There was a time when having a physical shop in a good location was enough to attract customers. Today, that's no longer the case.

Whether you're running a fashion brand, a food business, a beauty store, or even a traditional business like farming, customers expect to find you online. In fact, many businesses that rely heavily on walk-in traffic still invest in Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok, and Facebook because that's where their customers are spending their time.

The way people shop has changed. Before making a purchase, customers want to know who you are, what you sell, whether others have bought from you, and whether your business can be trusted. More often than not, they're finding those answers on social media.

This shift has given rise to social commerce—the buying and selling of products directly through social platforms. As a result, some of the most valuable sales conversations businesses have today are happening in their DMs.

Customers send messages asking if a product is available. They request pricing information. They ask about delivery timelines, payment options, sizes, colours, and recommendations. Some even send screenshots of products they're interested in and ask for alternatives.

These conversations may seem routine, but they're often signs of buying intent. The challenge is that interest doesn't automatically become revenue. Many businesses receive dozens of enquiries every day but struggle to convert those conversations into completed orders. A customer may ask for the price, confirm availability, and even indicate they're ready to buy, only for the conversation to go cold before an order is placed.

So, if social media has become one of the most important sales channels available to businesses today, how do you turn everyday conversations in your DMs into actual sales?

Let's look at what works.

The businesses winning on Social Media make buying easy

Successful social commerce businesses understand that customers want convenience.

They already discovered your product on social media. They've already spent time asking questions and evaluating whether they can trust your business. Once they've made the decision to buy, the ordering process should feel like a natural continuation of that conversation.

The easier it is for customers to complete a purchase, the more likely they are to follow through.

This is where Checkout Links on Catlog can make a significant difference.

What are Checkout Links?

Checkout Links are unique links you can generate for a customer based on the products they've already selected.

Instead of sending customers to browse your full inventory to order from your website, you can create a cart containing the exact products they want and share it with them as a single link. When they open the link, they see a checkout experience that's already prepared for them.

The customer can review the products, adjust quantities if needed, add more items, enter their delivery information, and complete their order without having to start their shopping journey from scratch.

In other words, Checkout Links help you turn a DM conversation into a ready-to-checkout order.

How Checkout Links help you convert more DMs into sales

1. They remove unnecessary steps

One of the biggest reasons customers abandon a purchase is friction.

If a customer has already spent ten minutes discussing products with you in the DMs, the next step in their buying journey should be to close the sale.

Instead of searching, filtering, and rebuilding their cart, customers land on a checkout page containing the products they've already chosen.

2. They help you capitalise on buying intent

Timing matters in sales.

The moment a customer decides they want to buy is often the moment they're most likely to complete a purchase. Every delay creates an opportunity for distraction.

By sending a customer directly to a pre-built cart, Checkout Links help you take advantage of that buying intent while it's still fresh.

3. They create a better customer experience

Nobody enjoys repeating work.

Customers appreciate experiences that feel simple, convenient, and personalised.

Instead of navigating through an entire catalogue, they receive a link tailored to their order. The experience feels faster, smoother, and more helpful because you've already done part of the work for them.

4. They help you keep better order records

One of the challenges of selling through DMs is keeping track of orders. Order details, delivery information, and payment confirmations often end up scattered across different conversations.

With Checkout Links, every order is recorded in your Catlog dashboard, making it easier to track purchases, manage fulfilment, and keep accurate business records.

A simple framework for turning DMs into sales

If you're selling on Instagram, WhatsApp, or any other social platform, here's a simple process you can follow:

1. Build trust: Use your content, reviews, testimonials, and customer stories to establish credibility.
2. Keep the conversation flowing: Respond quickly and help customers find the products that suit their needs.
3. Understand what they want: Confirm sizes, colours, quantities, delivery requirements, and any other important details.
4. Create a Checkout Link: Build a cart with the exact products they've selected and share the link with them.
5. Follow up: If they don't complete their order immediately, send a reminder and make it easy for them to return to checkout.

This process keeps the buying journey simple while reducing the chances of losing customers between conversation and checkout.

Turn conversations into revenue

Social media has evolved from a place where businesses build awareness into a place where they actively generate sales.

Every day, customers enter your DMs with questions, requests, and buying intent. The goal isn't just to get more messages; it's to make it easier for the customers already messaging you to complete their purchase.

With Checkout Links on Catlog, you can remove unnecessary friction, turn conversations into ready-to-checkout orders, and make it easier for customers to buy while keeping your business records organised.

Selling through Instagram or WhatsApp? Try Checkout Links here.

Every day, thousands of African merchants navigate foreign websites, negotiate with suppliers thousands of miles away, and move money across borders to keep their businesses running.

The people importing goods from China and selling them across Africa run serious businesses. They move inventory at scale, manage supplier relationships, and serve customers across cities and countries. Yet the infrastructure available to them has rarely matched the scale of what they're building.

Two problems. One gap.

Most merchants who import from China are fighting two battles: getting money to suppliers reliably, and turning inventory into sales once it arrives.

The gap between sourcing and selling remains fragmented, manual, and unnecessarily difficult.

Merchants often rely on multiple platforms, informal processes, and disconnected tools to keep their businesses moving. The result is more complexity, more uncertainty, and less time spent on growth.

Introducing: Catlog × Midddleman

Today, Catlog is partnering with Midddleman, a procurement platform that helps African businesses source products directly from Chinese manufacturers and suppliers, to help close that gap.

Midddleman gives merchants access to source goods from Chinese markets, make RMB payments, and move money reliably across borders.

Catlog gives merchants a storefront, payment collection, inventory management, customer records, and business tools — all from their phone.

Together, we're connecting both ends of the merchant journey:

Source products on Midddleman → Pay suppliers in RMB → Receive inventory → List products on Catlog → Sell to customers

One connected flow, from China to customer.

In simple terms: Buy with Midddleman. Sell with Catlog.

What this means for Catlog merchants

If you already have a Catlog store, you can now buy RMB directly within the Catlog app and send it to RMB wallets anywhere — powered by Midddleman's payment infrastructure. No third-party apps. No agents. No uncertainty about how to pay suppliers.

Just a simpler way to move money, place orders, and keep your business running.

What this means for Midddleman users

If you've been importing products from China but still sell primarily through chats and DMs, this partnership gives you an easier way to grow.

Create your Catlog store, showcase your products professionally, accept payments, manage orders, track customers, and keep records from the Catlog app.

As part of this partnership, Midddleman users can also enjoy a discount on Catlog subscriptions using the referral code: MIDDDLEMAN.

Why this matters

African merchants have always been resourceful. They've built thriving businesses despite fragmented systems and infrastructure that often forces them to work harder than necessary.

What happens when sourcing, payments, storefronts, and business management tools are connected, reliable, and built with African merchants in mind?

We think the answer is a generation of businesses finally equipped with infrastructure that matches their ambition.

That's what we're building toward.

And this partnership is one step in that direction.

Get started

Already on Catlog?

You can now buy RMB directly within the app and pay suppliers with ease.

New to Catlog?

Create your store in minutes and use the referral code, MIDDDLEMAN, to get a discount on your first subscription.

Importing products is only half the journey.

Selling them successfully is the other half.

Every day, business owners use Catlog to sell online, manage orders, collect payments, and serve their customers better.

Along the way, many of them share their experiences, lessons, and wins with other entrepreneurs who are also trying to grow their businesses.

The Catlog Partner Program was created to support and reward these business owners.

What is the Catlog Partner Program?

The Catlog Partner Program is a new initiative that rewards business owners and creators for growing with Catlog, sharing their experiences, and helping other entrepreneurs succeed online.

Our goal is simple:

• Help more business owners discover a better way to sell online
• Learn directly from entrepreneurs building businesses every day
• Reward partners who actively contribute to the Catlog community
• Build a stronger ecosystem of business owners growing together

Who is this for?

You’ll be a great fit if you:

• Run a business and also create content
• Sell actively on social media
• Want to grow your online presence
• Genuinely enjoy sharing what works for your business

You don't need a massive audience to apply. What matters most is that you're actively building your business and are willing to share your journey.  We want you in this community.

