Create Catalog Ad - Markifact

The Create Catalog Ad node lets you create dynamic catalog ads for Facebook and Instagram campaigns. These ads automatically pull product information from your Meta Business catalog using product sets, creating personalized ads that show relevant products to each user. Supports both carousel and single image formats.

When to Use It

Showcase products from your catalog dynamically
Create retargeting ads with products users viewed
Build prospecting campaigns with your best-selling products
Generate ads that automatically update with catalog changes
Scale product advertising without manual creative updates
Create personalized shopping experiences
Implement Advantage+ catalog campaigns for automated optimization
Test different product sets and creative formats

Prerequisites

Before using this node, ensure you have:

Meta Business Catalog set up with your products
Product sets created in your catalog (required for targeting)
Catalog connected to your Meta Ads account
Proper catalog data including images, prices, and product information

Inputs

Field	Type	Required	Description
Account	Select	Yes	Select a Meta Ads account
Page	Dynamic-select	Yes	Select Facebook page for the ads
Structured Data	Dynamic-text	Yes	Google Sheets data containing catalog ad information

Bulk Upload Template

For catalog ad creation, use the Google Sheets template with these columns:

Required Columns

Column	Description	Required
adset_id	Ad set ID where the catalog ad will be created	Yes
product_set_id	Product set ID from your Meta Business catalog	Yes
ad_name	Name for the catalog ad	Yes
website_url	Landing page URL (usually your website or product pages)	Yes
primary_text	Main ad copy that appears above the product images	Yes
headline	Headline text for the ad template	Yes

Optional Columns

Column	Description	Usage
description	Additional text below the headline	Optional
url_parameters	UTM or tracking parameters	Optional
ad_status	ACTIVE or PAUSED (default: PAUSED)	Optional
ad_type	carousel or single_image (default: carousel)	Optional
call_to_action	CTA button (default: SHOP_NOW)	Optional

Advanced Carousel Options

Column	Description	Usage
carousel_card_type	Set to “slideshow” to enable slideshow cards	Optional
multi_share_end_card	Set to “false” to disable multi-share end card	Optional
show_multiple_images	Set to “true” to show multiple product images per card	Optional

Static Card Options (Carousel Only)

Column	Description	Usage
static_card_media_url	Image/video URL for a static first card	Optional
static_card_headline	Headline for the static card (required if media_url provided)	Optional
static_card_description	Description for the static card	Optional

Note: Static cards cannot be used with single_image ad type.

Ad Types

Carousel Catalog Ads (Default)

Shows multiple products in a swipeable format
Each card displays a different product from your catalog
Users can browse through multiple items in one ad
Automatic product rotation based on user interests
Better for showcasing product variety

Single Image Catalog Ads

Shows one product at a time
Simpler format with single product focus
Better for specific product promotion
Uses ad_type: single_image in template

Output

Returns the created catalog ad IDs and count:

{
  "ad_ids": ["120210543987640123", "120210543987640124"],
  "created_count": 2
}

ad_ids: Array of all successfully created catalog ad IDs
created_count: Total number of catalog ads created

Credit Cost

Cost per run: 2 credits per catalog ad created
Example: 5 catalog ads = 10 credits

FAQs

What's the difference between catalog ads and regular ads?

Catalog Ads (Dynamic):

Pull product data automatically from your catalog
Show different products to different users based on their interests
Update automatically when catalog changes
Personalized content for each viewer
Require product sets and catalog setup

Regular Ads (Static):

Show the same creative to everyone
Require manual creative updates
Full control over exact content shown
Don’t require catalog setup
Fixed images and copy

How do I find my product set ID?

To find your product set ID:

Go to Meta Business Manager → Catalog Manager
Select your catalog → Product Sets tab
Find your product set and click on it
Copy the ID from the URL or product set details

Product Set ID Format: Usually a long number like 1234567890123456Pro tip: Create specific product sets for different campaigns (e.g., “Best Sellers”, “New Arrivals”, “Sale Items”) to better target your ads.

What are static cards and when should I use them?

Static cards are custom first cards in carousel catalog ads that don’t pull from your catalog.Use static cards for:

Brand introduction or hero messaging
Special promotions or announcements
Calls-to-action that apply to all products
Setting context before showing catalog products

Setup requirements:

Both static_card_media_url and static_card_headline are required
static_card_description is optional
Only works with carousel ads (not single_image)

Example use case: First card shows “50% Off Everything” with brand logo, followed by dynamic product cards from your catalog.

What Call to Action options work best for catalog ads?

Popular CTA options for catalog ads:E-commerce (Default):

SHOP_NOW - Best for general product promotion
VIEW_MORE - Good for browsing behavior
GET_OFFER - Perfect for sales and promotions

Lead Generation:

LEARN_MORE - For information gathering
SIGN_UP - For newsletters or accounts
CONTACT_US - For high-value products

App-focused:

INSTALL_APP - For mobile app downloads
USE_APP - For existing app users

Pro tip: SHOP_NOW is the default and generally performs best for e-commerce catalog ads.

