How to Create a Product Catalog on the WhatsApp Business App
If you’re looking for a direct way to engage with your customers, setting up a WhatsApp Product Catalog is a smart choice. This feature is not only easy to use but also one of the most popular on WhatsApp. It’s an excellent tool for businesses aiming to increase sales and improve product visibility. By using the catalog, you can showcase your products effectively and connect with customers daily.
What is A WhatsApp Product Catalog?
A WhatsApp catalog - or catalogue - makes it easier for customers to buy from you. They’re a great way to showcase your products inside WhatsApp, allowing your customers to browse your store & shop without leaving the chat. They can then add items to a cart, and send that cart to you over WhatsApp.
There are two ways to create and manage a WhatsApp product catalog, using the WhatsApp Business app or the WhatsApp Business API. Creating a catalog using the WhatsApp Business API is more technical and suited for medium to large businesses that require automation and integration with existing systems.
In this blog post, we’re going to help you create a simple product catalog on the WhatsApp business app in just under 10 minutes. Keep in mind that before your catalog goes live, the WhatsApp team will need to review it to ensure that your products don’t violate any of their policies.
Let’s get started!:
Benefits of Using A Product Catalog
If you’re wondering why businesses use a WhatsApp catalog, the answer is easy - it’s free & its benefits are manifold. Here are 3 of the top benefits that businesses report seeing as a result of implementing a product catalog on WhatsApp:
1. Increased Accessibility
Customers can view your products anytime, anywhere right from their mobile devices. This 24/7 accessibility makes it convenient for customers to shop or browse through your offerings at their leisure.
2. Improved Customer Engagement
The catalog allows direct communication with customers via WhatsApp. This can lead to higher engagement rates as customers can easily inquire about products and receive instant replies, making the shopping experience smoother and more personal.
3. Cost-Effective Marketing
Unlike other marketing channels that can be costly, setting up a WhatsApp catalog is free. It’s a powerful marketing tool without additional advertising expenses, making it ideal for small businesses looking to maximize their budget.
Limitations of A Product Catalog on WhatsApp Business
Limited Number of Products
Maximum of 500 products or services.
No Inventory Management
Can’t track or adjust stock levels automatically.
No Checkout Features
Customers must be redirected to a website to complete their purchases.
Elements In A WhatsApp Catalog
To make sure your catalog is informative and enhances the WhatsApp shopping experience, you need to know what product elements to include in your catalog. Here’s a breakdown of the most important ones:
1. Product Name
The product name should be concise yet descriptive enough to give potential buyers a good idea of what the product is. Avoid jargon unless your target audience is familiar with it.
2. Product Description
Provide a detailed description that highlights the key features and benefits of the product. This should answer potential questions a customer might have and help them understand why the product is right for them.
Organizing features or important details in bullet points can improve readability and allow customers to quickly scan the product features.
3. Product Price
Include the full price of the product, including any taxes or additional fees. If there are variations of the product that affect the price, make sure to clearly list these differences.
4. Product Code
A unique product code helps you and your customers easily refer to specific items, especially when making inquiries or placing orders. This is particularly useful if you have a wide range of products.
Additional Product Elements to Consider
- Showcase products with high-quality, multi-angle images.
- Highlight product variants like size and color.
- Update stock status to manage expectations.
- Provide detailed shipping information.
How to Create a Product Catalog on WhatsApp Business
Before we start, make sure you have:
- A WhatsApp Business App Account
- Pictures & Descriptions of Your Products
- 10 minutes of Free Time
Step 1: Go to Catalog Manager
- Open your WhatsApp Business App
- Click on ⁝ → Business tools
- Select Catalogue (Or ‘Catalog’)
WhatsApp will take a few seconds to prepare your catalog before you can add items to it.
Step 2: Add items to your Catalog
- When your catalog is ready, select + Add new item
Add information about your product:
- Name
- Price
- Description (Optional)
- Link to the product on your website
- Item code
When you’re done, select Save.
Step 3: Wait for approval
All catalog items require approval from WhatsApp. This can take up to a few hours.
Once approved, your product will be visible to your customers
Add more products to your catalog. You can have up to 500 items.
Step 4: Preview your catalog
To view your catalog, go to your WhatsApp Business profile. You can do this from your own number, or ask a friend to test it out. This is what the profile should look like once there’s a catalog in place:
How to Create a Collection in WhatsApp Shopping Catalog
If you have multiple product categories, collections are a great way to organize your catalog on WhatsApp.
In your catalog manager, select Add new collection:
Enter the name of your collection. In this case, I’ve entered Fiction for my book store:
Once you’ve selected products for your collection, it will once again require approval from the WhatsApp team. This should not take more than a few minutes, but it can be longer.
Your collection will appear on the main page of your catalog, as follows:
That’s it! You now have an organized catalog of products that your contacts and customers can browse through whenever they visit your WhatsApp profile.
