How to Set Up Your Website in Under 30 Minutes

Getting your website live does not have to take long. If you follow this streamlined checklist, you can have your dotCanada site up and running in under 30 minutes. Let's go!

Minutes 1–5: Log In and Get Oriented

• Log into your client area at clients.dotcanada.com
• Review your account details and locate your cPanel login
• Log into cPanel to familiarize yourself with the dashboard

Minutes 5–10: Point Your Domain

• Check your welcome email for your nameservers (ns1.dotcanada.com and ns2.dotcanada.com)
• Log into your domain registrar and update the nameservers to dotCanada's
• DNS propagation can take up to 24 hours, but your site will be ready to build now

Minutes 10–20: Build Your Website

• Option A - WordPress: Open Softaculous in cPanel and install WordPress with a few clicks
• Option B - Website Builder: Launch the free SiteJet Website Builder included with your plan
• Option C - Upload Files: Use the File Manager or FTP to upload your existing site to public_html

Minutes 20–25: Set Up Email

• Go to Email Accounts in cPanel and create your first professional email address
• Test it by logging into webmail at webmail.yourdomain.com

Minutes 25–30: Final Checks

• Confirm your SSL certificate is active (dotCanada provides free Let's Encrypt SSL)
• Browse to your domain to confirm your site is loading
• Celebrate - your website is live!

Need a hand at any step? Contact our support team - we are here 24/7.