What you get as a Catlog Partner 🎁

As a Catlog Partner, you’ll enjoy a wide range of exclusive benefits designed to help you sell more, reach more people, and grow your brand:

1. Free Catlog subscription: Get a 6-month free Catlog subscription (subject to renewal), giving you access to powerful tools you need to manage and grow your business.
2. Payment coupons to boost sales: Receive N100,000 (Nigeria) or GHS 1,000 (Ghana) in payment coupons, fully sponsored by Catlog, to run sales and promos and encourage more customer purchases.
3. Early access to new features: Be among the first to test upcoming Catlog features before they're publicly released.
4. Influence product development: Your feedback will directly shape product improvements and help us build features that solve real business challenges.
5. Invitations to exclusive partner meetups and events: Get invited to partner-only events, networking opportunities, and community meetups.
6. Business visibility opportunities: Selected partners may be featured across Catlog campaigns, social media channels, customer stories, and marketing initiatives.

Additional Perks

Partners may also receive:

• A free custom domain
• A free custom website theme
• Exclusive Catlog merchandise
• Special community opportunities as the program grows

What we ask from partners

The Catlog Partner Program is built on mutual value. In return for these benefits, we ask partners to:

1. Create Content

Create at least two pieces of content every month:

• One tutorial showing how you use Catlog in your business
• One story-driven piece of content sharing results, lessons, or experiences from using Catlog in your business.

Your content doesn’t have to be overly produced. We want authentic stories and practical insights from real business owners.

2.  Actively Use Catlog

Use Catlog as part of your actual business operations:

• Manage your products, orders, and payments on Catlog
• Run campaigns and offers using your store and payment links

This ensures your content and feedback are based on real usage.

3.  Share Feedback

We want honest feedback. Help us build a better product for you and other business owners by:

• Sending monthly feedback on your experience
• Sharing what’s working, what’s confusing, and what could be improved.

4. Refer Other Business Owners

Use your unique referral code to:

• Invite other business owners who’ll benefit from using Catlog
• Help more entrepreneurs discover a better way to manage sales, payments, and customer orders online.

How to become a Catlog Partner

Joining is simple:

1. Confirm that you meet the criteria (you’re actively building a business, creating content, and selling online).
2. Fill out the short application form with details about your business.
3. Our team will review your application and reach out.

👉🏽  Ready to grow your business and inspire others?

Apply to become a Catlog Partner here

We're building this program for ambitious entrepreneurs who are already doing the work and want to do it on a larger scale, with better tools and more support.

If you're passionate about growing your business, sharing your experiences, and helping other entrepreneurs succeed, we'd love to hear from you.

Applications are now open. Apply today to become a Catlog Partner. 💜

If the title of this blog post piqued your interest, I'm sure you fall into one of these categories:

• You have an online store that is not selling well.
• Your online store is selling well but could do much better.
• You are in the process of building an online store that should sell well.

I get it. No matter which category you fall into, building and running an online store is not easy, and the hard part is making consistent sales.

The good news is that increasing sales doesn't always require a bigger marketing budget. Often, it's about improving the shopping experience and removing the friction that stops customers from buying.

If you're wondering how to increase online store sales, here are 10 practical tips you can start using today.

1. Make It Easy To Buy: Turn Visitors Into Buyers

Many customers visit an online store with interest but leave without buying because they're unsure what to buy, why they should buy it, or whether they should buy it at that moment.

Think of your store like a smart salesperson: it should welcome visitors, explain what’s special about you, recommend what to buy first, and reduce any fear they have about spending their money. You do all of that with the texts they see, the messages you highlight, and the offers you put in front of them.

Here are a few ways to do that:

a. Use banners and store messages to guide customers

Your store banner on the home page is one of the first things customers see. Instead of using it only for branding, use it to highlight offers, best-selling products, free delivery thresholds, or limited-time promotions.

Examples:

• Free delivery on orders above ₦20,000
• New arrivals just dropped
• Buy 2, Get 1 Free
• Our best-selling fragrances are back in stock

A clear banner immediately tells customers what matters most.

On Catlog, you can customise your online store by adding custom store messages to guide customers to important information.

b. Lead with your best sellers and make offers visible

Don't make customers guess where to start. If you're running a promotion, don't hide it. Highlight your best sellers to show customers what products others are buying. It helps them make decisions faster and increases trust.

You can use the product highlight feature on Catlog to highlight product videos for your best sellers, and also use the ‘featured items’ feature to showcase products.

2. Use High-Quality Product Photos and Videos

Your customers can't physically inspect your products online. This means they are judging everything based on what they can see, so your product pictures have to do the work for you.

To make your images sell:

• Use natural light where possible; try shooting near a window during the day to get the best shot.
• Avoid cluttered backgrounds. Use clean, simple backgrounds that make your product stand out.
• Show multiple angles: front, back, side, and close-up shots of key details so customers can clearly see what they're buying.

Pro tip: Use videos to show what a product looks like when worn, carried, held, or styled.

Not many online stores offer the flexibility to upload videos, but you can upload product videos on Catlog.

Read More: How to upload Product Videos on Catlog

The more confident customers feel about what they're seeing, the more likely they are to buy.

3. Write Product Descriptions That Sell

Many business owners upload products with little or no description. A well-written product description can help more customers discover your products online. When someone searches for a product on Google, the keywords in your description can help your product appear in search results.

For example, instead of:

“Brown leather bag. Good quality.”

Try:

“Brown leather tote bag that fits your laptop, charger, and daily essentials without looking bulky. Perfect for work, school, or travel, with inner pockets to keep your phone and keys easy to reach.”

See the difference? The first description tells customers what the product is while the second helps them imagine using it.

The more clearly customers can picture themselves using your product, the easier it becomes for them to buy.

A strong product description should do three things:

1. Say exactly what the product is.
2. Highlight the benefit to the buyer.
3. Answer the most common questions for the customer

Bonus tip: When you use Catlog’s Instagram Import feature, our AI extracts the name and price and creates amazing product descriptions for you. Here’s how it works.

4. Organize Your Products Properly

When customers visit your store, they should be able to find what they're looking for quickly. If your products are scattered, visitors will get tired and leave even if they like what you sell.

Organize your products by creating categories and collections so it’s obvious what to look at first, where to find what they need, and how to compare options quickly.

For example:

• New Arrivals
• Best Sellers
• Women's Fashion
• Skincare
• Home Essentials

Catlog allows merchants to create unlimited product categories, making it easier for customers to browse and discover more items.

5. Recover Customers Who Leave Without Buying

Most people who visit your store won’t buy on the first visit — and that’s normal. They might be waiting for salary, comparing prices, asking a friend, or just got distracted by life (power, network, boss, baby, you name it).

The mistake many business owners make is treating those people as “lost” instead of “not yet.”

One of the most effective ways to increase online store sales is through abandoned cart recovery. By reminding customers about items they left behind, you can recover revenue that would otherwise be lost. The money is often in the follow-up.

Catlog's Cart Tracking feature helps merchants identify and follow up with buyers who showed buying intent, added items to their cart but didn't complete their order.

6. Build Trust Through Reviews and Testimonials

Buyers trust other buyers more than brands; that's why word of mouth and social proof are so powerful. Before buying, customers often want proof that others have had a positive experience with you, your business and your product.

On your store, display:

• Customer reviews and testimonials
• Product photos from customers (for example, add “Before & After” photos if your product creates a visible change)
• Product reviews

The more social proof you provide, the easier it becomes for new customers to make a purchase.

7. Make Payment Easy

One major reason people drop off before completing an order is payment stress. If paying you feels like stress, they will leave and might never come back.

To make it easy for customers, ensure your online store offers multiple payment options, such as cards, bank transfers, USSD, and supported currencies where possible.

If you use Catlog, you can offer customers multiple ways to pay and also collect payments in crypto and multiple currencies, such as USD, GBP, CAD, and more.

8. Make Delivery Information Clear

Delivery is where many online orders die. Oftentimes, unexpected delivery fees or unclear shipping timelines are common reasons customers abandon their carts.

Your delivery information should communicate:

• Delivery fees
• Delivery timelines
• Available locations
• Pickup options

Catlog merchants can set up automated delivery so delivery fees are calculated accurately at checkout based on the customer's location. Catlog also partners with multiple delivery partners, and merchants can choose a logistics partner they prefer directly from their dashboard, making fulfilment easier and more efficient.

9. Use WhatsApp and Social Media to Bring More Buyers to Your Store

Even the best online store can't generate sales if nobody visits it.

Your Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp channels should work together to consistently drive potential customers back to your store.

Here’s how to use them well:

• Always attach your store link when posting new arrivals or restocks.
• Run “New in store” posts that highlight a few products and link back to the full category or collection.
• Use WhatsApp saved replies to share products and direct people to the store to complete orders.
• Save highlights or pinned posts that say “Shop all products here” with your main store link.

This way, your online presence is not scattered. All orders are in one organised place, making it easier for customers to buy and for you to manage.

10. Add an About Us Page and Clear Store Policies

Many customers won't tell you they're unsure about buying from you. They'll simply leave.

Before placing an order, customers often want answers to questions like:

• Who is behind this business?
• Can I trust them?
• What happens if I receive the wrong item?
• Can I get a refund or exchange?
• How long will delivery take?

That's where your About Us page and store policies come in.

Your About Us page helps customers connect with your business. Share who you are, what you sell, why you started the business, and what customers can expect when they shop with you.

Your store policies help set expectations and build confidence. Make sure customers can easily find information about:

• Refunds and exchanges
• Delivery timelines
• Payment terms
• Return conditions
• Contact information

The easier it is for customers to find answers, the more confident they'll feel about buying from you.

On Catlog, merchants can add an About Us section and create custom store policies directly on their store, helping customers make informed buying decisions and increasing trust.

Read More: How to add ‘About Us’ to your Catlog store.

Why This Matters for Your Growth

Most of the time, the difference between a store that gets visitors and a store that gets orders comes down to a few fundamentals:

• Make buying easy
• Improve product presentation
• Write better product descriptions
• Organise your products properly
• Build trust and recover abandoned carts
• Make payments and delivery seamless
• Set clear expectations with your store policies

With small, consistent improvements in these areas, sales can increase significantly for your online store.

If you sell on Instagram, WhatsApp, or other social platforms, having a structured online store through Catlog gives you the foundation to apply these tips, turn more visitors into paying customers, and grow your business with confidence.

Selling online isn't just about getting more people to visit your store. It's about getting more value from every customer who already visits.

The businesses that grow fastest aren't always the ones with the most traffic. They're often the ones who know how to increase order value, move inventory efficiently, and give customers reasons to buy more.

The good thing is you don't need complicated marketing campaigns to do that. Sometimes, small changes to how you price, package, or promote your products can make a huge difference.

In this guide, we'll show you four simple, practical ways to increase sales using tools already available on Catlog.

Let’s break them down.

1. Use Discounts & Coupons to drive more orders and clear slow stock

One of the fastest ways to encourage customers to buy is by offering a good deal.

If you have products that aren’t moving quickly, seasonal items, or inventory you want to clear out, discounts can help create urgency and increase sales.

On Catlog, you can:

• Put discounts on specific products that are slow-moving
• Offer coupon codes
• Run promos on a whole category (e.g. “all dresses 15% off”)
• Create store-wide sales for a short period

Why this works: A small percentage off is often the final push your customers need to stop price-watching and actually check out. It also helps you turn “dead” stock into cash you can reinvest into better-performing products.

Smart tip: Add a time frame to your discounts. For example, “Valid till Sunday” creates urgency and drives faster decisions.

Best time to use discounts and coupons:

• Slow sales periods
• New product launches
• Holiday campaigns
• Stock clearance sales
• Customer re-engagement campaigns

2. Set Auto Cart Discounts to increase order value

If your customers keep buying one or two items and leaving, an auto cart discount is your friend.

With this feature, customers automatically receive a discount when their cart reaches a certain amount.

Here’s how it works:

You set a minimum cart amount on Catlog (for example, ₦50,000, ₦100,000, or ₦200,000). Once a customer’s cart reaches that amount, a discount is automatically applied at checkout.

So instead of buying just one item, your customer now has a reason to add more.

That tiny nudge can be the difference between a ₦20,000 order and a ₦60,000 order.

Smart tip: choose a minimum amount that’s slightly higher than your average order value. That way, you’re gently pushing customers to spend more than they usually do.

Why this works:

Customers love feeling like they’re getting better value for their money. A cart discount gives them a clear incentive to buy more immediately.

3. Encourage Bulk Purchases with Tiered Pricing

Not every customer should pay the same price.

Customers buying in larger quantities should ideally get better pricing — and Tiered Pricing helps you do exactly that.

With tiered pricing on Catlog, you can create different price levels depending on how many items a customer buys.

For example:

• Buy 1 item → ₦10,000 each
• Buy 3 items → ₦9,000 each
• Buy 5 items → ₦8,000 each

The more they buy, the better the deal they get. This strategy encourages customers to buy more at once because the value improves as quantity increases.

Why this works:

• You increase the value of each order
• Customers feel they’re getting a “better deal” when they buy more
• It’s perfect for fashion, beauty, food, and any product people buy in multiples

Smart tip: Make your tiers clear in your product description so customers know exactly how much they save by adding more.

4. Sell More with Product Bundles

Bundling products together is one of the easiest ways to upsell customers.

Instead of waiting for customers to figure that out on their own, you can bundle items that go well together and sell them as a set at a slightly discounted price.

Examples:

• Hair bundle: wig + brush + hair care product
• Fashion bundle: dress + bag + shoes
• Skincare bundle: cleanser + toner + moisturizer
• Food bundle: burger + fries + drink

Bundles help customers discover complementary products they may not have originally planned to buy.

They also make purchasing decisions easier because customers feel they’re getting a complete solution rather than buying items one by one.

Smart tip: Position your bundles as a solution so customers see them as smart choices, not just upsells.

Small Changes Can Lead to Bigger Sales

Growing your sales doesn’t always require spending more on ads or constantly chasing new customers.

Sometimes, the biggest improvements come from:

• Better pricing strategies
• Smarter promotions
• Encouraging larger orders
• Making shopping easier for customers

With features like Discounts, Auto Cart Discounts, Tiered Pricing, and Bundles, Catlog gives you multiple ways to increase sales while improving your customers’ shopping experience.

If you're new to Catlog, get an online store with ease and use its marketing features to increase your sales.

It's 10 AM on a Saturday, and your phone is buzzing nonstop. You have personal things to handle, but business comes first.

"Hi, do you have this in size M?" "How much is the blue one?" "Is this still available?" "Is there a discount?" "What's the fastest you can deliver?"

You're answering the same questions over and over. Some people go silent after you respond, and others say, "I’ll get back to you," but never do. A few actually buy, but the effort required to close each sale is exhausting.

By noon, you've had over 15 conversations, and maybe 2 turned into sales.

You realise you’re spending time on conversations that don’t turn into sales.

Why You’re Losing Sales in Your DMs

Here’s what’s really happening.

When someone wants to buy from you on Instagram or WhatsApp, they have to:

1. Send you a message to inquire about products
2. Wait for you to respond
3. Ask about specific products
4. Ask about sizes/colours/options
5. (Maybe) Ask about delivery timelines
6. Finally decide to buy
7. (Maybe) Ask for payment details

That’s 7–10 steps before money leaves their account and goes into yours.

Now imagine doing that across 30, 40, 50 customers in a day.

You’ll miss replies, forget follow‑ups and lose track of conversations.

That’s how you quietly lose customers and sales that could’ve been yours.

The Real Problem Is Your Sales Process

Here’s the hard truth: taking orders only in your DMs is hurting your business and slowing down sales.

Customers already want to buy from you. If they’re in your DMs, they’re interested. However, if buying from you feels like work, they’ll go where the process is easier.

Think about an impulse buyer scrolling at 2 am. They like what you sell, but they know you won’t reply at that time. They won’t bother sending a DM. That sale is gone before it even starts.

To stop losing sales, you need to remove the friction in your process.

What If Customers Could See Everything Upfront?

Now imagine a different scenario.

A customer visits your Instagram page and instead of sending “Hi, is this available?”, they see one link. That link opens a simple storefront that has:

• All your products
• All the prices
• All the sizes, colours and variations
• What’s in stock and what’s sold out
• A simple checkout
• Multiple payment options

They click the link. They browse. They pick a size. They see all the options. They checkout. They pay.

The whole process takes 3–5 minutes.

Zero back and forth.

