How to increase the sales of a product using digital catalogs

Last updated: February 7th, 2025

A great sales catalog doesn’t just display items, but it also drives sales. No matter what you’re selling, a well-structured digital sales catalog makes shopping easier, attracts more customers, and turns interest into orders.

But how do you go beyond just listing products? The key lies in smart design, interactive features, and strategic promotion. 

In this guide, we’ll focus on product catalogs and catalog marketing and show you how to increase sales with a product catalog, using proven tactics that make your catalog work harder for your business.

What is a product catalog?

A product catalog is a tool that showcases a company’s products or services. It includes useful details like descriptions, images, sizes, colors, tags, and prices, helping customers make informed purchasing decisions.

Product catalogs come in print and digital formats, both forms being used in catalog marketing. 

While print catalogs still have a place, digital catalogs are more cost-effective and offer better opportunities for engagement. They can be shared on multiple platforms and used by sales teams to pitch to potential customers.

What is catalog marketing?

Catalog marketing is a direct retail marketing strategy where businesses organize their products into a catalog format, whether printed or digital, to encourage customers to make purchases. Customers can order from printed catalogs through mail or phone, and from digital catalogs, they can order via email or links.

There are businesses that combine products from multiple manufacturers or listed companies. Businesses with lengthy product offers invest in their own branded digital product catalogs.

Why digital catalogs are a game-changer for businesses

Catalogs will always be a part of retail marketing. Still, while printed sales catalogs are still being used by international or local businesses, the benefits of digital catalogs make them an asset for any service or product provider.

Let’s take into account the sales potential for these interactive catalogs. Businesses are more responsive to the following benefits as they affect the business’s financial aspects:

• Cost-effective

Switching to digital sales catalogs and taking out the distribution and printing costs associated with printed product catalogs will substantially reduce your catalog production and distribution budget.

• Easy distribution

With digital sharing options, you’ll no longer have to ship printed catalogs or manage relationships with different print shops nationwide to ensure your catalogs reach your customers. All you’ll have to do is copy and paste your flipbook link, send it via email, or share it on social media.

• Real-time updates

Any necessary changes or updates to your catalog can be done in real time without having to recall all the copies from being printed and issuing a whole entire new batch of catalogs. If you use a catalog maker, you can update the content through team collaboration, and the link you send to your customers will contain the catalog with the updated information.

• Personalization & brand consistency 

It’s easier to adjust offers, pricing, or products in a digital catalog with just a few clicks, ensuring brand consistency across all channels. It’s also easy to customize your digital catalogs according to each client.

By analyzing customer behavior, you can personalize offers to match the interests and preferences of each buyer. This ensures you’re presenting the right product to the right customer.

Digital catalogs can include as many products and details as needed. Whether online or in-store, they offer a full view of your products while maintaining brand consistency.

You can also share them online as trackable links with any changes to any offers without affecting brand consistency. Just save those elements in your workspace or ensure your team adheres to them by creating branded templates.

• Accessibility

Digital product catalogs are available on any device, making them easier to access anytime, anywhere. Plus, they can be found more easily through search engines, helping you reach a wider audience. Through SEO strategies and customer behavior analysis, you can get closer to your prospects, and they will be able to find your offer easier.

Note: There’s no better way to convert a potential customer than hopping on a quick phone call with them, so make sure you list your toll-free number in the footer on all the pages in your product catalog. Moreover, do not forget to integrate a contact center software into your tech stack to ensure that customers have immediate access to your sales.

• Customizable approach to sales

The end goal of any retail business is to make a profit. This can be achieved through converting leads from prospects to customers. 

Analyze your target customers based on how they interact with your catalog to personalize offers and approach methods accordingly. Buyer personas can differ greatly, as does your product offer, and having the ability to connect the right buyer with the right offer is one of the most compelling attributes of digital catalog marketing. 

