We are happy to announce the launching of the Zlio toolbar !
The Zlio toolbar allows you to stay logged into your Zlio account, giving you direct access to your shop’s features right from your web browser !

The Zlio Toolbar : What is it ?
The Zlio Toolbar is an extension which plugs into your web browser (such as Internet Explorer or Firefox) in order to add new features to it. Installation takes no more than two minutes and is entirely free.

Features of the Zlio Toolbar :

Direct access to the Zlio portal
Advanced product/shop/web search
Referral management
Shop management
Real time Commissions Display
CashBack : Earn money on your own purchases
Stay tuned to Zlio news

Direct access to the Zlio portal

Reach the Zlio homepage in just one click ! Forget about typing in Zlio’s URL in order to get to our homepage. With the click of this “always on” button, you will now locate products and shops much faster.

Zlio’s Toolbar : Zlio search (Web/Products/Shops) :

Replace your browser’s search engine with Zlio’s new search feature !
This feature allows you to perform searches on the internet, as well as on the Zlio network. Now you can locate new products and new Shops much faster and easier.

Referral management

Referrals are an excellent means to improve your commissions on Zlio, as you receive a percentage of the income generated by your referrals. The Zlio toolbar grants you quick access to your list of referrals as well as to the referral features.

Shop management

This feature allows you to display a list of your stores, along with the number of pending tasks for each one of them. Rolling your mouse over a Shop’s name will enable you to access that Shop’s administration interface and management area.

Real time Commissions Display

This feature of the Zlio toolbar allows you to see commissions you have earned through Zlio, without having to leave the website you are currently visiting. The total amount of your commissions is displayed, and you can get details by clicking “see my commissions in details”.

Your favorite merchants in one click

Zlio makes CashBack easy : you can now reach Zlio’s partner merchants with a single click and even earn money on your own online purchases. Take advantage of this feature and save money on your personal purchases !

Stay tuned to Zlio news

Staying up to date with all of Zlio’s news can sometimes be a daring task. Therefore the new Toolbar offers a feature which allows users to automatically follow all of Zlio’s Blog Post updates. The number between the brackets “[xx]” indicates the amount of Blog Posts not yet read by you. Now Shop Optimization advice and Zlio News are just a mouse click away!

With the Zlio Toolbar you will be able to :
1. Save time in the management of your store
2. Easily access shops and search products
3. Receive Zlio News updates on a daily basis

The Zlio Toolbar is compatible with Internet Explorer, as well as with Firefox.
We look forward to your feedback on the usability of this tool. Zlio members, we are waiting for your comments!

Zlio France recently organized a Movie Clip contest in which Zlionauts were asked to put a Video Camera in their hands and to create short Advertisement Clips about Zlio.

The amazing outcome of this Viral Video Contest is now being displayed on the Video Sharing Website www.Eyeka.com. Take a look for yourself, and be inspired by the outpouring of creativity displayed by French Zlionauts.

The Clips are in French, of course, but some of their creators have put in some extra effort and translated their work into English, as well.

So … which is your favourite Video? Do you think you have what it takes to be the next Steven Spielberg? Surprise us, and we promise to publish your work of art on the Zlio homepage!

Zlio Shop “For Whom The Bells Toll” (http://anniversary.zlio.net) has been announced the official winner of this year’s Wedding Season Contest, which took place from June 3rd to June 18th, 2008 !

With 140 total votes, Zlionaut Zizzi Le Corre is the lucky winner of a

6 Megapixel HP Photosmart Digital Camera and Printer.

Zlio’s annual Wedding Season Contest called upon Zlio Shop owners to create Shops around a “Wedding Theme”. Zlionauts could have either sold Bridal- and Wedding related products in their Shops, or they could have used their Shop as a Bridal Registry.

Contestants were asked to let their imagination roam and to design beautiful, interesting and attractive Shops.

What did we like about Zizzi Le Corre’s Shop “For Whom The Bell Tolls” ?

