Launch Checklist: What Should I Do First?

Start with one working customer journey. You do not need every module to start using DirectSale. Use an account with the required permissions; a hidden or locked module may be unavailable to your role or plan.

1. Set your business basics

Open Settings and confirm business name, currency and AI language. Read the confirmation before changing currency: it resets business-language defaults but does not convert prices or change panel language. Open Chat Studio > Business Profile, describe what you sell and who you help, save and check the result.

2. Add the information the assistant needs

For products, add or import a sample with accurate names, prices, stock, images and Quick Product Info. Review extracted specifications. For services, configure services and availability where enabled. Add shipping, returns and common questions to Knowledge Base. Create Auto Replies for questions needing fixed wording.

3. Test a customer conversation

Save Chat Studio settings, then ask about a product or service, an actual use case, shipping and an unavailable item. Test a customer language and human handoff. Check recommendations against your facts. AI generation and customer replies have distinct quotas; check Billing rather than assuming tests are free.

4. Choose your first customer-facing channel

For an existing website, configure Widget and authorize the correct domain. For messaging, open Messaging Channels, connect a supported account and choose which message types receive replies. Send a real test from a customer account. A connection card is not proof that the platform is active or included in your plan.

5. Configure receiving customer payments

Choose Hosted Checkout or External Cart Sync in Settings > Checkout. Connect your merchant gateway, configure shipping and verify currency. Check the full payment and order-status flow using the provider's supported test procedure. Do not place a live charge just to dismiss an error. DirectSale subscription billing is separate.

6. Build and publish a storefront if needed

Run setup and review product selection, text, images, navigation and mobile layout in Preview. Connect your own root domain, complete DNS verification and SSL, then explicitly publish. A private preview is not a public store address. Check the published site in a private browser window.

7. Prepare operations

Invite the team with appropriate roles, configure notifications and human support, then review Conversations, Orders and usage regularly. Expand the catalog and channels after the first journey works.

When a step does not work

Keep unsaved edits, read the exact error, check role and plan access and confirm the connection is active. Ask Smart Help a specific question such as “How do I reply under an Instagram comment instead of sending a DM?” Include the page name, not credentials or private customer data. Support can investigate account issues that the guide cannot diagnose.