Today, most people use WhatsApp to talk to friends, family, and even businesses. Customers now expect to see products, ask questions, and place orders all within a chat. This is where the WhatsApp Business Catalog comes in. It helps businesses show their products directly on WhatsApp, making shopping easier for customers.
In this article, we will explain what a WhatsApp Business Catalog is, why it’s useful, and how it can work with tools like the WhatsApp Business API, WhatsApp Chatbots, Automation, and Marketing Tools.
What Is a WhatsApp Business Catalog?
A WhatsApp Business Catalog is a feature that allows businesses to display their products or services in a well-organized list inside WhatsApp. It works like a digital product brochure. Each product can include a name, price, description, image, and a link. Customers can browse the catalog, choose a product, and start a chat to ask questions or place an order.
This catalog is available in the free WhatsApp Business App and also through the advanced WhatsApp Business API. The API is used by businesses that need to manage large numbers of customers or use automation.
Why Businesses Should Use the WhatsApp Business Catalog
Using a catalog on WhatsApp offers many benefits. Let’s explore them one by one.
1. Better Customer Experience
Customers don’t have to ask for prices or product photos one by one. They can see everything clearly in the catalog and decide what they want to buy.
2. Saves Time for Businesses
Instead of replying to each customer with product details, businesses can simply share a catalog link or a product message.
3. Helps in Promotions
Businesses can share product catalogs in their WhatsApp Marketing campaigns. It’s an easy way to show new arrivals, deals, or collections.
4. Useful for Automation
When linked with WhatsApp Automation tools, businesses can automatically send catalog messages at the right time, such as when someone shows interest in a product or abandons a cart.
5. Works with Chatbots
By connecting the catalog with a WhatsApp Chatbot, customers can ask for products, check availability, and get information instantly, even when the business is closed.
How to Create a Catalog Using the WhatsApp Business App
If you are a small business using the free WhatsApp Business App, here’s how you can set up a catalog:
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Open the WhatsApp Business App and go to the menu.
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Tap on “Business Tools” and select “Catalog.”
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Click “Add New Item.”
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Fill in the product name, price, and description.
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Upload product images (you can upload up to 10 photos).
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Add a link or product code if needed.
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Tap “Save.”
You can create up to 500 items in your catalog. Once saved, your catalog is visible to any customer who visits your business profile. You can also share specific items in chats.
Creating and Managing Catalogs Using WhatsApp Business API
If you’re a growing business or a brand dealing with many customers, you might use the WhatsApp Business API. This is a more advanced system that lets you manage catalogs using Facebook Commerce Manager.
Here’s how the process works:
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Set up your catalog using Facebook Commerce Manager.
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Add all your products with names, prices, and images.
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Connect the catalog with your WhatsApp Business API account.
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Use catalog message templates to send products directly to customers in chat.
Since this setup is technical, many businesses work with WhatsApp API providers like Wappbiz, AiSensy, 360dialog, or DelightChat to manage everything smoothly.
How to Share Products from Your Catalog
Sharing your catalog or a single product is very easy. Here are the three main ways to do it:
1. Share a Single Product
Go to your catalog, select a product, and tap “Send.” The product will be shared in the chat, and customers can click on it to view more details or reply to the message.
2. Share the Whole Catalog
From your business profile, you can copy the catalog link and paste it in the chat. This is helpful when someone wants to explore your full range of products.
3. Use Automation Tools
If you are using WhatsApp Business API and tools like Wappbiz or Interakt, you can automatically send product messages to large customer lists. You can schedule these messages or send them based on customer actions like browsing or clicking a previous link.
Tools That Support WhatsApp Catalog Features
Several tools help businesses use WhatsApp Catalogs more effectively. Here’s how some of them work:
Wappbiz
Wappbiz is a leading platform for WhatsApp Marketing. It helps businesses manage catalogs, send product messages, and use automation. It is perfect for small to medium-sized businesses looking to grow their customer base quickly.
AiSensy
AiSensy helps businesses run catalog-based marketing campaigns. It also offers chatbot support, automation flows, and message analytics. You can send targeted product messages and track customer activity easily.
360dialog
360dialog connects your WhatsApp API account with Facebook Commerce Manager. It’s a good option for large businesses or developers who want more control over the process.
Interakt
Interakt helps manage customer conversations and product interactions in one place. You can send product messages, track conversations, and reply to customers quickly.
DelightChat
DelightChat is ideal for Shopify users who want to provide support and send catalog messages through WhatsApp. It’s simple to use and great for e-commerce brands.
DoubleTick
DoubleTick supports catalog-based bulk messaging. It is good for businesses that want to update customers regularly about new arrivals or discounts.
Real-Life Scenario: How a Clothing Store Used WhatsApp Catalog to Boost Sales
Let’s take the example of a clothing shop in Pune. The store owner has many items like shirts, trousers, and jackets. Earlier, he used to send images manually to each customer. It was time-consuming and difficult to manage.
He then created a full catalog using the WhatsApp Business App. Every product had a name, size, price, and image. He shared the catalog link with his existing customers and added it to his social media bio.
Later, he started using Wappbiz to send automated catalog messages to customers who had not bought in a while. Within one week, many customers placed orders directly from WhatsApp. The store saved time and increased sales without spending much money on ads.
Conclusion
The WhatsApp Business Catalog is one of the easiest and most effective ways to display and sell products. Whether you run a small business or a large brand, the catalog can help you provide a better shopping experience to your customers.
When combined with tools like the WhatsApp Business API, Chatbots, Automation, and Marketing Platforms, the catalog becomes more powerful. It lets you reach more people, save time, and increase your sales.
If you’re not already using a WhatsApp Catalog, now is the right time to start. With platforms like Wappbiz, AiSensy, Interakt, and others, setting it up is easy and brings great results.
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