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IAD Operations
Handoff Guide

Generate the Setup Package

Prepare everything you need before touching the server.
ℹ️ Run this step first. The setup package gives you all the credentials, content, and assets before you touch the server.
  1. Open the agent's website request
    Go to Website Requests and open the intake record for this agent. Confirm status is Generated or Pending.
  2. Collect agent content from the request
    Copy name, title, bio, phone, email, location, services, FAQs, accent colors, calendar link, and social links from the request record.
  3. Collect brand assets
    Download the agent's headshot, logo (PNG with transparent background preferred), and any background photo if provided.
  4. Confirm domain and hosting
    Verify the agent's domain name and hosting provider. Note any DNS access details. Each agent owns their own domain and hosting.
  5. Generate WordPress credentials
    Create a temporary password for the agent's WP account. Record the planned wp-admin URL, username (usually the agent's email), and temp password in the request record before proceeding.

Install WordPress on the Agent's Server

Use the agent's hosting account — IAD does not host agent sites.
⚠️ Each agent buys and owns their own domain and hosting. You'll need access credentials from the agent to proceed.
  1. Log in to the agent's hosting control panel
    Use cPanel, Plesk, or the host's dashboard (e.g., Hostinger, SiteGround, Bluehost). The agent should have provided login credentials.
  2. Run the one-click WordPress installer
    Most hosts offer an auto-installer (Softaculous, Installatron, or native). Point installation to the root of the agent's domain. Set the site title to the agent's name or business name.
  3. Set admin credentials
    Use the agent's email as the admin username. Set the temporary password you generated. Record both in the request record.
  4. Disable default plugins you don't need
    Deactivate Hello Dolly and Akismet (unless spam protection is needed). You can delete them after the site is live.
  5. Confirm wp-admin access
    Navigate to yourdomain.com/wp-admin and confirm you can log in with the new credentials before proceeding.

Install the IAD Agent Theme

Upload the IAD one-page theme ZIP and activate it.
  1. Download the IAD Agent Theme ZIP
    Get the latest version of the IAD agent website theme ZIP from the internal team drive. Do not use an older version.
  2. Upload via Appearance → Themes → Add New
    In wp-admin, go to Appearance → Themes → Add New → Upload Theme. Choose the ZIP file and click Install Now.
  3. Activate the theme
    After installation, click Activate. The site will switch to the IAD theme immediately.
  4. Install required plugins
    If the theme prompts for required plugins (e.g., Advanced Custom Fields or a page builder), install and activate all of them before continuing.
  5. Set the front page to static
    Go to Settings → Reading. Set "Your homepage displays" to A static page. Assign the Home page. This will be covered more in the next step.

Set the Front Page & Fill in Content

Populate all agent fields using the intake form data.
ℹ️ All fields live on the Home page in the page editor. The design layout is locked — agents can only update field values, not structure.
Full Name Agent's legal or preferred name
Title / Designation e.g. "Independent Insurance Agent"
Phone Primary contact number
Public Email Email shown on the site (may differ from login email)
Bio Agent's professional biography (from intake form)
Location City, State
License States Comma-separated state abbreviations
Services List of product lines offered
FAQs Q&A pairs from intake form
Calendar / Booking Link Calendly or equivalent URL
Accent Color Primary brand hex color
Headshot Upload agent photo (JPEG/PNG, minimum 400×400px)
Logo Upload agent logo (PNG transparent preferred)
Social Links Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube (optional)

  1. Open the Home page in the editor
    In wp-admin, go to Pages → Home → Edit.
  2. Fill all fields from the intake record
    Work through each field in the table above. Paste from the request record — do not retype from memory.
  3. Upload headshot and logo
    Upload assets to the Media Library first, then assign them to the correct fields in the page editor.
  4. Preview and proofread
    Use Preview → Preview in new tab to verify all content before saving. Check spelling, phone format, and that images load correctly.
  5. Click Update to save
    Hit Update in the top-right corner. Confirm the changes appear on the live preview.

Connect the Domain

Point the agent's domain to their hosting server.
⚠️ DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours. Set up and test everything before making the site public to the agent.
  1. Get the server's IP address or nameservers
    From the hosting control panel, find the server IP (for A record) or the nameservers (for NS delegation). Note both in case either method is needed.
  2. Log in to the agent's domain registrar
    Common registrars: GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains (now Squarespace), Porkbun. The agent owns this account — they need to provide access or make the DNS change themselves.
  3. Update DNS records
    Set an A record pointing @ and www to the server IP, or update the nameservers to the hosting provider's NS. Delete any conflicting A/CNAME records first.
  4. Update WordPress Site URL and Home URL
    In wp-admin go to Settings → General. Set WordPress Address (URL) and Site Address (URL) to the agent's domain (e.g. https://agentdomain.com).
  5. Install SSL certificate
    In hosting cPanel, activate the free Let's Encrypt SSL or AutoSSL. Enable HTTPS redirect so http:// redirects to https://. Verify the padlock appears in the browser.
  6. Confirm the site is live on the domain
    Visit https://agentdomain.com and confirm the IAD-styled site loads correctly with no SSL warnings or redirect loops.

What Agents Can Edit Themselves

The layout is locked. Agents can update their own content fields at any time.

✅ Can Edit

  • Name, phone, email, title
  • Bio / About section
  • Headshot and logo
  • Background photo
  • Services list
  • FAQ questions and answers
  • Calendar / booking link
  • Brand / accent color
  • Years experience, clients served
  • Social media links
  • Office hours

🚫 Cannot Edit

  • Page layout or section structure
  • Font sizes or typography
  • Section ordering
  • IAD branding elements
  • Disclaimer or compliance text
  • Theme files or code

ℹ️ Agents who need changes outside these fields should contact the IAD marketing team at marketing@iadbrokerage.com.

Handoff Email Template

Send this to the agent once the site is live. Fill in the bracketed fields.
ℹ️ This email is sent automatically when you click Send Launch Email in the Website Requests dashboard. The template below is for reference only.

Final Checklist

Complete all items before marking the request as Live.
ℹ️ Check each item off as you complete it. Progress is saved in your browser for this session.