Setting Up WhatsApp Catalog for Business: A Complete Guide

It's no secret that WhatsApp has continued to receive updates, innovations, and enhancements since Facebook bought the company. 

One of these breakthroughs was the WhatsApp Business app, the second version of the service that was created to facilitate engagement and communication between big and small businesses and their users, clients, and audiences.

The world's largest instant messaging company has been constantly reinventing itself in an effort to enhance the app and turn it into one of the most successful commercial platforms ever. One of the most well-liked additions is the WhatsApp Business catalog.

In this article, we'll go over how to set up, build, and use the WhatsApp Business feature to grow, scale your company and impress sales prospects. 

We'll also discuss what to keep in mind when utilizing the tool, who may use it, and what kinds of products or services you can advertise on it. 

Keep in mind that there are some rules for using WhatsApp that we must abide by in order to prevent any issues.

What is the WhatsApp catalog?

The purpose of this tool is to enable your business to use WhatsApp to showcase their goods and/or services to the general public. 

WhatsApp Business catalogs are a brand-new feature of the instant messaging app, similar to those that many other social networks have. Making purchases, learning more about the products being offered, placing orders, or making reservations are all feasible in this fashion. 

It also enables you to get the app's help a far more polished and automated touch.

Your business can now include their goods or services in these WhatsApp catalogs for public viewing, but there's more: you can also include descriptions and vital details like prices or technical specifications. 

It is unquestionably a solution that will make it simple and quick to share your business's goods and services.

Elements of WhatsApp catalog

A WhatsApp catalog functions similarly to a mobile storefront on the messaging service. So that you can provide the following details for each item added to the WhatsApp catalog, it covers all the essentials.

• Product name.
• Product description.
• Product price.
• Product code.

It's also crucial to remember that WhatsApp is the host of these catalogs. This conserves both consumers' and enterprises' devices' crucial storage capacity.

How does it work?

A window opens when someone clicks on our WhatsApp Business profile and displays certain information, including a box stating that our account is for business.

Next, you will be able to see a brief description of our company along with its opening and closing times, address, and other vital details like its industry or Instagram account.

Following the information part, you may browse the catalog that appears as shared photographs. In this situation, we must use our creativity to create amazing WhatsApp marketing images that can properly showcase the goods or services.

When you click on the catalog, a new window with more details appears. First, a main image with the company name and a brief description appears, and then each image of the catalog we created is displayed, along with details about the goods or services we are promoting. 

How to create a WhatsApp catalog for business?

It's no secret that WhatsApp works hard to keep things as easy and user-friendly as possible, and establishing catalogs in WhatsApp Business is no exception. Now, in order to create a successful catalog, you must adhere to the stages we will outline:

• Step 1: Go to Settings - Business Tools after logging into the WhatsApp Business app.

• Step 2: Then, in order to see all the alternatives, we will choose the "Catalog" option.

• Step 3: Next, we'll find a new area where we can examine our profile picture and the description of our business; from here, we'll tap the plus symbol to begin adding products to the catalog.

• Step 4: We can now enter all the information about our products, starting with one or more photographs, then the name, price, and description of the item. Finally, we can add any further choices, such as links and article codes, if desired.

• Step 5: We just need to wait because after WhatsApp Business reviews our product and publishes it in the catalog, they will determine whether it meets with their business regulations. If all goes according to plan, the product will be successfully published, and a clock symbol will first show at the top of the product before eventually disappearing.

It's amazing, isn't it, that your contacts and customers can start asking questions, making purchases, or requesting the catalog from your profile once you've completed all these steps for each of the items that make up your catalog and they have all been approved? 

Share products of catalog on WhatsApp

• Step 1:To begin a conversation, you must first enter a chat in the WhatsApp Business app.

• Step 2: The next step is to click the tool's icon, which is the same icon used to transfer a file or an image, which is located next to the text box.

• Step 3: Then, from among all the tools, we must choose "Catalog" and click on it.

Finally, all you need to do is choose the good or service we wish to share, and it will be delivered instantly thereby, focusing on customer-centric selling. Keep in mind that you must first construct your catalog and configure all of your products and/or services before you can proceed.

Add items to WhatsApp catalog

The WhatsApp Business App must first be downloaded and installed on your device. The app can be used on a laptop or a mobile device, but first you must sync your WhatsApp account across all of your devices.

Take the following actions on the mobile app:

• Step 1: Open the WhatsApp Business app, then swipe right to access Settings.

• Step 2: Tap Add new item after choosing Business Tools > Catalog.

• Step 3: Select Add Images on the following page. For each good or service, you may include up to ten photos.

• Step 4: To capture fresh pictures of your goods or services, choose Take Photo. You must tick the box to grant WA Business access to your camera at the next step.

• Step 5: Select Choose Photo to upload pictures from Photos if you already have pictures of your goods or services.

