Creating a product catalog is an effective way to expand your customer network as well as show your customers all the amazing products your company has to offer. A catalog has the potential to reach customers who will never set foot in your store. As long as you know what to include in your product catalog and package it in an attractive and organized form, you can turn your catalog from an idea into a real advertising tool in no time.
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Method 1 of 1: Creating Your Own Product Catalog
Step 1. Gather all the ingredients
Make sure you have all the materials before starting the next design step. The materials you will need before you create a catalog include product images, a list of products and product advantages, as well as a list of other materials that need to be written down, such as information about the company, customers, customer testimonials, and other information that will help your customers make informed choices. appropriate.
Step 2. Make product images that look attractive
You might be tempted to use your own images to save money, but if you're not a professional photographer, it's best to hire an expert to shoot the images for you. Product photos are one of the most important aspects of a catalog because they are the first thing customers see. Attractive images will encourage customers to read the accompanying captions and, hopefully, buy them.
If you have expertise in photography and are comfortable taking your own pictures and owning your own digital camera, set your camera at the highest resolution and follow the product image requirements: use product images individually, not as a group, on a bright background, add effects shadows to make the product look good, then upload the image at a resolution of no less than 300dpi
Step 3. Know the advantages of your product
Before you write a description of each product, you need to know all the technical specifications of each product. You can also provide the item number and price, including the original price and the discounted price. You may also want to write down all the product advantages that come to mind when sorting through your products. While you may want to tell the customer every little detail you know about a product, you are only required to provide information that helps the customer make a decision. You can direct them to your website if they want more information about a product.
Step 4. Choose the appropriate size for your catalog
You must choose the correct size for your catalog when it is closed. Depending on where the catalog will be used, whether on an airplane or on a desk in a waiting room, you need to consider the size that best fits your product so that customers don't get overwhelmed by a catalog that's too big or don't get frustrated that a catalog size is too small to see. images and contents clearly.
Step 5. Choose the right number of pages
Your catalog needs to be long enough to contain all the information your customers need, but also short enough to keep customers interesting and not overwhelm them with explanations. Don't forget the table of contents, all-page products that might have an advantage, and pages for additional information, such as company history.
- Make sure you are consistent in your numbering. You can make it easier for customers to find your website address by writing it every two pages of the catalog. You can write your phone number on the bottom right side of each page and your website URL on the bottom left, or vice versa. You can also put it on top or one on the bottom.
- Make sure to keep the page count at 4 because the printing company prints 4 pages on a full sheet of paper (2 on the front and 2 on the back).
Step 6. Write a product description
Keep each description short, between 50-150 words. You may want to include the advantages of each product, but be sure to include small advantages into each of these advantages (features). Don't forget the main advantages. For example, the superior grip on the golf gloves will provide a more stable grip, but more importantly, customers can play golf at a professional level when wearing these gloves (a major advantage). Help customers choose the right item when you write a product description, explaining what the customer needs to know, from price to weight or dimensions.
If you need help with writing, you should consider hiring a screenwriter
Step 7. Write additional content
When you write a script, use sentences and paragraphs that are easy to understand and avoid overly technical language. Each section in the catalog should have a cover or introductory page showing someone who uses one of the products in that section, along with a brief article on the benefits of the entire product category. Your content can also include a company brief to make readers feel more comfortable with your product.
You must also create an order form if you will receive an order by post or facsimile
Step 8. Organize your content
You need to plan which content will appear on each page. Be sure to put similar products together. In addition, you should place similar products close to each other. For example, if you sell high-end men's shoes, you might place a shoehorn that will keep the shoe intact for a long time on the same page, as customers interested in good shoes may also be looking for these shoe spoons. It's also a great way to show customers something they themselves never knew they needed.
- To organize content effectively, you need to have not only a product description page, but also an introductory page at the front of the book, an educational page if you want to include articles, and also a page for warranty information and product returns. You can intersperse articles in the catalog so that customers will always think about buying your product.
- Make sure to use a consistent typeface and design so your customers don't get confused. However, you should make it so that customers feel comfortable when searching for a specific section by color coding at the top, bottom, or side of the page in each section.
Step 9. Use good content
When you are trying to create a 4 page catalog, you may need to use some fillers in your catalog. Use this filler to convey your catalog -- to sell products. For example: your company history will help customers become more comfortable buying your products. Likewise with customer testimonials and guarantees. Anything that will make the customer's mind happy and recognize your company will help you in creating great real estate.
Step 10. Make a nice cover
Covers are the first thing your customers will see and they can make or break your catalog's success. If your cover doesn't grab attention, your catalog may be thrown in the trash before customers open it. This includes special items, special prices or discounts, and attractive images that can encourage customers to read your catalog. If you are cataloging according to a particular season or time, design it with a theme that fits the conditions of the time or with the theme of the upcoming holiday.
Step 11. Design the order form
While creating an order form can be a little tedious, keep in mind that customers may not buy one type of lamp because the order form is too confusing. It also includes a customer service number which will make it easier for customers to contact you if they are confused. A form filled with the destination address will make it easier for customers to post orders. Don't forget, for example, options for the number of items, shipping packages, and shipping addresses for costs. If your customers can also order products online, let them know.
Step 12. Make a replica
It's important to make replicas or models of your products before ordering thousands of catalogs and then realizing that you've made a slight setup or visual error. This process will keep you from wasting time rearranging page layouts, and the replica will let you know how your catalog will look like. Unless you have graphic design skills, you should hire or see a professional graphic designer to find the best way to structure the pages in your catalog.
- You'll discuss your budget, the printer to be used, the order form, and the images you'd like to use. Once you or your graphic designer are comfortable with the following components, you can look for ways to layout the information, and ways to put as many products on one page as possible without making it look cramped.
- You can use a shape or something to represent the image you are going to use. When you've got everything set up, you can use the original images, prove your catalogue, and get potential buyers to browse through the catalog so you can get some suggestions before you print the catalog to your printer.
Step 13. Print your catalog
If your catalog is only 4 pages long, you can try printing it yourself, but a professional will take more time and will ensure quality results. Plus, commercial printing companies will be wary of issues such as page order and page misalignment (outer pages are shorter than inside pages when the two are put together). The printer will also be able to create many durable page-binding techniques. Some printing companies even provide mailing services for you. However, be sure to look for a printer you can trust with reasonable prices and professional quality.
Tips
- There are many other factors you need to consider when creating a catalog. Catalogs are different from postcards and brochures, they are a better reference material than the aforementioned predecessors of marketing media.
- Avoid examples or templates that often limit creativity and product uniqueness.
