If you are a business online selling products over the internet you need to invest in a product catalog. Product catalogs have been working wonders for eCommerce business owners for a very long time now because they are effective marketing strategies. You can drive sales in ways you cannot even begin to imagine when you create a product catalog for a product or a set of products you are selling.
While marketing strategies like the use of social media will play an important role in boosting sales, catalogs can also be incorporated into your overall marketing plan for better results. With a product catalog design, you can showcase your products in a streamlined manner that will capture the imagination of potential buyers.
The good news is that you don't require prior experience or tech skills to create a catalog as there are helpful tools to help you create a product catalog design. The internet remains a treasure trove of information where you can source the best tools and marketing approaches to boost your online profile and business outcomes. In this article, we will furnish you with all the information you need about product catalogs and why you should use one. We will also conclude by providing you with a review of the best catalog design software currently in the market.
What Is A Product Catalog Software?
Product catalog software is a special type of design software for businesses and graphic artists looking to create catalogs for their products. This tool also enables them to manage and distribute their printed or digital catalogs. Typically, software of this magnitude has design, organizing, and presentation features in such a way as to appeal to viewers to stumble upon them over the internet.
This tool is mainly used by wholesalers, retailers, and even manufacturers. There are basically two types of software in this niche. We have the catalog maker and the catalog management software.
- Catalog Management Software: As the name implies, this software helps users organize their product data into a single, central catalog. This software is used to add, modify, update and publicize product descriptions including images, product prices, and other important details of the product.
- Catalog Creator: This one is for creating, publishing, and distributing catalogs. It is a design tool for creating customized designs to drive sales and boost customer experience. This software will be the focus of this article.
Why You Should Use A Product Catalog For Your Business?
If you want to improve your chances of making constant sales online you have to utilize product catalog design software. Utilizing this tool is a no-brainer because it is easy to use and the benefits are immense. Here are some of them.
- Appearance: You can use this software to give your product a professional appearance online. We all know that images are powerful so what better way to trigger sales than to present the product you are marketing using powerful visual effects? You can use product catalogs to improve brand awareness.
- Cost And Time Efficient: Another reason why you should create a product catalog using software is because it is the efficient way to go. Compared to the traditional methods used in the past, software quickens the design process, makes for easy revisions, and allows you to distribute it online at no extra cost. This will reduce the cost of printing should you go the transitional route.
- Wide Reach: While physical copies of your product catalog require physical effort on your path with limited reach to distribute, the software will disseminate the catalog further to a wider audience beyond your location. This alone can help attract new customers and eventually drive sales.
- Improved Organization: The software can help you organize your products in a better way. Customers can easily navigate from one section to the next to find what they are looking for especially if you market more than one product.
- Customization Value: Another inherent value of using product catalog software is that it allows you to design templates, add elements, and other interactive features that are unique to your brand. This way you can differentiate your product from those of competitors.
- Integration: Last but not least is the integration capacity of most catalog software. Many software offers integration functions that allow for proper integration into e-commerce platforms. This way, buyers can make their purchase directly from the catalog for a streamlined buying process.
As you can see, the benefits of using software to create product catalog design are numerous so using one should be a priority if you sell anything online. Now let’s delve deeper into the best product catalog software on the internet.
Considerations For Choosing The Software That Made Our List
Here are the factors that guided our choice:
- Design Capabilities: If you must use software at all, it has to be one with powerful design functionality and that is what we focused on. The tools that made our list have attractive and special effects to make your products look amazing on the internet.
- Price: Pricing is also very important as most of the software online today only grants full access to users on their paid plan. We considered software that was affordable and whose pricing cost matched the value promised to users.
- Integration: The more platforms and existing systems that it can integrate with, the better. Our software list contains tools that integrate into most, if not all the popular eCommerce platforms online with just a click of a button.
- User Experience: Software may be great at the job but if the buttons and tools are complicated then this ruins the overall user experience. We looked for software with easy to use navigation, easy to master tools, and a positive overall user experience.
Best Product Catalog Design Software
1. Publuu
Publuu is a very good software for creating a product catalog for online businesses. This software is unlike the typical Catalog maker many entrepreneurs are used to. It has a special tool for converting what one will consider static catalogs into engaging animated hotspots and flipbooks. There are also photo galleries, videos, and product links. You can also use Publuu to change your boring PDFs into amazing proposals and pamphlets to drive engagement.
Pros
- Proper navigable tools
- Advanced photo gallery
- Great user experience
Cons
- Few pricing plans
Best Case Used
- Publuu is best for product catalogs with numerous data.