This is what happens when you stop running your entire business inside your DMs and set up a proper storefront that works 24/7.

How To Stop Losing Sales on Social Media

Social media was built for entertainment, not for managing orders, inventory and payments.

You can use Instagram and WhatsApp to drive sales, but you need a setup that’s unique to your business and actually works for how you sell.

Here’s how to fix losing sales on social media:

Step 1: Put Everything in One Place

First, you need a website or a storefront with all your products in one place. One single link where customers can see:

• All your products
• All the prices
• All the sizes, colours, variations
• What's in stock and what's not

When this exists, customers don't have to DM you asking what’s available; they simply check themselves.

Creating a website is easy; you don't need a developer. With Catlog, you can turn your Instagram page into a website in about 5 minutes.

This removes 70% of your repetitive conversations immediately.

Step 2: Let Customers Self‑Serve

When everything is in one place, customers can shop at any time — even at midnight while you’re asleep — answer most of their own questions and decide faster without waiting for you.

Even when they still reach out in your DMs, you don’t need to start the conversation from scratch. Instead of sending 10 pictures and typing details again, you can simply reply with a product link to exactly what they asked for.

If a customer doesn’t want to browse the whole website, Catlog also lets you create a checkout link for that specific order. That way, you’re still keeping your records in one place while meeting your customers where they are.

Step 3: Make Payment Easy

Making a payment is a major drop-off point for many customers. If a customer has to:

• Wait for you to send bank details
• Send proof of transfer
• Wait for you to confirm

…it might cause friction, and you don’t want that.

Instead, you should have a process. Your website should have an easy one-click checkout with multiple payment options.

On Catlog, checkout has payment methods ranging from card payments to bank transfers and even USSD. You can also create payment links for customers to collect payments with ease.

Fix Your Sales Problem

You understand the problem now. The solution is simple: remove friction and create a better structure.

Here's what to do next:

1. Put your products on Catlog with all sizes, colors, and prices visible
2. Share your Catlog link in your WhatsApp bio, Instagram bio, and everywhere your customers find you.
3. Send product links instead of images when customers ask to see options, so they can get all the details in one click.
4. Use payment links so customers pay instantly

The difference between a business that's stuck with low sales and a business that grows isn't always about better products or lower prices. It’s about removing friction from how people buy from you.

Catlog helps you remove that friction. All you have to do is set up your store, upload your products, and share your link— and let your DMs go back to what they were meant for: conversations, not manual order processing.

Ready to transform your sales process? Click here to start.

Once you’ve fixed how people buy from you, the next step is getting more people to discover your business. Start with these six creative ways to market your business without spending money.

About a year ago, we introduced Deliveries on Catlog in Ghana, starting with Shaq Express as our first courier partner.

Since then, many businesses have been using Catlog to book deliveries directly from their dashboard, making it easier to ship orders without the usual back-and-forth with dispatch riders.

But we’ve always known that one courier isn’t enough. Different businesses ship to different places, and having more options makes it easier to get orders to customers quickly and reliably.

So today, we’re excited to share some good news.

Dawurobo is now available as a delivery partner on Catlog.

This means businesses in Ghana now have another courier option they can use to automate deliveries directly from their Catlog store and dashboard.

Just like Shaq Express, Dawurobo can be used without leaving Catlog — whether you want customers to pay for delivery during checkout, book delivery from an order, or create deliveries manually whenever you need to send something.

You can use Dawurobo in three different ways on Catlog.

1. Show Dawurobo Delivery Rates on Your Store

The easiest way to use Dawurobo is to let customers see live delivery prices during checkout.

When this is enabled, Catlog will automatically fetch delivery rates from Dawurobo based on the customer’s location. Customers can then select the option and pay for delivery alongside their order.

Once the order is confirmed, the delivery can be fulfilled immediately.

How to enable this

On your Catlog dashboard:

1. Go to Delivery Configurations
2. Enable Automated Shipping
3. Under deliveries open the Couriers section
4. Click Add Carrier
5. Select Dawurobo

Once this is enabled, Dawurobo will appear as a delivery option on your store whenever a customer places an order.

Catlog will automatically calculate the delivery rate and show it at checkout.

This allows customers to pay for both the product and delivery in one step.

2. Book Dawurobo Delivery From an Order

Sometimes businesses prefer to confirm orders before arranging delivery.

You can also book a Dawurobo delivery directly from the order dashboard after a customer places an order.

How this works

1. Open the Order in your dashboard
2. Scroll to the Delivery section
3. Click Initiate Delivery

This will open the Create Delivery page.

From here:

• The items being shipped will automatically be filled
• Your pickup address will automatically be filled in if you have already saved one
• The customer’s delivery address will already be added from the order
• You can still edit the address if needed

Once you continue, Catlog will fetch available couriers and Dawurobo will appear as one of the delivery options (if the route is supported).

You can then select Dawurobo, confirm the delivery, and pay for the shipment.

3. Create a Manual Delivery

You can also use Dawurobo even when the delivery is not tied to an order.

This is useful when you want to send items to customers manually.

How to do this

1. Go to the Deliveries page
2. Click Initiate Delivery

From there you will fill in:

• Items being delivered
• Pickup address
• Customer drop-off location
• Any additional delivery instructions

After submitting the details, Catlog will show available couriers and you’ll be able to choose Dawurobo if the route is supported.

Why This Matters

Managing deliveries manually can slow businesses down.

Many merchants spend time:

• Messaging dispatch riders
• Negotiating delivery prices
• Tracking orders manually

With Catlog deliveries, all of that happens in one place.

You can:

• Show delivery rates on your store
• Book deliveries in seconds
• Track shipments from your dashboard

And now, businesses in Ghana have even more delivery flexibility with Dawurobo.

Start Shipping With Dawurobo

Dawurobo is now available for Catlog merchants in Ghana.

If you already use Catlog deliveries, you can enable Dawurobo in your delivery settings today.

More delivery options means faster fulfillment and smoother operations for your business.

Shopify is one of the world’s most popular e-commerce platforms, but for many small business owners in Ghana, it’s not always the best choice.

Whether you're a fashion retailer, beauty brand, side hustler, or digital product creator, Shopify’s pricing, complexity, and dollar billing might not work for you.

Luckily, there are other great options that let you build an online store, accept payments in Ghana Cedis, and run your business more affordably.

In this article, we’ll share 5 top Shopify alternatives for business owners in Ghana — including their features, pricing, and ideal use cases.

Why Look for a Shopify Alternative in Ghana?

Shopify is a powerful tool, but many Ghanaian entrepreneurs look for alternatives because:

• It’s expensive: Shopify pricing starts at $39/month — and that’s before adding paid apps, themes, and transaction fees.
• It bills in USD: Monthly fees fluctuate based on exchange rates, making budgeting difficult.
• It requires technical setup: Customizing your store, installing add-ons, and integrating payments can be confusing if you’re not tech-savvy.

If you want a solution built with African business owners in mind — or just something easier to use — the platforms below are great options.

1. Paystack Storefront

Best for: Fast, simple online store setup
Price: Free

Paystack Storefront is a no-code option that allows business owners to list products, set prices, and start selling online in minutes — all for free. It's great for testing new ideas or launching small product lines.

Top features:

• Free to use
• Built-in Paystack payment gateway (GHS, USD, others)
• Easy to set up and manage
• No technical skills required

Limitations:

• Nonexistent customization tools
• Limited inventory features

2. BigCommerce

Best for: Businesses that want to scale and sell globally
Price: From $39/month

BigCommerce offers similar features to Shopify but includes more out-of-the-box functionality — like real-time shipping quotes and multi-currency support — without needing dozens of apps.

Top features:

• Supports international payments and multi-currency stores
• More built-in tools than Shopify
• No transaction fees on your sales

Limitations:

• Still priced in USD
• Steeper learning curve for beginners

3. Catlog

Best for: Social media sellers, WhatsApp vendors, fashion and beauty brands
Price: From GHS 60/month

Catlog is built specifically for African businesses that sell on Instagram, WhatsApp, or in-person. It lets you create an online store in minutes, manage inventory, generate invoices, and share payment links.

