The WhatsApp catalogue, and how to use it well
The catalogue lets customers browse your products inside the chat. It removes the step where you send a PDF nobody can read on a phone, but it is a browsing tool rather than a shop.
Published
What it does
Items with photos, names, prices and descriptions, viewable without leaving the conversation. Customers can enquire about a specific item, which arrives in the chat with the item attached.
Keep it small
A catalogue is not a website. Twenty well-photographed items outperform two hundred, because a chat interface is a poor place to scroll a long list.
Use it for bestsellers, new arrivals and whatever people ask about most. Send a link to the full range for anyone who wants depth.
- One clear photo per item, shot consistently
- Prices kept current, or omitted entirely
- Names that match how customers describe things
- Remove out-of-stock items rather than marking them
A catalogue with stale prices is worse than none. Customers treat a listed price as a commitment, and correcting it later costs the sale and the goodwill.
Where it stops
The catalogue displays; it does not answer. "Does this come in blue", "will it fit a 6-foot sofa" and "is it in stock in Bengaluru" all still require a reply.
An agent that knows your inventory can answer alongside the catalogue, which is where browsing turns into ordering.
Frequently asked questions
How many items can a catalogue hold?
More than you should use. The practical limit is customer patience: past a couple of dozen items, browsing in a chat becomes worse than a web page.
Can customers order from the catalogue?
They can enquire about an item, which starts a conversation. Completing the order still needs a reply and a payment step.
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