Creator Playbook // Creator Guides // Birthday 2024
Creator Guide: Birthdays 2024
Updated June 2024
Elevate birthdays to unforgettable experiences by creating tailored content that caters to customers' needs. Dive into this comprehensive guide to learn the latest trends, keywords, must-have products, and more. Transform your store to the ultimate birthday destination!
Social Media Trends (NEWLY ADDED!)
The Fairytale Magic Trend - Enchant your world with modern princes and princesses, ethereal fairies in the forest, and whimsical mushroom décor.
The Bow Must Go On Trend - Embrace a world of pink bows and delicate, feminine charm with dainty, girly touches.
Retro Revival Trend - Celebrate with the joyful, festival spirit of 90s nostalgia.
Social Media Trends
Bright colors, textures, backdrops with florals, neon signs & unique balloons are in.
Tablescapes that really have the WOW factor.
Retro Revival Trend - Happy festival vibe of 90’s nostalgia.
Trend: Let's Par-tee! (Newly Added!)
Whether it's for kids or adults, this theme is a hole-in-one! A golf-themed birthday party celebrates the love of the game. The possibilities and creativity are endless.
Use fun phrases like "Join Us Fore a Par-Tee!" or create eye-catching banners with slogans such as "Welcome to the 2nd Hole." There are so many creative ways to incorporate golf phrases into designs and products.
Embrace the lush green fairways and pristine white golf balls. Add touches of bright yellow, cool blues, and rich black for a sophisticated touch. For design elements, think rolling hills, golf clubs, tees, flags, and, of course, the iconic golf ball.
Trend: Retro Smiles (NEWLY ADDED!)
The retro smiles theme is a celebration of happiness. It combines playful patterns, and a touch of nostalgia to create a joyful and lively atmosphere.
The quintessential colors are bright and cheerful. Include a black and white checkered pattern for a classic look, or opt for a pop of color with vibrant blues, reds, pinks and greens to keep the decor lively and fun.
From balloons and banners to tablecloths and napkins, make sure smile artwork is a prominent feature. Combine peace signs, and tie-dye patterns to enhance the nostalgic vibe.
Note: Please avoid registered trademarks (like “Smiley”) and copyrights.
Bow Floral (NEWLY ADDED!)
Bring a touch of elegance and sophistication to birthday celebrations with the enchanting bow and floral trend. This beautiful theme combines the delicate beauty of florals with the classic charm of bows.
This theme creates a dreamy and stylish atmosphere perfect for girls, women, and elegant dinners. It’s a celebration of beauty and elegance, perfect for a birthday party that feels like a refined garden soiree.
For colors, think soft pastels: pink, lavender, mint green, and baby blue for a gentle, romantic feel. Classic Whites and Creams: To add elegance and sophistication. Gold and Silver Accents: For a touch of glamour and sparkle.
Trend: Millennial Retro
Step into a nostalgic experience, complete with arcade games and unlimited pizza. This theme is a perfect blend of reliving cherished childhood memories and creating new ones. Ideal for adults embracing their inner child or those venturing into this joyous realm for the first time.
From traditional invitations to personalized edible treats and captivating LED signs, this theme is ideal for thinking outside the box.
Keywords: Retro, 90s, Funky, Memphis, Neon, Cassette Tape, Arcade, Y2K, Laser, Glow and Millennial. Be sure to add these words to your titles and tags!
Trend: Roller Disco
This is a fun and playful birthday theme for kids or adults! - whether it’s at the rink or in your own backyard.
This theme pairs well with all things rainbow - create collections which feature a variety of products that complement each other (not everything needs to have a roller skate on it!)
Keywords: Roller, Skating, Disco, Rainbow, Pastel, Retro, Groovy, Boho, 80s, 70s. Be sure to add these words to your titles and tags!
Trend: Under the Sea
Mermaids are all about jewel tones, glitter, and metallics! Design gold foil invitations to elevate the look of a design.