Top features:

• Create and customize your storefront easily
• Accept local and international payments
• Auto-generate invoices, payment links, discount codes
• Track inventory and customer orders
• Upload product videos as well as images (Business+ Feature)

Limitations:

• Limited theme options (compared to Shopify)
• Best suited for physical products

Catlog is perfect for Ghanaian merchants who want a mobile-first solution that just works.

4. WooCommerce

Best for: WordPress users and brands wanting full customization
Price: Free plugin, but hosting and domain from GHS 20–150/month

WooCommerce is a free plugin that turns any WordPress website into a full-featured online store. You get full control over your site — but it comes with more setup responsibilities.

Top features:

• Highly customizable
• Large ecosystem of plugins and extensions
• You own your store and data

Limitations:

• Requires hosting, domain, and maintenance
• Not beginner-friendly

5. Selar

Best for: Digital products, services, and ticketed events
Price: Free plan, paid plan starts from GHS 80/month

Selar is popular among African creators selling ebooks, online courses, music, consulting, or event tickets. It's easy to use and supports payments in multiple currencies.

Top features:

• Great for selling digital products
• Accepts payments in GHS, USD, NGN, etc.
• Easy setup and mobile-friendly

Limitations:

• Not designed for physical product sellers
• Fewer customization options

TL;DR: Best Shopify Alternatives in Ghana

Final Thoughts

If you’re a Ghanaian business owner searching for a Shopify alternative in 2025, there’s no shortage of good options.

Shopify is powerful, but it’s not always the most practical or affordable option. However, if you’re looking for something built with Ghanaian sellers in mind, Catlog is a great place to start.

Need help getting started with Catlog?
Click here to create your free store now

Looking for Shopify? This resource is a good starting point.

A lot of your customers don’t start from your online store — they start in your DMs. They tell you what they want on WhatsApp, Instagram, or Telegram, you help them pick products, and then, you still need a way for them to pay and for you to keep proper records.

That’s where Checkout Links on Catlog come in.

Instead of sending them to browse your full inventory (which many people don’t want to do), you can turn that DM conversation into a simple link they can tap to finish their order. They get a quick, stress-free way to pay; you get the order, payment, and customer details recorded in one place on Catlog — not scattered across chats.

Checkout Links are a faster way to turn conversations into confirmed, trackable orders with just one link.

What is a Checkout Link?

A Checkout Link is a unique URL you can generate and share directly with your customer.

You choose the products, optionally pre-fill your customer’s details (like their name and phone number), and turn it into a link.

Your customer taps the link, reviews the items, enters their delivery and payment details, and completes checkout in one smooth flow with no stress.

Why Checkout Links matter for your business

Online buyers are impatient and indecisive, and every extra step is a chance for them to drop off.

Here’s why checkout links matter:

1. Faster checkout, fewer distractions

Instead of sending customers to browse your entire store, you send a cart that’s already been curated for them. They don’t have to search, filter, or figure anything out. They land on exactly what they asked for and can check out straight away.

2. Less cart abandonment

Abandonment often happens between “I want this” and “I’ll complete checkout later”. With Checkout Links, that gap is smaller. The path from chat → browse products →  cart → payment is shorter, which means more completed orders.

3. More done for them, still flexible

You can pre-fill your customer’s name and phone number to save them time and make the experience feel personal. However, they still have full control: they can change quantities, add more products, or update their delivery details before checkout and payment.

4. A smoother experience everywhere you sell

Whether you sell mostly via Instagram DMs, WhatsApp, Telegram groups, or your existing customer list, Checkout Links fit right in. If you can send a message there, you can send a Checkout Link.

How To Create a Checkout Link

Creating a Checkout Link is very easy. You can do it in two main ways:

A checkout link

1. Open orders on your Catlog app.
2. Click on the three dots icon.
3. Choose Checkout links.
4. Select or adjust the items in the cart.
5. (Optional) Pre-fill customer details like name and phone number.
6. Create the link, copy it, and share it through your preferred channel.

From an abandoned cart

This is where Checkout Links quietly becomes a sales machine.

1. Go to Customer carts from Orders
2. Pick an abandoned cart (someone who started but didn’t finish checkout).
3. Click Generate checkout link.
4. Send it with a simple message: “Still interested in this? Here’s a quick link to complete your order.”

Instead of watching abandoned carts pile up, you can actively bring shoppers back to finish what they started.

What your customer sees

When a customer clicks your Checkout Link, they see a cart that’s already set up for them.

They’ll see:

• The products they’re about to buy
• Prices and quantities
• Cart subtotal

From there, they can:

• Edit product quantities
• Add more products to their cart
• Update personal and delivery information (even if you pre-filled some details)
• Proceed to checkout and pay as usual

What Checkout Links do for you

Checkout Links help you:

• Close sales faster
• Reduce friction at checkout
• Recover abandoned carts
• Offer a smoother customer experience

It’s a simple feature, but it changes how quickly and confidently you turn interested shoppers into paying customers.

Start using Checkout Links today

With Checkout Links, you make it easier for people who already want to buy to complete their purchase.

The next time someone is interested but doesn’t finish checking out, don’t let them go; that’s leaving money on the table. Open your app, generate a Checkout Link, and send it to them.

It’s a small step on your side that makes it much easier for them to complete their order.

Getting traffic and visibility is hard. And you’ve probably worked really hard to get customers to your store. But there’s another problem that quietly reduces your sales: customers buying just one thing, even when they could have bought more.

Many customers land on a store, like a product, and add just that one item to their cart. Not because they don’t want more, but because they’re unsure what else goes well with it, or they don’t want to spend time figuring it out.

They often think:

• What usually goes with this?
• Do I need anything else?
• Is there a better deal if I buy more?

And when those answers aren’t obvious, customers often play it safe — they buy less.

For business owners, this shows up as:

• Low average order value
• Customers buying items one by one
• Missed opportunities to sell complete sets

That’s exactly the problem Bundles is designed to solve.

We just launched Bundles on Catlog — a new way to group products that naturally go together and sell them as one offer, often at a better price.

Bundles help you increase your average order value by guiding customers toward buying more in a way that feels easy and intentional, not forced.

Instead of customers guessing what to add next, you show them a complete option that already makes sense — and give them a reason to buy it together.

What are Bundles?

A bundle is a group of products sold together as one offer.

Instead of a customer buying items one by one, they can buy everything together — often at a discounted price.

For example:

• A top + trousers + bag sold as one outfit
• A skincare set instead of individual products
• A phone + charger + earbuds in one purchase
• A Valentine gift set, instead of picking items separately

Bundles make it easier for customers to decide — and easier for you to sell more.

Why Bundles work for your business

Bundles increase sales not just because of discounts, but because they help customers decide faster and buy more in one go.

Here’s how they help:

1. Higher average order value
When customers see related items grouped together, they’re more likely to buy everything at once instead of stopping at one item.

2. Less thinking for customers
Customers don’t always want to figure out:

• What matches
• What completes a look or routine
• What else they might need

Bundles do that thinking for them.

3. Discounts that feel valuable (without hurting you)
Instead of discounting individual products, you can offer a small bundle discount that:

• Feels like a better deal to customers
• Encourages full-set purchases
• Protects your margins better than random discounts

How to create a Bundle on Catlog

On the Web App

1. Open your dashboard
2. Click Products on the side menu
3. Select Discounts
4. Open the Bundles tab
5. Click Create new bundle

On the Mobile App

1. Open the side menu
2. Tap Discounts
3. Switch to the Bundles tab
4. Create your bundle

Setting up your Bundle

Creating a bundle is just like creating a product:

• Add a bundle title
• Write a description
• Select the products you want in the bundle
• Choose how the bundle is priced:
• Total of all item prices
• Or apply a fixed amount or percentage discount

If the products have variants, customers can still choose their preferred options before adding to cart.

Sharing and displaying your Bundles

Once your bundle is live:

• Each bundle gets its own page and link
• You can generate an affiliate link for it
• You can feature up to 3 bundles at the top of your store
• Bundles appear alongside normal products when customers browse

When a customer adds a bundle to cart:

• Items are grouped under the bundle name
• Variants are clearly shown
• The bundle discount is displayed at checkout
• Your orders page shows the bundle breakdown and total discount applied

Everything stays clean and organised.

