> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://helpdesk.smaply.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://helpdesk.smaply.app/getting-started-with-smaply.md).

# Getting started with Smaply

By the end of this guide, you'll be oriented in your workspace, you'll have your first journey map started, and your team will be invited in.

{% embed url="<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXRQTz-5uak>" %}

{% hint style="info" %}
If you haven't created an account yet, see [How to create an account](/account-and-team/users-and-roles/how-to-create-an-account.md). If you've received an invitation, see [How to join by invitation](/account-and-team/users-and-roles/how-to-join-by-invitation.md).
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" icon="compass" %}
If you set up the Smaply Account and need to configure integrations, branding, custom item types, or users at scale, see [First steps for admins](/first-steps-for-admins.md).
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" icon="clipboard-list" %}

#### What you'll do

1. [The left sidebar](#the-left-sidebar)
2. [Create your first journey map](#create-your-first-journey-map)
3. [Invite your team](#invite-your-team)
4. [Get oriented to the rest of Smaply](#get-oriented-to-the-rest-of-smaply)
5. [What's next](#whats-next)
   {% endhint %}

***

#### The left sidebar

The persistent left sidebar is where you move around Smaply.

The **Account name** sits at the top with an expand and collapse dropdown for switching between Smaply Accounts you belong to. Below it, the workspace expands to show the sections you'll use day to day:

* **Dashboard** - The workspace landing page, with quick-create buttons, recents, saved views, favorites, and learning links.
* **Journey maps** - Every journey map in the workspace.
* **Personas** - Customer archetypes you can attach to journey maps.
* **Portfolio** - Pain points, opportunities, solutions, and any custom item types your team works with.
* **Metrics** - Quantitative data you can drop onto maps as cards.
* **Research** - The Research Hub for analyzing transcripts and turning them into insights.
* **Templates** - Pre-built journey map structures, from Smaply or your team.
* **Archive** - Archived journey maps, personas, and templates.
* **Settings** - Workspace-level settings.

At the bottom of the sidebar, your current plan name appears with an **Upgrade** button next to it (visible on the Free plan).

<figure><img src="/files/g27L6GPqd5G1CmSZyEJ7" alt="The persistent left sidebar of a workspace, with the Account name at the top and the workspace expanded to show Dashboard, Journey maps, Personas, Portfolio, Metrics, Research, Templates, Archive, and Settings. The plan area sits at the bottom."><figcaption><p>The left sidebar, where you move around Smaply</p></figcaption></figure>

***

#### Create your first journey map

Click **+ New journey** on the Dashboard to open the **New journey map** dialog. Pick the **Account** and **Workspace** the map belongs to, then click **Create**. The editor opens on the **Create your journey map** start screen, where you choose one of three ways to build the map:

* [**With Smaply AI**](#with-smaply-ai) - Describe the journey in a sentence and let AI draft the structure. Fastest if you don't have an existing model in mind.
* [**Blank journey**](#blank-journey) - Start from an empty canvas and build the map yourself. Best when you have a clear plan or want full control.
* [**From a template**](#from-a-template) - Start from a pre-built structure for a common scenario. Best when your situation matches a known pattern.

{% hint style="info" icon="tag" %}
Smaply AI is available on every plan. The **Free** plan includes 3 generated maps per month; paid plans raise this limit.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="/files/o6OtpAAJw2fepMFYgZR9" alt="The Dashboard of your workspace. A quick-create row near the top shows three buttons: + New journey, + New persona, and + New metric."><figcaption><p>Dashboard > + New journey</p></figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="/files/0iVs4rH1frYAXS7R1HUw" alt="The Create your journey map start screen inside the editor. A prompt field with a Generate button sits below the heading, with Try chips beneath it, and a Templates row showing a Blank journey card followed by template cards."><figcaption><p>The start screen, with three ways to build your map</p></figcaption></figure>

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="With Smaply AI" %}
Type a sentence describing the journey in the prompt field and click **Generate**. A guided three-step wizard then walks you through refining the name and description and customizing the stages and steps before it builds the full map.

