🚀 App Setup — Super Easy Guide

Let's set up your Marketing Platform app step by step!

📋 What We'll Do

  1. Upload your files to your website
  2. Set up the database (see Database Setup Guide)
  3. Create a secure .env file with your passwords
  4. Test everything works

Step 1 — Upload Your Files

1
Open cPanel → File Manager.
2
Go to your website folder (usually public_html).
3
Upload all files from the market folder.
You can drag and drop or use the Upload button in File Manager.

Step 2 — Set Up Your Database

1
Follow the Database Setup Guide first.
2
Write down these 3 things:
  • Database name (like mindsybq_market)
  • Database username (like mindsybq_appuser)
  • Database password

Step 3 — Create Your Secure .env File

🔒 Important: The .env file holds your passwords. Keep it secret! Never share it or upload it to public places.
1
In File Manager, find the file called env.example in your market folder.
2
Right-click it → Copy.
3
Right-click in the same folder → Paste.
4
Rename the copied file from env.example copy to .env (with a dot in front).
If you can't see the dot, it's okay—the file manager might hide it. You can also create a new file named .env.

Step 4 — Fill In Your .env File

1
Right-click .env → Edit.
2
Fill in these lines with YOUR database info:
DB_HOST=localhost
DB_NAME=mindsybq_market
DB_USER=mindsybq_appuser
DB_PASS=your_actual_password_here
3
Generate a secret key for security:
  • Go to randomkeygen.com or any password generator
  • Create a random string (at least 32 characters)
  • Paste it next to SECRET_KEY=
4
Save the file.

Step 5 — Protect Your .env File

⚠️ Security Check: Make sure .env is protected!
1
Right-click .env → Change Permissions.
2
Set permissions to 600 (only you can read/write).
On shared hosting, you might not be able to change permissions, but that's usually okay—the server protects it.

Step 6 — Set Up Google Ads (Optional)

1
Follow the Google Ads Guide.
2
After you get your credentials, add them to your .env file:
GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_ID=your_client_id_here
GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_SECRET=your_client_secret_here
GOOGLE_ADS_DEVELOPER_TOKEN=your_developer_token_here

Step 7 — Set Up Facebook Ads (Optional)

1
Follow the Facebook Ads Guide.
2
Add your Facebook credentials to .env:
FACEBOOK_APP_ID=your_app_id_here
FACEBOOK_APP_SECRET=your_app_secret_here
FACEBOOK_ACCESS_TOKEN=your_access_token_here

Step 8 — Set Up Email (Optional)

1
Choose an email service (SMTP, SendGrid, or Mailchimp).
2
Add your email settings to .env. For SMTP:
EMAIL_SERVICE=smtp
SMTP_HOST=smtp.gmail.com
SMTP_PORT=587
SMTP_USER=your_email@gmail.com
SMTP_PASS=your_app_password_here
SMTP_SECURE=tls
For Gmail, you'll need to create an "App Password" in your Google Account settings.

Step 9 — Test Your Setup

1
Visit your website: https://your-domain.com/market
2
You should see the login page or dashboard.
3
Try logging in with:
  • Email: admin@marketingplatform.com
  • Password: Check your database or reset it

Step 10 — Keep Your .env Safe!

🔐 Security Rules:

✅ You're All Set!

Awesome job! Your app is now set up and secure. Your passwords are safely stored in the .env file, and your app can connect to the database and APIs.

Next steps:

🆘 Need Help?

Common Problems: