Table of Contents
11 min read

The Ultimate Guide to WhatsApp Catalog: Everything You Need to Know

Published 22 June 2022
Last updated 20 February 2024
The Ultimate Guide to WhatsApp Catalog: Everything You Need to Know

WhatsApp Catalog is a game-changer for businesses looking to showcase and sell their products and services on WhatsApp.

With the ability to create a virtual storefront and share it with customers, businesses can reach a larger audience and make sales more efficiently than ever before.

Within the WhatsApp app, customers can browse the Catalog, view product details, and purchase directly from the Catalog. Customers and businesses alike benefit from it!

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Table of Contents

What is WhatsApp Catalog?

WhatsApp Catalog is a feature that allows businesses to create a virtual storefront on WhatsApp to showcase their products and services. Customers can see the catalog by clicking on the chat icon or visiting the business’s Catalog link.

The Catalog has different product categories, and each product or service has a picture, name, and short description. Customers can look at the Catalog, see more product information, and buy things directly from the Catalog.

With WhatsApp Catalog, businesses can sell their products to customers on WhatsApp and customers can find and purchase items from businesses they are chatting with.


How does WhatsApp Catalog work?

An image showing how businesses can use WhatsApp Catalog to engage with customers and provide a seamless shopping experience within the WhatsApp app.

To use WhatsApp Catalog, businesses must have a WhatsApp Business account. This particular version of WhatsApp helps businesses communicate with customers and manage their business.

Businesses must include images, names, and descriptions of their goods or services to create a WhatsApp Catalog. They can put their products into categories to make it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for.

Once the Catalog is set up, businesses can share it with customers by sending them a link or adding the Catalog icon to the chat window.

Customers can then click on the Catalog icon or link to see the products and buy things directly from the Catalog. In addition to offering secure payments, WhatsApp Catalog works with WhatsApp payments.

Businesses can also use the Catalog to see how customers interact with their products, like how many times they viewed or bought something, to help them better understand their customers.


Exploring the key features of WhatsApp Catalog

There are a number of features that make WhatsApp Catalog an effective tool for businesses to showcase and sell their products and services:

1. Virtual Storefront

WhatsApp Catalog provides a virtual storefront for businesses to display their products or services, allowing customers to browse and purchase from within the WhatsApp app.

WhatsApp Catalog is a powerful feature that allows businesses to create a virtual storefront within the WhatsApp app.

This provides customers a convenient and easy way to browse and purchase products directly from the Catalog without leaving the app.

2. Product Categories

WhatsApp Catalog enables businesses to organize their products or services into categories, making it easier for customers to find what they want.

Businesses can organize their products into categories, making it easier for customers to find what they want.

By grouping products into relevant categories, businesses can help customers navigate the Catalog more easily and find products relevant to their interests.

3. Product Details

Businesses can provide detailed information about their products or services, including images, descriptions, and prices, giving customers a better understanding of their purchasing.

An image, a name representing each product or service in the Catalog, and a brief description help customers understand what the product is and what it does.

This feature lets businesses give customers the information they need to make informed purchasing decisions.

4. Customer Tracking

WhatsApp Catalog allows businesses to track customer interactions with their catalog, providing insights on popular products, customer preferences, and other metrics that can help improve sales and marketing efforts.

WhatsApp Catalog allows businesses to track customer interactions with their products, such as views and purchases.

This feature provides businesses with valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences, which can be used to improve the Catalog and better target customers.

5. Link Sharing

WhatsApp Catalog enables businesses to easily share their catalog link with customers through WhatsApp, social media, or other channels.

Businesses can share the Catalog with customers by sending them a link or adding the Catalog icon to the chat window.

This feature makes it easy for customers to discover and access the Catalog, increasing their chances of purchasing.

6. Mobile-friendly

WhatsApp Catalog is designed to be mobile-friendly, ensuring that customers can access and browse the catalog on their mobile devices.

WhatsApp Catalog is optimized for mobile devices, making it easy for customers to browse and make purchases.

With more and more people using their smartphones to shop, having a mobile-friendly Catalog is essential for businesses that want to stay competitive.

7. WhatsApp Payments Integration

WhatsApp Catalog integrates with WhatsApp's payment system, allowing businesses to accept payments directly within the app.