In line with this, Yates Jarvis, founder of 2visions, a full-service E-commerce marketing consultancy, emphasizes the importance of integrating digital tools into traditional retail strategies. He says:

Inventory extension via sales associate use of digital product catalogs brings the best of both worlds to the customer experience: extensive selection and choice combined with personalized curation, the promise of enhanced post-purchase service via a brick-and-mortar establishment, and product customization options backed by the helpful advice of an expert.

This approach not only enhances the customer experience but also bridges the gap between online and offline shopping, offering a comprehensive solution that caters to the modern consumer’s needs. 

Utilizing CPQ for business central within your digital product catalog can further refine this seamless shopping experience, offering personalized product configurations and streamlined pricing options directly to your customers.

• Scalable

Digital sales catalogs are scalable because they grow with your business with no extra printing costs, no shipping, and no waste. Need to add new products? Update prices? Fix a typo? You can do it instantly without reprinting thousands of copies.

Unlike print catalogs, which have a fixed number of pages, digital catalogs can hold as many products as you need, with interactive features like search, filters, and direct purchase links. You can also share them with a single click, reaching more customers without spending more money.

As your business expands, a digital sales catalog adapts.

How to increase product sales using a digital catalog: must-have features 

In order to increase your catalogue sales, you need to pay attention to a few aspects that can prove to be crucial. That’s just how it is in the retail and wholesale industry.

People who are shopping want to feel the convenience and professionalism of your catalog. Inserting things like shopping links and other interactive elements can greatly improve your catalog’s performance, leading to more sales. 

So, let’s see how to increase sales of a product with B2B catalogs.

1. Craft comprehensive product descriptions

While images capture attention, well-written product descriptions provide essential information that helps customers make informed decisions. Outline product features, benefits, and usage instructions through clear product catalog copy. Include options like available sizes, colors, and technical specifications, all accompanied by high-quality visuals. Transparent pricing builds trust and encourages conversions.

2. Enhance customer experience with interactive elements

When it comes to professionally branded sales catalog, high-quality images are fundamental. However, adding interactive elements can further engage customers. 

Why stop at images when there are GIFs, slideshows, iframes, videos, and all sorts of interactive elements that improve how customers engage with your product catalog?

Features like 360-degree product views, embedded videos demonstrating product use, and clickable links to related products create an immersive shopping experience and increase selling by catalog. These elements showcase products more effectively and keep customers engaged longer, increasing the likelihood of a purchase.

Digital catalog makers give you the possibility to enhance your customer experience with at least some of the following interactive elements. Feel free to combine them as long as the catalog’s layout remains clutter-free.

• Pop-up frames – multimedia elements (slide shows, maps, virtual tours, music players), contact forms, or surveys in a pop-up.
• Hyperlinks – internal links for improved navigation through the catalog or external links to take customers to your e-commerce site.
• Videos – upload videos or add them from hosting sites (YouTube, Vimeo) to showcase your products.
• Shopping lists – shopping or buy buttons give customers the ability to send orders directly to your inbox for swift and clear communication.
• Product tags – provide extra information about your products.
• Spotlight images – show high-quality images in great detail by hovering over a small corner photo. 
• Slideshows – show more images without taking too much space.
• Captions – add icons that, once clicked, have a small pop-up with a title you set, along with the URL you want people to access as external resources for more information about your product.

3. Implement SEO strategies for more catalog sales

A digital catalog is not just for viewing; it’s for discovery. That’s why you need a catalog marketing strategy. Use search engine optimization (SEO) to help potential customers find your products. Selling by catalog means also researching and integrating keywords naturally into product names and descriptions. 

When it comes to optimizing your product catalog, remember that metadata, such as meta titles and descriptions, also improves search rankings, making it easier for potential customers to find your catalog.

4. Drive sales directly from your catalog

Digital product catalogs not only look better but are more cost and time-effective. Going digital also provides alternative channels for sales enablement strategy. For example, if your sales team is selling to wholesale distributors, they can use the product catalog and website in conjunction with quoting software when presenting options for customers to purchase. 

