IMPORTANT: Before you get started, it is very important to note that the default folders and pages for your site are all there for a reason. Under no circumstances should you ever move or delete any files or folders from the site that are there from the beginning. Instead, you can hide folders or content on the site that you do not wish to use. However, deleting folders or content items altogether can cause major problems with your site that will take lots of time to repair.

This guide is intended for sitebuilders who have never built a website on the IAAP Web Community (IWC) before. It is designed to be as descriptive as possible in how to update each section of your new chapter webpage, using illustrations and easy-to-understand directions. It is also designed to get your site up and running as quickly as possible. Even after the site has launched, you will likely find there is a lot more you can do with it. Websites need to evolve to be successful, so don't be afraid to be creative and experiment with your site.

Creating content on the site is done through the Site Dashboard, which is where you access the “back end” of the site. The back end is what's also known as a content management system (CMS), which makes creating webpages easy for people who do not know HTML and other web development languages. For most of the site editing, you will be working within a page editor that looks and works like most word processing programs.

Building any website can be frustrating but it can also be very rewarding when you see the finished product. If you run into any problems along the way or have any questions, do not hesitate to ask (you can reach IAAP Internet Communications Coordinator Ben McClanahan at bmcclanahan@iaap-hq.org or we also highly recommend utilizing the Sitebuilder eGroup within the IWC).

If you are just getting started with a brand new site, use the "Getting Started" link in the left-hand navigation to get your site setup quickly.