In brief
A catalog is a file or feed that lists your products: name, price, image, availability, link. Dynamic ads draw on it to show each person the items that interest them, without creating one ad per product.
Why it matters
For an online shop with a few dozen to a few thousand products, it is the only realistic way to retarget visitors and cross-sell.
The steps
- Create the catalog and fill it (automatic feed recommended, manual import possible).
- Connect the pixel (and the Conversions API): it must report the “product viewed”, “add to cart” and “purchase” events with the product ID.
- Create product sets (new arrivals, promotions, a category).
- Choose the sales objective and turn on the catalog in the campaign.
- Define the audience: new customers, or people who have already seen a product without buying.
- Choose the format (single image, carousel, collection) and the text template.
Pitfalls to avoid
- A poorly maintained feed: outdated prices, products out of stock.
- Different identifiers between the feed and the pixel: products no longer match.
- Poor-quality or badly cropped images.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an online shop? Yes, or at least a page per product, because the pixel must report visitors’ actions.
How often should I update the feed? Ideally automatically, at least once a day for prices and stock.
Key takeaways
- Catalog + pixel = dynamic ads.
- Update the feed regularly.
- Segment by product sets.
Practice in TRIALO
Choose the Sales objective with a catalog destination and look at the options specific to this campaign.