Onboarding
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Welcome to the Family
Thank you for joining the SavvyHippo family! To get started, follow the onboarding instructions below...
Step 1. Domain & Hosting
SavvyHippo clients are required to have a registered domain name and website hosting (the service that hosts your website content). This does not include Wix, Weebly, or Squarespace–your hosting must be capable of installing WordPress.
Click the option to the right that describes your current situation for instructions on what to do next.
IMPORTANT: The SavvyHippo platform is incompatible with Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace. All client sites are built on the WordPress platform. Therefore, you must have website hosting capable of installing and running WordPress.
If this describes your situation, congratulations! You may continue to Step 2 below. (If you are currently using Wix, Weebly, or Squarespace, please contact us for support.)
Follow the instructions below to set up website hosting with our preferred vendor for your current domain. (Note: You may also set up hosting with your preferred service. Please do so before proceeding to Step 2 below.)
1. Click Here. (A new page will load. Keep this window open to continue following the directions below.)
2. Under StartUp, click Get Plan.
3. Choose I Already Have a Domain and enter your domain name. Click Proceed.
4. Enter your account, client, and payment information.
5. Under Purchase Information, choose the desired length of your hosting package; rates are $6.99/mo for up to three years, afterwards $14.99/mo. (We recommend choosing three years to maximize your savings.)
6. Under Extra Services, you may leave Site Scanner unchecked.
7. Check the box to confirm that you have read and agree to the SiteGround Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
8. Click Pay Now to complete your order.
9. When finished, continue to Step 2 below.
Follow the instructions below to register a domain name and set up website hosting with our preferred vendor. (Note: You may also register a domain name and set up hosting with your preferred service. Please do so before proceeding to Step 2 below.)
1. Click Here. (A new page will load. Keep this window open to continue following the directions below.)
2. Under StartUp, click Get Plan.
3. Choose Register a New Domain and enter your desired domain name (we recommend your company name or first and last name–JohnSmith.com–if available). Click Proceed.
4. Enter your account, client, and payment information.
5. Under Purchase Information, choose the desired length of your hosting package; rates are $6.99/mo for up to three years, afterwards $14.99/mo. (We recommend choosing three years to maximize your savings.)
6. Under Extra Services, you may leave Site Scanner unchecked. However, we recommend Domain Privacy if you’d like to avoid receiving spam (newly registered domain names are entered into a public database, but you can protect this data using Domain Privacy.)
7. Check the box to confirm that have read and agree to the SiteGround Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
8. Click Pay Now to complete your order.
9. When finished, continue to Step 2 below.
Step 2. Domain Email
All SavvyHippo clients are required to have domain email, which is an email address that ends in a domain name, such as Jane@JaneSmith.com (as opposed to JaneSmith@gmail.com, for example). For this service, we highly recommend G Suite.
Click the option to the right that describes your current situation for instructions on what to do next.
Congratulations! You may continue to Step 3 below.
We highly recommend using G Suite to handle your domain email. Experience has shown far greater success in receiving emails sent via a website form (contact submissions, coaching applications), whereas other domain email is more often blocked or sent to spam, which means you may not receive all of the messages intended for your inbox.
You are not required to change domain email providers. However, if you’d like to transition to G Suite, we will assist in the transfer after you have completed your work inside the platform.
You may continue to Step 3 below.
Follow the instructions below to sign up with G Suite to handle your domain email. (Note: G Suite carries a monthly cost of $6.)
1. Click Here. (A new page will load. Keep this window open to continue following the directions below.)
2. Click Get Started within the box labeled Basic.
3. Enter Business Name, Number of Employees, and Country. Click Next.
4. Enter First Name, Last Name, and Current Email Address. Click Next.
5. On the next page, you’ll be asked if you have a domain. Because you completed Step 1 above, click Yes, I Have One I Can Use. (If you have not yet completed Step 1 above, please do so before proceeding.)
6. Enter your Domain Name. Click Next.
7. On the following page, you’ll be asked to confirm use of domain. Ensure the proper spelling for your domain and click Next.
8. Choose your Username and Password. Note: The username you choose will serve as your main domain email address. Click Agree And Create Account.
9. Confirm your choice of G Suite Basic with a monthly fee of $6. Click Next.
10. Enter your Customer Information and Payment Method. Click Next. (Your 14-day trial will begin, after which you’ll be charged $6 per month.)
11. You will then be asked to verify your domain to begin using domain email. Follow instructions given. If you require support, please contact us at support@savvyhippo.com.