• The idea of the Shop is superb! We just loved that she created a store for “the first ten years of marriage” … why just concentrate on the Wedding, when you can celebrate ten whole years of togetherness?
• The Shop Design really spoke to us: we loved the cursive font used in the caption and we adored the interplay of the mellow colors used.
• Zizzi really got into things when she added products to her Shop. Every single category is filled to the brim with products that fit perfectly into the contest’s theme.

Congratulations to the winner … we are sure she will really enjoy her prize!

One of the best things you can do for your Zlioshop, or any online business for that matter, is to stay on top of what’s happening on the web.

New applications, technology, and methods of promotion and communication are developed everyday to give surfers a more complete web experience. We’ve decided to put together a list of the 10 essential websites to know and watch so that you can stay in the now:

1. Technorati: The most comprehensive blog search engine on the web. Also an internet search engine, use Technorati to find out what people are most interested in right now. Check the top 100 list to see whose blogs and websites are succeeding and why.

2. Del.icio.us: Social bookmarking that works primarily on tags. Keep track of subjects that interest you and perfom tag searches for just about anything. For example try “Cheat at CSS” if you’re looking for some new designs for your Zlioshop.

3. Digg: Another social bookmarking site that works primarily on user votes and catgories. Submit stories, news, blog articles and more then vote and leave comments.

4. Mashable: The Social Networking blog. If it’s important and it’s online chances are you’ll find it on Mashable.

5. Facebook: Long having since surpassed its predecessor Myspace, Facebook allows you to use groups and pages to promote anything you like without having to spam your friends.

6. Stumble Upon: “Discover” new websites with this interactive browser. Be sure to submit your Zlioshop so that millions of users can “stumble” across it.

7. Webware: The best of Web 2.0 applications and news.

8. InternetNews: Find out what’s happening on the net, right now, with this traditional newspaper approach to web news.

9. The Consumerist: “Shopper’s Bite Back” at The Consumerist. Find out what consumers really think, what they like, and what they’re angry about on this blog.

10. Lifehacker: “Tips And Downloads For Getting Things Done.” Interested in computers? Why not use the same principles to upgrading and organizing your machines with your life.

The stores have officially been launched in version 3.5!

We strongly recommend you migrate your stores to this new, optimized version for improved rankings and to better turn your visitors into customers!

We’d like to remind you that this is a beta version; please inform us of any possible problems you encounter.

Here’s the five-stop process to switch versions:

1. Sign into your store admin page (i.e. : http://mystore.zlio.com/admin/)
2. Go to the “store display” menu
3. Click on the “Display Options” tab
4. Choose version 3.5 (version 3.0 is the default)
5. Save and voila! Now visit the blog and tell us what you think!

IMPORTANT : When you confirm the switch to version 3.5 your CSS style will be reset, which means that it will have to be re-edited if you’ve added a personal touch. Remember to save it before switching!

A demo store can be viewed here: weddingbells.zlio.net

What’s new in version 3.5?

• 25 new themes
• New, larger format (990 pixels) that can display up to 4 product columns
• New home pages, category pages and product pages for improved ease of use
• New CSS & source code, enabling advanced personalization
• New carrousels
• List of your partner merchants displayed in your store
• Social networking bookmarks (compatible with more than 30 platforms, including facebook, myspace, dig, etc.)
• Filters (by brand, price, tags, etc.)

Aries: You are dynamic and a fighter – you always take initiative, which can turn out to have very positive, or very negative results. Try to avoid being all over the place: Once the theme for your Zlioshop is chosen, keep it. Niche shops are always more attractive.

Taurus: You are always occupied with a thousand things at once – try to regroup and merge your ideas into one common theme. Think about creating a hierarchy for your categories and subcategories and put your customers’ needs first.

Gemini: You love to play with the twin personality aspect of your sign. Your openness gives you the creativity that is needed to create elaborate and beautiful customizations. Be careful not to overdo it in terms of design.

Cancer : An optimist and a realist, you don’t wait for things to come to you. It’s barely 10:00 am and you have already checked the task list to finish your Zlioshops. Continue down this road- it’s the right one.

