SmartSpace allows business operators and community groups to create their own fully professional websites. By following the simple instructions in the relevant SmartSpace Template Manual, you can create a website capable of helping you build and manage your business. Here is a summary of what you have to do and the skills you need to create a SmartSpace website.

1. Basic Site Building Skills

You do not have to know anything about html code. If you or someone in your organisation  has the following skills, you can have a great website.

Take photographs with a digital camera

if you can take a few shots relating to your business activity, you are well on the way to getting started.

Use a basic image editing program

Just about all digital cameras sold, include a simple image editor as part of the package. If you can resize, crop and resave an image, you can help make your website look great

Browse the internet

Simple internet browsing skills are all that is required to be able to operate the SmartSpace system. If you use many of the popular social networking or email sites, you will be familiar with many of the processes involved in creating and managing your website

Write about your business activities

If you can convey in writing, things about your activities which are important to your customers and/or members, you will be able to write relevant website content. Whilst there is a skill in writing for the internet, there are plenty of resources available free which will assist you in good formatting and structure for web visitors

2. The Website Selection Process

Before deciding on a website, you should have thought a little about what you hope to achieve with it and what it will do.

• Who will visit the website
• How will they get there - internet search engines, search terms, etc
• What are the main messages you want to convey
• How you can use the website to help build your business
• Review SmartSpace website features here
  

Once you have got a picture of what your website will do, you might have a preference for how you want it to look

• Consider the basic layout
• What will the menu system(s) contain?
• What is your level of skill in the activities listed above?
• Will you complete all of the website yourself, or will you get others to do some of the tasks involved

3. Sign Up and Configure

Once you have decided what, you want, you start the join up process by the Join/Register link at the top of all SmartSpace pages or by clicking the "Create Manage Connect" graphic on this and many other pages.

No Credit Card Details Taken and No Up Front Payment

• It is important to note that you do not need to expend any money to start the web creation process.
• We take no credit card details
• You have 3 months to get the site development process started before any payment
• You will be able to view your website, but the public cannot
• If you decide not to proceed, you can convert your website record into a directory listing for free by simply ticking a box

Joining Step by Step

When going through the sign up process you will need to complete the following actions:

• Register or Login( if previously registered)
• Provide basic information about your business or group
• Make a selection on what package and/or modules you want
• Make some basic selections about the configuration of the modules you have chosen
• Agree to the terms of use of SmartSpace

Fine Tune Configuration

Once the initial joining process is complete, you can then add the data that is required to create your website. This could include (depending on your selections):

• Setting up resources for the booking system
• Adding images
• Creating content pages
• Selecting a suitable template
• Creating departments and Groups
• Setting up staff or user access
• Setting up products and prices
• Creating and assiging memberships
• Fine tuning configurations for all of the above

Make Payment

You can split your payment into two accounts:

1. Set Up Fee -  Covers the setting up of the domain name (purchase of domain name not included) and email accounts as well as intensive support
   • You can access all the SmartSpace help files and recieve email support until this payment is made
   • You have three months to work on your website after sign up
   • Once you have paid the setup fee, you have 12 months to work on your website before publication (and subscription payment)
2. Subscription Fee - the annual fee paid to access and use SmartSpace for your website
   • Once paid, the public can view your website

Intensive Support

• Once you have paid your setup fee, we provide one on one support to help you create your website
• You can access our numerous help files and videos to solve problems and answer questions
• Email support is available at all times

Depending on your requirements, a SmartSpace website can be set up in as little as an hour, once you have your images loaded.

Setting up for your domain name usually is completed within 48 hours, although the site can be made available to the public through your SmartSpace address