How do carousel slideshow cards work?

Slideshow cards create an animated effect in carousel catalog ads:To enable: Set carousel_card_type: slideshow in your templateWhat it does:

Creates animated transitions between product images
Shows multiple product photos as a slideshow
Increases engagement through motion
Works automatically with catalog product images

Best for:

Products with multiple high-quality images
Fashion, lifestyle, or visually-rich products
Audiences who respond well to animated content

Note: This feature uses multiple images from your catalog automatically - no additional setup required.

What's the difference between multi_share_end_card options?

How does show_multiple_images work?

Show multiple images affects how products are displayed in catalog ads:When enabled (show_multiple_images: true):

Each product card can show multiple product images
Creates richer visual experience per product
Users can see different angles/views
Better for products with multiple quality images

When disabled (default):

Each product shows one primary image
Cleaner, simpler card design
Faster loading times
Better for catalogs with limited images per product

Recommendation: Enable for fashion, furniture, or complex products. Disable for simple products or catalogs with single product images.

Can I use videos in static cards?

Yes! Static cards support both images and videos:Video requirements:

File type: MP4, MOV
Maximum size: 4 GB
Maximum duration: 240 minutes (recommended: 15 seconds)
Aspect ratio: 1:1 or 4:5 recommended

Video benefits:

Higher engagement rates
Better storytelling capability
Automatic thumbnail generation
Motion captures attention

Use cases:

Product demonstrations
Brand story videos
Lifestyle content
How-to or tutorial videos

Pro tip: Keep videos short (under 15 seconds) for optimal performance in the social media environment.

How do I optimize catalog ads for better performance?

Catalog Optimization:

High-quality product images: Clear, well-lit, consistent style
Complete product data: Prices, descriptions, availability
Strategic product sets: Group products logically (bestsellers, categories)
Regular catalog updates: Keep inventory and prices current

Creative Optimization:

Compelling primary text: Highlight benefits, not just features
Clear headlines: Match user intent and product value
Relevant CTAs: Match the user’s stage in buying journey
Test ad types: Compare carousel vs single image performance

Targeting Optimization:

Audience segmentation: Different product sets for different audiences
Retargeting: Show products users have viewed or similar items
Lookalike audiences: Find users similar to your best customers

Pro tip: Use Advantage+ catalog campaigns for automatic optimization across audiences and placements.

What should I include in my primary text and headlines?

Primary Text Best Practices:

Lead with benefits: “Find your perfect style” vs “We sell clothes”
Create urgency: “Limited time offer” or “While supplies last”
Address pain points: “Skip the mall, shop online”
Include social proof: “Join 10,000+ happy customers”
Keep it concise: 125 characters or less for optimal display

Headline Best Practices:

Product-focused: Let the catalog fill in product names
Benefit-driven: “Perfect Fit Guaranteed”
Action-oriented: “Shop Now”, “Discover More”
Brand-focused: Your brand promise or tagline

Example combinations:

Primary Text: "Discover premium quality at unbeatable prices. Free shipping on orders over $50!"
Headline: "Premium Quality Guaranteed"

Pro tip: The headline works as a template - Meta will often customize it with specific product information automatically.

How do I track catalog ad performance?

Key Metrics to Monitor:

Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): Revenue / Ad spend
Cost Per Purchase: How much you pay for each conversion
Click-Through Rate (CTR): Engagement with your products
Conversion Rate: Percentage of clicks that become purchases

Meta Analytics:

Catalog Insights: See which products perform best
Audience Analytics: Understand who’s buying what
Creative Performance: Compare different ad types and copy

Attribution Tracking:

Use URL parameters: Track specific campaigns and product sets
Facebook Pixel: Essential for catalog ad tracking
Conversion API: For more accurate measurement

Optimization Tips:

Pause low-performing product sets: Focus budget on winners
Expand successful audiences: Scale what works
Update catalog regularly: Remove out-of-stock items
Test different creative approaches: Try various primary text and headlines

Can I use catalog ads for lead generation?

Yes! Catalog ads work well for lead generation with the right setup:Lead Generation Setup:

Use lead-friendly CTAs: LEARN_MORE, SIGN_UP, CONTACT_US
Link to landing pages: Not direct product pages
Highlight value proposition: What users get for their information
Include static cards: Set context for the lead magnet

Effective Strategies:

Product catalogs for B2B: Show service offerings or solutions
Free trials: Let users browse what they’ll get access to
Educational content: Connect products to learning resources
Consultation bookings: Show expertise through product range

Example approach:

Primary Text: "Get a free consultation on the perfect solution for your needs"
Static Card: "Free Expert Consultation" with contact form
Catalog Cards: Show your service/product range
CTA: CONTACT_US or LEARN_MORE

Documentation Index

​When to Use It

​Prerequisites

​Inputs

​Bulk Upload Template

​Required Columns

​Optional Columns

​Advanced Carousel Options

​Static Card Options (Carousel Only)

​Ad Types

​Carousel Catalog Ads (Default)

​Single Image Catalog Ads

​Output

​Credit Cost

​FAQs