WhatsApp Catalog is integrated with WhatsApp Payments, allowing customers to make secure payments directly from the Catalog using their preferred payment method.

This feature makes it easy for customers to complete their purchases, reducing the likelihood of abandoned carts and increasing the chances of repeat purchases.

8. Multilingual Support

WhatsApp Catalog supports multiple languages, making it easier for businesses to cater to customers in different regions or countries.

WhatsApp Catalog supports multiple languages, making it easier for businesses to reach a global audience.

With more and more businesses operating in various countries, having a Catalog that supports multiple languages is essential for getting a wider audience.


How to view a WhatsApp Catalog?

To view a WhatsApp Catalog, customers need to chat with a business with a WhatsApp Catalog set up. Customers can then view the Catalog in one of two ways:

1. Click on the Catalog icon

An image of a mobile device displaying the WhatsApp app with the Catalog icon highlighted, indicating where to click to view the catalog.

If the business has added the Catalog icon to the chat window, customers can click on the icon to view the Catalog. The Catalog icon looks like a shopping bag with the WhatsApp logo.

2. Visit the Catalog link

A visual representation of a user typing the WhatsApp Catalog link into their browser, highlighting how to access the catalog outside the WhatsApp app.

Businesses can also share a link to their Catalog with customers. Customers can click on the link to view the Catalog in their web browser.

Once customers have accessed the Catalog, they can browse the products and categories, view product details, and make purchases directly from the Catalog.

If the business has enabled WhatsApp payments, customers can make secure payments directly from the Catalog using their preferred payment method.


How to make a WhatsApp Catalog in WhatsApp Business?

Create WhatsApp Catalogs for mobile (Android or iPhone)

An image showing the steps to create a WhatsApp Catalog for mobile devices (Android or iPhone), including how to upload product images, add product details, and organize them into categories.

To make a WhatsApp Catalog, businesses need to have a WhatsApp Business account and follow these steps:

  1. Open the WhatsApp Business app and click Settings.
  2. Select Business Features then click Catalog.
  3. Click the add new or Add new item sign icon.
  4. Then press Add Image.
  5. Click Select Photo to upload an image from the gallery of up to 10 photos.
  6. Write product descriptions such as name, price, description, website link, and code for the uploaded product or service.
  7. Click Save.

Create WhatsApp Catalogs for web and desktop

A visual representation of creating a WhatsApp Catalog for web and desktop showcases how businesses can use the WhatsApp Business web or desktop app to upload product images, add product details, and organize them into categories.

  1. Go to the WhatsApp Business web page.
  2. Scan the QR code to log in to your WhatsApp Business account
  3. Click on the Catalog icon.
  4. Click on the Add Product button to add a new product or service to the Catalog.
  5. Enter the product or service name and description, and upload an image.
  6. Select a category for the product or service.
  7. Repeat the process to add additional products or services to the Catalog.
  8. Once you have added all the products or services you want to include in the Catalog, click on the Finish button to save your changes.

Keep in mind that businesses can update their Catalog at any time by adding, editing, or deleting products or categories as needed.

How to make a Catalog with Chatbot WhatsApp

An illustration of how to make a Catalog with the Chatbot WhatsApp, highlighting how businesses can use a chatbot to create a WhatsApp Catalog by providing product details and images through a conversational interface.

Apart from being displayed on your WhatsApp account profile, the product catalog is on the customer conversation page.

This is easier for customers because they don’t need to open your WhatsApp account profile page. In addition, they can also place orders directly without switching carriers.

It would be best if you used a chatbot for the catalog to appear on the customer conversation page. This virtual robot will automatically display your product catalog according to specific triggers or keywords entered by the customer.

After that, customers can have buying and selling conversations with the WhatsApp chatbot like a salesperson.

But before that, you need to upgrade your WhatsApp Business to WhatsApp API. Then you can set the chatbot feature to display the product catalog.

The following is a complete explanation of how to create a catalog with Chatbot on WhatsApp:

  1. Sign up for official WhatsApp Business API partners such as Mekari Qontak.
  2. Apply for Facebook Business Manager verification.
  3. Login to the Mekari Qontak chat panel.
  4. Create a conversation flow that will display the product catalog.
  5. Submit conversation flow.
  6. Do a test run to see if the chatbot provides the answers you provide.
  7. Once successful, use it to reply to customer requests.

