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Meta Business PartnerStep-by-step guide

How to set up a catalog on the WhatsApp Business API

A WhatsApp catalog turns a chat thread into a browsable storefront: customers can view your products, tap through prices and images, and add items to a cart without ever leaving the conversation. This guide walks you through connecting a catalog to your WhatsApp Business API number with InfiQ, from linking the catalog in Meta Commerce Manager to sending your first Multi-Product Message. It also covers the approval nuances and the mistakes that quietly break the buying experience so you can get it right the first time.

What you'll do

Create or connect a catalog in Meta Commerce Manager, link it to your WhatsApp Business Account, connect it inside InfiQ, then send it as a Single- or Multi-Product Message. Test the cart flow on your own number before going live, and keep product data clean to stay eligible for Commerce.

Step 1 — Prepare your account and commerce eligibility

Before a catalog can appear inside WhatsApp, three things need to be in place. Your WhatsApp Business API number must be active and connected through InfiQ, your Meta Business Manager must be verified, and your business has to sit within WhatsApp Commerce Policy — some categories (alcohol, supplements, digital goods, regulated services) are restricted or prohibited from selling in-chat. Getting these prerequisites lined up first saves you from a catalog that links successfully but silently fails to show products to customers.

  • Confirm your WhatsApp Business Account (WABA) is live and green-ticked or in good standing in InfiQ.
  • Complete Meta Business Manager verification if you have not already — Commerce features depend on it.
  • Check your products against the WhatsApp Commerce Policy so listings are not rejected after upload.
  • Have product images (square, at least 500x500px), titles, prices and descriptions ready in a sheet.

Step 2 — Create or connect your catalog in Commerce Manager

The catalog itself lives in Meta Commerce Manager, not in WhatsApp. You can build a fresh catalog, upload products in bulk from a CSV or product feed, or reuse an existing catalog you already run for Facebook and Instagram Shops — the same catalog can power all three surfaces. Each product needs a unique retailer ID (SKU), a title, price, currency and at least one image. If you sell a large or frequently changing range, a scheduled feed URL keeps stock and pricing in sync automatically instead of you re-uploading by hand.

  • In Commerce Manager, create a catalog of type 'E-commerce' or open the one you already use.
  • Add products manually for a handful of items, or upload a CSV/data feed for a full range.
  • Set currency to INR and make sure every item has a valid price and image URL.
  • Assign the catalog to your Business so InfiQ can reference it when you link the WABA.

Step 3 — Link the catalog to your WhatsApp Business Account

With products in place, the catalog needs to be attached to the specific WhatsApp Business Account that InfiQ manages for you. In Commerce Manager under your WABA's settings, you select the catalog you want to use for WhatsApp. Only one catalog can be connected to a WABA at a time, so if you run multiple product lines, decide up front whether they belong in one master catalog with sets, or whether separate numbers make more sense. Once linked, you can also toggle the in-app cart and enable the catalog button on your business profile.

  • Open your WABA's Commerce settings and choose 'Connect a catalog'.
  • Pick the catalog you prepared, then enable the cart so customers can order multiple items.
  • Optionally show the catalog icon on your profile so buyers can browse without a prompt.

Step 4 — Connect and send the catalog inside InfiQ

InfiQ reads the catalog linked to your WABA and lets you push products into conversations without touching code. You send products two ways: a Single-Product Message that showcases one item with its price and 'View' button, or a Multi-Product Message that groups up to 30 items across sections — ideal for a menu, a bestseller row, or a seasonal collection. Both can be sent inside the 24-hour service window for free after a customer messages you, or triggered from an approved template message when you are re-opening a conversation. In the InfiQ builder you select the retailer IDs, arrange them into sections, and preview the exact card the customer will see.

  • Use a Single-Product Message to highlight one hero item in a reply or automation.
  • Use a Multi-Product Message to present a menu or collection of up to 30 SKUs in sections.
  • Send catalog messages free within the 24-hour service window, or open the chat with an approved template first.

Step 5 — Test the cart flow, then go live

Always run the full buying journey on your own number before switching it on for customers. Message your business, browse the catalog, add two or three items to the cart, and place an order so you see the order-details message land back in the conversation exactly as a customer would. Confirm that prices, images and product names render correctly and that your team or automation is ready to reply and collect payment. Once the flow is clean, publish it — add a catalog button to your welcome automation or greeting so browsing is one tap away, and watch delivery and read rates in InfiQ as real orders start coming in.

  • Place a real test order end-to-end and confirm the cart summary returns to chat.
  • Wire catalog access into your greeting message, quick-reply buttons, or FAQ automation.
  • Track order messages, delivery and read status in InfiQ, and refine which products you surface.

Common mistakes to avoid

Most catalog problems are data problems, not WhatsApp problems. A missing image URL, a price without currency, or a product still 'in review' will quietly drop items from the card the customer sees, making your catalog look half-empty for no obvious reason. Businesses also forget that in-chat cart and checkout availability varies by region and category, so confirm your setup actually supports orders where your customers are. Finally, catalog messages still follow WhatsApp's messaging rules — you cannot cold-blast a product list to people who never opted in, and re-opening a closed conversation needs an approved marketing or utility template, which is billed per delivered message.

  • Leaving products in 'pending' or 'rejected' state so they never appear in the message.
  • Uploading images that are too small, non-square, or hosted on a URL Meta cannot reach.
  • Assuming you can send an unsolicited catalog — opt-in and an approved template are still required to start a chat.
  • Not keeping the feed in sync, so customers see out-of-stock items or stale prices.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need Meta Business verification to use a catalog?+
Yes. WhatsApp Commerce features, including catalogs and the in-chat cart, depend on a verified Meta Business Manager. If verification is incomplete, you can create a catalog but products may not show to customers. InfiQ's India-based team can help you get verification finished before you link the catalog.
How many products can I send in one WhatsApp message?+
A Single-Product Message shows one item. A Multi-Product Message can present up to 30 products, organised into sections such as 'Bestsellers' or 'New arrivals'. For larger ranges, use sets and let customers browse the full catalog from the profile button.
Does sending a catalog cost money?+
Catalog messages sent inside the free 24-hour service window — after a customer messages you — carry no per-message charge. If you need to re-open a closed conversation, you send an approved template first, and WhatsApp bills that per delivered message by category. InfiQ shows transparent rupee pricing, ex-GST.
Can I reuse the catalog from my Facebook or Instagram Shop?+
Yes. The catalog lives in Meta Commerce Manager and the same catalog can power Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. You only need to link it to the WhatsApp Business Account that InfiQ manages, so you avoid maintaining product data in two places.
Do customers pay inside WhatsApp?+
It depends on your region and setup. Customers can build a cart and place an order in chat, and you can collect payment via a payment link, UPI, or your existing checkout. In-chat payment availability varies, so confirm what is enabled for your account during setup.
How long does catalog setup take?+
Once your WhatsApp Business API account and Meta verification are in place, connecting a catalog and sending your first product message usually takes minutes. Uploading a large product range via CSV or a feed takes a little longer but is a one-time job.
Do I need a developer to set up a catalog?+
For most catalog tasks, no. InfiQ is no-code — you connect the catalog and send Single- or Multi-Product Messages from the dashboard. Deeper automations, such as syncing an external inventory system, can use the API if you want them.
Why are some of my products not showing in the message?+
Almost always it is a data issue: the product is still in review or rejected, the image URL is unreachable or too small, or the price and currency are missing. Fix the item in Commerce Manager, wait for it to move to 'active', then resend.