Your WhatsApp Business catalog is a mini storefront that lives inside the app: products, photos, prices and descriptions, browsable without leaving the chat. But a catalog only sells if customers can find it. This guide shows you where the catalog link is, how to share the whole catalog or a single item, and how to combine it with a regular click-to-chat link so the customer both sees your products and starts a conversation.
Prerequisites
You need WhatsApp Business (the free app, not regular WhatsApp) with at least one product added. If you haven't set it up yet, follow how to set up a WhatsApp Business catalog first — it takes about ten minutes.
Where to find your catalog link
The catalog link is generated inside the app, not by any external tool:
On Android:
- Open WhatsApp Business and tap the three dots (⋮) → Business tools.
- Tap Catalog.
- Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top right → Share (or the share icon).
- Choose Copy link, or share directly to another app.
On iPhone:
- Open WhatsApp Business → Settings → Business tools.
- Tap Catalog.
- Tap the Share icon (square with an arrow) in the top corner.
- Choose Copy Link or a sharing target.
The link looks like https://wa.me/c/15551234567 — your number with /c/ in front. When a customer opens it, WhatsApp shows your full catalog with a button to message you.
Sharing a single product
Each item has its own link too:
- Open Catalog and tap the product.
- Tap the Share icon or three-dot menu → Share → Copy link.
The result looks like https://wa.me/p/<product-id>/15551234567. This is the link to use in an ad or Story about one specific item — the customer lands directly on the product, not the whole catalog.
You can also forward products inside a chat: in a conversation, tap the attach icon (📎 or +), choose Catalog, select one or more products, and send. The customer sees a rich product card with a "View" button.
Where to place your catalog link
| Placement | Which link | Why | |---|---|---| | Instagram bio | Full catalog | Browsers want to see everything | | Instagram Story about one item | Single product | Send them straight to the item | | Facebook page "Shop" section | Full catalog | Pair with the WhatsApp CTA button | | Meta ad for a product | Single product | Lowest friction from ad to purchase | | Website "Shop" menu item | Full catalog | Works on desktop via WhatsApp Web | | Price list or brochure QR | Full catalog | Printed prices go stale; the catalog doesn't | | Reply to "what do you sell?" | Full catalog or product cards | Rich cards beat typed lists |
For print, generate a QR code of the catalog URL using the WhatsApp QR code generator — paste the wa.me/c/… link as the content. A scanned code opens the catalog directly.
Catalog link vs click-to-chat link: use both
The catalog link shows products. A regular click-to-chat link starts a conversation. They serve different moments:
- Catalog link when the customer is browsing and hasn't decided ("see what we offer").
- Click-to-chat link with a pre-filled message when the customer is ready to act ("I'd like to order the blue one").
The most effective pattern is a two-button setup: on your website or link page, offer "Browse our catalog" (catalog link) next to "Chat with us" (click-to-chat link with a message like "Hi, I'd like to order"). Build the second one in seconds: create your free WhatsApp link.
On your website, a website chat button can carry the click-to-chat link on every page while a "Shop" menu item carries the catalog.
Tips that increase catalog orders
- Keep photos consistent. Same background, same lighting. A catalog with mixed photo styles looks like a marketplace, not a brand.
- Show prices. Catalogs without prices generate "how much?" messages instead of orders. If pricing varies, write "from $X".
- Use collections. Group products into categories (New arrivals, Best sellers, Under $20) so the catalog doesn't feel like an endless scroll.
- Mark items unavailable rather than deleting them. Hidden items keep their links working when stock returns.
- Add the product link in Stories. Instagram link sticker + single-product link = one tap to the item.
- Reply with product cards. When someone asks about an item, send the catalog card rather than a photo — the card carries the price, description and a "View" button.
- Refresh weekly. A catalog that never changes tells returning customers there's nothing new.
Common questions
Does the catalog link work if the customer doesn't have WhatsApp? They'll see a web page prompting them to install WhatsApp. On desktop, WhatsApp Web opens if they're logged in.
Can I use the catalog with the WhatsApp Business API instead of the app? Yes, catalogs are also available through the API and Meta Commerce Manager, but the sharing steps above apply to the app.
Can customers pay inside the catalog? In some countries (Brazil, India and a few others) in-chat payments are available. Elsewhere, take payment via a link you send in the chat.
How many products can I add? Up to 500 items per catalog.
Bring it together
Your catalog is the showroom; your click-to-chat link is the sales assistant. Put the catalog link where people browse, the chat link where people decide, a QR code on anything printed, and reply to product questions with catalog cards. Customers get a smooth path from "what is this?" to "I'll take it" without ever leaving WhatsApp.