Before You Build
Tip: In this guide, you will prepare the domain, product materials, image sizes, contact details, and accounts before editing the site. Estimated time: 10 minutes.
Beginners usually get stuck because materials are missing, not because the editor is hard. Prepare the items below before entering the admin.
1. Domain and Server
| Item | What to prepare | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domain | Buy your own domain | .com is recommended. Keep it short, readable, and related to the brand or product. |
| Domain account | Keep login access | You will add DNS records in the domain platform later. |
| Server | No need to buy one | We provide the website hosting server. You only need to connect the domain. |
Recommended tutorial: Domain purchase tutorial.
Use one of these two platforms when possible. DNS setup is easier later:
| Platform | Approx. price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| aliyun.com | Around RMB 85 / year | Recommended first; Chinese interface and convenient DNS, but real-name verification is required. |
| cloudflare.com | Around USD 10.44 / year | No real-name verification, but PayPal or a Visa international card is required. |
You can buy the domain first and connect it after the site content is checked. You can also connect it before editing. For customers, connecting the domain means the website is going live, so check template content, contact details, and 404 links before the formal connection.
After buying the domain, you can continue building the site. Connect it after content checks, following DNS Setup.
2. Company and Site Basics
Prepare these in one document so you can copy them into the admin:
- Company name, brand name, and logo.
- One-sentence intro: what you sell and who it is for.
- About Us: company profile, factory capability, and service strengths.
- Contact: phone, email, WhatsApp, and address.
- Target market: countries, language, and buyer type.
- Main pages: Home, Products, News / Blog, About Us, Contact Us.
Copy does not need to be perfect first. For the first round, clearly explain what you sell, why customers should trust you, and how to contact you. Cases, FAQ, and brand stories can be improved after launch.
3. Products and Posts
Prepare at least:
| Content | First-round amount | Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Product categories | 3 to 4 main categories | Do not split too finely at the beginning. Make the structure easy to understand. |
| Products | 2 representative products per main category | Title, main image, and short description are enough for the first launch. |
| Posts | 3 basic posts | One for capability, one for product knowledge, and one for use scenario. |
| FAQ | 3 to 5 common questions | They can be placed in posts or pages first. |
Categories and products affect homepage modules. If the admin has no categories or products, homepage product modules can appear empty.
4. Prepare Image Sizes First
Do not upload random images and adjust later. Prepare common sizes first:
| Image type | Suggested size | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Homepage banner / carousel | Around 1800 x 1000 | Wide image, subject away from edges, around 300KB or less. |
| Product main image | 800 x 800 | Square, product centered, subject around 70% to 80% of the canvas. |
| Product detail image | 1200 x 900 or same ratio | Keep the same ratio within one set. |
| Image gallery | Similar ratio within one set | Do not mix factory, certificate, and case images with random sizes. |
| Logo | Transparent PNG / SVG | Do not use a screenshot with a white background. |
For 800 x 800 product main images, use this composition as a reference: center the product, keep whitespace around it, and avoid edge-to-edge products.
Read Image Guidelines for details.
5. Contact and Email Test
The most important launch requirement is that customers can reach you. Confirm:
- Phone number is correct and includes country code when needed.
- Email is real and usable.
- WhatsApp number opens a chat correctly.
- Form notification email has an owner.
- You can receive a test email.
Showing an email on the page does not mean form notifications work. Submit one test form before launch.
6. Accounts You Will Need
| Account | Purpose | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| AllinCMS admin workspace | Build and edit the site | Immediately |
| Domain provider account | Add DNS records | When connecting domain |
| Google account | Search Console and GA4 analytics | After launch |
| Email account | Receive inquiries and test messages | Before launch check |
7. Am I Ready to Start Building?
Check each item before you begin:
- You have bought a domain, or you plan to build first with an AllinCMS temporary domain.
- Company name, logo, intro, contact details, and target market are organized.
- You have 3 to 4 main categories, 2 representative products per category, and 3 basic posts.
- Banner, product, and gallery images follow the image size guidelines.
- The form notification email is real, usable, and monitored by someone responsible for inquiries.
Readiness rule: If every item is checked, continue to Getting Started. You can build before connecting the domain. If products and posts are still missing, finish preparing them on this page first.
8. What to Do Next
Continue in this order:
Next
Create a Site - enter the AllinCMS admin workspace and create the first website.