SD Lite – Getting Started

Getting Started with SmartDescribe Pro

Introduction

SmartDescribe Pro by Cazgrae helps WooCommerce store owners improve product image alt text using artificial intelligence.

Image alt text provides a textual description of an image. It helps people using screen readers understand visual content and gives search engines additional information about images on your website.

SmartDescribe brings this process into your WordPress dashboard, allowing you to review your WooCommerce products, optimise image alt text individually or process selected products together.

This guide walks you through the initial setup and your first optimisation.

Step 1: Open SmartDescribe

After installing and activating SmartDescribe Pro:

  1. Sign in to your WordPress administration dashboard.
  2. Find SmartDescribe in the left-hand administration menu.
  3. Select Products.

The Products screen displays information about your WooCommerce products, including:

  • Product name.
  • Product category.
  • Existing image alt text, where available.
  • Optimisation status.
  • An action button to optimise an individual product.

The product list is your starting point for managing image alt text.

Step 2: Configure Your AI Provider

Before optimising products, configure an AI provider.

  1. Navigate to SmartDescribe → Settings.
  2. Find the AI Provider Configuration section.
  3. Select your default AI provider, where this option is available.
  4. Enter the relevant API key.
  5. Save your settings.
  6. Use the provider’s Test button to check the connection.

SmartDescribe supports Google Gemini. The Pro package also includes support for OpenAI GPT and Anthropic Claude, subject to the applicable version and licence.

For API credentials, use the relevant provider’s official account and documentation.

  • Google Gemini: use your Google AI developer account.
  • OpenAI: use the official OpenAI Platform.
  • Anthropic: use the official Anthropic Console.

Keep API keys private. Never publish them on your website or include them in public support requests.

Important: Save your settings before testing the connection. A successful test helps confirm that the selected provider can be reached.

Step 3: Review Your Optimisation Settings

Under SmartDescribe → Settings, review the available optimisation options.

Writing Tone

Choose the writing tone that best suits your product catalogue.

The supplied version includes a writing-tone setting. Select an appropriate tone for your business and review the generated alt text to ensure it remains natural and descriptive.

SEO Optimisation

SmartDescribe includes an option to incorporate SEO considerations into generated alt text.

Use this setting thoughtfully. Alt text should describe the image accurately rather than simply repeat keywords.

Content Limits

The settings include character and word limits.

These options help control the length of generated alt text. The appropriate length depends on the image and the information a customer needs to understand it.

Avoid adding unnecessary words merely to reach a limit.

SEO Plugin Integration

The Pro version includes integration options for supported SEO plugins, including Yoast SEO and Rank Math.

When a supported plugin is detected, SmartDescribe can offer the option to use its focus keywords as part of the AI prompt.

Only use keywords that genuinely relate to the product and image.

After reviewing the settings, select Save Settings.

Step 4: Choose a Product

Return to SmartDescribe → Products.

Choose a product that has a featured image and that you can safely use for testing.

Review its current alt text in the product list.

If no alt text exists, the preview indicates that no alt text is available. This provides a useful starting point for testing the optimiser.

Note: The supplied version’s individual optimisation workflow uses the WooCommerce product’s featured image. Do not assume that optimising a product automatically updates every image in its gallery.

Step 5: Optimise Your First Product

To optimise an individual product:

  1. Find the product in the SmartDescribe Products list.
  2. Locate its Optimise button.
  3. Select Optimise.
  4. Wait for the operation to complete.
  5. Review the result and any status message displayed.

SmartDescribe uses the configured AI provider to generate improved alt text for the product’s featured image.

If the operation fails, check the displayed error message. Confirm that your API key is configured correctly and that the selected provider connection is working.

Step 6: Review the Result

Before moving on to additional products, make sure the generated alt text accurately describes the image.

Check that it:

  • Describes what is actually visible.
  • Identifies the relevant product or important visual details.
  • Uses natural, readable wording.
  • Avoids unsupported claims.
  • Does not repeat keywords unnecessarily.

For example, a photograph of a handmade purple garden mushroom ornament might use alt text such as:

Handmade purple mushroom garden ornament with a yellow-spotted cap.

This is an illustrative example. The correct description must reflect the actual image.

Remember that alt text is primarily intended to communicate the image’s relevant content. It should not be treated as a place to insert a list of SEO keywords.

Step 7: Optimise Multiple Products

Once you are comfortable with the individual workflow, you can use the bulk controls on the Products screen.

  1. Navigate to SmartDescribe → Products.
  2. Select the checkboxes beside the products you want to process.
  3. Use Select All if you want to select all products displayed on the current screen.
  4. Use Deselect All to clear your selection.
  5. Select Optimise Selected to begin processing the selected products.
  6. Monitor the progress and status messages.

For your first bulk test, select a small group of products.

Review the resulting alt text before processing a larger group. This allows you to confirm that the chosen settings suit your products.

The number of products available in the list and the features available for bulk processing depend on your installed version and licence.

Step 8: Check Your Website

After optimising a product:

  1. Open the product in WooCommerce.
  2. Check its featured image and associated alt text.
  3. Visit the public product page.
  4. Confirm that the product still displays correctly.

Alt text is stored with the image in WordPress. It may not appear as visible text on the product page, but it can be exposed to assistive technology and included in the page’s image markup.

If you do not see the expected change, verify that the optimisation completed successfully and inspect the image’s alt text in WordPress.

Step 9: Explore the Pro Features

SmartDescribe Pro includes additional functionality beyond individual image optimisation.

Depending on your active version and licence, this can include:

  • Multiple AI providers: Support for Google Gemini, OpenAI GPT and Anthropic Claude.
  • Optimisation history and undo: Review previous changes and restore earlier alt text where supported.
  • Category templates: Configure category-specific optimisation guidance.
  • Scheduled optimisation: Configure automated optimisation according to the available scheduling options.
  • Email notifications: Receive notifications for supported batch operations.
  • Dashboard widgets: Access optimisation information through the WordPress dashboard.

Explore these features after confirming that the basic optimisation workflow works correctly.

For scheduled processing, review the target products, frequency and notification settings carefully before enabling automation.

Troubleshooting

The Optimise button is disabled

Check whether an AI provider has been configured. SmartDescribe disables optimisation controls when its required Gemini API configuration is missing in the supplied implementation.

Visit SmartDescribe → Settings, configure the required credentials and test the connection.

The API connection test fails

Check that the API key is correct, the relevant provider is selected and your account can access the required service.

Review any error message returned by the provider. If the issue continues, consult the provider’s documentation and your hosting provider’s server logs.

A product cannot be optimised

Check that the product exists and has a featured image. The supplied implementation cannot optimise a product that has no featured image.

The generated alt text is unsuitable

Review the result and correct it if necessary. Check the product image and your optimisation settings before processing more products.

The supplied individual optimisation workflow targets the product’s featured image. Do not assume that gallery images are also updated.

I cannot access Pro features

Confirm that the Pro package is installed and that the appropriate licence is active. Some features are restricted by the plugin’s licensing system.

Getting the Best Results

For the best results:

  • Start with a small number of products.
  • Make sure product names and categories are accurate.
  • Review the generated text before expanding your workflow.
  • Use SEO keywords only when they are genuinely relevant.
  • Keep API credentials secure.
  • Check the results after bulk or scheduled operations.

SmartDescribe is designed to reduce repetitive alt text work while helping you maintain control over the quality of your product information.

Next Step

Once you have successfully optimised your first product, explore the available settings and Pro features to develop a workflow that suits your WooCommerce catalogue.