E-commerce
When to use Catalog Maker vs. Platform Sync.
Why Catalog Maker matters for e-commerce
If you run a Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, or Amazon store, E-commerce Integration auto-syncs your full product catalog. So when should you use Catalog Maker?
Catalog Maker fills the gaps: seasonal collections not in your store, bundles, services alongside products, and team stories that e-commerce sync doesn't handle.
| Scenario | Use |
|---|---|
| Full product catalog sync | E-commerce Integration |
| Seasonal collections | Catalog Maker + Calendar Event |
| Bundles not in your store | Catalog Maker |
| Services alongside products | Catalog Maker |
| Team stories, behind-the-scenes | Catalog Maker |
Primary use case
What to catalog: Products you want to describe in more detail than your store listing (Product), seasonal collections (Event), team and brand stories (Person, Behind the Scenes), and services not in your e-commerce platform.
Key features: Product tag with pricing fields, External Link to product pages, Calendar Event for launches and sales, Promo Code Message for discount codes.
Example catalog
Sage Linen Tote Bag
Price: $34. Compare-at: "Was $42." Promo: INSTA15. External link to product page.
Summer Collection 2026
Calendar Event: June 1. Lead-up: 14 days. multiple images selected: 6 product shots.
Meet the Maker: Portland Studio Tour
Video of workshop, materials, process.
Gift Bundles – Holiday 2026
Calendar Event: Nov 15–Dec 25. Bundles not in Shopify.
Free Shipping Over $50
Ongoing promotion, always active.
Customer Review – The Sage Tote
Linked collateral: screenshot of 5-star review.
Media recommendations
- multiple images selected for products: lifestyle shots, flat lays, detail close-ups, scale/size reference.
- Collage puts 2 to 4 images, like product photos, into one picture for a post.
- Ken Burns Video for product photography you want as Reels.
- Use your own product photography, not stock images.
Collateral strategy
- Upload brand story and founder bio documents
- Link product spec sheets and care instructions to items
- Upload customer reviews and testimonials
- Upload behind-the-scenes workshop/studio photos
Example week of posts
This example week shows one possible set of posts for this catalog. In practice, your schedule sets the days and the AI Manager picks the items.
Sage Linen Tote: on sale, use code INSTA15
Behind the scenes: how we hand-stitch each tote in Portland
Customer review: why Sarah loves her Sage Tote
Summer Collection preview: 14 days until launch
Pro Tips
- •You can add a catalog item for a product your store already syncs. It gives that product a fuller description, key selling points and a promo code, and it is not posted about more often because of this.
- •Fill in all commercial fields (price, compare-at, promo code, external link) for conversion-focused posts.
- •Use Calendar Event for product launches and seasonal sales so timing is handled for you.
- •Don’t catalog every product. That’s what E-commerce Integration is for.
Common Questions