Bundle ideas you can create today

Here are some examples based on businesses already selling on Catlog:

👗 Fashion & Clothing

• Weekend Outfit Bundle (Top + Bottom + Bag)
• Office Wear Bundle (Shirt + Trousers)
• Couples Valentine Bundle (Male & Female outfits)

💄 Beauty & Skincare

• Morning Skincare Routine (Cleanser + Toner + Moisturiser)
• Glow Kit (Serum + Face Oil + Sunscreen)
• Valentine Self-Care Box

💍 Jewelry & Accessories

• Earrings + Necklace Set
• Watch + Bracelet Combo
• Gift-ready Jewelry Bundle

📱 Electronics & Gadgets

• Phone Accessories Bundle (Case + Charger + Earphones)
• Work-from-Home Bundle (Keyboard + Mouse + Stand)

🍔 Food & Treats

• Date Night Meal Bundle
• Family Combo Pack
• Valentine Dessert Box

Perfect for Valentine’s and seasonal sales ❤️

Bundles are especially powerful during seasons like Valentine’s, when customers are buying gifts and don’t want to overthink their choices. A well-put-together bundle helps them quickly find something that feels thoughtful, complete, and easy to buy.

Instead of selling single items, you can create gift-ready bundles, offer special seasonal discounts, and increase your order value without running complicated promotions. One bundle. One price. One easy decision.

Start creating Bundles today

Bundles are live on Catlog and ready to use.

If you want customers to buy more without forcing it, and if you want to increase your average order value without confusing your store, bundles are the way to do it.

Valentine’s Day is one of the few times in the year when people don’t need to be convinced to buy; they want to. They’re already thinking about gifts, surprises, and thoughtful gestures for their partners, friends, situationships, and even themselves.

For business owners, this is good news. However, high demand doesn’t always translate to high sales.

If everything is happening in your DMs — “How much?” “Is this still available?” “Where’s your account number?” — it’s very easy to get overwhelmed, reply late, mix up orders, and lose customers who were ready to pay.

That’s where having an online store makes all the difference.

In this article, we’ll show you how to get your store Valentine-ready with Catlog, so when the love rush starts, your business is ready to keep up.

Why an online store matters for Valentine's Day

When Valentine's rush starts, everything speeds up: people are emotional, in a hurry, and making decisions quickly. If they have to wait for you to reply to a DM, ask for prices, confirm availability, and then request your account details, most of them will drop off. They'll buy from someone else who made it easier.

An online store changes that completely.

Instead of answering the same questions over and over, you can send one link where people can:

• Browse all your Valentine's Day offers at once
• See prices, product details and availability instantly
• Place an order and pay immediately, even at 2 am when you're asleep

Catlog makes this especially easy if you sell through social media — Instagram, WhatsApp and more — by giving you a simple online store link to send people when they’re ready to buy.

How to Get Your Online Store Ready for Valentine's Day With Catlog (7 Steps)

For Valentine, your store should work like this: customer clicks your link, sees exactly what they want, adds it to cart, and pays instantly. No back-and-forth.

Here's how to have smooth sales in 7 steps:

Step 1: Create Valentine's-themed product bundles

People love convenience and ready-made solutions during the Valentine's season.

Instead of making customers browse your entire products and pick individual items, you can bundle your products into ready-made gift sets.

Some bundle examples that work:

1. If you sell skincare, create a:

• "Pamper Your Love Bundle" – cleanser + face mask + body butter
• "Self-Love Spa Kit" – for people treating themselves

2. If you sell food/snacks:

• "Date Night In Box" – wine + chocolate + cookies
• "Sweet Treats Bundle" – assorted chocolates and pastries

3. If you sell fashion/accessories:

• "His & Hers Matching Set" – coordinated pieces for couples
• "Galentine's Gift Box" – for friends celebrating together

Pro tip: Give your bundles romantic, emotion-driven names. "You're Everything to Me Gift Set" would sell more than a generic name like "Premium Bundle".

Set up your Valentine's bundles on Catlog now

Step 2: Update your product photos and descriptions (and make them feel like love)

Your product images should match the Valentine's vibe. Add hearts, red and pink tones, or romantic props to your photos. You can use simple Canva templates to add Valentine’s overlays to your product photos in minutes, then download them.

Then, rewrite your product descriptions to speak to the emotion of the season. Instead of just listing features, talk about the experience:

Instead of: "Premium body butter, 200ml, shea butter formula"

Write: "Treat them to the luxury they can feel. Our whipped body butter melts into skin like silk—perfect for a romantic massage or post-shower pampering. Because they deserve to feel special."

Instead of: "Chocolate assortment box, 12 pieces"

Write: "Say it with chocolate. 12 handpicked pieces that melt in the mouth—from dark and mysterious to sweet and surprising. For the person who makes your heart skip."

See the difference? You're selling the experience, not just the product.

Once you post your Valentine offers on Instagram, you can skip the manual upload for your online store. Use Catlog’s Instagram Import to automatically upload the products into your store. Catlog’s AI pulls the images, descriptions, prices, everything. The best part? It takes less than 5 minutes instead of re-uploading manually.

Try Instagram Import here

Step 3: Create limited-time Valentine offers

Nothing drives urgency like a deadline. Create special Valentine's discounts that expire before February 14th, or offer early-bird pricing for customers who order before a certain date.

With Catlog, you can add discount codes, create coupons, or special pricing directly to your store, and customers can apply them at checkout without needing to DM you for clarification.

Two ways to add discounts on Catlog:

1. Manual Discounts

 How it works:

• Open the Catlog app.
• Click Quick Actions > Create Coupons.
• Enter your discount label (e.g., Valentine2026).
• Set your discount percentage, maximum value, duration, and save.

2. Auto Cart Discount

This feature automatically applies discounts when customers meet conditions,  like minimum spend or specific product purchases.

 How it works:

• Go to Store Settings > Checkout Options > Auto Cart Discount
• Set your preferred trigger (e.g., minimum cart amount of ₦100,000).
• Once the conditions are met, the discount is applied automatically.

Step 4: Make it easy for customers to complete checkout

The easier it is to shop, the more sales you'll make. Add clear delivery and pickup details to your store so customers can complete their purchase in just a few clicks.

Catlog's checkout is designed to be fast and mobile-friendly, which is essential since most Valentine's shoppers will be browsing on their phones.

When a customer clicks your store link:

1. They browse products easily and add to cart
2. They enter delivery details
3. They pay instantly (card, transfer, or mobile money)

Everything happens automatically while you focus on packaging and delivery.

Step 5: Promote your store link everywhere

Once your store is ready, it's time to drive traffic. Now people need to see it. Share your Catlog store link across all your platforms: Instagram bio, WhatsApp status, Facebook posts, Twitter, and even in your DM replies.

Create content that naturally points people to your store, for example:

• 5 Valentine's gifts for the person who has everything (feature your products)
• Behind the scenes of you packaging orders
• Customer testimonials/unboxing videos
• "Self-love Valentine's" content for single people
• Polls: "Which would you rather receive?" (Both are your products)

Then drop your link in the comments or caption for people to shop.

Step 6: Prepare for order fulfilment

High sales mean nothing if you can't deliver. Before the rush hits, make sure you have enough stock, packaging materials, and a clear system for processing orders.

With Catlog, you can track all your orders in one place, see what's been paid for, and manage deliveries without juggling spreadsheets or losing track in your DMs.

Step 7: Set Up Smart Auto-Responses

Even with an online store, people will still DM you. You can save time and direct customers to your Catlog store with these smart auto responses:

Instagram auto-response (in settings):

"Hi! Thanks for reaching out 💕 You can browse all our Valentine's products and order instantly here: [Your Catlog link]. For other questions, I'll reply soon!"

WhatsApp business auto-reply:

"Hello! Valentine's shopping? Check out our full collection here 👉 [Your Catlog link]. Orders are processed automatically—so you don’t have to wait! 🎁"

This does two things:

1. Filters people who are just browsing from people who are ready to buy
2. Sends ready buyers straight to your Catlog store, even when you’re offline

Use Catlog to stay sane during and after the rush

Valentine's Day is a huge opportunity for online businesses, but only if you're prepared. By setting up a proper online store, you can turn the Valentine's rush into smooth, stress-free sales instead of chaotic DM conversations.

With Catlog, you get a simple, professional online store that works perfectly for social media sellers, handles payments, and keeps everything organized so you can focus on delivering great products to your customers.