Also Read: What is WhatsApp Business API – A Complete Guide and How to Make a WhatsApp Chatbot in 5 Easy Steps!


How to share a WhatsApp Catalog?

To share a WhatsApp Catalog with customers, businesses need to set up a WhatsApp Business account and a Catalog.

Businesses can then share the Catalog with customers in one of two ways:

  1. Share a link to the Catalog: Businesses can share a link to their Catalog with customers by copying and pasting the link into a chat or email. Customers can then click on the link to view the Catalog in their web browser.
  2. Add the Catalog icon to the chat window: Businesses can also add the Catalog icon to the chat window, which allows customers to view the Catalog directly from the chat. To add the Catalog icon, businesses need to open the chat with the customer > tap on the Add Shortcut button > select Catalog from the list of options > and tap on Add.

Remember that businesses can share the Catalog with as many customers as they like, and customers can view it as many times as they want.

However, businesses can update their Catalog anytime by adding, editing, or deleting products or categories.


How to check out WhatsApp Catalog?

To purchase in WhatsApp Catalog, customers need to chat with a business that has a WhatsApp Catalog set up and enabled WhatsApp payments.

Customers can then follow these steps to check out:

  1. View the Catalog: Customers can view the Catalog by clicking on the Catalog icon in the chat window or visiting the business’s Catalog link.
  2. Browse the products: Customers can browse the products and categories in the Catalog and view product details by clicking on an individual product.
  3. Add products to the cart: Customers can click the “Add to Cart” button. Customers can add as many products as they like to the cart.
  4. Review the cart: Customers can review the contents of their cart by clicking on the “Cart” icon in the upper right corner of the Catalog.
  5. Checkout: To check out, customers can click on the “Checkout” button in the cart.
  6. Enter shipping and payment information: Customers will be prompted to enter their shipping and payment information. If the business has enabled WhatsApp payments, customers can make secure payments directly from the Catalog using their preferred payment method.
  7. Confirm the order: Customers can review their order details and confirm the order by clicking on the “Place Order” button.

After the order is placed, the business will receive a notification of the purchase and will begin processing the order.

Customers can also track their order status through the Catalog or by contacting the business directly.


How to hide catalog items?

After you add a catalog, maybe along the way you want to hide some product items there. For example when a product is sold out or still waiting for a restocking.

Therefore, you need to hide these items in the WhatsApp catalog.

  1. Open the WhatsApp Business app
  2. Click Settings
  3. Select Business Features, then click Catalog
  4. Click the product or service item that you want to hide
  5. Select Other, then click Edit
  6. Turn on Hide this item
  7. Click Save

An alternative way to hide other catalog items is by swiping to the left of the item in the Catalog Manager, then tap Hide > Hide.

Hidden items will still appear in the catalog manager with the icon over the item image. If you open a product detail page, you’ll also see a note saying that you’ve hidden this item.


How to show hidden catalog items again?

You might want to display previously hidden catalog items at some point. You can do this in the following way:

  1. Open the WhatsApp Business app
  2. Click Settings
  3. Select Business Features then click Catalog
  4. Select the product or service you want to preview More > Edit.
  5. Turn off Hide items
  6. Click Save

Alternatively, swipe left on the item in Catalog Manager, then select Show and click Show.


How to remove a product or service from your catalog?

Do you want to remove certain products from the WA catalog? If so, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open the WhatsApp Business application
  2. Click Settings
  3. Select Business Features then click Catalog
  4. Swipe left on the product or service you want to remove
  5. Then select Delete and click Delete.

Alternatively, select the product or service image that you want to remove. Then tap Edit > Delete > Delete.


Conclusion

In conclusion, WhatsApp Catalog is a powerful tool for businesses looking to showcase and sell their products and services on WhatsApp.

If you’re a business looking to use WhatsApp Catalog to showcase and sell your products and services on WhatsApp, consider using Mekari Qontak to manage your customer interactions and sales.

Mekari Qontak is a powerful tool that helps businesses streamline their operations and increase efficiency through WhatsApp API, Omnichannel, and CRM — making it easy to manage customer interactions and sales through WhatsApp Catalog.

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