Bonus: Enable a Shopping Cart for Your Customers
With WhatsApp catalogs, customers can select the products they wish to buy or enquire about, and can add them to a shopping cart. They can then send this cart to you as a WhatsApp message.
You can enable or disable this feature from
- Catalog Manager → ⁝ (top right menu) → Settings → Show add to cart button
That’s it! Your customers can now add your products to a cart and send it to you as a WhatsApp message!
Tips & Best Practices To Set Up WhatsApp Catalog
Here are some best practices to follow when you want to create a product catalog on WhatsApp business:
1. Use High-Quality Images
Make sure each product image is clear, well-lit, and high-resolution. Ideally, images should be taken from multiple angles to give customers a thorough view of what you are offering.
2. Keep Your WhatsApp Catalog Updated and Detailed
Take advantage of all the fields WhatsApp provides in the catalog setup, such as price, description, and product code. Each product entry should have a clear call to action, such as “Message us to purchase” or “Ask for more details,” to encourage customer engagement.
Keep your catalog fresh and up-to-date by regularly adding new products, removing outdated ones, and updating stock levels and prices as they change.
3. Optimize & Test for Mobile Viewing
Since WhatsApp is primarily used on mobile devices, make sure your catalog looks good and is easy to navigate on small screens. This might include adjusting the format of images and text to be more mobile-friendly. Before going live, use your catalog as if you were a customer to make sure the experience is smooth and all links and buttons work as intended.
4. Organize Your Products
If you have a wide range of products, organize them into categories and collections to make it easier for customers to use WhatsApp for shopping & be able to quickly browse and find what they’re looking for.
5. Follow WhatsApp Commerce Policies
Make sure that your catalog complies with WhatsApp’s commerce policies to avoid having your catalog or business account restricted.
How to Create a WhatsApp Catalog Link
Sharing your WhatsApp Catalog link allows customers to view your products directly. Here’s how you can create and share a catalog link from different devices:
Share WhatsApp Catalog Link from Android
- Open WhatsApp and go to the Business tools.
- Tap on Catalog.
- Select the product or catalog you want to share.
- Tap the Share icon and choose how you want to share the link.
Share WhatsApp Catalog Link from iPhone
- Open WhatsApp and navigate to Settings.
- Tap on Business tools, then Catalog.
- Choose the product or catalog to share.
- Tap Share, then select your sharing method.
Share WhatsApp Catalog Link from Web & Desktop
- Open WhatsApp Web or Desktop.
- Click on your profile or business name at the top.
- Click on Catalog.
- Select the item or catalog you wish to share.
- Click on the Share icon and choose how to send the link.
Conclusion
By following these simple steps to set up your WhatsApp Business Catalog, you can create a direct line to your customers and make shopping straightforward and accessible. Remember to keep your catalog updated and clear, and actively share it across your marketing platforms to increase visibility and sales. This will keep your business relevant and help you actively engage your customers where they are most comfortable.
Frequently Asked Questions
A WhatsApp catalog is a feature available on the WhatsApp Business app that allows businesses to showcase their products directly within WhatsApp. It acts like a virtual storefront where customers can browse products, view information about each item, and easily start a conversation to make inquiries or purchases.
To create a WhatsApp catalog, follow these steps:
- Download and install the WhatsApp Business app.
- Set up your business profile by going to Settings > Business settings > Profile.
- Access the catalog feature by navigating to Settings > Business tools > Catalog.
- Tap on “Add product or service” and enter the product details such as name, price, description, and add images.
- Save the product and repeat the process for additional products.
To use the catalog feature on WhatsApp Business, follow these steps:
- Open WhatsApp Business
- Go to settings or menu where you’ll find ‘Business tools’.
- In the business tools section, tap on ‘Catalog’.
- Click ‘Add Product or Service’ to begin adding details like images, prices, descriptions, and more.
- You can edit or delete items, and also share your catalog with customers directly through chat.
To create and share a WhatsApp catalog link, do the following:
- Open WhatsApp Business on your device.
- Go to ‘Catalog’ under Business Tools.
- Select the Product: Choose the product or catalog you want to share.
- Share: Tap on the share icon or option and select how you want to share the link (e.g., through a direct message, copy link, etc.).
- Distribute the Link: Send the link to customers or post it where you wish to direct traffic to your catalog.
A WhatsApp catalog allows customers to view products or services directly within their WhatsApp chats. Businesses can upload details about their products, including descriptions, prices, and photos. Customers can then browse these products, select items of interest, and message the business directly to ask questions or proceed with a purchase.
Learn more
If you'd like to learn more about how WhatsApp can help you grow your business, please reach out to us on WhatsApp at +13024070488 (Click to chat now).
We also offer a free consultation session where we review your use case, answer any questions about WhatsApp, and help you build a strategy to make the best out of the platform. Book a call with us here. We'd love to speak with you:
Mohamed has a background in digital enterprise strategy and software engineering. When he’s not staring at his computer screen, he can be found staring at the night sky somewhere in Alberta, Canada. He enjoys reading, and writing about the things he reads.
