Get Started / Onboarding

Goal

Get MerchantDrafts ready for the first real generation run after install.

First-Run Checklist

1. Install and activate the plugin in WordPress.
2. Open MerchantDrafts -> About / License.
3. Paste your MerchantDrafts license key and save.
4. Confirm the plan label, runtime mode, and validation timestamp look correct.
5. If your plan uses Hosted, stop there for runtime setup. No Gemini key is required.
6. If your plan uses BYOK (Agency BYOK or Agency White), stay in About / License, switch Runtime Mode to BYOK, enter your Gemini API key, and save.
7. Open Settings -> Workspace and create your Business Context.
8. Optionally add a Writing Pattern if you want store-level style guidance.
9. Open any WooCommerce product and enter a product-specific What to Emphasize note if needed.
10. Click Generate Content on that product and review the output.
11. Save the product with Update or Publish once the output looks right.

Scale Up with Bulk Edit

Once your first product generation looks right:

• Open MerchantDrafts → Products Workspace.
• Select multiple products using the checkboxes.
• Use Bulk Edit to generate content for all selected products in one run.
• Review generated output per product, then apply individually or in bulk.

Bulk Edit follows the same Generate → Review → Apply flow as single products, but at catalogue scale.

What Matters Most

• License key first: MerchantDrafts needs a valid entitlement before normal generation can run.
• Business Context next: this is the main brand baseline. Without it, output can still run, but it will feel less on-brand.
• Runtime mode depends on plan: Hosted is the normal default; BYOK is for Agency BYOK / Agency White.
• Generation is not final until you save the product: generated text can appear in the editor immediately, but WordPress still needs Update or Publish.

Recommended Order

• Start with Hosted unless you specifically need BYOK and your plan allows it.
• Set Business Context before testing copy quality.
• Use Writing Pattern only after Business Context exists.
• Treat What to Emphasize as a per-product note, not your brand baseline.

Common First-Run Mistakes

• Trying to use BYOK without a plan that allows it.
• Skipping Business Context, then judging the copy as weak or generic.
• Assuming generated content is permanently saved before clicking Update or Publish.
• Using Prompt Supplement for style guidance instead of for hard rules.

Success Check

Onboarding is complete when:

• your license validates successfully
• the correct runtime mode is active
• Business Context is saved
• a product generation run completes without configuration errors
• you can save the product normally in WordPress