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Build and publish your first catalogue
In short
Follow along from an empty account to a live catalogue you can send to someone.
Result
A published catalogue at your own link, with a QR code if you want one.
Before you start
- An email address. No card is needed for the free plan.
Before you begin
This takes about twenty minutes. Each part below shows the screen you will be on, with the steps underneath it. Hover a step number to light up the part of the screen it talks about.
Have your list to hand: the names, the prices and a few photos. You can change all of it later, so a rough first version beats waiting until everything is perfect.
Your ticks are saved
The checklist at the end of this page is kept in this browser, and your progress shows in the column on the right. You can stop part way and come back.
Part 1: Create your account
Create your account
Build your first catalogue in minutes.
Full name
Jane DoePassword
At least 8 charactersUse at least 8 characters.
By creating your account you agree to our Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy and Refund Policy.
Already have an account? Sign in
- Point 1: 1The Sign in and Create account switch. The cell you are on is plain white with a soft shadow, never amber.
- Point 2: 2Sign up with Google instead. The rule under it separates Google from the email form.
- Point 3: 3Creating an account asks for a full name as well as an email. Signing in does not.
- Point 4: 4The password field has an eye that shows what you typed, and four bars that stay grey until you start typing.
- Point 5: 5The captcha has to pass before the amber Create account button will do anything.
- Point 6: 6Pressing the button is how you accept the three documents. The line under the card goes back to signing in.
- Step 1: 1
Open the sign-in page and choose Create account
The Start free button in the navbar opens this tab for you.
- Step 2: 2
Fill in your name, email and a password
At least 8 characters, with a capital, a lowercase letter and a number. The strength meter is only a hint, so a password it calls Fair can still be refused if it has no digit.
- Step 3: 3
Select Create account
Pressing this button is how you accept the terms, the privacy policy and the refund policy. There is no separate tick box.
The card is replaced by a Check your inbox message.
Open the confirmation link in your inbox
The link lasts 24 hours. On the free plan Quick AI will not work until you have opened it.
You land on your dashboard.
You will be asked one question
The first time the dashboard opens, Quicktalog asks how you heard about it. The question cannot be closed, but Skip counts as an answer, so it is never asked again.
Part 2: Create the catalogue
Create a Catalog
Please enter the following information to get started
Catalogue Name*
Great! This name is available.
Language
EnglishCurrency
EuroBusiness Type
Your URL will be
https://www.quicktalog.app/catalogues/brightside-cafe-menu- Point 1: 1The title and the line under it, which say what the dialog is for
- Point 2: 2Closes the dialog without creating anything
- Point 3: 3The name, which is required and is checked while you type
- Point 4: 4Your line of business, the one answer that starts empty
- Point 5: 5A preview of the public address this catalogue will get
- Point 6: 6Creates the catalogue. It stays switched off until all four answers are filled
Select the round + button at the bottom right of the dashboard
- Step 2: 2
Type a name
Letters, numbers and spaces, up to 60 characters. Watch the address preview underneath as you type.
A green line reads "Great! This name is available."
- Step 3: 3
Choose the language and the currency
They start at English and Euro. Set the language to the one your menu is written in, because Quick AI uses it to read photos later.
- Step 4: 4
Choose your business type
Nothing is pre-filled here, so the button stays switched off until you pick one.
- Step 5: 5
Select Create Catalog
The builder opens with the template picker already showing.
The name decides your web address, for good
Your address is built from this name and can never be changed afterwards. The only way to a different one is to duplicate the catalogue and delete the original. Get it right before you print anything.
Part 3: Pick a starting layout
Choose a Template
Start with a pre-made layout or build from scratch
right away2 categories6 items
everyone4 categories15 items
want itBlank Catalogue
- Point 1: 1The title and the line under it, both lined up 24px in from the left edge.
- Point 2: 2The only way to close the dialog. It sits a little higher than the title.
- Point 3: 3Quick Start is already chosen for you: an amber edge and a soft amber glow. There is no tick and no radio dot.
- Point 4: 4On a wide screen the first two cards put their name above the picture, not under it.
- Point 5: 5Start from Scratch has a dashed edge, no name at the top, and names itself under the plus.
- Point 6: 6The amber button, 56px tall, on the right. No bar and no line above it.
- Step 1: 1
Leave Quick Start selected
Two sections with three example items each, which you are about to replace. It is already chosen for you.
- Step 2: 2
Select Select template
Your catalogue fills with example content you can edit.
Avoid Standard Catalog on the free plan
Its five sections and fifteen items are exactly what Starter allows, so you would not be able to add anything else without deleting something first. The card says four categories; there are five.
