Getting Started
Everything you need to know as you begin! Installation, Showit Overview, Site Settings, Launch Steps and Checklist
5. You can now select that design immediately by hitting the button “Start With This Design”.
6.. If you already have an account and are logged in, go to your username profile on the bottom left and select ‘ADD DESIGN TO LIBRARY’ and follow the steps above.
7. Once you choose “ADD NOW” you can access the new design under “CREATE NEW SITE” and then on the top right tab labeled “YOUR DESIGNS” - Select it and hit “START WITH THIS DESIGN”
4. Select the ‘ADD DESIGN TO LIBRARY’ button and copy the SHARE KEY on this page and paste into the box. Hit ‘ENTER’ and then ‘ADD NOW’ to install.
1. With Showit you do need to have the Chrome Browser installed on your computer. So make sure you do that first. GET IT HERE.
2. Sign-up For Showit (HERE) and log into your account. If you plan to have a blog or transfer blog posts you need the 2nd or 3rd option. View more about the Tier options HERE
3. If you are NEW to Showit: On the top right choose the ‘YOUR DESIGNS’ tab. -- GO TO #6 if you already have a Showit account.
installing your template
01
Setting up your Showit account, adding your new template or updating a new design/canvas into your existing design.
Installation
8. If you received and 'UPDATE' email you have the option to add the new pages/canvas that I designed into your current website. Follow the same steps as above by simply adding it to your library (don't select 'create new site' just add to library).
9. Once added, go back to your "SITE" tab on the left and under "PAGES" choose the (+) sign to 'select new' page. From there you'll find your newly added pages under the tab "MY LIBRARY". Find the page, and in the bottom right hit 'ADD'
join the Fb group
showit help docs
all Videos HERE
understanding
showit part 2
(right side)
02
understanding
showit part 1 (left side)
02
Showit has various videos and helpful documents you can reference when setting up your site and understanding everything within. I’ve also made a video going through the various settings within showit
Showit Overview
Showit Help Docs
Below are direct links to various tutorials that can help you understand how to use the elements and canvases within Showit. If you ever get stuck make sure to view the many docs!
understanding + using galleries
3 types of page canvas types
using hidden canvases
creating galleries w/canvas views
adjusting the canvas & page length
locking elements to the edges
Understanding 'stacking order'
how to use ‘canvas’ views
how blogging works with showit
understanding site canvases
click linking objects & elements
creating a ‘sticky’ menu and canvas
( 3 ) Here is where you can add your ‘favicon’ which is a small square image that displays on the browser tab.
( 4 ) The Vanity URL Slug: This is the url assigned to your website before being connected to a domain (ie: testing the site/etc).
( 2 ) Here is where you will click edit to select your custom domain*. See below on setting up your domain (or reference ‘launching your site’)
A :: YOUR SITE INFO
( 1 ) Your site name, this setting will change the site name that appears in the top left corner of your Showit site on the back end, this is not where you would set your site title for SEO purposes.
Editing your website information (domain, blog, title, etc) Can be found under the ‘SITE’ tab on the top left of your template
Site Settings
B :: YOUR BLOG
If connecting or creating a blog . This is where you would select your blog domain which ensures Showit & Wordpress have the necessary connection to communicate. If you are having blog trouble and this setting is correct, check out these blog troubleshooting tips.
C :: THIRD PARTY
Here you can connect to third party apps through Facebook or paste in your Google Analytics UA Code to track visitor data on your website.
configure your domain
the blog overview
Each template has their unique color palette and font settings. Take a peek below at each one on how best to use the settings!
Design Settings
palma template
willow template
ginger template
palma template
olive template
palma template
palma template
jardin template
palma template
riviere template
https and ssl certification
creating a showit + site
f you purchased the 2nd or 3rd showit package you receive a Worpdress Blog. You can see the BLOG OVERVIEW HERE to get an idea of the options.