• Step 6: Enter the name, cost, and description of the item. To add a link to a product or service and an Item code, select extra options. In the top right corner of your screen, click Save.

Follow these steps to configure the catalog using the desktop app:

• Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your computer, choose Catalog from the dropdown menu that appears in the top right corner of your chat list.

• Step 2: Upload up to 10 photos from any location on your computer by clicking Add New Item.

• Step 3: Enter the name, cost, description, URL, and item code of the good or service.

• Step 4: To make a product invisible to the general public, select the Hide item checkbox.

• Step 5: To save changes, click Add to Catalog at the end.

Hide items in WhatsApp catalog

When an item is momentarily unavailable, you can temporarily conceal it from consumers' view and prevent them from placing orders to boost growth with the sales process.

If you're using a mobile phone, take the following actions:

• Step 1: Select Catalog under Tools in the WhatsApp Business app after launching it.

• Step 2: Tap the three dots at the top of the Catalog page after choosing an item to reveal more alternatives.

• Step 3: At the top of the page, select Edit, turn Hide this item on, and then select Save.

Follow these instructions to use the WhatsApp Business desktop app:

• Step 1: Click the dropdown menu at the top of your chat list in the WhatsApp Business app.

• Step 2: Select a good or service by clicking Catalog.

• Step 3: Click Edit at the top, then select the Hide item checkbox.

• Step 4: Press Save.

Alternatively, you can pick a Hide item from the dropdown menu when you mouse over an item in the catalog.

Delete items in WhatsApp catalog

To remove items from the catalog on the mobile app, mobile users need follow these instructions:

• Step 1: Select Catalog under Tools in the WhatsApp Business App.

• Step 2: On an item, swipe left and select Delete. On the confirmation window, select Delete.

As an alternative, you can do the following:

• Step 1: In the Catalog, select an item, then select the three dots in the upper right corner of your screen.

• Step 2: At the bottom, choose Edit and press Delete. Confirm Delete in the ensuing prompt.

The procedures to remove things from Catalog on the desktop app are as follows:

• Step 1: By selecting Catalog from the dropdown menu at the top of your chat list, you may navigate to it in the WhatsApp Business App.

• Step 2: Click Edit at the top of the screen after choosing an item in the Catalog.

• Step 3: Click the Delete item after you've reached the bottom of the product detail section.

• Step 4: To confirm the deletion, click OK on the next window.

Share items from WhatsApp catalog

By doing the following, you can share items from the catalog on a mobile device:

• Step 1: Select Catalog under Tools in the WhatsApp Business App.

• Step 2: Choose Forward or Share by selecting an item, then clicking the three dots at the top of the screen.

• Step 3: Share allows you to choose which other apps to connect with, whereas Forward will share with anyone on your chat list. A link to your catalog is distributed.

For users of desktop apps, follow these steps:

• Step 1: Open WhatsApp Business on your computer.

• Step 2: Select Catalog from the dropdown menu at the top of your chat list.

• Step 3: At the top of the page, choose an item, then click Share.

• Step 4: Select the contact you want to share with by tapping Send product, or Share on any platform by copying it.

How collections can be used to organize WhatsApp catalog?

Thanks to functions like Collections, WhatsApp Business is still one of the best apps for managing and sales enablement tools for small businesses. Customers can find items in your Catalog more easily thanks to the feature known as collections.

Before using the Collection tool to organize your things, you must first add items to your catalog. If you have completed that, we may go on to how to construct a Collection for both computer/web users and mobile app users.

On the mobile app, adhere to these steps:

• Step 1: Open the Catalog by going to the Tools tab in the WhatsApp Business app.

• Step 2: When prompted, type the name of your collection and tap Next after selecting Add new collection.

• Step 3: Tap Done at the top of the page after choosing the catalog items you want to include in the new collection.

A collection list can always have items edited, added, or removed from it.

To add things to a collection, click Add at the bottom of the page. To modify, click the three dots at the top of the page.

These actions can be taken by desktop users:

• Step 1: Click the dropdown menu at the top of your chat list after launching WhatsApp on your computer to access Catalog.

• Step 2: A new collection can be found under the Catalog menu.

• Step 3: Give your collection a name, then choose the things you wish to include.

• Step 4: To finish, click the tick icon at the bottom of the page.

The WhatsApp team will check your submission after you've created your Collection to make sure it complies with all community rules. Your consumers can find your Collection in your Catalog after it has been authorized, which typically takes 24 hours.

Additionally, you can edit your collection to add or remove items, change the collection's name, or even delete it.

Can tools help you increase sales productivity through WhatsApp Business?

We all know that WhatsApp has some restrictions on the number of users who can work on the same phone line. 

Since only one phone and one WhatsApp Web window can be connected simultaneously, this presents a serious issue for businesses that use the app for their business. 

As a result, we want to recommend one of the best tools you can use to develop your business within WhatsApp in an easier, more effective, and more successful way.

If your business has chosen to use WhatsApp, try Zixflow.

