8 Minute Setup Guide

Setting up an Estimate Calculator

So you are looking to setup an Estimate Calculator for your website. There are a few steps you need to take to get this sorted. This guide will show you the exact steps you need to take. Lets get your Estimate Calculator sorted!

Step 1 - Create an Estimate Calculators account

This step is self explanatory. Create an Estimate Calculators account. You can do this on our website. Once you have created your account you will need to verify your email address and select a plan. Now you are ready to make your Estimate Calculator.

Step 2 - Create your Estimate Calculator

Now you have an account, you can create your Estimate Calcultor. Head to the 'My Calculators' page. Choose either:

• Create New Blank Estimate Calculator
• Create New Estimate Calculator From Template

Selecting the first option (Create New Blank Estimate Calculator) will do exactly what you expect. It will create a completely fresh Estimate Calculator. the second option (Create New Estimate Calculator From Template) will give you a starting point with sample services, questions and answers already filled in. If you select the second option, you are able to edit/remove any service, questions and answers that you want to.

Make sure you click 'Activate' on your Estimate Calculator to activate it. You are now free to configure this Estimate Calculator as you wish. However, I recommend you come back and do this after you have connected your custom domain. I won't go over the details of configuring a specific Estimate Calculator in this guide, as this guide is to help you get setup with Wix.

Step 3 - Set the return URL

Head to the settings page within your account and find the Return URL option. The Return URL is where your website users will have the option of returning to after filling in their details and submitting them for an estimate. They won't be instantly returned here, but instead will be presented with a button that says "Back to website." Clicking this will take them to the address you enter for the Return URL. We recommend you use the home page of your main website but you are free to use any URL on your website that you want. To avoid mistakes its best to copy the exact URL from the URL bar in your browser.

Step 4 - Upload your Logo

On the same settings page you are able to upload your logo. If you do this, your logo will be displayed in the navigation bar in the top left corner of the page on your Estimate Calculator. This is optional but it is recommended that you do this.

Step 5 - Add your custom domain / subdomain

On the same settings page you are able to set your custom domain or subdomain. Find the "Custom Domain" section. Enter your custom domain and click save. It's important to note that you must have access to the DNS records for this domain. These are usually found at the domain registrar where you purchased your domain from, such as GoDaddy or Namescheap.

Create CNAME record

Once you have added your custom domain on the settings page, head to your DNS records. As mentioned previously, these are most likely at your domain registrar. You need to add a CNAME record record. If you were using a subdomain such as estimate.websitexample.com then your CNAME record would look like this:

• Type: CNAME
• Name: estimate
• Target: customers.estimatecalculators.com

Name is the name of the subdomain you have chosen. If you have chosen to use a root domain then put @. Target must be customers.estimatecalculators.com. Once the domain has propogated you will be able to see your Estimate Calculator at the custom domain you have set!

A note on DNS propogation

It is worth being aware that DNS records can take up to 72 hours propogate. They usually sort themselves out much more quickly than this. But please be patient.

Step 6 - Verify your business email address

In order to send estimates from your business email address, we need to verify your email address with our email provider. This is simple to do. On the settings page, find the "Register your own email address section". In this section simple input the email address you wish to use and the name that you want the emails to be sent from. Your users will see both the email address and name when they receive estimates from you so chooses something appropriate. You must have access to this email address (it must already exist).

Once you have entered the email address details, click "Get Postmark Verification Email" and check your email inbox. Wait for an email to come through from Postmark. Once you have received this email, click the button in the email to confirm your sender signature. Come back to the settings page and click the refresh button in the Register your own email address section to make sure that the sender signature has been confirmed.

Step 7 - Configure your email settings

We provide estimates to your website visitors via email. Because of this you have a lot of flexibility when it comes to the email that is sent out. On the settings page you will find a section labelled "Email Settings". This is where you can customise the email that is sent out. You have the option to use variables within this email. The list of variables is displayed and they can be copied and pasted into the email settings into the sections that you wish to use them in.