• Connect your sales catalog to your e-commerce website

Now, to increase product sales using your catalog, you should connect it to your e-commerce platform. Adding direct purchase links enables customers to transition from browsing to buying. This approach reduces friction in the buying process and increases your catalogue sales.

Plus, if you connect your e-commerce website to your digital catalog, you can drive more traffic to your website and improve its ranking in search engine results. You can also track which sale was driven by your catalog by data extraction analytics.

• Create a one-stop shopping experience

Many customers enjoy flipping through a digital catalog and would love the option to place orders directly from it. While different digital catalog makers are still refining this feature, some (like Flipsnack) already offer built-in functionalities like shopping buttons that allow customers to add items to their shopping cart without leaving the catalog.

• Add order forms to your online sales catalog

A more advanced option for shopping carts is to transform your sales catalog into a shoppable one. By adding an online ordering form to your digital catalog, as Yudu allows, customers can add products to the form while browsing your catalog. When they are ready, they can either be redirected to your website to finish the transaction or email the order form to you directly.

5. Implement a mobile-responsive design

According to Forbes, around 91% of shoppers make online purchases through the use of their smartphone. If most of your customers browse your product catalog on their mobile devices, your sales catalog needs to be mobile-friendly. Additionally, Google operates on a mobile-first indexing protocol, meaning that the mobile version of your platform (catalog or website) will be the one indexed first. 

This means that if you want to increase your online catalog sales, you must implement a mobile-responsive design to improve accessibility, user experience, and navigation to purchase products from their preferred devices.

💡Tip: You can even test how mobile-friendly your catalog is through their mobile-friendly test tool.

6. Expand sales catalog reach

Digital product catalogs are designed for digital sharing. Whether it’s in PDF format, HTML5, or flipbook, digital catalogs are excellent for being shared through any online medium and tracked accurately. You can share any digital catalog publicly via email, a link, or a QR code, embed it on your website, or you can choose to share it privately through SSO.

Social media is another great place to think of for your catalogue sales.

Integrating social media into your digital catalog expands its reach. Adding social sharing buttons allows customers to share their favorite products, increasing exposure. Additionally, promoting your catalog on your own social media channels drives traffic and attracts new customers.

7. Support your sales team

If you want to know how to increase product sales, it’s best to think of your digital catalog as the ideal sales tool. At any sales pitch, sales representatives need a representation of their sales offer, and with a digital catalog, which is accessible on any device, they can close deals efficiently.

Considering all the features and functionalities we already covered that are available in digital catalog software, what sales representative wouldn’t want this catalog on their tablet, phone, or laptop? 

8. Gather insightful data-based feedback

A digital sales catalog does more than showcase products. It helps you track customer interactions. You can see which products get the most attention, understand buying behavior, and use this data to track business performance and improve your catalog, pricing, and overall sales strategy.

Track performance across different channels

You can find out where your audience is coming from. It can be from direct visits, referrals, paid ads, organic searches, or email. Identify which sources drive the most traffic and focus on what works best.

Analyze performance on different devices

Your catalog should work smoothly on any device, browser, or operating system. Look at conversion rates, bounce rates, sales, and time spent on each page to spot issues. Tools like Google Analytics or built-in catalog reports can help.

Evaluate page-level engagement

See which catalog pages perform best and which ones lose customers. You can do it either by yourself or with the help of a conversion rate optimization agency. Make adjustments to keep visitors engaged and guide them toward a purchase. Small tweaks, like better product descriptions or improved layouts, can boost conversions.

At the end of the day, the goal is to increase product sales. If you’re looking for ways to improve sales, the right software can make a big difference.

9. Implement upselling and cross-selling 

Upselling and cross-selling make your sales catalog more profitable by encouraging customers to buy better or additional products. 

Upselling suggests a premium version of what they’re considering, like a coffee maker with extra features. 

Cross-selling pairs related items, like a camera with a memory card. Use side-by-side comparisons, “Complete the Look” sections, and bundles to make it easy for customers to see the value. When done right, it feels helpful, not pushy, boosting both sales and customer satisfaction.