Unleash your imagination with an ocean-themed extravaganza that goes beyond traditional mermaid themes. Break free from gender stereotypes and combine mermaids with pirates, sharks, and other captivating ocean creatures to create a fun-filled adventure suitable for every child.
Keywords: Mermaid, Under The Sea, Ocean, Glitter, Whimsical, Pirate, Magical, Unicorn, Sharks, Sea Creatures. Be sure to add these words to your titles and tags!
Trend: Sleep-Under
A sleep-under is a faux sleepover party for kids who are still too young for an overnight. In this type of party, the kids are invited over in the evening to do all the usual slumber party activities, but their parents come and pick them up before bedtime.
Elevate celebrations with customizable favors that kids can indulge in or take home, featuring chocolate, cookies, cake pops, and more.
Keywords: Sleep-under, Sleepunder, Slumber Party, Sleepover, Pajamas, PJs, Sleeping Bag. Be sure to add these words to your titles and tags!
International Trends
Zazzle has customers from all over the world. Here are some tips to help you sell your designs in the UK, Australia, France and beyond!
In the United Kingdom and Australia, your 18th birthday is a big deal - much like your 21st is in the states. And in Canada, it's your 19th birthday!
Uploading versions of your products in languages other than English is a great way to stand out in our international marketplace.
Ensure your designs can be personalized for birthdays all around the world by making as much of your design text editable as possible.
Popular Themes, Designs & Products
Use these keywords to optimize your listings.
All Themes:
NEWLY ADDED: Bow Floral, Par-tee/Golf, Hole in One, Retro Smiles, Mushroom, Fairytale Magic, Retro Revival
Monster Truck, Superhero, Princess, Rainbow, Dinosaur, Unicorn, Halloween, Rookie of the Year, Butterfly, Construction, Farm, Carnival, Baseball, Space, Train, Under the Sea/Mermaid, Ninja, Pool Party, Trampoline Park, Pirate, Tractor, Flamingo, Shark, Roller Skating, Laser Tag, Soccer, Tea Party, Dragon, Neon, Trampoline, Safari, Western, Ice Cream, Donut, Video Game, Tie Dye, Camping, Pool, Candyland, Sports, Horse, Cowboy, Bowling
Other Keywords:
NEWLY ADDED: Funny Doctor Cards, Funny 65th Birthday Cards,
Custom, Funny, Digital, Online, Surprise, Adult, Printable,
Milestones:
1st, 2nd, Quinceañera, 16th, 18th, 21st, 40th, 50th, 60th, 65th, 80th
1st Birthday:
Wild One, Berry First, First Trip around the Sun, Sweet One, One Happy Camper, One in a Melon, Hole in One, Fairy First, First Rodeo, Spooky One, Onederful Birthday, Mr Onederful, First Fiesta, One Sweet Peach Birthday, Onederland
2nd Birthday:
Two Sweet, Two Wild, Oh Twodles, Two Fast, Born Two Be Wild Birthday
3rd Birthday:
Three-Rex, Young Wild and Three
Social Products: These products particularly perform well on social media platforms.
NEWLY ADDED: Welcome Signs, Paper cups, Paper Plates, Paper Napkins, Custom Treats (cookies, cakes, candies), Matchboxes
Tips for Creating Successful Collections
Elevate Collections with a Captivating Cover Photos and Videos
Maximize cross-selling opportunities by showcasing an array of products through an eye-catching cover photo or video uploaded to your collection. Zazzle will prominently feature collections throughout the entire customer experience, including product pages, checkout, emails, off-site advertising, and more.
Maximize inspiration and cross-selling opportunities by curating a cohesive suite of products.
- Offer a variety of Invitation options: Suit your customers perferences by offering different product types and styles including all-in-one, elegant foil designs, and convenient Instant Downloads.
- Add complementary products: Enhance your main product with complementary items, such as adding paper napkins to accompany birthday plates.
- Incorporate complementary designs: Create designs that share elements and aesthetics without being identical. Effortlessly transfer your designs and metadata using the 'design transfer feature' on every product page. Update the design using the design tool, enabling you to add or remove text, design elements and more to fit your new product design.
