Quick Start Guide

Step 1: Create Your Account

To try SwellSpace free, click here to create an account. Enter your work email, create a password, and select your industry.

Next, open your inbox and click the link to confirm your email address. Once confirmed, SwellSpace will prompt you to sign in with the email address and password you registered with. Sign in.

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Step 2: Create a Site

Before we start designing a website using the editor, we must first "create" a website. After signing in, you will find yourself on the main dashboard. Click on “Create a Site”.

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Step 3: Choose Your Starting Layout or Template

SwellSpace allows you to choose between creating from a blank layout or utilizing one of the starter templates prepopulated with content. Both options are designed to showcase benefits.

• Blank templates provide the user the ability to work with an empty shell from the start. We recommend starting here if you’re more comfortable creating a website and already have a website “map” or “structure” in mind.
• Starter templates provide the user with content already created to help speed up the creation process. We recommend the use of starter templates for those who have not used a website builder before.

You can choose from 4 purpose-built Layouts when you create from a blank template.

• Rutledge
• Beaufain
• Montagu
• Hutson

As previously stated, utilizing a starter template can help speed up the creation process as it is already prepopulated with content. Once you choose a starter template, you’ll be able to update and customize its contents in the editor.

There is a growing number of starter templates. Choose the starter template that best suits your needs. We provide the following:

• Co-Branding for Insurance Brokers
• Multi-Page General Benefits for HR Administrators and Business Owners
• Open Enrollment

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Step 4: Design Your Website

Gather your images, icons, and logo. Having these elements prepared before you begin adding them to your website will save time and help the process go smoothly and quickly. 

If you need help finding images and icons, check out our list of 20 free design resources. In this list, you can find everything you need to create a beautiful website.

Next, make note of your brand colors. SwellSpace uses HEX color inputs, so if your brand colors are listed in RGB, CMYK, or any other color format, use this free color converter to find the HEX equivalent.

Once you have your brand colors, click COLORS on the left navigation bar in your website editor. Add your primary and secondary colors by clicking on the highlighted colors and then input your HEX codes.

To edit the text on your website, click the pencil icon next to any block of text. The popup text editor will show you how many characters can fit in any particular text block.

After you’ve added your text, click the checkmark icon to save your changes.

Tip: We recommend starting with your headlines. Headlines are important because they are often the first words your audience will see. If you need help crafting the words on your website, check out our blog post on copywriting for benefits professionals.

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Now, add your images to your website by clicking the pencil icon next to the image placeholder. SwellSpace allows you to utilize your own images or to utilize images from the stock media.

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To utilize your own image, click the "Upload from your computer or drop an image file here" button to upload the image from your computer, or simply click and drag the image into the upload box.

Once your image is uploaded, use the image editor popup to adjust the image to fit the placeholder.

SwellSpace accepts the following image types:

• JPG
• JPEG
• PNG
• GIF
• SVG

Each image placeholder displays the recommended length and width.

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To utilize stock media, click on the "Browse our stock media" button and choose from the provided stock images.

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The “Features” Section of the site editor also allows you to utilize your own images for icons or to utilize stock icons.

To utilize your own icon images, click the “Upload from your computer or drop an image file here” button to upload the icon image from your computer, or simply click and drag the image into the upload box.

Once your image is uploaded, use the image editor popup to adjust the image to fit the placeholder.

To utilize stock media for your icons, click on the “Browse our stock media” button and choose from the provided stock icons.

Provided stock icons are special and unique to SwellSpace. These icons adopt the primary color you’ve chosen.

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To add video to your website, select the Choose Video option on your video/image placeholder.

Next, click the pencil icon and enter your YouTube video URL and video title. To save your video, click the checkmark icon on the top right of the video upload box.

If you need help uploading your video to YouTube, check out these step-by-step instructions.

Step 5: Upload Documents

You can add benefit brochures, training manuals, presentations, quotes, and any other document you’d like to your website. The possibilities are endless.

To upload documents, scroll to the Documents section and click Add Files. Just like uploading images, you can browse your computer or click and drag files onto your website.

SwellSpace accepts the following document types:

• DOC
• DOCX
• PDF
• XLS
• XLSX
• CSV
• PPT
• TXT
• RTF
• ZIP

Step 6: Publish Your Website

Once you’re ready to share your SwellSpace website, we recommend previewing it on desktop, tablet, and mobile. In SwellSpace, this is easy to do. In the website editor, click the preview icon on the top toolbar to the left of PUBLISH.

Now you’re ready to publish. If you’ve already purchased a SwellSpace account, simply click the big blue PUBLISH button on the right-hand side of the top toolbar.

If you created your website using the free trial, click the upgrade icon to the right of the PUBLISH button. This will walk you through the steps to upgrade your account so you can publish and share your website.

Once published, you can access the share link from your SwellSpace dashboard and in the website editor. From your dashboard, click the share icon below the website you want to share. In the popup share box, enter the email address of those you would like to share your website with and add a message. When you’re ready, click Submit to send your message and link to your website.

If your website is password protected, the recipient will also receive the password in the email. (Want to add a password to your SwellSpace website? Click here to learn how.)