Case Study: How Flipsnack helped Melissa & Doug’s online catalog sales

Before moving on, we need to show you just how effective digital sales catalogs are through a real-life example.

Melissa & Doug needed a better way to manage product catalogs and simplify ordering. Their old system was inefficient and frustrating for customers. Flipsnack changed that.

The fix

With Flipsnack, they created a 215-page catalog with 700 products in half the usual time. The shopping list feature lets customers place orders directly, making the process seamless.

The results

• A huge share of sales came from the digital catalog in under two months.
• 2,292 views with an average of 2+ hours spent browsing.
• Easy sharing via links, emails, and QR codes—even taking orders at trade shows.
• Analytics helped fine-tune content based on real customer engagement.

Melissa & Doug now calls Flipsnack a game-changer and expects even bigger sales results ahead.

How to create a digital sales catalog that converts

Let’s put these strategies into action with Flipsnack’s digital catalog maker. Follow these steps to learn how to increase the sales of a product using a digital catalog.

1. Upload a PDF or start from scratch

Sign up for Flipsnack and choose how to begin. Use a template, create a sales catalog from scratch, or upload an existing PDF. Open it in the Design Studio and start designing.

2.  Add your content

Fill your catalog with high-quality images and clear, concise product descriptions. A cluttered catalog overwhelms customers. Keep the layout clean and easy to navigate so they can quickly find what matters.

Take advantage of digital features like videos, shopping buttons, and interactive elements, but use them wisely. Too much can distract from the information that actually drives sales. Every element should serve a purpose: to highlight your products and guide customers toward a purchase.

Stay brand consistent by using elements like logos, colors, typography, and custom domain. A polished, professional look builds trust and keeps your catalog recognizable.

To simplify catalog management, connect a data source for automated product updates. Just drag and drop details into place, and any future changes will sync instantly—no need for manual updates.

And don’t forget the power of strong, keyword-optimized copy (as mentioned earlier). The right words help your catalog rank higher in search results and attract the right audience.

3. Share it everywhere

This is the part where you choose how to share your sales catalog. As discussed, you can share it privately, on your website, via email, or however you’d like. The purpose is to increase product sales.

4. Track and optimize

Your catalog’s job doesn’t end after publishing. Use Flipsnack’s built-in analytics or Google Analytics to track customer engagement.

• See which pages get the most attention.
• Measure performance for each flipbook or collection.
• Use real data to refine future catalogs and boost sales.

Sales catalog templates to get you started

E-commerce sales catalog 

This soft yet impactful beauty catalog makes your brand stand out with eye-catching design and interactive features. Showcase your products with shopping lists so customers can see all their options and order with ease.

Keep your catalog fresh and accurate by controlling product availability—no more overpromising or running out of stock. Bring your collections to life with GIFs, stickers, and videos, giving customers a closer look at what makes your products special.

Interactive product catalog

This interactive product sales catalog isn’t just for browsing—it’s built for action. Perfect for wholesalers, it includes a shopping list feature that lets retailers select products and quantities with ease.

Want to customize it? Simply enter the Design Studio, drag and drop shopping buttons, add product images, set prices, and more. Customers can build their order, download it as a PDF, and send it your way—quick, simple, and efficient.

Shoppable office furniture catalog

Make shopping easy with this shoppable furniture catalog designed to impress. Add product tags, slideshows, and shopping buttons to highlight your best pieces and give customers a closer look.

Got multiple product variations? No need for extra entries. Use our product variant automation to update colors, sizes, and styles in seconds. Just drag and drop from a CSV file.

Whether it’s office desks, chairs, or storage solutions, this catalog helps you showcase, sell, and simplify the buying process. More impact, less effort.

Conclusion: why you need a sales catalog 

A well-crafted sales catalog drives engagement, streamlines ordering, and increases sales. Whether through SEO, social media, email, or paid ads, the right strategy makes all the difference. Now that you know how to increase product sales with a digital catalog, it’s time to put it into action. Start creating a catalog that sells.

FAQs about catalogue marketing