Take a peek below at the 3 additional resources you may want to educate yourself on when setting up your site. P.S. This site your on is a +SITE, you'll notice it's on my shopsaffronavenue.com domain, but has a "help." before the domain.
including www to your domain
wordpress blog
setting 301 url redirects
www / https / + sites
understanding wordpress
advanced blog hosting info
NOTE: If migrating your site, make sure that your domain and email is ready prior to 'migrating' to Showit. Make sure you have them in your name and separated from your current hosting company.
This is where your emails are being stored. Often they are bought with your hosting company OR through your domain registrar (godaddy, etc). In my case when transferring to Showit my emails and site was hosted with hostgator and my domain is with godaddy, so I decided to setup my emails through Gsuite, where they connected it to my godaddy domain. (That means I started a brand new email account).
This is your www.DOMAINNAME.com that links to your Showit Hosted Site. You will need to setup and provide showit with your separate domain login and password in order for them to link it up and go live. If you have the domain linked to your current site hosting company you can either move the domain to another company (like below) or ask to see if you can cancel your hosting server but keep your domain.
NOTE: If you currently have a website that is hosted elsewhere (godaddy, squarespace, bluehost, hostgator, site5, etc) you will no longer need to host your site on their servers as it will now be hosted with Showit and the Amazon Servers. BUT, you will need to keep your own domain your email ON SEPARATE servers. Showit only hosts your site.
Setting Up Your Site
search google domains
search hover domains
domains
gsuite business email
hover hosted email
how blogs work with showit
Once you ‘request domain setup’ the transfer process will start and you should be prepared to use your new site and not your old. I have a coming soon page (ON NEXT PAGE)and a video on using this if you are not quite ready to go live.
Just a Note
Once you request blog migration (even if you haven’t connected your domain), any blogs or pages published after your request is sent, will not be reflected on your new blog. The site will only go live once you ‘Request Domain Setup’- AKA: wait to publish new posts/pages once you are ready to go live.
see FAQs and troubleshooting
1. PRE-LAUNCH CHECK: Follow steps above to make sure you have everything in order BEFORE moving onto step 2.
2. SUBMIT DOMAIN SETUP: within your account under 'site settings' (see instructions below)
3. FINALIZE YOUR SITE: Finish your content/design and enable your COMING SOON page before you submit transfer.
4. IF MIGRATING/MOVING YOUR CURRENT SITE: Double check to make sure your email and domain are separate from your old hosting. JUMP HERE FOR SQUARESPACE
5. SUBMIT BLOG REQUEST: Once you submit this request, you need to be ready to go live, because once the finish the transfer your site will be live (hence the coming soon page ;) - This can take up to 5-7 Days depending on the amount of blog posts you have.
6. If you do not have a blog, just select your domain in your site settings and hit PUBLISH.
+ Your custom domain username and password (aka: hover, godaddy, 1and1, Google).
+ If your email is connected to your domain (see information from above 'Setting up Your Site'
+ Your Showit account email address and what Showit subscription plan they would recommend.
+ What your current website/blog platform is: (ie. Wordpress, Squarespace, Blogger, etc)
+ If you'll be migrating a blog prior to launch? *Squarespace see below HERE*
+ If you'll need to note in the blog transfer request any specific blog permalink settings or 301 redirects.
+ Your Scheduled launch date and an estimated 'launch timeline' on their end.
The launch process may be different for each person and depends on a variety of things: Showit WILL help answer any questions and guide you throughout (just use their chat box)!
Launching Your Site
Launch Request
Process Overview
download my
launch checklist
Pre-Launch Check
Email or chat with Showit and ask for a "pre-launch check" 1-2 weeks prior to you ideal launch date to make sure everything is in order prior to submitting!
(designerhelp@showit.co)
Provide them the following:
1. Once you receive your Wordpress login info from Showit, go ahead and make sure your permalinks are correct (READ MORE HERE) and make sure the blog Settings within Showit are linked up (so the two 'speak' to each other).
