How Do I Create a Free Product Catalog Online?
by Audrey Hollingshead | Last Updated: May 3, 2023
What Is an Example of a Product Catalog?
IKEA is a good example of how to create and organize buying guides and brochures. The home goods brand created several product catalogs based on the room you’re trying to style and furnish. It’s easy to see why IKEA and other brands stick to PDF catalogs. Even though they’re on a screen they feel like something you can flip through. But as good as that is, there are some drawbacks to PDF catalogs. In many ways they are a lot like their printed grandfathers. PDFs are static and not easy to update. Suppose you have a catalog in PDF format. It has an elegant design and your products jump off the digital page. But then, suddenly, an accessory is out of stock. Your best selling product that customers had their minds set on can’t be shipped. Does your catalog have the ability to suggest a related product that fills your customers' needs? Can you easily edit it and make it live again within an hour? PDFs can be edited, but not easily. It takes time to ensure the new data fits within the design. Not to mention you have to re-upload it, and redistribute it via email to customers and salespeople. This doesn’t guarantee that customers will see the updated version. The best type of product catalog is one that is fully digital. This means it can be connected to a product information management (PIM) system. A PIM system holds all your content about your products in one place. This includes product descriptions, measurements, photos, videos, and anything else related to your product. Creating a catalog with the help of a connected PIM system speeds up the whole process. Instead of having to copy and paste in everything you simply select what you want from your PIM. Using our PIM system and connecting it to the catalog you’ve created on Lumavate makes it easy to update catalog entries. Think of it like this. Suppose you have a few different range models in our PIM system. This PIM system is connected to a range catalog you’ve created in Lumavate. All the ranges listed in the PIM system are also listed in the catalog. The moment you update or edit any of the range entries in the PIM system, the same entries will automatically be updated in the catalog as well. Luckily there are ways to make a product catalogue that can use a PIM system.How Do I Make a Simple Product Catalog?
Here’s how you can make a simple product catalog.- Decide what products you want to include in your digital catalog.
- Gather every detail about them. What they’re made of, their measurements, care instructions, and everything else you want customers to know.
- If you’d like to include any how-to videos, now’s the time to shoot and edit them.
- Decide on your product catalog software. Don’t worry, we’ll have a good list of those below.
- Once you’ve chosen your software solution, take a look at their templates. Ensure it has all the elements you need. Does it integrate with a product information management (PIM) solution? Can you include videos? What about other interactive elements? Can those be used too?
- Follow software instructions on how to build the catalog.
- Proofread it and make any final changes.
- Distribute it.
How Do I Create a Free Product Catalog Online?
Creating a product catalog for free online is the same as creating a simple product catalog. The only real difference is making sure the product catalog maker you use is free. Here is a list of some free catalog maker software options.Akeneo
Akeneo is a popular digital catalog maker since it has a product information management system. This makes updating catalogs super easy. Pros of Akeneo:- You can use their PIM for quicker catalog updates.
- Akeneo offers a lot besides product catalogs.
- You can make a catalog for free.
- Some say the catalog features are limiting.
- Be prepared to pay a whopping $25,000 a year if you want more features.
- The free version doesn’t get updates or the latest PIM features.
Lumavate
Lumavate can not only create a product catalog, but it also offers a PIM. It’s a one-stop-shop for customer experiences that show off your products. With Lumavate you can:- Use text messaging to deliver your latest catalog.
- Have unlimited users contributing information design ideas.
- Connect to a PIM for an easy way to update your catalog on the fly.
- Suggest related accessories to products customers are interested in.
- Connect to Lumavate’s Digital Asset Management system.
- Track who made changes and when they were made.
- Allow customers to compare products to find what they’re looking for.
- Include customer reviews from product buyers.
- Add unlimited custom attributes to your products.
- Use real product data to create informational experiences.
- Can write your catalog in multiple languages to reach customers around the world.
- Can integrate with Google Analytics to track who does and doesn’t resonate with the catalog.