Ready to turn Valentine's into your biggest sales month? Get an online store with Catlog today.

New years are a time to introspect, reevaluate, take stock of the past year, and make small or life-changing decisions. This level of introspection is not left for personal lives alone, every savvy business owner knows that it is also necessary for their businesses.

That's why we created Catlog Chronicles! It isn't just a simple report; it's a personalized journey through your last business year, highlighting key milestones, customer connections, and the overall narrative of your business growth.

We'll be giving you a comprehensive overview of your 2025, recognizing your successes and opportunities for growth.

What to expect in your Chronicle:

Your Catlog Chronicle will be packed with data and insights, presented in an easy-to-understand and engaging format. Here is what to expect:

1. A deep dive into your customer base: Discover how many customers visited your store, where your most loyal customers are located, and who your top customer of the year is. We'll even spotlight your top customer - someone who truly made your business their business!
2. Your sales performance: Review your total earnings, the number of orders you fulfilled, and identify your peak sales month. This helps you understand your sales trends and plan accordingly.
3. Product spotlight: Find out which products resonated most with your customers and how many times they were ordered. This information can inform your inventory management and future product development going forward.
4. Referral rewards: See how many people you brought into the Catlog community and the credits you've earned.

What do the tags mean?

We use plant-inspired tags to represent different stages of business growth, symbolizing the journey from seedling to towering presence. Here's a breakdown:

• Lily: Like a delicate flower just starting to bloom, you're in the early stages of your business journey. You're full of potential, and we're excited to see you grow and flourish. This tag emphasizes the importance of nurturing your business in its initial phase.
• Bamboo: Bamboo is known for its flexibility and rapid growth. If you're a Bamboo, you’re in your business growth era. Things are changing rapidly but you're demonstrating resilience and adaptability, key traits for sustained success.
• Oak: The mighty oak represents strength, stability, and longevity. As an Oak, your business has a solid foundation and is well-established. You've demonstrated consistent performance and are poised for continued growth and expansion.
• Iroko: The Iroko tree is a large hardwood tree in the tropical regions of West Africa that can live up to 500 years. It symbolizes strength, resilience, and wisdom. If you're an Iroko, you're a true and experienced business leader, demonstrating exceptional performance and inspiring others. You've reached a significant level of success and are a role model within the Catlog community. You should be extremely proud!

Why are we doing this?

Our goal for Catlog Chronicles is to help you see how far you’ve come. You poured your heart and soul into your business in 2025, and we want to celebrate your hard work and dedication. We also believe data is key to making informed business decisions, so, we're providing you with the insights you need to strategize for 2026.

What happens after you receive your chronicle?

Your Catlog Chronicle isn’t just a fun reporting tool. Here are some ways to make the most of it:

• Analyze the Details: Aside from getting a cute plant-based tag, we also share in-depth data about your business like your total order volumes or which location gave you the most customers. Don’t skim over these. They’re super important.
• Plan for 2026: Your goal should be to do better than they did in the last year, even if you killed it in 2025. Make concrete plans and write them down. Reference them throughout the year to ensure that you’re still on track. Set targets for yourself. You can do it!
• Share it: You’re doing amazing and everyone needs to see it. Tag us on Instagram or Twitter- @catlogshop-  when you do. We always want to celebrate with you!

Catlog Chronicles is on the way, so keep your eyes peeled!

Let's be honest about last January.

You set some ambitious goals. Maybe you wrote them down in a fresh notebook. Maybe you even posted them on your Instagram story—"This is my year."

And then life happened.

The goals got buried under day-to-day business chaos. By March, you'd forgotten half of them. By June, you were just trying to survive. By December, you were wondering where the entire year went and why you're not further along.

Sound familiar?

Here's the thing: It's not that you're not capable. It's not that you're lazy. It's that the way most people set goals—especially business goals—is fundamentally broken.

2026 doesn't have to be like that.

This isn't another "dream big!" motivational post. This is a practical guide to planning your business goals in a way that actually works—even if 2025 was rough, even if you're starting from scratch and you have no idea what you're doing.

Let's fix this.

Why Your 2025 Goals Probably Didn't Work

Before we talk about what to do differently, let's be honest about what went wrong.

They were too vague

"Make more money" isn't a goal. "Grow my business" isn't a goal. "Be more consistent" isn't a goal.

These are wishes, and wishes don't have action steps.

They were too ambitious

You wanted to 10x your revenue with no plan for how. You wanted 100k followers without a content strategy. You wanted to launch 5 new products while barely keeping up with the one you have.

Ambition is good. Delusion is not.

They had no timeline

"By the end of the year" is not a timeline. It's a vague someday. And someday never comes.

When you set a goal for "the year," you give yourself 12 months to procrastinate. Then December hits and you panic.

They had no tracking mechanism

How were you supposed to know if you were on track? You weren't checking. You weren't measuring. You were just hoping things were working out.

Hope is not a strategy.

They were set once and forgotten

You wrote them down on January 1st and never looked at them again until December 31st when you felt guilty about not hitting them.

Goals need check-ins. Monthly, at minimum. Otherwise, you're just setting intentions and praying.

External factors changed everything

The economy shifted. Your supplier flaked. Your personal life got complicated. And because you set rigid yearly goals, you had no mechanism to adjust.

Life doesn't care about your January 1st plans. Your goals need to be flexible enough to survive reality.

The Quarterly Planning Method (That Actually Works)

Here's what successful business owners do differently: They don't plan for the year. They plan for the quarter.

Why 90 days?

Because 90 days is:

• Long enough to see real progress
• Short enough to maintain focus
• Realistic for tracking and adjusting
• Aligned with how most businesses naturally operate (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4)

How it works:

Instead of setting one massive goal for "the year," you set focused goals for each quarter. Each quarter has ONE big priority. Just one.

Example breakdown for a fashion business:

Q1 (Jan-Mar): Set up systems and infrastructure

• Get your store properly online (not just Instagram)
• Set up inventory tracking
• Establish baseline metrics (where are you starting?)

Q2 (Apr-Jun): Focus on customer acquisition

• Launch new product line
• Run your first paid ads campaign
• Build email/SMS list

Q3 (Jul-Sep): Scale what's working

• Double down on best-selling products
• Improve conversion rate
• Streamline fulfillment process

Q4 (Oct-Dec): Maximize holiday season + prepare for next year

• Black Friday/Christmas campaigns
• Clear out old inventory
• Review year and plan 2027 Q1

Notice how each quarter has a clear focus? You're not trying to do everything at once. You're building systematically.

Setting Goals That Actually Mean Something

Let's talk about SMART goals. You've probably heard this before, but most people apply it wrong.

Here's how to actually use it:

If you want a simple structure to follow, you can use this goal-setting template we created to help you map it out step by step

Specific: Know exactly what success looks like

Bad goal: "Increase revenue"
Good goal: "Get 50 new customers in Q1"

Why? Because you can track 50 customers. You can't track "increase" (increase by how much? compared to what?).

Measurable: If you can't count it, it's not a goal

Bad goal: "Be more consistent with posting"
Good goal: "Post 3 times per week on Instagram for 12 weeks"

You need a number. A metric. Something you can definitively say yes or no to: did I hit it?

Achievable: Based on reality, not fantasies

This is where most people mess up. They set goals based on what they wish were true, not what's actually possible given their current situation.

Here's the test: Look at your last 3 months of performance. Now add 25-50% growth. That's achievable. Anything more than doubling is probably fantasy unless something fundamental changes.

Example:

• Last quarter you got 20 new customers
• Achievable Q1 goal: 25-30 new customers
• Fantasy goal: 200 new customers (unless you're about to go viral or launch major ads)

Relevant: Does this actually move your business forward?

Some goals feel productive but don't matter.

Bad goal: "Get 10k Instagram followers"
Better goal: "Convert 5% of Instagram followers to email subscribers"
Best goal: "Get 30 new customers from Instagram"

Followers don't pay your bills. Customers do.

Time-bound: Specific deadline, not "eventually"

Bad goal: "Launch new collection soon"
Good goal: "Launch spring collection by March 15th with 12 pieces"

Deadlines create urgency. "Soon" creates procrastination.

The Numbers You Actually Need to Know

To set realistic goals, you need to know where you're starting from. Not where you wish you were. Where you actually are.

