Quick Start Guide

Get up and running with FeatureShark in under 5 minutes! This guide will walk you through the essential steps to create your first feedback board and start collecting feature requests.

Prerequisites

• A FeatureShark account (sign up for free at featureshark.com)
• 5 minutes of your time

Step 1: Create Your Account

1. Visit featureshark.com and click "Get Started Free"
2. Enter your email address and create a secure password
3. Verify your email address by clicking the link we send you
4. Complete your profile with your name and company information

Step 2: Set Up Your First Project

After logging in, you'll be guided through project creation:

1. Project Name: Choose a descriptive name (e.g., "MyApp Feature Requests")
2. Project URL: Select your unique subdomain (e.g., myapp.featureshark.com)
3. Category: Choose your project type (Web App, Mobile App, SaaS, etc.)
4. Team Size: Select your current team size for better recommendations

Step 3: Configure Basic Settings

Board Configuration

• Board Title: What users will see at the top of your feedback board
• Welcome Message: A brief description of what users can expect
• Submission Guidelines: Optional rules for feature requests

Voting Settings

• Voting Type: Choose between upvotes only or upvote/downvote
• Vote Limit: Set how many votes each user gets (unlimited recommended)
• Anonymous Voting: Allow users to vote without creating an account

Step 4: Customize Your Board's Appearance

Basic Branding

1. Upload your company logo (PNG, JPG, or SVG)
2. Choose your primary brand color
3. Select a pre-built theme that matches your style

Advanced Styling (Optional)

• Custom CSS for advanced users
• Font family selection
• Layout preferences

Step 5: Create Your First Categories

Organize feature requests with categories:

Recommended Categories:

• 🚀 New Features - Brand new functionality
• 🔧 Improvements - Enhancements to existing features
• 🐛 Bug Reports - Issues that need fixing
• 🎨 UI/UX - Design and user experience improvements

Step 6: Set Up User Management

Public vs Private Boards

• Public: Anyone can view and submit requests
• Private: Requires user approval or invitation
• Hybrid: Public viewing, but submissions require account

User Permissions

• Admin: Full access to all features
• Moderator: Can manage requests and users
• Contributor: Can submit and vote on requests
• Viewer: Read-only access

Step 7: Add Your First Feature Request

Test your board by creating a sample request:

1. Click "Submit Feature Request"
2. Add a clear, descriptive title
3. Provide detailed description with use cases
4. Select appropriate category and priority
5. Add tags for better organization

Step 8: Share Your Board

Get Your Board URL

Your board is available at: https://yourproject.featureshark.com

Share Options

• Direct Link: Share the URL with your users
• Embed Widget: Add to your website or app
• Email Integration: Send to your mailing list
• Social Media: Share on Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.

Step 9: Set Up Notifications

Stay informed about new submissions:

Email Notifications

• New feature requests
• Comments and updates
• Weekly summary reports

Slack Integration

1. Go to Settings > Integrations
2. Click "Connect Slack"
3. Choose your Slack workspace and channel
4. Configure notification preferences

Step 10: Invite Your Team

Collaborate with team members:

1. Navigate to Settings > Team
2. Click "Invite Member"
3. Enter email addresses and select roles
4. Send invitations

Pro Tips for Success

Writing Effective Feature Requests

• Use clear, specific titles
• Include user stories ("As a user, I want...")
• Add mockups or screenshots when helpful
• Explain the business value

Encouraging User Participation

• Respond to requests promptly
• Provide status updates on popular features
• Show appreciation for quality submissions
• Create a feedback loop with users

Organizing Your Board

• Use consistent category names
• Create custom tags for better filtering
• Set up automated rules for common scenarios
• Regular cleanup of duplicate or outdated requests

What's Next?

Congratulations! Your FeatureShark board is now live. Here are recommended next steps:

1. Setting Up Your First Board - Deep dive into board configuration
2. Inviting Team Members - Team collaboration best practices
3. Understanding Voting & Prioritization - Learn about our AI-powered insights

Need Help?

• 📚 Browse our complete documentation
• 💬 Join our community forum
• 📧 Contact our support team
• 📅 Schedule a personalized demo

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Estimated Setup Time: 5 minutes
Last Updated: September 2025