Basics

Outcome: After this step, you'll have your AI Tool's name, pitch, target context, category, price, and cover image set.

The Basics step is where you define the core details of your AI Tool: name, description, target platform, pricing, and cover image.

This information helps buyers understand what your AI Tool does and determines how it appears in the marketplace.

Overview

Every AI Tool needs fundamental information before you can configure its inputs and outputs. This step establishes your AI Tool's identity and market positioning.

Prerequisites

• SellerShorts account and seller profile
• Clear problem statement and value proposition
• Rough idea of your target context (e.g., marketplaces, storefronts, ads)

Required fields

AI Tool Name

• Length: 2-60 characters
• Purpose: The title buyers see in search results and your AI Tool listing
• Tips: Be specific and action-oriented. "SEO Audit Agent" is better than "Website Analyzer"

Short Pitch

• Length: 10-120 characters
• Purpose: Brief description that appears under the title in listings
• Tips: Focus on the benefit or outcome. "Get detailed SEO recommendations to improve your rankings"

Platform or Marketplace

Choose where buyers will use the results (context only; no account connections):

• Major marketplaces – Product research and listing content (manual upload)
• Ad platforms – Copy and creative briefs (manual posting)
• Storefronts/CMS – SEO checks and content recommendations (manual implementation)
• Other – General selling contexts

Category

Select the category that best describes your AI Tool's function:

• SEO – Search optimization and analysis
• Listing Optimization – Product page improvements
• Product Research – Market analysis and product discovery
• Marketing – Content creation and campaigns
• Advertising – Ad creation and optimization
• Lead Generation – Customer acquisition agents
• Analytics – Data analysis and reporting
• Auditing – Assessment and diagnostic agents

Price

• Range: Set your price in USD
• Earnings preview: Shows your take after the platform fee
• Pricing guidance: Consider complexity, value delivered, and time to process
• Examples: Simple analysis ($5-15), complex reports ($25-50), comprehensive audits ($50-100+)

Runs Allowed per Purchase

• Purpose: Configure how many times a buyer can run your AI Tool per purchase
• Default: 1 (single use - buyer gets one run per purchase)
• Range: Minimum 1, no maximum limit
• Availability: Only available for paid AI Tools (automatically disabled for free AI Tools)
• When to use multiple runs:
  • Set 2-3 runs for AI Tools that buyers might want to test with different inputs
  • Set 5+ runs for AI Tools that buyers use frequently or need multiple iterations
  • Keep at 1 for one-time analysis or reports
• Examples:
  • 1 run = Single use (default) - buyer purchases, runs once, done
  • 3 runs = Buyer can run the AI Tool 3 times with different inputs before needing to purchase again
  • 5 runs = Ideal for iterative workflows where buyers refine their inputs
• Note: Each run creates a separate order, but all runs from the same purchase share the same purchase ID. Buyers see their remaining runs displayed on the AI Tool page.

Free Trial Runs (Optional)

• Purpose: Allow buyers to try your AI Tool for free before purchasing
• Default: 0 (no free trial - buyers must purchase to use)
• Range: Minimum 0, no maximum limit
• Availability: Only available for paid AI Tools (automatically disabled for free AI Tools)
• How it works:
  • Buyers can run your AI Tool for free up to the number of trial runs you set
  • Once trial runs are exhausted, buyers must purchase to continue using your AI Tool
  • Each buyer gets their own trial runs (trials are per user, per AI Tool)
  • Trial runs are tracked separately from purchased runs
• When to offer free trials:
  • Great for attracting new buyers who want to test before purchasing
  • Ideal for AI Tools where buyers need to see results to understand value
  • Helps build trust and reduce purchase hesitation
  • Consider offering 1-2 trial runs for most AI Tools
• Note: Free trial runs do not generate payouts. You only earn from paid purchases and subscriptions.

Monthly Subscription (Optional)

• Purpose: Offer buyers a recurring monthly subscription option for ongoing access
• Default: Disabled (buyers can only make one-time purchases)
• Availability: Only available for paid AI Tools (automatically disabled for free AI Tools)
• How it works:
  • Buyers can choose between one-time purchase or monthly subscription
  • Subscriptions renew automatically each month
  • Buyers can cancel their subscription anytime
  • Each subscription month gives buyers a set number of runs (configured by you)
  • Runs reset each month when subscription renews
• Configuration:
  • Monthly Subscription Price: Set the monthly subscription price (can be different from one-time price)
  • Subscription Runs Allowed: Number of runs buyers get per month (minimum 1)
• When to offer subscriptions:
  • Ideal for AI Tools that buyers use regularly or repeatedly
  • Great for ongoing automation needs (e.g., weekly reports, monthly audits)
  • Can provide recurring revenue and predictable income
  • Consider pricing subscriptions lower than equivalent one-time purchases for frequent use
• Examples:
  • One-time: $50 for 5 runs | Subscription: $30/month for 3 runs per month
  • One-time: $25 for 1 run | Subscription: $20/month for 1 run per month
• Note: You keep the majority of subscription revenue, same as one-time purchases. Subscriptions are processed automatically via Stripe.

Cover Image

• Format: JPG or PNG only
• Recommended size: 1600×450 pixels (maintains quality at all display sizes)
• Maximum file size: 5MB
• Upload method: Drag-and-drop or click to browse
• Preview: See how your image looks before proceeding

Validation messages you might see

• "Name is required" – Enter an AI Tool name between 2-60 characters
• "Pitch is too short" – Your pitch needs at least 10 characters
• "Please select a platform" – Choose which platform your AI Tool targets
• "Please select a category" – Pick the category that best describes your AI Tool
• "Price must be greater than $0" – Set a price for your AI Tool
• "Runs allowed must be at least 1" – Set the number of runs to 1 or higher (only applies to paid AI Tools)
• "Free trial runs must be 0 or greater" – Set free trial runs to 0 or higher (only applies to paid AI Tools)
• "Subscription price must be greater than $0" – Set a monthly subscription price if subscription is enabled
• "Subscription runs allowed must be at least 1" – Set subscription runs to 1 or higher if subscription is enabled
• "Cover image is required" – Upload a JPG or PNG cover image
• "File too large" – Reduce image size to under 5MB
• "Invalid file type" – Use JPG or PNG format only

Tips for success

• Research existing AI Tools – See what names and pitches work well
• Focus on outcomes – Describe what buyers will get, not how it works
• Use professional images – Clean, branded visuals perform better
• Price competitively – Check similar AI Tools to understand market rates
• Be specific about contexts – "For Amazon sellers" is clearer than broad terms
• Test your image – Make sure it looks good at different sizes

What's next?

After completing the Basics step, you'll move to Inputs where you define what information buyers need to provide to run your AI Tool.