Skip to main content

Quick start guide

Get your ShopGuide chat live in a few minutes. This guide covers the essential steps to have customers chatting with your AI assistant today.

Before You Start​

Make sure you have:

  • ShopGuide installed in your Shopify store
  • Admin access to your Shopify theme editor

Step 1: Access Your Theme Editor​

  1. From your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes
  2. Find your active theme and click Customize
  3. Navigate to a page where you want the chat (homepage recommended)

Step 2: Add the ShopGuide Chat Section​

  1. In the theme editor, click Add section
  2. Search for "ShopGuide Chat"
  3. Add it to the page and position it where you want the chat to appear

Step 3: Basic Configuration​

The ShopGuide Chat section has a few settings you can adjust directly in the theme editor:

  1. Chat Heading: Defaults to "ShopGuide" — change it to your store name or something like "Ask [Store Name]"
  2. Primary Color: Used for user messages and the widget border
  3. Product Discussed: On a product page, this auto-fills so the AI has the right product context
  4. Custom Launch Message: Optionally replace the AI-generated opening message with your own text and up to six quick-reply buttons

For colors, container sizing, shadows, and other visual details that apply across your whole store, use the Appearance page in the ShopGuide admin app instead of the theme editor — see Chat appearance.

Step 4: Preview & Test​

  1. Click Preview in the theme editor
  2. Look for your chat widget on the page
  3. Click the chat bubble to test functionality
  4. Send a test message to verify it's working — try a product question to see Qdrant-backed search results

Step 5: Go Live​

  1. If everything looks good, click Save in the theme editor
  2. Your chat is now live on your store

Immediate Next Steps​

Now that your chat is live:

Test with Real Scenarios​

  • Ask about product recommendations
  • Ask a question that requires looking something up (shipping, materials, sizing)
  • Try order-tracking and support questions

Monitor Performance​

  • Check the Chats section in your ShopGuide dashboard for transcripts
  • Review the Dashboard for session and conversion metrics
  • Watch the knowledge gaps list for questions the AI couldn't fully answer

Common Quick Start Issues​

Chat not appearing?

  • Ensure you saved the theme changes
  • Verify the section is added and positioned on a visible page

Chat not responding?

  • Confirm your ShopGuide subscription is active and you haven't exceeded your plan's visitor limit
  • Check your internet connection

Styling looks off?

  • Adjust the primary color and heading in the section settings
  • For deeper visual customization, use the Appearance page

What's Next?​

Your basic chat is working! Now explore:

Your AI shopping assistant is now helping customers on your store.