# Chapter 1: Getting Started

> How to sign up, create your organization, and understand the dashboard in 5 minutes.

---

## 1.1 Sign Up and Login

### How to sign up

1. Go to [mypagegenius.com](https://mypagegenius.com)
2. Click **"Get Started Free"** or **"Sign Up"**
3. Choose one of these options:
   - **Email + password** (we send a verification code)
   - **Google** (quick sign-in with your Gmail account)
   - **Apple** (if you're on iOS/Mac)

4. Enter your name and accept the terms.
5. You're in.

### Common problem: I didn't receive the verification email

- **Cause:** Spam folder, or email provider delay.
- **Solution:** Check spam/promotions. If it doesn't arrive in 5 minutes, click **"Resend code"**. If you used Gmail, also check the "Updates" tab.

---

## 1.2 Onboarding — Create Your First Organization

When you first log in, PageGenius asks you to create an **Organization**.

**What is an organization?**
It's your "main folder." All your projects (websites), team members, and settings live there. Examples:
- "Ad Wolves Media" (if you're an agency)
- "Mendoza Dental Clinic" (if you're a local business)
- "Freelance Web" (if you work solo)

### Step by step

1. Enter your **organization name** (can be changed later)
2. Choose a **slug** (used in internal URLs, e.g., `ad-wolves`)
3. Click **"Create Organization"**

**Expected screenshot:**
```
[Input: Your organization name]
[Input: Slug]
[Button: Create Organization]
```

### Common problem: "Slug is already in use"

- **Cause:** That exact slug already exists on the platform.
- **Solution:** Add a number or your city. E.g., `ad-wolves-miami`, `dr-carlos-2026`.

---

## 1.3 Dashboard Tour

Once inside, you'll see this screen:

```
+--------------------------------------------------+
|  PageGenius          [Projects] [Dashboard] ...    |
+--------------------------------------------------+
|  Welcome, Carlos!                                 |
|  [Create Project] [View Templates]               |
+--------------------------------------------------+
|  STATS                          QUICK ACTIONS     |
|  ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐     [Generate with AI] |
|  │ 3        │ │ 2        │     [Upload Image]     |
|  │Projects  │ │Published │     [View Analytics]   |
|  └──────────┘ └──────────┘                        |
|  ┌──────────┐ ┌──────────┐                        |
|  │ 47       │ │ 1,203    │                        |
|  │Submissions││Page Views│                        |
|  └──────────┘ └──────────┘                        |
|                                                   |
|  RECENT PROJECTS                                  |
|  [Auto Shop]  [Dental Clinic]  [+New]             |
+--------------------------------------------------+
```

> **Real screenshot:** `![PageGenius Dashboard](/help/screenshots/dashboard-mockup.png)`

### Dashboard elements explained

| Element | What it does |
|---------|-------------|
| **Stats cards** | Shows totals for projects, published sites, form submissions, and page views (last 30 days). Updates automatically. |
| **Quick actions** | Shortcuts for the most common tasks: create project, upload image, view analytics. |
| **Recent projects** | The last 3 projects you touched. Click to enter the builder directly. |
| **Plan badge** | A chip saying Free / Pro / Agency next to your org name. If Free, a banner suggests upgrading. |

### Common problem: "My stats are at 0 but I already have visits"

- **Cause:** Stats are calculated on a rolling 30-day window. If your site was published today, it needs 24h to accumulate data.
- **Solution:** Wait. Stats update in real-time once there's traffic.

---

## 1.4 Your First Project (AI Generate)

The fastest way to start.

