A WhatsApp Business catalogue gives customers a place to browse your products before they ask a question or place an order. The most useful catalogue is accurate, easy to scan on a phone and clear about what the customer should do next.
Use this checklist to prepare your catalogue and connect it with your wider ordering process. Updated 21 September 2026.
1. Prepare the business profile
Use the official WhatsApp Business setup guide for account registration. Add a recognisable business name, category and profile image. Keep your contact information and opening hours consistent with the information you share elsewhere.
If you already have an online store, include the correct shop address in your business information. Test the link yourself before asking customers to use it.
2. Prepare complete product information
Start with your main products. For each one, prepare:
- A product name that distinguishes it from similar items.
- A clear photograph showing what the customer receives.
- The current price and what that price includes.
- Available sizes, colours, quantities or package options.
- A short description covering the details buyers ask about.
- Any important availability or lead-time information.
For example, “Ankara tote bag — blue pattern” is more useful than “New arrival.” If an item is made to order, explain that before the customer begins a purchase. Check spelling, photo quality and consistency across related products.
3. Build and review your catalogue
Open the catalogue tools available in your WhatsApp Business app and add the prepared products. Refer to the app’s current help if the menus differ on your phone. WhatsApp supports catalogues and collections for presenting related products; see its official feature guide.
Review the catalogue from a customer’s perspective. Can they distinguish similar products? Is the price easy to find? Have you accidentally used an old photo or a description for a different size?
4. Share the right link
Be clear about whether you are sharing a catalogue, an individual item, a chat link or an online shop. These lead to different places. Tell the customer what they can do after opening the link.
Browse the available products here: [catalogue link]. Send us the item and quantity you want, and we will confirm availability and delivery.
If you use a Waabot shop, you can instead share its storefront link so customers can select products and pay through your configured Paystack checkout.
5. Keep orders and payments organised
Receiving a product enquiry or a cart message is only part of an order. Confirm stock, delivery arrangements and payment before preparing it. Keep one reliable order record and update it when the customer changes their request.
With Waabot, you can manage products and orders in a dashboard, with paid, packed and sent stages. Our WhatsApp order management guide explains that workflow.
Maintain the catalogue as your shop changes
Review listings whenever a price, variant or delivery arrangement changes. Remove unavailable offers from your current promotion messages and avoid advertising a product before its information is ready.
Setup time depends on how many products you have and whether their photos and descriptions are ready. Give yourself time to check the details instead of treating a five-minute launch as a requirement.
For a comparison of starting options and costs, read how to create a WhatsApp store for free. To add a separate online checkout, start your Waabot shop.