It is a one-stop marketing tool created especially for businesses.

It provides you with:

• Intelligent sales automation.
• Short response times made possible by templates.
• Straightforward teamwork for customer support issues.
• Every customer receives a message that is unique.

Sign up now to obtain a free demo!

Products you can publish in the WhatsApp Business catalogs

We have some products or services that we won't be able to publish because we know that WhatsApp frequently changes its terms of use, including its commercial policies. 

These include illegal products or services, drugs, tobacco-related products, alcohol, unsafe ingestible supplements, weapons or explosives, animals, adult products or services, body parts or body fluids, medical and health products, sexually explicit items, gambling services, dating services, and so on.

In order to avoid infringement by WhatsApp Business, it is essential to refrain from releasing any goods or services that might include any of the aforementioned content.

Although some products are obviously more effective when marketed through aforementioned WhatsApp marketing, such as e-commerce items, retail, real estate rentals or sales, retail stores, and many more, not all products are prohibited. 

Any company wishing to sell their services or products must abide by these rules and must first open a WhatsApp Business account and create their catalog.

All in all, any shops or companies who offer their goods or services widely are welcome to use WhatsApp Business catalogs, and they will undoubtedly be successful as long as they adhere to WhatsApp's e-commerce standards.

Who can implement the WhatsApp catalogs?

All businesses—whether they are registered or unregistered—may utilize, build, and utilize WhatsApp Business catalogs. If you are a person who wants to sell a service or a product, you can do so, even if you are not a registered business.

Without the need to validate the business with Facebook or comply with any other requirements, anyone can use this catalog functionality.

Do you want to purchase through WhatsApp catalog?

Simply navigate to the catalog, click on the link to the good or service, or get in touch with the business directly to make a purchase via the WhatsApp Business app.

When we open the app and view a retailer's catalog, we may see some details about what the store is selling, such as the product description, pricing, a link to make a purchase, or a button to contact the business for the pre-sales engagement process.

There are two alternatives available to us if we wish to make a purchase. The first is the purchase link, which should direct you to the website where the product is sold and allow you to complete the transaction there.

The second choice is to contact the business by sending a message. This option resembles a button, and when we click it, the business will get a message from us expressing our interest in the product we just saw in their catalog.

We can now finish the transaction, however the second option takes a little longer because we have to wait for the manager to help us and respond to our message.

How many people can manage my catalog through WhatsApp Business?

If your business receives a lot of inquiries every day, you probably have a team that responds to all of them via WhatsApp Business, whether they are inquiries about the goods or services you offer, complaints, or inquiries about the business itself.

What would you think if I told you that you could have a customer care team of any size you require, and that they could help all of your clients from the same WhatsApp line? 

It's true that you can use WhatsApp from a total of two devices (the app and WhatsApp Web). 

Quite intriguing, huh?

Best practices to follow for WhatsApp catalog

We advise adhering to a few recommended practises when putting up your WhatsApp catalog, which are similar to how you categorize and present things on your online storefront:

Add products in focus

Although a company's product catalog can have up to 500 items, that does not mean that all of them must be listed. We advise just including in your catalog the items that are your greatest sellers, the most lucrative, or in high demand.

Your customers will find it easier to browse the catalog and find the products they want. A never-ending scroll may overwhelm users with options, which can cause them to abandon the buying process.

Whenever required create collection

Make sure to use collections to categorize the products you are adding from your store's various categories that will help in simplifying the sales process. 

Customers may browse the catalog items much more easily and quickly as a result, locating the goods they wish to buy. But we advise just developing significant collections, exactly like the new catalog products. 

Avoid making too many collections.

Focus on product details

Don't just keep adding products and collections to your catalog. Make sure you spend enough time discussing the products so that customers won't need to contact you for even the most basic information.

A clear product name, description, product code (in case they wish to visit your store for the same), product pricing, a link to the product page on the website, and product images are all examples of product details.

Keep updating your catalog

Never set up your WhatsApp catalog and then completely forget about it. You must keep track of the feedback on the new items in your catalog and update it periodically. Items from the catalog that your WhatsApp users don't seem to be interested in can be added, changed, edited, or removed.

You may monitor which catalog products are the most often searched for or shared by using WhatsApp automation tools. This enables you to choose what belongs in your WhatsApp catalog based on data.

Everything set for WhatsApp catalog!

Any business trying to increase consumer interaction and boost sales should consider using a WhatsApp Business Catalog. You can build a mobile storefront for your company on WhatsApp thanks to its intuitive UI and other strong features.

Multimedia material, editable layouts, and customized messaging are all supported by the Catalog. These characteristics make it an effective tool for fostering client relationships, gaining an edge over rivals, boosting sales, and efficiently achieving your marketing objectives.

You must get clients to opt in before you can start marketing on WhatsApp through WhatsApp advertising messages. This is comparable to the way you encourage clients to join your email list before launching advertising.