2. If you are not seeing any changes yet, you can go into your Wordpress 'SETTINGS' and then 'SHOWIT' - Click the box 'Force Theme Generation' and hit 'Generate Theme. Go back into Showit and hit 'PUBLISH' again.
3. Test your contact form again and your blog links to make sure they are working correctly.
4. Once your site is ready to officially go "LIVE" you can cancel any old hosting and remove your coming soon page.
5. If you are moving your hosting/site make sure to do your SEO! You may see a slight drop after the transfer (which is normal) as your site needs to be re-crawled and indexed. But by spending time doing SEO will help (or hiring it out).
post-launch
CREATE A STYLISH
LAUNCH PLAN!
1. Inside of Showit 5, click “Site Settings” and click “EDIT” next to “Custom Domain”
The steps below are only for users that do not have a blog and do not need a blog at their domain. Before continuing to do any of the following changes: 1. Backup any data from your current web host. 2. Go through the Domain Setup to submit your Domain 3. Publish your site (blue button at top)
Below are the steps to configuring and and requesting your domain setup. Note the different steps for your site and account needs.
Domain Setup
Domain Configuration
How to have your domain configured to point to Showit (for users that do not have a blog).
(Typical Timeline: 1 Business Day + Propagation)
4. Check the box marked “I want Showit to configure my domain” and enter your domain registrar login information and hit NEXT.
configure your own domain
2. Enter your domain name where you’d like your site to be connected to (and choose the button if you own a domain name).
3. Check the correct boxes for the settings that apply to your current setup. Make sure to check the boxes if you do currently have a blog AND an email setup at your domain (ie: info@YOURDOMAIN.com).
5. Fill in your phone number (just in case they need to contact you during the setup process) as well as adding in any additional information (if you need your permalinks to be set, any re-directs, and info about your emails). click the “SUBMIT” button when done!
NOTE: Make sure to ask for SSL certification as well, to setup your HTTPS site.
Once you submit the request, they will setup your domain and it will appear in your 'Site Settings' within a day. IT WON'T BE LIVE until you actually select that domain in 'Site Settings' - hit 'SAVE' and then hit the blu 'PUBLISH' button at the top right.
just a note!
1. Inside of Showit 5, click “SITE SETTINGS” and click “EDIT” next to “Custom Domain”
The following instructions show you how to request to have a new blog configured on your domain and your new Showit 5 site launched! Follow these steps when you are ready for your site and blog to go live.
Launching with a NEW blog
How to request to have a new Wordpress blog setup on your account and your site launched
(Typical Timeline: 1-2 Business Days + Propagation)
4. Check the box for “I want Showit to setup or migrate my blog” and hit NEXT and then hit “DONE” to finish the setup wizard.
2. Enter your domain name where you’d like your site to be connected to (and choose the button if you own a domain name).
3. Check the correct boxes for the settings that apply to your current setup. Make sure to check the boxes if you do currently have a blog AND an email setup at your domain (ie: info@YOURDOMAIN.com).
5. Click "DONE" to finish the setup wizard
6. Go to http://showitaccount.com and login with your Showit login information
7. Click "Setup Showit Blog"
8. Click "Setup New Showit Blog"
Showit will setup a new Wordpress blog for you and activate your new Showit 5 site at your domain. You will get an email when the process is complete. You can then celebrate and show all of your friends your awesome new site!
9. Fill out the new blog request form with your current registrar information.
10. Click "SUBMIT" and then kick back and relax! We will take it from here :)
1. Inside of Showit 5, click “SITE SETTINGS” and click “EDIT” next to “Custom Domain”
The following instructions show you how to request to have your current blog migrated and your new Showit site launched! Follow these steps when you are ready for your site and blog to go live. -- READ BLOG MIGRATION DETAILS HERE
Migrating YOUR Blog Posts
How to have your blog migrated to Showit's hosting before launching!
(Typical Timeline: 2-8 Business Days + Propagation)
4. Check the box for “I want Showit to setup or migrate my blog” and hit NEXT and then hit “DONE” to finish the setup wizard.