Part 4: Make it yours
Sourdough toast
Thick cut sourdough, salted butter and a spoon of seasonal jam.
4.50 €
Baked eggs
Two eggs baked in tomato with feta, chilli oil and warm bread.
7 €
Granola bowl
House granola, thick yoghurt, berries and local honey.
5.50 €
- Point 1: 1Editor opens the 440px editing panel beside the catalogue
- Point 2: 2The heading is edited in place, and every dashed outline marks an editable area
- Point 3: 3Click the section name to rename it. The round button holds layout, move and delete
- Point 4: 4Publish is the only filled tile. Save, Templates, Preview and QR code sit above it
- Point 5: 5Adds another item to this section. These cards use the Side Image layout
- Point 6: 6Quick AI takes any change in words and edits the draft you are looking at
Select the heading at the top and type your business name
Required before you can publish. Up to 100 characters. A small toolbar gives you bold, italic and four sizes.
- Step 2: 2
Rename the first section
Open its actions menu, choose Edit section, and name it after a real group such as Breakfast.
- Step 3: 3
Add any sections you still need
The dashed tile at the bottom adds one. On the free plan you get five in total, and a text block or a divider counts as one.
- Step 4: 4
Try a theme
Open Editor, then the Appearance tab. All seven themes are on every plan, and each tile is drawn in its own colours.
- Step 5: 5
Select Save
Nothing saves by itself. Do this every few minutes.
A toast reads "Catalogue saved successfully".
Part 5: Put in your own items
Add item
In Desserts
Name*
Salted caramel brownieDescription
e.g. Pancakes with Nutella, cherries, and ice creamPrice (USD)
noneImage
UploadURL- Point 1: 1The title tells you which section the new item lands in.
- Point 2: 2Name is the only required field. The red star marks it.
- Point 3: 3Type the price and pick a unit, such as kg or portion.
- Point 4: 4Tick Free to hide the price, or On sale to add a sale price.
- Point 5: 5Upload a picture from your device, or paste a web address.
- Point 6: 6"Add item & add another" saves and keeps the dialog open.
Select Edit item on one of the examples
Its three dot menu, then Edit item. The same dialog is used for adding and editing.
- Step 2: 2
Replace the name
The only thing you must fill in.
- Step 3: 3
Set the price
Digits and up to two decimals, with a full stop. The currency comes from the catalogue, so do not type it.
- Step 4: 4
Add a picture
Drop a file on Upload, or paste a web address under URL. A photo straight off a phone is fine, Quicktalog shrinks it.
- Step 5: 5
Select Add item, or Add item & add another
The second one keeps the dialog open, which is much quicker for a long list. Delete any examples you do not need, then save.
The item appears in the section.
A blank price reads as Free
Leaving the price empty, or typing 0, shows your customers the word Free. If you would rather not show prices, put them in the description instead.
Part 6: Publish and share
Congratulations!
Your Catalogue is now live and ready to share with your customers.
Direct link
Embed on your website
A ready-made HTML file, full-screen.
- Point 1: 1The QR code for your new catalogue, drawn in the default ink-on-white design.
- Point 2: 2Save the code as a PNG, or open the QR editor to restyle it.
- Point 3: 3Confirmation that the catalogue is published and publicly live.
- Point 4: 4The public web address, ready to copy and share.
- Point 5: 5Download a ready-made HTML file to embed the catalogue in your own site.
- Point 6: 6Go back to the dashboard, or open the live catalogue in a new tab.
Check it first with Preview
Preview in the rail saves your draft and opens it at a private address only you can open. Look at it on your phone, which is where most of your customers will be.
Select Publish
There is no confirmation step. It goes live the moment you select it.
This dialog opens and your catalogue is live.
- Step 3: 3
Copy your link
Send it to yourself and open it on a device that is not signed in, to see exactly what a customer sees.
- Step 4: 4
Make a QR code if you want one
For your own design, go to the catalogue's actions menu on the dashboard and choose QR Code. Scan it yourself before printing.
Publishing is real
Your catalogue is public from this moment, and your own visits count in your numbers and towards your traffic allowance. If you are only practising, stop at Preview and leave it as a draft.
Your checklist
If something is not working
- Publish greyed out usually means no heading. The + Add Heading placeholder does not count.
- Cannot add another section or item: you are at your plan's limit. Starter allows 5 sections and 15 items.
- Your changes not showing for customers: you saved but did not publish.
- Catalogue Not Found on your own link: the catalogue is still a draft, or it has been switched off.