What are Raw Catalog Ads?
Raw catalog ads are default product ads pulled from your feed without custom templates or overlays. They’re the baseline for catalog performance.
Understanding Raw Catalog Ads
Raw catalog ads are quick to launch and often outperform static ads because they pull live product details directly from your feed. However, they usually lack brand polish and on‑ad clarity like price and ratings. Without overlays, shoppers may miss key information that improves intent. Raw units can still be useful as a baseline to judge the value of templates. Treat them as a starting point, not the end state.
Context matters. In crowded feeds, branded templates with price, review stars, and sale flags typically win more qualified clicks than raw images. Raw ads can help validate feed health before templating. If raw performance is strong, templates usually add lift rather than hurt. Keep image quality high and subjects large so products remain readable at small sizes.
Why Raw Catalog Ads matter
Raw catalog ads matter because they let you test catalog viability fast, without design work. They create a performance baseline that clarifies what templates should improve. They also reveal feed issues (titles, images, prices) that need fixing before creative can shine.
- Speed: Easy to test catalog performance quickly.
- Benchmark: Establish a baseline before adding templates.
How Raw Catalog Ads work
Raw catalog ads work by rendering product images and basic details directly from your feed with minimal styling. Platforms ingest your product data and display items that meet eligibility rules. Because overlays are limited, accuracy of titles, images, and prices becomes critical. Frequent feed refreshes keep availability and pricing aligned with the site. Once baseline is established, add templates to inject clarity (price, ratings, sale) and branding. Measure lift in CTR, AOV, and POAS when transitioning from raw to templated.
