#paid-media
Thread
DPA vs Catalog Ads! Can someone please explain the difference for me? I’m just getting started on these and they seem like the most complicated ad type in Meta. Also, how do I customise the images in the catalog so they’re not just boring product-on-white-background?
I only have 5 products in my catalog so don’t want a tool like Marpipe, I just want to do it myself!
Here’s how I think about it but of course with any ad you can use them in unique ways.
DPAs are personalized ads that show people products based on their behavior, like what they viewed or added to their cart—great for retargeting. Catalog Ads are broader and use the same catalog but aren’t tied to user behavior. They’re good for promoting collections or general products. DPAs = targeted, Catalog Ads = flexible.
Making catalog images less boring: Use Meta’s Catalog Manager to add overlays like discounts, free shipping badges, or logos. Since you only have 5 products you can just edit the images yourself in Canva or Photoshop to add backgrounds, badges, or branding. A great top is to replace plain product shots with lifestyle photos that show the products in use. Also, Try videos or carousel ads instead of static images, mixing lifestyle shots and product benefits.
Hope that helps!
Thanks Curtis! So do I make a new collection with the new images or just edit the current collection? I can’t seem to find where I upload the new assets …
Good question! You don’t need to create a new collection unless you’re organizing something specific like a seasonal campaign. If you just want to update the images for your current catalog, go to Commerce Manager, open your catalog, and find the product listings. From there, you can edit each product individually and upload your new images. If you’re using overlays, you can do that in the Creative Tools section without replacing the original assets. Let me know if you’re still stuck!
@Ollie Aplin you can do a 30 day free trial with Confect to make your catalogues much better.
They are super helpful and will jump on a call with you as well.
If you don't want to use a tool, you can ad a frame on the ad level that will overlay on the images