=== AskLayer - AI Chat for WordPress ===
Contributors:
Tags: ai chatbot, live chat, customer support, chatbot, website assistant
Requires at least: 5.8
Tested up to: 6.7
Stable tag: 1.0.1
Requires PHP: 7.4
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Add a 24/7 AI chat assistant to your WordPress site in 60 seconds. Auto-answers visitor questions. Zero coding required.

== Description ==

**AskLayer** adds a hosted AI chat assistant to your WordPress site with a native settings screen and no theme edits. Install the plugin, paste your AskLayer Site ID, choose how the widget should look, and your visitors can start asking questions right away.

= Why site owners use AskLayer =

* **Auto-crawl onboarding** - AskLayer can crawl your public website content in the AskLayer service so the assistant can answer questions using your pages.
* **Instant WordPress setup** - install the plugin, add your Site ID, and launch the widget from **Settings > AskLayer** in about a minute.
* **Starter plan available** - AskLayer offers a Starter plan beginning at **$49/month** for teams that want a simple, hosted AI chat assistant.
* **No code required** - configure widget position, color, greeting, branding, and page exclusions from a WordPress-native admin screen.

= What the plugin does =

1. Adds the AskLayer chat widget to public pages after a Site ID has been saved
2. Lets admins control widget position, accent color, welcome message, branding, and page exclusions
3. Keeps the widget off any page or post IDs you exclude
4. Includes a WordPress-native admin screen for setup and future service actions

= Third-Party Services =

This plugin connects to the AskLayer service to provide hosted chat functionality.

* **Widget delivery:** The plugin loads `https://asklayer.nanocorp.app/widget.js` on public pages where the widget is enabled.
* **Chat processing:** Visitor messages submitted through the widget are sent from the browser to `https://asklayer.nanocorp.app/api/widget-chat`.
* **Site knowledge setup:** AskLayer's hosted service may crawl the public site you connect in your AskLayer account so the assistant can answer questions from your content.
* **Data shared with AskLayer:** Your configured Site ID, the visitor chat messages entered into the widget, and the public page content that AskLayer processes when you choose to crawl your site in the AskLayer service. The browser also requests the hosted widget script from AskLayer when the plugin is enabled on a page.

Learn more about AskLayer at `https://asklayer.nanocorp.app`. For the latest AskLayer service terms or privacy details, contact `asklayer@nanocorp.app`.

== Installation ==

1. Download `asklayer.zip`.
2. In WordPress admin, go to **Plugins > Add New Plugin > Upload Plugin**.
3. Upload `asklayer.zip` and activate **AskLayer - AI Chat for WordPress**.
4. Open **Settings > AskLayer**.
5. Paste your AskLayer Site ID from the AskLayer dashboard.
6. Choose your widget position, color, welcome message, branding preference, and any excluded page IDs.
7. Save changes and visit your site to confirm the chat assistant is live.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Do I need an AskLayer account? =

Yes. You need an AskLayer account and a Site ID before the widget can load on your WordPress site.

= How does AskLayer learn my website content? =

AskLayer's hosted service can crawl the public website connected to your AskLayer account. The WordPress plugin itself injects and configures the widget on your site.

= What value should I paste into the Site ID field? =

Use the Site ID from your AskLayer dashboard. If your dashboard labels the same value as an API key, you can paste that value here as well.

= Does the plugin load on every page? =

By default the widget loads on public pages after a Site ID has been saved. You can exclude any page or post by entering its WordPress ID in the exclusion field.

= How much does AskLayer cost? =

AskLayer offers a Starter plan from **$49/month**. Current pricing and plan details are available from the AskLayer website.

= Can I hide the AskLayer branding? =

Yes. Toggle the branding setting on the AskLayer settings page.

== Screenshots ==

1. AskLayer settings page with connection, customization, and targeting controls
2. Color picker and welcome message fields for widget branding
3. Sync My Site card with the primary admin CTA
4. AskLayer widget launcher on the frontend
5. AskLayer chat panel answering visitor questions

== Changelog ==

= 1.0.1 =

* Updated plugin naming and directory metadata for WordPress.org submission
* Refreshed readme copy with onboarding, pricing, installation, and third-party service details

= 1.0.0 =

* Initial release
* WordPress admin settings page for Site ID, position, color, welcome message, branding, and page exclusions
* Frontend widget injection using the live AskLayer hosted script
* Secure AJAX-powered Sync My Site confirmation flow
* Uninstall cleanup for all `asklayer_*` options