Pull these numbers for your last 90 days (Q4 2025):

Customer metrics:

• Total customers (new + returning)
• New customers only
• Repeat customers
• Customer acquisition cost (if you're running ads)

Revenue metrics:

• Total revenue
• Average order value
• Revenue per customer
• Best-selling products (top 5)

Operational metrics:

• Total orders fulfilled
• Average time from order to delivery
• Customer complaints/returns
• Inventory turnover

Marketing metrics:

• Website/store visits
• Conversion rate (visits → purchases)
• Email subscribers (if you're collecting)
• Social media engagement (if relevant to your sales)

If you don't have these numbers, that's your first goal: START TRACKING.

Most people skip this step and wonder why they can't grow. You can't improve what you don't measure.

Quick note: If you're using an e-commerce platform like Catlog, most of this data is automatically tracked for you. You just need to actually look at it and use it to make decisions.

The Monthly Check-In Ritual (Don't Skip This)

Goals without check-ins are just wishes with deadlines.

Here's your monthly ritual:

First Monday of Every Month (or whatever day works for you):

Step 1: Pull your numbers (15 minutes)

• How many orders last month?
• How much revenue?
• How many new customers?
• What sold? What didn't?

Step 2: Compare to your goal (5 minutes)

• Am I on track?
• If I continue at this pace, will I hit my Q1 goal?

Step 3: Ask the hard questions (10 minutes)

• What worked last month?
• What didn't work?
• What do I need to do differently this month?
• What's blocking my progress?

Step 4: Adjust tactics (NOT goals) (10 minutes)

• If you're behind: What needs to change? More promotion? Better photos? Different products?
• If you're ahead: Can you push further? What's working that you should double down on?

Important: Don't change your goal unless something external changed (emergency, market shift, etc.). Change your tactics instead.

Step 5: Set your focus for the month (5 minutes)

What's the ONE thing that will move you closer to your Q1 goal this month?

Not 10 things. One thing.

What to Do When You're Off Track (Because You Will Be)

Let's be real: You will have bad weeks. Bad months even.

Sales will slow down. Life will get in the way. You'll get tired and want to quit.

Here's what to do when that happens:

Don't panic. Just pause.

Pull your numbers. Look at what's actually happening, not what you're feeling.

Sometimes you're closer than you think. Sometimes you just had one bad week and you're catastrophizing.

Identify the actual problem

Are you off track because:

• You're not executing? (You know what to do but you're not doing it)
• Your tactics aren't working? (You're executing but not getting results)
• External factors? (Economy, competition, life circumstances)

Different problems need different solutions.

Adjust your approach, not your standards

If your tactic isn't working, try a different one.

If your Instagram posts aren't driving sales, try stories. Or WhatsApp status. Or direct outreach. Or paid ads.

Don't just do more of what's not working. Do something different.

Give yourself a reset week

Sometimes you just need to step back, breathe, and restart with fresh energy.

Take a week to:

• Review what's working
• Cut what's not working
• Recommit to your goal
• Try a new approach

Then get back to it.

Remember: Progress isn't linear

Some months will be amazing, and some will be terrible. That's normal.

The only way you fail is if you quit.

Common Goal-Setting Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Mistake #1: Setting too many goals at once

You can't focus on 10 things. Pick one primary goal per quarter. Everything else supports that goal.

Mistake #2: Not writing them down

Goals in your head are fantasies. Write them down. Put them where you'll see them daily.

Mistake #3: Keeping them private

Tell someone about your goals. Accountability helps. Share in a community, tell a friend, post publicly if that motivates you.

Mistake #4: Comparing your timeline to others

Someone else hit their goal in 3 months. Great for them. That's not your timeline. Focus on your progress.

Mistake #5: Giving up after the first setback

You'll mess up. You'll have off weeks. That's part of the process. Just get back on track.

Mistake #6: Not celebrating small wins

Did you hit a milestone? Have you made progress? Celebrate it. Don't wait until you hit the "big goal" to acknowledge success.

You Don't Need Perfect, You Need Progress

Here's the secret successful business owners know: They don't have it all figured out. They're not operating with some master plan you don't have access to.

They're just consistent. They set goals, track progress, and adjust when things don't work. They keep going.

2026 can be different from 2025. Not because you'll magically become a different person, but because you'll have a system for actually making progress instead of just hoping for it.

The goals you set today won't be perfect. Your plan will need adjustments. You'll mess up sometimes.

Just don't quit. And don't wait for perfect to get started.

Take the Next Step

The hardest part of hitting goals isn't the work—it's having visibility into whether you're actually on track.

If you're still tracking your business metrics manually (or worse, in your head), you're making it harder than it needs to be. You need systems that give you real-time data so you can make decisions based on reality, not guesswork.

That's why thousands of merchants use Catlog to run their businesses. Not because it's magic, but because it automatically tracks the numbers that matter—orders, revenue, inventory, customers—so you can actually see if you're hitting your goals or need to adjust.

You can't improve what you don't measure. And you can't measure if you're drowning in spreadsheets and mental math.

[Learn more about how Catlog helps merchants stay on track →]

If you are planning for Black Friday or December sales, one of the smartest things you can do right now is to start collecting customer details. A waitlist helps you gather the names, emails, and phone numbers of people who are already interested in your offer. By the time you launch, you already have a warm audience waiting.

This guide will walk you through how to build a waitlist for your small business using Catlog, why it helps with Black Friday marketing for small businesses, and how to make the most of it.

Why a Waitlist Matters

A waitlist is one of those simple tools that gives you a big advantage during sales season. Here is why it works so well.

You can see interest before you launch

You are no longer guessing who cares about your offer. You will know exactly how many people are warming up to your product or discount.

It builds hype

People love early access. A waitlist naturally creates excitement because customers feel like they are getting something special.

It improves your conversion rate

Someone who joins your waitlist already has buying intent. Once you go live, they are more likely to purchase than cold traffic.

You reduce launch stress

Instead of shouting on the day of your sale, you already have a list of people waiting. This makes your launch calmer and more predictable.

You own your audience

Your list belongs to you. Algorithms cannot take it away, and when Catlog releases email and SMS tools in the future, your list will become even more powerful.

Introducing Catlog Waitlists

Catlog now gives you an easy way to create a waitlist for anything you want to promote. You get a simple, clean page where customers can sign up and a link you can share anywhere. WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram or your bio all work perfectly.

You can also choose to show a waitlist pop up on your store. When someone visits your store, they see your custom message and can join immediately.

No need for Google Forms or multiple tools. Everything is inside your Catlog dashboard.

How to Build a Waitlist for Your Small Business Using Catlog

Here are the exact steps to create your waitlist. You do not need screenshots because the process is very straightforward.

Step 1: Log into your Catlog dashboard. Open your dashboard on the web or mobile app.

Step 2: Click on Orders. This opens the section where you manage your store activity.

Step 3: Click on Customers

Step 4: Select Waitlists. You will see a button that says Create Waitlist.

Step 5: Add your details. Enter your waitlist name, a simple description, and your end date. This information tells customers what they are signing up for.

Step 6: Save. Once you save it, your waitlist goes live and Catlog generates a link you can copy and share anywhere.

Step 7: Share your link everywhere. Post it on Instagram Stories, WhatsApp Status, Twitter, Telegram or send it directly to people who have shown interest. The more you share it, the faster your list grows.

What Happens to Your List

Every time someone joins your waitlist, their information appears in your dashboard. You can export your entire list whenever you want and use it to send early access messages, reminders or Black Friday alerts.

This is also where the newsletter feature comes in.

Catlog now shows a simple newsletter pop up on your store. Customers can enter their name, email, and phone number even on normal days. Both waitlist sign ups and newsletter sign ups appear separately in your dashboard. You can view them under Waitlists and Newsletters and export them whenever you need them.

This gives you a clean, organised way to collect customer details all year long.

When to Use a Waitlist

A waitlist works well for many situations. You can create one for:

• Black Friday deals
• Any sales
• Product drops
• Restocks
• Limited offers
• New collections

If you want people to be excited before launch, a waitlist is the right tool to use.

Final Thoughts

If you want a calmer Black Friday and a more organised December sales season, start building your list now.

Your future self will be glad you set this up early.