Your first website: the setup checklist in the right order

Order matters more than speed. DNS changes take time to spread and SSL can’t issue until they have, so the jobs that wait on something go first.

The checklist

1. Change your nameservers at your registrar to ns1.traxio.co.uk, ns2.traxio.co.uk and ns3.traxio.co.uk. Do this first; everything else can happen while it spreads. How to point your domain to Traxio (change nameservers)
2. Log in to DirectAdmin and change the starting password. How to log in to DirectAdmin
3. Put your website in place. Either install WordPress with Softaculous (How to install WordPress with Softaculous) or upload your own files to public_html (How to upload files with the DirectAdmin File Manager). You can do this before the domain resolves.
4. Create your email addresses. How to create an email account in DirectAdmin
5. Confirm the domain points at Traxio. How to check your domain is pointing to Traxio
6. Check SSL has issued and your site loads on https://. How free SSL certificates work on Traxio
7. Force HTTPS so visitors always get the secure version. How to force HTTPS (redirect HTTP to HTTPS)
8. Set up email authentication — SPF, DKIM and DMARC — so your messages aren’t treated as spam. SPF, DKIM and DMARC explained
9. Set up your email apps on your phone and computer. Email settings for any app (IMAP, POP3 and SMTP)
10. Take a full backup and download it. How to create and download a full account backup

If you’re moving an existing site

Don’t change nameservers first. Build and test the site on Traxio, recreate your email accounts, and only then switch DNS. Moving your website and email to Traxio without downtime covers the zero-downtime order.