Catalogs, in the context of AbeBooks, are subject headings used to classify your inventory. They're helpful to buyers searching for books by subject rather than looking for specific titles.
In a brick and mortar bookstore, you could equate these catalogs to the different designated areas within the store.
For instance, if you were looking for an Italian cookbook, in a bookstore
you would walk over to the "Cookbooks" section. If
you were searching the same bookseller's inventory online, it would be
helpful if they had a "Cookbooks" catalog that you could browse
to find an appropriate book.
The catalogs you assign your books to are seen by buyers who choose to "browse" your inventory. There are several of ways that they do this:
1. Through the bookstore search. A buyer searching for your bookstore specifically or finding your store through a search of booksellers in a specific area, will see the option to [Browse their books].
2. From the Bookseller & Payment Information page. Search results include the link [Bookseller & Payment Information] with each book listing. The page that appears when clicking that link has the link [Search this Seller's Books] which will take the buyer to the browse screen.
3. On your free AbeBooks Storefront (homepage). If you have created a Storefront through AbeBooks, this page includes the options to search your inventory and to browse your inventory.
4. From a URL that you have sent out. It's
possible to include the URL to your browse page in your e-mail to direct
people to look through your online inventory.
It is possible to have too much of a good thing. Having too many catalogs can be overwhelming, not to mention off-putting, to potential buyers. Ideally, we recommend using up to 40 catalogs but the maximum number permissible is 100.
Make the catalog names intuitive. Used terms that the general public know and understand or terms that someone interested in a specific topic would recognize. Avoid classifications that only have meaning to you such as "Books Added January" or "Catalog 1".
Check for accurate spelling or duplicate catalogs. It is not uncommon for us to see several catalogs for the same subject either because of spelling variations or typos. For example, rather than having x-mas, X-mas, X-Mas, X-MAS, Christmas, christmas and CHRISTMAS as catalogs, use one spelling for the catalog you use for all Christmas books.
Keep catalogs useful. While being specific, the topics should be broad enough to include a significant number of books rather than just very few. For example, rather than having the catalogs "Beatrix Potter Tom Kitten", "Beatrix Potter Squirrel Nutkin" and "Beatrix Potter Jemima Puddle-duck", you would use "Beatrix Potter" as the catalog name. Or, if you had only a few Beatrix Potter books, you may wish to simply use a "Children's Books" catalog.
Remove unused catalogs. To keep things "clean", if you have catalogs that don't have any listings associated with them and you haven't recently used them, it's best to remove them. Dont forget, you can add a catalog again later if you find you need it.