers need to know this. Do you collect sales tax for products shipped within your state? Your shop policies page is the perfect place to explain how and when this will occur. Do you accept custom orders? Describe the details on your shop policies page.

Whether a customer reads your Shop Policies or not, you need to have them posted in your shop. It’s a good idea to encourage shoppers to read your Shop Policies by including a reference (and a link) to your policies page in each of your items’ descriptions. If there’s ever a serious dispute that involves PayPal or someone’s credit card company, written policies that you’ve followed can be the difference between a refund or not.

Another reason for including well written Shop Policies, believe it or not, is for SEO purposes. Search engines index every page of your shop. The more times your shop pages show up on an SERP (Search Engine Results Page), the more likely someone will click over to your shop. It’s not out of the realm of possibility for a shopper to enter your shop through your Shop Policies page. From there they can easily click to your shop front. The rest could be history. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking for any and every way to get my shops found.

Writing Effective Shop Policies | Taking Care of Business | SEO 101: The Basics

Best wishes for much success on Zibbet!

Vicki is committed to assisting her fellow Zibbeters improve their shops for successful online selling. She is the owner of five Zibbet shops: LOC Design Studio, Papa Spivey’s Trunk, A Stitch and a Prayer and Think Like a Fish. You can follow Vicki on Twitter and through her LOC Design Studio blog.