An online product catalog helps a buyer compare products before they contact you. Start with the questions buyers ask when they are deciding what to choose. A ceramics studio might need to explain sizes and finishes, while a supplier might need to show dimensions, lead times and minimum quantities.
Decide what buyers need to compare
Pick a few products and write down the details buyers need to compare across all of them. Keep the same field names and units across a collection so the comparison stays easy.
| Catalog field | Example for a ceramic bowl |
|---|---|
| Product name | Everyday bowl |
| Details to compare | Diameter, capacity, material and care |
| Options buyers can choose | Size and glaze |
| When to send an inquiry | Confirm availability or request a larger quantity |
Give each product a clear name, a useful photo and the details someone would otherwise have to email you for. List a selectable choice as an option. If one option changes a specification, show the updated detail alongside the choice. The product pages and options guide covers the setup in LitPage.
Make collections answer a shopping question
A catalog can list every product, while collections give visitors a way into the range. Organize each collection around a choice people make. For the ceramics studio, “Bowls for everyday meals” is a more helpful starting point than a collection called “Series 01.”
Write a short introduction that explains what the products have in common. If visitors need help comparing sizes or understanding care, link the relevant buying guide and the products it describes. A good guide can serve several collections.
Use the catalog and collections guide when you are ready to publish those groups.
Make the inquiry easy to answer
Ask for the information you need to reply. Keep the selected product and its options with the visitor's message, and only add questions that change your answer. A ceramics studio might ask for the quantity and requested delivery date. The buyer should be able to recognize their selection before sending the inquiry.
Decide who reads the inbox and what they should check first. A useful reply can confirm the chosen size and glaze, then explain availability or the next step. The product inquiries guide explains how to carry those selections into the site inbox.
Walk through one product before you publish the range
- Open the catalog on a phone and find a product through a collection.
- Check that the product name, photo, specifications and options agree.
- Select an option, submit a fictional inquiry and confirm that the inbox shows the same product and selection.
- Follow any linked buying guide and check that it answers the question the link promises.
Once that path works for one product, reuse the same fields and checks across the range. See the LitPage product catalog website for the full workflow.