Initial Configuration

Configure your subdomain, basic company information, time zones, regional settings, and get familiar with your Zinifly dashboard to start managing your events effectively.

Setting Your Subdomain

Your subdomain is your unique Zinifly web address and serves as the primary URL for your platform. This is how vendors, customers, and visitors will access your site.

1

Access Settings

From your dropdown menu, navigate to System Management > System Settings and locate the "Custom Domain" section.

2

Choose Your Custom Domain

Enter your desired domain name. Format: zinifly.com

3

Verify and Save

Add an A-record in your domain registrar and save. Once your DNS record has been saved and propagated; click "Save Changes". DNS propagation may take 5-15 minutes to complete globally.

Company Information Setup

Your company information appears throughout your platform, in communications with vendors and customers, and in official documents. Complete and accurate information builds trust and ensures compliance.

Business Details

Core information that identifies your organization.

  • Legal Business Name: Official registered name
  • DBA Name: "Doing Business As" if different
  • Business Type: Corporation, LLC, Non-profit, etc.
  • Tax ID/EIN: Required for payment processing
  • Registration Number: State/local business registration

Contact Information

Primary contact details for your organization.

  • Business Address: Physical location
  • Mailing Address: If different from business address
  • Primary Phone: Main business phone number
  • Primary Email: Official contact email
  • Website: Your main website (optional)

Primary Contact Person

Main point of contact for platform operations.

  • Full Name: Primary contact's name
  • Title/Position: Role within organization
  • Direct Email: Personal contact email
  • Direct Phone: Personal contact number
  • Role: Event manager, owner, administrator, etc.

Where This Information Appears

Location Information Used Purpose
Email Communications Company name, contact info From address, signatures, footers
Vendor Portal Company name, contact details Support information, organization identity
Payment Processing Legal name, Tax ID, address Financial transaction processing
Legal Documents Full business information Terms of service, contracts, policies
Support System Contact person, organization name Support ticket identification
Public Website Company name, contact info About pages, contact forms

Time Zone and Regional Settings

Proper time zone and regional settings ensure that dates, times, currency, and formatting display correctly for your users and match your business operations location.

Time Zone Configuration

Control how dates and times are displayed platform-wide.

  • Primary Time Zone: Your business operating timezone
  • Date Format: MM/DD/YYYY, DD/MM/YYYY, YYYY-MM-DD
  • Time Format: 12-hour (AM/PM) or 24-hour format
  • Week Start: Sunday or Monday as first day
  • DST Handling: Automatic daylight saving time adjustment

Regional Localization

Customize the platform for your geographic market.

  • Country/Region: Primary operating country
  • Language: Default platform language
  • Currency: Primary currency for all transactions
  • Number Format: Decimal and thousands separators
  • Address Format: Local address formatting standards

Currency & Financial Display

Configure how monetary values are displayed.

  • Default Currency: USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, etc.
  • Currency Symbol Position: Before or after amount
  • Decimal Places: Number of decimal places to show
  • Tax Display: Inclusive or exclusive of taxes
  • Rounding Rules: How to handle fractional currency
Best Practice Recommendations
  • Time Zone: Use the timezone where most of your events take place, not necessarily your office location
  • Currency: Match your primary payment processor's supported currencies
  • Date Format: Consider your audience's familiarity (US uses MM/DD/YYYY, most others use DD/MM/YYYY)
  • Language: Even if you're multilingual, set a primary language for consistency

Admin User Creation

Your initial admin user account is automatically created during signup, but you can create additional admin users or modify existing accounts to manage your platform effectively.

1

Navigate to User Management

Go to Settings > User Management > Admin Users to view existing admin accounts and access controls.

2

Add New Admin User

Click "Add New Admin User" and provide: full name, email address, phone number, and role/title within your organization.

3

Send Account Invitation

The system sends an email invitation with login instructions, temporary password setup, and account activation steps.

4

Verify Account Setup

Follow up with the new admin user to ensure they've successfully logged in and are comfortable with the platform navigation.

Critical Security Guidelines

Admin access should be granted very carefully. Admin users can:

  • Access all financial data and process payments
  • View sensitive vendor and customer information
  • Modify platform settings that affect operations
  • Delete events, vendors, and critical data
  • Create additional admin users with full access

Dashboard Overview and Navigation

Your Zinifly dashboard is the central command center for managing all aspects of your events and vendor operations. Understanding the layout and key features will help you work efficiently.

Analytics & Metrics Overview

Real-time performance indicators and key statistics.

  • Revenue Summary: Total earnings, recent transactions
  • Event Statistics: Active events, upcoming deadlines
  • Vendor Metrics: Active vendors, pending applications
  • Booking Activity: Recent reservations, occupancy rates

Quick Actions Panel

One-click access to frequently used functions.

  • Create New Event: Launch event creation wizard
  • Add New Vendor: Direct vendor registration
  • Send Announcement: Broadcast messages to vendors
  • View Pending Items: Applications, payments, approvals

Notifications & Alerts Center

Stay informed about important platform activity.

  • Vendor Applications: New registrations requiring review
  • Payment Notifications: Successful payments, failed transactions
  • System Updates: Platform improvements, maintenance notices
  • Support Messages: Help desk tickets, vendor inquiries

Notification Preferences

Configure how and when you receive notifications about platform activity. Proper notification settings help you stay informed without being overwhelmed.

1

Access Notification Settings

Navigate to Settings > Account > Notification Preferences to configure your notification preferences.

2

Choose Notification Types

Select which activities should trigger notifications. Start conservative and adjust based on your workflow needs.

3

Set Timing Preferences

Configure when notifications should be sent and whether to use quiet hours or business-only timing.

Recommended Settings for New Users
  • Start Conservative: Enable only critical notifications initially
  • Business Hours: Limit non-urgent notifications to work hours
  • Daily Digest: Use summary emails instead of individual notifications
  • Regular Review: Revisit settings monthly to optimize based on usage patterns

Next Steps After Initial Configuration

With your basic configuration complete, you're ready to move on to more advanced setup tasks that will prepare your platform for active use.

Website Customization

Brand your platform and customize the public-facing website.

  • Upload your logo and brand colors
  • Customize homepage content and layout
  • Set up custom pages and navigation
  • Configure SEO settings and metadata
Website Settings Guide →

Create Your First Event

Set up your inaugural event to test all platform features.

  • Define event details and logistics
  • Create venue layouts and space assignments
  • Set pricing tiers and booking rules
  • Test the complete booking workflow
Event Creation Guide →

Vendor Management Setup

Configure vendor registration and approval processes.

  • Design vendor application forms
  • Set up approval workflows and criteria
  • Create vendor categories and requirements
  • Define documentation and compliance standards
Vendor Setup Guide →
Configuration Completion Checklist

✅ Completed Tasks:

  • ✅ Subdomain configured and verified
  • ✅ Company information completed
  • ✅ Time zone and regional settings configured
  • ✅ Admin user accounts set up
  • ✅ Dashboard navigation explored
  • ✅ Notification preferences configured

⏳ Recommended Next Steps:

  • ⏳ Customize website branding and content
  • ⏳ Set up payment processing (Square integration)
  • ⏳ Configure email settings and templates
  • ⏳ Create vendor categories and requirements
  • ⏳ Design and publish your first event