12. When finished, continue to Step 3 below.
Step 3. Email Marketing
In order to communicate with your audience, as well as create your client funnel, you’ll need an email marketing service. We use and recommend MailerLite (free up to 1,000 subscribers), though you are free to use any service you prefer.
Click the option to the right that describes your current situation for instructions on what to do next.
Congratulations! You may continue to Step 4 below.
While we recommend MailerLite, you are not required to change your provider. We also work with popular providers such as MailChimp, ConvertKit, and AWeber.
You may continue to Step 4 below.
Follow the instructions below to sign up with our preferred email marketing service, MailerLite. (Note: MailerLite is free up to 1,000 email subscribers.) If you prefer to use a different vendor, please create your account with them before continuing.
1. Click Here. (A new page will load. Keep this window open to continue following the directions below.)
2. Enter Company/Organization Name.
3. Enter Domain Email Address. (Note: You must use a domain email address. Free email services such as @gmail are not allowed. Domain email was covered in the previous step.)
4. Enter desired Password.
5. Click Create my account.
6. You will be logged into your free account. We will complete your profile and verify your account. No further action is required.
7. Continue to Step 4 below.
Step 4. Online Calendar
In order to allow visitors to book free sessions through your website, you’ll need an online calendar service. We recommend Calendly (if you’d like free and simple) or Acuity Scheduling (if you’d like paid and robust).
Click the option to the right that describes your current situation for instructions on what to do next.
Congratulations! You may continue to Step 5 below.
While we recommend Calendly or Acuity Scheduling, you are not required to change your provider. You will be, however, responsible for creating your own free session appointment.
You may continue to Step 5 below.
(Note: Acuity Scheduling offers a free account, though it does not include the ability to embed the calendar into your website as seen in our demos or sync with your personal calendars. To embed and sync, you will need to sign up for a paid plan, which starts at $14/month, or use the free version of Calendly.
However, a paid Acuity Scheduling plan is not necessary to use the SavvyHippo service. If you choose a free plan, we will include a button that links to your Acuity Scheduling calendar + you’ll need to manually sync your calendars. You may start with a free plan and upgrade at a later time.)
If you prefer to use a different vendor, please create your account with them before continuing.
1. Click Here. (A new page will load. Keep this window open to continue following the directions below.)
2. Choose your preferred plan. If free, click Free Signup. If paid, click Start 7-day Trial under preferred plan.
3. Enter Primary Email Address. (Note: You are not required to use domain email. All appointment notifications will be sent to the address you enter here.)
4. Enter desired Password.
5. Click checkbox to agree to Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
6. Click Create My Account.
7. Follow the on-screen prompts. After completing, no further action is required.
8. Continue to Step 5 below.
(Note: Calendly’s free account allows embedding and syncing, but only with a single appointment type, which we’ll use for your free session. If you’d like to create additional appointment types, you’ll need to upgrade to their paid plan, which is currently $8/month.)
If you prefer to use a different vendor, please create your account with them before continuing.
1. Click Here. (A new page will load. Keep this window open to continue following the directions below.)
2. Enter the email where you’d like to receive appointment notifications. This should also be the email address connected to your online calendar (ex: Google Calendar) if you would like to sync calendars. Click Get Started.
3. If you have a Google account (ex: Gmail), click Sign Up with Google to sign up with Google and automatically connect your Google Calendar to your Calendly account. (If not, you may choose to sign up with a password instead.)
4. If you click to sign up with Google, click the account you’d like to connect to your Calendly account on the next page.
5. Click Allow on the permission page that loads.
6. You will then be walked through a series of setup steps. When finished, you may log out. You do not need to create a new appointment type. No further action is required.
7. Continue to Step 5 below.
Step 5. Photo Shoot
While it is not required, we recommend all SavvyHippo clients schedule a professional photo shoot to have professional headshots taken for their website.
Click the option to the right that describes your current situation for instructions on what to do next.
Congratulations! You may continue to Step 6 below.
Great choice! Follow the instructions below to get started. (Note: If desired, you can put us in touch with your chosen photographer to ensure you get the shots we need. Contact us at support@savvyhippo.com for details.)
1. Click Here to download our photography guide.
2. Schedule your photo shoot as soon as possible.
3. You may continue to Step 6 below.
We understand a professional photo shoot is not always an available option. Within the platform, you will be instructed on how to find high-quality stock images to use in the place of professional headshots.
You may continue to Step 6 below.
Step 6. Client Intake
When you have your domain name, website hosting, domain email, email marketing service, and online calendar service in place, you may continue to your Client Intake form below.
Contact us at support@savvyhippo.com.
Client Intake Form
Please complete the form below in its entirety. If you need help, contact us at support@savvyhippo.com.