2. Flipsnack
Flipsnack is another one to make our list. This software allows users to publish their product catalogs directly from a PDF file to build one from scratch. The builder function offers some of the best tools because there are amazing templates to start with. You can add different styles and elements based on what your business needs. There is also an advanced launch function if you wish to speed up the distribution process.
Pros
- Powerful templates
- Unique fonts and style
- Easy to use
Cons
- The flipbook viewer is not very advanced
- Expensive plans
Best Case Use
- Flipsnack is great for medium e-commerce business
3. LucidPresss
Have you ever heard of LucidPress? If not, we recommend checking it out if you're looking to create a product catalog. It is highly rated by us and industry insiders for the convenience and ease it offers to users. This Catalog maker allows users to design and showcase their products with visually appealing effects using the built-in templates. So, you may be starting from scratch but you are going to be working with designs that are right for you.
LucidPress drag and drop feature makes catalog customization very easy and the web-based platform is also as great as the app. You can just open it and start working on your Catalog immediately.
Pros
- Amazing visual effects
- Nice templates
- Powerful control keys
- Easy to use web editor
Cons
- Limited functions in the free version
Best Case Used
- LucidPress is an amazing software for sellers of digital products.
4. Flipping book
FlippingBook is another very good catalog creator on our list. With this software, you can convert blank PDF catalogs into attractive designs and even add different links and videos for good measure. It is a good solution for creators who think on their feet and want to keep creating as they go. This tool is easy to use and super fast, especially for those on a timeline looking to complete their projects as quickly as possible. You can include vector fonts for better visuals as well.
Pros
- Great pdf converter
- Convenience
- Great tools for design speed
Cons
- The interface is not as intuitive
Best Case Use
- FlippingBook is ideal for entrepreneurs on a low budget.
5. Drawify
The fifth software on our list is Drawfy. This online catalog maker will work wonders for you if you want an attractive catalog. The design features are quite intuitive so getting the exact design you are looking for should not be a problem. Drawtify's one of a kind templates are quite fascinating, to say the least with special design elements that will add value to your products. It will boost your products and brand in front of a digital audience.
Pros
- Intuitive features and templates
- Uncluttered interface
- Easy to use
Cons
- Not the best for data marking
Best Case Use
- Drawtify is best for uses with no prior design skills.
6. Publitas
Publitas is an impressive product catalog creator. What makes this software great is that it can create two versions of the same catalog if you wish: mobile and desktop versions. This feature is particularly useful if you are selling directly to customers via your mobile app and your website. Furthermore, it is easy to integrate Publitas with other platforms, making it a versatile choice for e-commerce businesses. The publishing tools offered are worth using, as they enhance the overall experience of creating and sharing your catalogs. With its user-friendly interface and effective functionalities, Publitas helps you deliver visually appealing and accessible catalogs to your audience.
Pros
- Create mobile and desktop version
- Smooth integration
- Impressive color
Cons
- A little complex for beginners
Best Case Use
- Publitas is ideal for solopreneurs.
FAQs
Q: Who Is Catalog Software For?
A: This software is designed for anyone selling products online, including small business owners, large retailers, and freelancers offering services. It is particularly useful for creating professional and visually appealing product catalogs. Marketers and sales teams can also benefit from its organizational and presentation features for product information.
Q: Can I convert my PDF files into a catalog?
A: Yes, you can convert PDF files into catalogs and customize them with any design you wish. Many tools offer built-in templates for creating professional-looking catalogs. These tools provide options for fonts, colors, and layouts, allowing you to tailor the catalog to fit your brand or specific needs effectively.
Q: How long will it take to create a product catalog?
A: It depends on the software you choose and the complexity of the designs you're trying to implement. Some tools offer templates and drag-and-drop features that can speed up the process significantly, while others may require more time if you’re building custom layouts or incorporating detailed product information. Additionally, the time may vary depending on the number of pages and the level of interactivity or multimedia elements you wish to include.
Conclusion
If you want to create a product catalog, you will need powerful software that will simplify the process and help you achieve great results in the end. Should you go for any of these impressive catalog makers, you will have made the right choice. We only advise that you take your time to choose the one that best serves your purpose and watch how it transforms your ideas into attractive catalogs that will resonate with your target audience. With the right software, you can easily incorporate stunning visuals, compelling descriptions, and organized layouts that effectively showcase your products, ensuring your catalog not only meets but exceeds your expectations in engaging potential customers.