1. From the dashboard, click **"Create Project"**
2. Select **"Generate with AI"**
3. Fill out the form:

| Field | What to write | Good example | Bad example |
|-------|--------------|--------------|-------------|
| **Description** | 1-2 sentences about your business | "Auto repair shop in Miami that fixes AC, brakes, and transmissions. Open Saturdays." | "A business" |
| **Language** | English or Spanish | English | (doesn't matter if targeting English speakers) |

4. Click **"Generate"**

### What the AI does behind the scenes

In ~30-90 seconds, the AI:
1. Detects your **industry** (automotive, dental, roofing, etc.)
2. Detects your **city** (for local SEO)
3. Selects **relevant widgets** for that industry
4. Generates **specific copy** (headlines, service descriptions, CTAs)
5. Builds the **page structure** (home + secondary pages)
6. Injects invisible **Schema.org** for Google
7. Applies **consistent colors and typography**

### Typical result

A new project with 4-5 pages:
- **Home:** Hero, Features, Services, Testimonials, Contact Form, Footer
- **About:** Story, Team, Stats
- **Services:** Service list with detailed descriptions
- **Contact:** Map, form, phone, hours
- **(Optional)** Emergency, Gallery, FAQ — depending on industry

---

## 1.5 Create a Blank Project

If you prefer to build everything yourself.

1. Go to **Projects** → **"New Project"**
2. Select **"Blank Project"**
3. Enter the name and choose the language
4. Click **"Create"**

You're taken to the builder with an empty Home page. From there, drag widgets and configure them.

---

## 1.6 Use a Template

1. Go to **Templates** (from the sidebar)
2. Click a template to preview it
3. If you like it, click **"Use this template"**
4. Enter your project name
5. The template is cloned as a new project, ready to edit

### Available templates

| Template | Style | Best for | Plan |
|----------|-------|----------|------|
| **Minimal** | Clean, spacious, Apple-like | Professionals, consultants | Free |
| **Bold** | Strong colors, visual impact | Fitness, construction | Pro |
| **Professional** | Corporate, blues and grays | Lawyers, accountants | Pro |
| **Visual** | Image-heavy, galleries | Photographers, restaurants | Pro |
| **Vibrant** | Energetic, startups | Apps, marketing | Agency |

---

## 1.7 Main Navigation (Sidebar)

```
+-- Sidebar --------+
|  Dashboard        |
|  Projects         |
|  Templates        |
|  Media            |
|  Leads            |
|  Analytics        |
|  Team             |
|  Settings         |
|  Billing          |
+-------------------+
```

Each section is explained in depth in its respective chapter:
- **Dashboard** → Chapter 2
- **Projects** → Chapter 3
- **Templates** → Chapter 3
- **Media** → Chapter 3 (uploads section)
- **Leads** → Chapter 7
- **Analytics** → Chapter 7
- **Team** → Chapter 8
- **Settings** → Chapter 8
- **Billing** → Chapter 8

---

## 1.8 Change Language

PageGenius works in **English and Spanish**.

1. Click your avatar (top right corner)
2. Select **"Language"**
3. Choose **English** or **Español**

This changes:
- The entire dashboard
- The builder
- AI-generated text (if you generate a new project)

**Note:** Existing projects do NOT change language automatically. To translate an existing project, use the **"Translate project"** feature in the builder.

### Common problem: "I changed the language but the builder is still in English"

- **Cause:** The builder loads with the project language, not the user language.
- **Solution:** In the builder, click **Settings (⚙️)** → **Project Language** → change it there.

---

## 1.9 Keyboard Shortcuts

| Shortcut | What it does |
|----------|-------------|
| `Ctrl/Cmd + S` | Save page (in the builder) |
| `Ctrl/Cmd + P` | Publish site (in the builder) |
| `Ctrl/Cmd + Z` | Undo change |
| `Ctrl/Cmd + Shift + Z` | Redo |
| `Esc` | Close modal |

---

## Chapter 1 Summary

| Step | Action | Result |
|------|--------|--------|
| 1 | Sign up | Account created |
| 2 | Create organization | Workspace ready |
| 3 | Create project with AI | Complete site in 60 sec |
| 4 | Explore dashboard | Understand stats and quick actions |

---

**Next chapter:** [Chapter 2: Dashboard — Your Control Center](17b-en-dashboard.md)