Leo: You love to communicate and are a wonder with words. Take advantage of the blessings from the stars to refine the text in your shops, making them more dynamic!

Virgo: Shopping is fun, but smart shopping is better! Utilize the cashback feature: make purchases through your own Zlioshop and get great savings.

Libra: Today will turn out to be a truly fantastic bargain if you decide to update and replace your expired products with new ones!

Scorpio: You are patient and you know that good things come to those who wait… but a little communication and effort with your Zlioshops could be just what you need to get the ball rolling. Think about using email signatures, inviting your friends to visit your Zlioshop, and talking it up whenever the opportunity arises!

Sagittarius : Your prefer to wait for things to happen, which is understandable, but did you really tag your products? Save time when stocking your Zlioshops in the future by using tags and seeing what resulting products we suggest.

Capricorn: You love the latest web technology and being on top of things – have you thought about writing your own blog? Promote your Zlioshop by installing the ZlioZone widget and putting your products front and center.

Aquarius : You are intuitive and ahead of the game. Take advantage of your natural abilities by staying on top of trends and getting a leg up on competitor with the ultra trendy summer shop for 2009.

Pisces : Obviously your Zlioshops are creative and well put together, but you’re not sure how to up their rankings. Follow the blog: advice, tips and tricks, and ideas for new products will help you out.

Did you know that the growth of social networking has caused even the Presidential candidates to move their campaigns onto sites like Myspace and Facebook? You too can maximize use of free social networking sites to promote your Zlioshop.

Add a link to your Zlioshop on Myspace and Facebook and be sure to invite your friends to come take a look.

Groups are a great way to get people involved – like this Zlionaut who started a Facebook group for their Zlioshop and already has over 40 members!

Follow the lead and use the “Recent News” section to let people know when you’ve updated your Zlioshop by adding products or items on sale.

While you’re at it, be sure to become a fan of Zlio on Facebook here or join the Zlio members group here!

*Definition from Wikipedia.com

Ahhh graduation… The time for high schoolers to leave parents and home behind while college goers join the real working world. After 4 years of such hard work, don’t they all deserve a little something special?

Put together your graduation wish lists with Zlio.com and shop for graduation presents in the world’s largest online emporium!

Laptops, MP3 players, music, or games… find out what your departing students are most longing for and design your Zlioshop to satisfy their wish list needs. Think about adding products for parties and celebrations after the big day, or cell phones and webcams to keep in touch with loved ones.

Here’s an idea: Add a famous commencement quote to your graduation shop for a polished finish!

We’ll even get you started with an inspirational thought about education from one of our founding fathers: “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.” ~Benjamin Franklin

What’s as American as apple pie? Baseball, of course! Get in the mood for summer’s official sport with peanuts and cracker jacks galore. Why not set your Zlioshop now up with everything a baseball lover needs to make it through the summer?

Add fun baseball products to your shop like the Sports Furniture New York Yankees desk or the Jugs Jr. pitching machine. For the real die-hard fan, check out the autographed baseballs by stars like Willy Mays and Derek Jeter. You can even add Sammy Sosa’s batting helmet!

For those of you who are are so into baseball that you forget about life itself, try signing up for Yahoo’s fully customizable and interactive Fantasy Baseball. Add your stats and prediction to your Zlioshop store description when you’re done!

Choose one of the many free websites that will host your photos and slideshow for you. Some of the most popular include:

1. RockYou
   
2. Slide
   
3. Smile Box
   
4. Image Loop
   
5. Photobucket
   
6. Moblying
   
7. Picture Trail

You will have to register and create a free account with most of them, but we promise it’s very easy and 10 year olds all across the country are doing it. Upload your photos, follow the directions to customize your slideshow, then look for the EMBED code.

Copy the EMBED code and paste it:

• In the store description of your Zlioshop: the image will appear at the top of the page, just above your first line of products. (found under “Store Identity”)
• In the store freetext: the image will appear at the bottom of the page, just below your last line of products. (also found under “Store Identity”)