Starting a New DIY Auctions Website

Starting a new DIY Auctions website is easy.

1. You have to have a web-hosting account with a WordPress installation and a registered domain e.g. http://your-diy-auctions-site.com
   • We not only encourage you, but expect you to protect your Wordpress website using a combination of popular Wordpress security plugins such as 'iThemes Security', 'Limit Login Attempts' and similar. Do not just install the security plugins - make sure you configure them accordingly. You may want to read this article to learn how to use the iThemes Security plugin.
2. You have to have a DIY Auctions license for your website
   • If you don't have one, you can purchase it on DIY Auctions website.
3. Download the following software bundles from the Do-It-Yourself-Auctions.com website:
   • Easy Photo Album Plugin [download]
   • DIY Auctions Theme (modified Tonic Theme) [download]
   • DIY Auctions Starter Plugin [download]
4. Login  into your website WordPress admin console
5. Upload, install and activate the Easy Photo Album plugin
6. Upload, install and activate the modified Tonic theme
7. Upload, install and activate the DIY Auctions starter plugin
   • The starter version is not fully functional
   • The starter version has to be updated to the latest DIY Auctions plugin version using the WordPress automatic updates mechanism
   • In order to do that, a valid DIY Auctions license has to be obtained for your DIY Auctions website
8. Assuming you have the license, go to your website WordPress admin console 'Settings' : 'DIY Auctions Plugin License' and enter the license information ('License key', 'License reference' and 'Quota') into the appropriate text-boxes then click on 'Save Changes' (if in doubt, use '1' for the quota)
   • The next screen should indicate whether the license is successfully validated by the Do-It-Yourself-Auctions.com server or not
   • The successful validation is indicated by a message 'The license information below is valid!'
9. Go to your website WordPress admin console 'Dashboard' : 'Updates' to update the DIY Auctions plugin
   • The DIY Auction plugin should be presented as having an update available; If this is not the case, you may have to use your browser's 'reload' button several times before this happens; Note that the update will be available only if a valid license information has been entered in a previous step
   • Select and Update the DIY Auctions plugin
   • Do not update the Easy Photo Album plugin or the Tonic theme even if the updates for them exist!
   • The update may take several minutes. Please, be patient!
10. Once the update is complete, go to your website WordPress admin console 'Settings' : 'DIY Auctions Site Administrator' and register yourself by clicking on the 'Register!' button
    • You will be asked to login into your social network and accept sharing basic information with the DIY Auctions application
    • Please, accept that! Also, allow the application to 'publish' posts on your behalf and make the posts 'public'!
11. Now is the time to customize appearance of your DIY Auctions website using your website WordPress admin console 'Appearance' : 'Customize'; Consider customizing the following:
    • Site Identity: Title, Tagline
    • Layout: Site Layout: No Sidebar, Main Content: 100%
    • Jumbo headline: Title (e.g. 'Fashionistas'), Text (e.g. 'Have a look at our latest auctions...'), Button Text (e.g. 'Bid here!'), Button Link (e.g. '/auctions/')
    • Colors: Background color: select the desired colour
    • Header Image: select the desired image (1500 × 550 size is recommended)
    • Background Image: 'no image selected'
    • Menus: View Location: Primary Menu ('Diya Menu' should already be selected)
    • Homepage Settings: Your homepage displays: 'A static page' (ensure this is selected), Homepage: (the right page should already be selected)

And you are done! The DIY Auctions installation is now ready! Go ahead and:

• Register some pages so that auctions can be posted on them,
• Create an auction.

Happy auctioning!