Any Insights into WHY Things Sell?

I have to admit that I've been quietly stunned by the last few months at Wizzley, particularly with regard to Zazzle sales. The latter sky-rocketed so much that yesterday I panicked slightly, messaging Pam to ask if there was any other explanation than 'it's working'. 

Nope. It's just 'it's working'.  Panic over and rejoice.

This now means that I have two and a half years worth of data on What Sells on Wizzley and/or Zazzle. The sensible thing is to do more of that.  But how do you work out the 'more'?  Related products yes, but they aren't always the thing. People wanted to buy That Thing, not all the stuff surrounding it.

Because even I don't understand what I'm talking about from that, let me show you an example.  (In full awareness that I'm handing you all a seller on a plate. :p )

This sells (http://www.zazzle.com/vintage_texture_wedding_card_for_lesbians-137559868936659603?rf=238861567290209300 ).  It sells a lot.  It does so from a Wizzley article featuring it, and it does so alone in the store (http://www.zazzle.com/agaymarriage/gifts?cg=196035471492582540 ). The article had plenty of alternative cards, but everyone apparently liked that one.  Why? 

I'm angling for being taught how to fish here by the way.  I know that the artists of Wizzley could probably tell me in that specific instance, but how would you trace the psychology of sales ordinarily?

Thanks in advance.

PS  Sorry about the raw URL. Got smacked by the link glitch again.

TBH it does look like the like the best of the lot :)

Shop, or article, or both?

If the former, yeah. I kind of started, chucked in some stuff then got distracted with other stuff.  After finally analysing the stats earlier, I'm most definitely on catch up now!

I didn't read the article :) I just looked at the image of the cards you had up. I liked the one that was selling the most.

There is no way to know what will sell and what won't. I have lots of affiliate sites and I am always shocked by the hot items. 

Sometimes I think it's the way the page ranks in Google and the people it attracts. It's the right product at the right price for the right market. There's no way that I know how to guarantee what the SERPs will look like. 

Then I have sites that have good positions in the SERPs and sell nothing. That's why I believe it takes thousands of pages to make a consistent income.

I really wish I could figure this out, Jo. I'm useless when it comes to selling things. I'm trying really hard and get the clicks, but fall short at the actual buying stage.

There appears to be no rhyme or reason to why the consumer buys.  In my Zazzle stores I sell things at odd times of the year.  Of course, most products are easy to customize so who knows what they have changed it to before purchase. 

I sell St. Patricks day items in July, Thanksgiving cards in December, and Christmas ornament year round (for example).

People buy for such a variety of reasons and events, I don't think there is really any way to know the answer, or to figure it out.

Hi Digby, I think you're absolutely correct that volume is the key. The more pages you have, the more you earn.

Trends, the moons align, you become a seasoned internet presence and on and on it is many things just relax and keep on keeping on.  I always follow my gut. FYI  I haven't worked here for some time as you all know and have been earning money from Viglink, Allposters, Amazon and Adsense.  I always follow my gut instincts.  It pays off. 

Glad to hear you are doing well. 

Sorry all, I got so sidetracked by Zazzle that somehow I blinked and a week went by.  On the bright side, all that work will be great for various Wizzley articles that I've been planning.

From what I gather, you're all saying that we follow the muse and it all eventually pays off.  That works for me. It's what I've been doing all along anyway.  Thanks!