Account setup and first login on SGEN
⏱ ~3 min read · step-by-step guide · full page ≈ 8 min · skim the bold lead-ins to move faster.
The 90-second answer. Go toyoursite.com/sg-admin. Click the link in your invitation or signup email to confirm your address and set a password. Log in. Click your avatar → Profile → fill in your display name and contact email → Save. Bookmarkyoursite.com/sg-admin. Set notification preferences. Done — fully operational account, about 15 minutes total. That's the whole thing. Read on if you want the details, troubleshooting, or the full checklist.
On this page: Who this is for · Before you start · Steps · What success looks like · Troubleshooting
Who this is for
Three situations land you on this page:
| Situation | What's different |
|---|---|
| You signed up directly | Email confirmation + password already set at signup. Steps 1-6 apply in full. |
| You received an invitation | A team member or admin added you to an existing account. You'll set a password on the invitation link, then follow Steps 2-6. |
| You're taking over an existing account | Account is already configured. Log in with provided credentials and follow Steps 3-6 to orient and update your profile. |
All three paths end at the same place: logged in, profile complete, dashboard bookmarked, notifications set.
This guide does not cover: changing a password while already logged in · billing and plan management · inviting other users · resetting a forgotten password (use Forgot Password on the login page, then return here) · reconfiguring a site already in active use.
Before you start
Confirm these before opening the login page:
- The email has arrived. Check your inbox — and spam — for the SGEN confirmation or invitation email. If nothing after five minutes, ask your account admin to resend.
- You have a password. Direct signups set a password at account creation. Invited users set one via the invitation link. Account takeovers: obtain the password from the previous owner or request a reset link.
- You know your dashboard URL. It is always
yoursite.com/sg-admin— replaceyoursite.comwith your actual site domain. Check your invitation email if unsure. - You're on a supported browser. Current Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. Update if you're on an older version.
Steps — Set up your account and complete your first login
1. Confirm your email and set your password
Open the email from SGEN and click the confirmation link or Accept Invitation button.
- Direct signup: The link confirms your email and takes you to the login page. Your password was set at signup.
- Invited user: The link opens a password-setup page. Choose a password of at least 12 characters — letters, numbers, and symbols. Save it in a password manager.
After confirming, you're redirected to the login page automatically. If the redirect doesn't happen, navigate to yoursite.com/sg-admin directly.
Invitation link expired? Links are valid for 72 hours. Ask the account admin to resend from the Users section — the account data is intact; only the link needs refreshing.
2. Log in at yoursite.com/sg-admin
Navigate to yoursite.com/sg-admin. Enter your email and password, then click Log in.
On success: The dashboard loads — site name in the top bar, navigation on the left, overview in the main area.
Check Remember me if you're on your own device and want to stay logged in for 30 days. Skip this on shared or public computers.
If you see an error, jump to Troubleshooting.
3. Complete your profile
Click your name or avatar in the top right → Profile or Account Settings.
Fill in these fields:
- Display name — Use first and last name (e.g. Sarah Chen). Shows next to your edits in activity logs and user lists.
- Profile photo — Optional. Useful on team accounts so edit history is readable. SGEN resizes the upload automatically.
- Contact email for notifications — Defaults to your login email. Change it if you want SGEN alerts going to a shared inbox.
- Role / Department — If shown, fill it in. Helps the admin understand who has access.
Click Save or Update Profile. Your display name updates immediately across the dashboard.
4. Explore the dashboard layout
The dashboard has a consistent structure: left sidebar (main nav), top bar (site name, notifications, account menu), main content area (changes per section).
Take two minutes to click each sidebar section — don't make changes, just look. Knowing where everything lives prevents confusion later.
If your dashboard has a Customize Layout or Dashboard Widgets option, configure it now so your overview shows the widgets relevant to your role.
5. Bookmark your dashboard URL
Press Ctrl+D (Windows) or Command+D (Mac) to bookmark yoursite.com/sg-admin. Name the bookmark something descriptive — "Your Site — SGEN Dashboard" is clearer than "sg-admin" when you have multiple sites.
Multiple SGEN sites? Each has its own /sg-admin URL. Create a bookmark folder called "SGEN" and keep them organized there.
Password manager? Save the login URL alongside your credentials so the manager can fill in email and password automatically next time.
6. Set your notification preferences
Go to your Profile or Notification Settings and review the options.
| Notification type | Recommended default |
|---|---|
| Form submissions | On — turn off for high-volume forms; use digest mode instead |
| New comments | Digest mode if your site is active (one email per day) |
| Publishing events | Admins: on. Editors not responsible for sign-off: off. |
| User activity | Admins: on (know when someone new gains access). |
Turn off anything that won't be useful to you. Click Save to confirm.
What success looks like
Your account is fully set up when all of these are true:
- You're logged in to
yoursite.com/sg-admin— the dashboard loads without a login prompt. - Your display name appears in the top right corner — not a placeholder or email address.
- Profile shows your name, contact email, and optionally a photo — all fields saved.
- The dashboard URL is bookmarked under a recognizable name.
- Notification preferences are set and saved.
- You can navigate to Pages, Blog, Media, and other main sections without confusion.
Next step: Role-specific onboarding. Admins → Site Settings and Brand Kit. Editors and marketers → Pages or Blog. Full path: Your first hour checklist · Dashboard tour.
What to do if it does not work
Invitation email never arrived. Check spam. Ask the admin to confirm the email address they used — a typo is the most common cause. Ask them to resend from the Users section.
Invitation link expired. Links are valid for 72 hours. Ask the admin to resend — a fresh 72-hour link is generated; no account data is lost.
"Incorrect email or password." Verify you're using the address the account was created with. Copy-paste the password to rule out typos. If it still fails, click Forgot Password on the login page.
Dashboard sections are missing. Your user role controls what you can see. Editors don't see Users or Settings. Ask the account admin to adjust your role from the Users section if you need broader access.
Two-factor authentication prompt. If 2FA is enabled on the account, you'll be prompted to set it up on first login. You need an authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy, or 1Password all work). Follow the on-screen steps: scan the QR code, enter the six-digit code, save your backup codes somewhere secure.
Dashboard loads slowly or shows blank sections. Try a hard refresh: Ctrl+Shift+R (Windows) or Command+Shift+R (Mac). If it persists across browsers and networks, contact your SGEN support team with the URL and a description of what you see.
Display name still shows as email address. Profile setup wasn't saved. Go to your account menu (top right) → Profile → fill in display name → Save.
Four habits worth setting now
Use a real display name, not a username. "Sarah Chen" beats "sarah.c" in a team dashboard. Edit history is readable when names are real. Set it once.
Set notifications before you need them. Two minutes now prevents a missed form submission or complaint later.
Bookmark the exact dashboard URL. Browser history fades. A named bookmark at yoursite.com/sg-admin is always there.
Save credentials in a password manager. You'll log in from new devices and new browsers. Set this up on day one, not after a lockout.