Welcome to SBD Assistant
AI-powered chatbot plugin for WordPress. Engage visitors, capture leads, and provide instant support.
System Requirements
WordPress 6.0+
Latest version recommended
PHP 8.0+
With cURL extension enabled
MySQL 5.7+ / MariaDB 10.3+
For database storage
OpenAI API Key
Required for AI responses
Installation
Download the Plugin
Download the sbd-assistant.zip file from your account dashboard.
Upload to WordPress
Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin and select the zip file.
Activate the Plugin
Click Activate after installation completes.
Navigate to Settings
Find SBD Assistant in the WordPress admin sidebar to begin configuration.
License Activation
Important: A valid license is required for the chatbot to function. Without activation, the widget will not appear on your site.
- 1. Go to SBD Assistant → License tab
- 2. Enter your license key (received via email after purchase)
- 3. Click Activate License
- 4. You should see a green "Active" badge once verified
OpenAI Setup
Getting Your API Key
- 1. Go to platform.openai.com/api-keys
- 2. Sign in or create an OpenAI account
- 3. Click "Create new secret key"
- 4. Copy the key (starts with
sk-) - 5. Paste it in SBD Assistant → Settings → OpenAI API Key
Recommended Settings
| Setting | Recommended | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Model | gpt-4o-mini |
Best balance of speed and quality |
| Max Tokens | 500 |
Controls response length |
| Temperature | 0.7 |
Balance between creative and focused |
Tip: Click "Test Connection" to verify your API key is working before saving.
Knowledge Base
The chatbot answers questions based on your custom knowledge base. Upload a JSON file with your business information.
JSON Structure
{
"unique_id_01": {
"name": "Your Company Name",
"description": "What your company does",
"contact": {
"email": "support@example.com",
"phone": "+1 234 567 8900"
}
},
"sections": [
{
"title": "Products",
"content": "Description of your products...",
"keywords": ["product", "buy", "price"]
},
{
"title": "Services",
"content": "Description of your services...",
"keywords": ["service", "help", "support"]
}
],
"faq": [
{
"question": "What are your business hours?",
"answer": "We are open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm."
}
]
}Tips for Better Responses
- • Use relevant keywords for each section
- • Include common questions in the FAQ section
- • Keep content clear and concise
- • Update regularly with new information
Appearance Settings
Primary Color
Choose a color that matches your brand. This applies to the chat button, header, and send button.
Widget Position
Place the chat widget in the bottom-right or bottom-left corner of your site.
Theme Mode
Choose between Light, Dark, or Auto (follows user's system preference).
Custom Logo
Upload a custom logo to display in the chat header instead of the default icon.
Lead Capture
Capture visitor information before or during the chat conversation.
| Mode | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Light | Shows form after first message. User can dismiss and continue chatting. |
| Strict | Requires information before chatting. User must fill form to continue. |
Email Notifications: Enable "Send email notification" to receive an email whenever a new lead is captured.
Dashboard
The dashboard provides an overview of your chatbot's performance:
- Total chats and messages
- Leads captured
- Activity chart (30-day overview)
- Recent chat sessions
- Knowledge base statistics
Chat History
View and manage all chat conversations:
- Search chats by visitor name or email
- Filter by status (Active/Ended)
- View full conversation transcript
- Delete old conversations
Leads Management
Manage captured leads effectively:
- View lead details (name, email, phone)
- Update status (New, Contacted, Converted, Archived)
- Add notes to leads
- Export leads to CSV
Common Issues
Widget not appearing
Solutions:
- Verify license is activated
- Check OpenAI API key is valid
- Ensure knowledge base is uploaded
- Clear website cache
Chatbot gives fallback responses
Solutions:
- Add more relevant keywords to knowledge base
- Include common questions in FAQ section
- Check OpenAI API key has sufficient credits
CSS conflicts with theme (e.g., Elementor)
Solution: The plugin uses prefixed CSS classes. If you notice styling issues (pink outlines, wrong colors), check your theme's reset.css. Contact support with details.
OpenAI API errors
Solutions:
- Verify API key is correct
- Check OpenAI account has billing enabled
- Ensure you haven't exceeded rate limits
- Try a different model (gpt-4o-mini is recommended)
Knowledge base upload fails
Solutions:
- Ensure file is valid JSON format
- Check file size is under 2MB
- Validate JSON at MZift Json Validator Free
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own OpenAI account?
How much does OpenAI API cost?
Can I customize the chatbot's personality?
Is my data secure?
Can I use this on multiple sites?
Need Help?
Our support team is here to help you get the most out of SBD Assistant.