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      How to create product catalogs from scratch using a product feed

      Learn how to simplify your catalog creation process, enabling real-time updates and consistent product information across all your catalogs with dynamic feed automation

      Overview

      For companies managing complex product portfolios keeping catalogs accurate and up-to-date can be a challenge. Manual updates often lead to inconsistencies, inefficiencies, and increased workload. Instead of spending hours adding products individually, this method automates the entire process, providing all product details—names, prices, descriptions, and images—are always accurate across all catalogs.

      Table of contents 

      Step-by-step guide

      Create your CSV

      Upload the data

      Create the catalog 

      Set the layout

      Map the elements

      Make your catalog shoppable

      Next steps 

      Key Benefits

      • Automate catalog updates, eliminating the need for manual input.
      • Manage thousands of SKUs without redesigning your catalog layout.
      • Automatically sync product details, pricing, and availability.
      • Connect your data feed directly to your catalog for easy updates.
      • Create fully customized catalogs from scratch giving you full control over layout, branding, and interactivity.

      Requirements: 

      • Plan: Enterprise 
      • Ideal for company size: Mid-market and Enterprise 
      • Data product spreadsheet

      Schedule a consultation with our product experts for personalized assistance.

      Types of automation & when to use them

      1. Generate a product catalog – Best for businesses that need to automatically generate a structured, professional-looking catalog from a product feed.

      2. Create a shoppable catalog – Ideal if you want to turn your static PDF into an interactive shopping experience, allowing customers to browse and purchase products directly.

      3. Automate multimedia elements – Recommended for those who want to add dynamic content like slideshows, popup frames, videos, and product tags to their catalogs.

      4. Create a product catalog from scratch (this article) – The best choice if you need full creative control, allowing you to drag and drop products from your data, and feed into a completely custom layout and make it shoppable. 

      Now that we’ve established where this automation type fits in, let's get started!

      Step-by-step Guide

      Step 1. Create your CSV/Spreadsheet 

      You can add all the information about your products in a Google Spreadsheet or create your CSV file in Excel or a similar program. You will need a column for each element you want to automate, such as Name, Price, ImageURL, or Description.

      Tip: We recommend creating or importing the datasheet, directly in Google Spreadsheet, because it will be easier to update if something changes with your product information. 

      If you don’t have a product feed yet, you can download and customize one of our pre-made templates to include the necessary information for what you need. 

      We have two temples, and the differences between the two are:

      • Simple Product Feed: Designed for products without variations. It's straightforward and ideal for simpler inventories.
      • Variant-Rich Product Feed: Includes detailed attributes such as color, size, material, and more—perfect for products with multiple variations.

      Important: Select the template, from the folder, named Simple Product Feed, because this Simple Product Feed spreadsheet offers flexibility and can be easily modified into your data sheet structure.

      Simple Product Feed

      Tip: To include images in your content, you can first upload the image files to a web server, FTP, or hosting service that allows you to store and retrieve images. Then, you can copy the image's direct URL and paste it into the designated image column. You can now host the images directly in Flipsnack. Please read this article for more details.

      If you don’t want to display the discounted price or other types of information in your shopping options, you can simply omit them from the CSV file.

      Step 2. Upload the data 

      On the main dashboard, go to Automation, on the bottom left side, click on Import feed.

      automation on the main dashboard

      You have two options: Upload CSV file or Google Drive. 

      import feed, google drive or upload CSV

      After you click, the preferred option, you will have the option to download our pre-mapped templates, if you download them you will get the Simple Product Feed and Variant-Rich Product Feed in the same folder. As a starting point, we recommend using our sample file for simple product feed, if you don’t already have the spreadsheet prepared. 

      download our pre-mapped templates

      For this example, I will connect to my Google Drive, because it will be easier to update it later on if I make any changes to my spreadsheet if needed. 

      connect google drive

      Click on the Connect Google Drive. You will have to log in to your account. From your account, you can pick your spreadsheet and wait until it's getting imported. 

      After the upload is complete, the mapping modal will open, called Set unique ID, allowing you to connect your spreadsheet with our platform.

      set unique ID

      If your columns have the same names as those in your pre-made templates, they will be mapped automatically.

      If not, for example, if you have "Product code" instead of "SKU" you will need to map it manually so it can make the connection between your feed and our platform. 

      Important: It’s mandatory to have a valid column with the SKU in the spreadsheet because that is how it will help to sync your catalog ig have any changes. If it’s not valid an error will appear. 

      After you make sure, that the feed columns are properly mapped, click on Save Changes. 

      Step 2. Create the catalog 

      Go to the Home page in Flipsnack and click on the Create button, then select From Scratch.

      click on create from scratch

      Step 3. Set the layout

      Decide the structure of your catalog, organize placeholders for product elements such as images, titles, and descriptions or you can add a button as well, here you are flexible. 

      These placeholders will later connect to your product feed for seamless updates.

      Tip: For the image, use a square element for example, and use it as a mask, by toggle on the Use as mask in the left-upper corner. 

      set the layout

      Then select all the elements, click on the Group button from the upper right corner and then you press the Connect with feed button, that you will find the upper right corner and a modal will pop-up.

      select your elements and group them

      Step 4. Map the elements

      On the left side, you’ll see the grouped elements from your page and on the right side, the feed column from your spreadsheet. You will have to map element from your page to the elements from your product feed. 

      After you are done, click on Save Changes.

      Then go to Automation, from the Side navigation,  and drag and drop the products from your product feed into the layout you made. 

      Please click the Preview button in the upper right corner to test if it worked properly.

      Tip: To make the process faster, duplicate the element by using Ctrl+D on Windows or Cmd+D on Mac.  A duplicated section will already be connected to the feed and then just drag and drop it. 

      Step 5. Make your catalog shoppable 

      If you want your clients to order directly from your catalog you can add shopping buttons. 

      Make sure your shopping button is part of your group, then click on the Connect to feed button, if you scroll down you’ll see the Shop button, and you can choose by mapping what you want to appear in the button.

      map the elements

      Next steps

      Useful resources 

      Take your digital content strategy to the next level with data-driven insights and best practices to improve your processes: 

      Need expert support? 

      Our team is here to help. Connect with our team experts or message us via the in-app chat for personalized assistance.