For the full walkthrough, see [How to create a journey map](/journey-maps/how-to-create-a-journey-map.md).
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="Blank journey" %}
Click the **Blank journey** card in the **Templates** row. The map opens as an empty canvas with a single **Stage** lane, ready for you to add the lanes, columns, and cards you need.

For the full walkthrough, see [How to create a journey map](/journey-maps/how-to-create-a-journey-map.md).
{% endtab %}

{% tab title="From a template" %}
Pick a template card from the **Templates** row to start from a pre-built structure. Smaply's built-in templates sit alongside any your team has saved, and the map opens with the template's structure already in place.

For the full walkthrough, see [How to create a journey map](/journey-maps/how-to-create-a-journey-map.md).
{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

***

#### Invite your team

Invites happen at three levels. Pick the level that matches how widely the person needs access. Access at a broader level cascades down, so an account-level invitee automatically has access to every workspace and journey map.

* **Account level** - Use when someone needs access to everything in the account. Open **Account Settings > Users**.
* **Workspace level** - Use when someone only works inside one workspace. Open **Workspace Settings > Manage users**.
* **Journey-map level** - Use when someone only needs access to one specific map. Open the map's **Share** menu in the top-right of the editor and choose **Manage access**.

When you invite someone, you assign them a role: Admin, Editor, or Viewer. For what each role can do at each level, see [Access levels and permissions](/account-and-team/users-and-roles/access-levels-and-permissions.md).

For the full invite flow at any level, see [How to invite users](/account-and-team/users-and-roles/how-to-invite-users.md).

{% hint style="info" icon="tag" %}
Viewer seats are tracked separately from Admin and Editor seats and require **Framework** or above.
{% endhint %}

<figure><img src="/files/0qOytX4cnPewN2j2qEPE" alt="The Share menu open on a journey map, showing Manage access and Share link (view-only)."><figcaption><p>A map's Share menu > Manage access</p></figcaption></figure>

***

#### Get oriented to the rest of Smaply

Beyond journey maps, four other workspace areas hold work that connects back into your maps:

* **Personas** - Audience profiles you can attach to journey maps to filter and contextualize the experience. See [How to create a persona](/personas/how-to-create-a-persona.md).
* **Portfolio** - The catalog of pain points, opportunities, solutions, or any custom item types your team works with. See [How to create a portfolio item](/portfolio/how-to-create-a-portfolio-item.md).
* **Research Hub** - Where you analyze research files in an investigation; insights and quotes can flow into the portfolio. See [How to create an investigation](/research-hub/how-to-create-an-investigation.md).
* **Metrics** - Quantitative data from connected tools or manual CSVs that you can drop onto journey maps as cards. See [How to create and configure a metric](/metrics/how-to-create-and-configure-a-metric.md).

***

#### What's next

<table data-column-title-hidden data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th>Title</th><th>Description</th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref">Target</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>How to create a persona</strong></td><td>Add an audience profile to your first journey map.</td><td><a href="/pages/q92JEZ67HauDof23i4mL">/pages/q92JEZ67HauDof23i4mL</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>How to share a journey map via HTML link</strong></td><td>Share a read-only view with stakeholders outside your account.</td><td><a href="/pages/pIllWy9tostqqZvqoymz">/pages/pIllWy9tostqqZvqoymz</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>First steps for admins</strong></td><td>If you set up the Smaply Account, the admin-side setup tasks live here.</td><td><a href="/pages/lfeGHTTNt6pNYxV044Ne">/pages/lfeGHTTNt6pNYxV044Ne</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Access levels and permissions</strong></td><td>How roles and scopes shape what each user can see and do.</td><td><a href="/pages/escpmNlj3DUgMgLSjGAl">/pages/escpmNlj3DUgMgLSjGAl</a></td></tr></tbody></table>


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