2. Enter your domain name where you’d like your site to be connected to (and choose the button if you own a domain name).
3. Check the correct boxes for the settings that apply to your current setup. Make sure to check the boxes if you do currently have a blog AND an email setup at your domain (ie: info@YOURDOMAIN.com).
5. Click "DONE" to finish the setup wizard
6. Go to http://showitaccount.com and login with your Showit login information
7. Click "Setup Showit Blog"
8. Click “MIGRATE AN EXISTING BLOG” and fill out the migration request form with all of your current hosting information,
NOTE: Read the section below on Migration Details. MAKE SURE to ask Showit to either MATCH your current blog permalink or setup a 301 Re-direct for you. This is to make sure that your old blog post urls (ex: yourdomain.com/blog/posttitle) match or redirect to your new (yourdomain.com/posttitle)
9.. Click "SUBMIT" and then kick back and relax! Showit will email you when it's been completed and will provide your wordpress login.
Permalinks are the permanent URLs to your individual blog posts, as well as categories. A permalink is the url you copy to link to your article (or section), or how you might send a link to your post. The URL to each post should be permanent, and never change — hence permalink and may require a 301 redirect.
Your new blog is on the Wordpress platform (and a separate login than showit). Note: The design for the blog is done through Showit and the blog post creation is through Wordpress.
Blog & Migration
Blog URL Permalinks
tips on blog migration & SEO
You can choose how you want your permalinks to be setup. Just the post name/title or if you want to add more to the permalink like the example below. - If you are migrating, try to maintain your permalink structure (better for SEO purposes).
your blog migration details
Migrations from Blogger/Blogspot, Squarespace or Tumblr may result in post URLs changing. Ex: Your current url for a blog post might look like www.blog.yourdomain.com/posttitle and your wordpress will be www.yourdomain.com/posttitle
If you are coming from Squarespace as your blog host you need to be made aware of a few things. To start the process Showit will need access to your Squarespace account so we can log in and request and export of your blog to be moved to Showit’s hosting. Because of the differences between Wordpress and Squarespace please allow an extra 1-2 business days for your blog migration to be completed, see Estimated Turnaround Times. In addition to your Squarespace log in information we will need your domain register information as well. To submit all this please head to showitaccount.com
Squarespace to Showit
If you are transferring your current Squarespace website to Showit, the steps and notes below will help make the transfer easier for you.
1. YOUR DOMAIN & EMAILS: Find where your domain and emails are hosted (Do this at least a 2-3 weeks prior to launch). If needing to transfer your domain from Squarespace (to goaddy/hover/etc) see article below. - I personally recommend GOOGLE Domains (HERE) or Hover (HERE) - In which you'll have to create an account and prep for transfer.
2. YOUR SHOWIT SUBSCRIPTION: Tier 3 will be most recommended for your transfer which will allow you to upload and install additional Wordpress plugins (as Tier 2 only includes these approved plugins HERE
** NOTE: If you have your emails hosted with Squarespace, make sure it's done through GSuite By Google, if NOT, you'll need to TAKE THESE STEPS to move your email to
transferring your squarespace domain
the process
showit subscription plan details
3. THE MIGRATION: If you have a blog you are transferring, make sure to provide Showit with your requirements (either add as a note, email them, or submit it in the chatbox.
a ) You want all blog posts and images completely transferred over to your new wordpress account.
b ) You want to maintain your permalink structure OR have them setup your 301 permanent redirect. (reference above section).
learn more about 301 redirects
4. Once you customized your new showit template and are ready to launch (aka: go Live) we recommend you use our 'coming soon' page template on your site prior to launching. Once that is done, follow the LAUNCH PROCESS HERE.
5. Once you provide Showit with your domain user/password as well as your 'blog setup' request with SS user/password they will begin the launch process (take up to 7 days)
6. You'll receive an email from Showit when its completed and providing you with your new Wordpress blog login.
7. Once that has been done, you double-check your site, you can then CANCEL your squarespace hosting.