- Offer customizable designs: Make your products truly unique by including customizable templates, such as adding personalized names.
- Optimize your listings: Invest effort in crafting detailed descriptions, incorporating relevant keywords, and using tags. Remember the limit of 10 keywords with 5 words per phrase. Descriptive words and specific keywords improve product visibility on platforms like Google. Here’s our best practices guide for a keyword refresher.
- Quantity matters: Creating well-rounded and robust offerings that make shopping easier for customers and lead to more sales. Collections are showcased on product pages and throughout the customer experience.
- Choose a concise collection name: Keep it simple and include keywords related to the theme and/or products. For example, "Three-Rex Dinosaur Birthday."
- Craft a compelling collection description: Provide a brief description using keywords to convey the essence of your collection. For instance, "Plan a Three-Rex Dinosaur Birthday with customized invitations, décor, and favors for the perfect day."
- Add a cover photo and video: Capture customers' attention by showcasing a variety of cohesive products in a cover photo or video that ignites their imagination for their event.
- Avoid mixing occasions: Maintain clarity and focus by not including items from different occasions in the same collection. For example, keep baby shower or wedding invitations separate from birthday collections
Collection Essentials for Kids Birthdays
Here's our recommended selection of products that will elevate Kids Birthday celebrations. Boost your cross-selling potential and enhance customer convenience, ensuring easy shopping with our "Other products from this Collection" feature on the product page.
Collection Essentials for Adult Birthdays
Here's our recommended selection of products that will elevate Adult Birthday celebrations. Boost your cross-selling potential and enhance customer convenience ensuring easy shopping with our "Other products from this Collection" feature on the product page.
Collection Essentials for Quinceañeras
Here's our recommended selection of products that will elevate Quinceañera celebrations. Boost your cross-sell potential and enhance customer convenience by ensuring easy shopping with our "Other products from this Collection" feature on the product page.
Stand out with Cover Photo and Video
Experience the power of Media Manager, transforming the organization of your Cover Photos and Videos. With the ability to include up to ten photos and/or videos, you can effortlessly merchandise your product designs to your liking and capture attention within the marketplace. Click here for further information.
Use props that fit the theme and product
Setting just a few related props can make a cover photo look more intentional, and draws customers into the scene better.
Background Colors
It really helps creators to stand out in the marketplace when cover photo or video is uploaded with a colored background. A different background color or texture can really pop.
Product and Design Image Size
Ensure the Primary Product Image has the product sizing large enough to be recognizable on a page of search results. In addition, the placement of the design should match similar to the in-situ shot.
Tips to Maximize Birthdays on Zazzle
- Make sure you're activating on collections and checking out the collections functionality. Curate birthday-specific collections with coordinated products: showcase a range of products to inspire and engage customers. Identify your top-sellers and expand your offerings to upsell. For example, create a matching welcome sign to follow the same design aesthetic as the invitation.
- Spark your creativity with fresh content: Creating new content enhances your chances of being featured. Seek inspiration from Pinterest and Google Trends. Don't forget to offer instant downloads!
- Stand out with captivating Cover Photos and Videos: Differentiate and showcase your listings in the marketplace and on Google. Read more, here.
- Enhance your listings with compelling descriptions, keywords, and tags: Utilize specific keywords (limit: 10 keywords, 5 words per phrase) to optimize your product visibility on platforms like Google. Check out our best practices for a keyword refresher.
- Polish your store presence: Organize your store into categories for easy shopping by potential customers. Brand your store with an enticing "about" section, a striking cover image, and more. Upload a picture of yourself as your Member avatar to humanize the creative genius behind the designs and increase your chances of being featured.
- Gain exposure through #zazzlemade: Tag your social shares with #zazzlemade to be featured in Zazzle marketing (landing pages, email, social media, and more). We actively seek Creator-generated content, particularly those showcasing lifestyle imagery or videos to put ad spend towards!
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