# Build a Customer Website with AI Builder (Pre-Prod) — Step-by-Step

> For DreamHost staff. This uses the **pre-production panel** and the **AI Builder** entry point that’s **visible only to employees**. Don’t share pre-prod links with customers.

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## What you’ll need

* The customer’s **webid** (their DreamHost Panel **username**).
* A domain on the customer’s account (or a domain you intend to add).
* Access to the DreamHost **pre-prod** panel.

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## 1) Sign in to the pre-prod panel

1. Open: [https://preprod.proddb.dreamhost.io/dhwebpanel/index.cgi](https://preprod.proddb.dreamhost.io/dhwebpanel/index.cgi)
2. Log in with your employee credentials.

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## 2) Switch to the customer’s account

1. Click your **profile** avatar (top-right).
2. In **Switch to user**, enter the customer’s **webid** (username).
3. Confirm the switch.

> ✅ You should now be acting **as the customer** inside pre-prod.

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## 3) Go to Manage Websites

* From the left navigation, open **Websites → Manage Websites**
Direct link: [https://preprod.proddb.dreamhost.io/dhwebpanel/index.cgi?tree=domain.dashboard#](https://preprod.proddb.dreamhost.io/dhwebpanel/index.cgi?tree=domain.dashboard#)

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## 4) Add a Fully Hosted Website

1. Click **Add Website +** (top-left).
2. **Select Your Domain**

* Pick the desired domain from the customer’s list (or add the domain if needed).
3. **Get Started With Your Website**

* Choose **Custom setup**.
4. **Server Selection**

* Choose the server you want to host the site on.
5. Review and **Create**.

> Tip: If the domain isn’t in the list, ensure it’s on the customer’s account first.

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## 5) Wait for setup to finish

1. Return to **Websites → Manage Websites**.
2. Find the new domain entry and watch the **progress bar**.
3. Continue once setup shows as complete/active.

> If the progress appears stuck, refresh the page after a short while.

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## 6) Open AI Builder (staff-only entry point)

* In the domain’s row, click the **AI Builder** icon.
This is your **entry point to AI Builder** in pre-prod and is **visible only to employees** (customers won’t see this tool).

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## 7) Complete the AI Builder intake form

Fill out the questions below. These values are used to generate the initial site content and settings.

1. **Let’s begin! What is the name of your business?**

* Enter the business/company/brand name to display on the website.
* **Limit:** 200 characters.

2. **Describe your website**

* Add all relevant info about the site: products/services, location, target audience, style/tone, anything the customer provided.
* **Limit:** 3000 characters.
* *Tip:* More detail here = better first draft from AI Builder.

3. **What is your business email?**

* Orders and contact form submissions will go to this address, and it will be shown on the site.
* The field may **auto-suggest** from the user profile email—confirm it’s correct.
* **Limit:** 300 characters.

3. **What is your phone number?**

* Orders and contact form submissions will go to this address, and it will be shown on the site.
* The field may **auto-suggest** from the user profile phone number it’s correct.
* **Limit:** 300 characters.

3. **What is your phone number?**

When everything looks good, **submit** the form to start building.

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## 8) Review the generated site

* Preview the website.
* Sanity-check the business name, description, and **contact email**.
* If needed, go back and adjust inputs or edit content in the builder.

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## Troubleshooting

* **Can’t see “Switch to user”?**
Ensure you’re logged in with the right employee permissions.

* **Domain doesn’t appear during selection:**
Make sure the domain exists in the customer’s account or add it first.

* **Progress bar not finishing:**
Refresh the page; confirm the domain shows as fully hosted before launching AI Builder.

* **AI Builder icon missing:**
Confirm you’re in **pre-prod** and switched to the **customer**. The AI Builder staff entry is employee-only and appears once the domain is fully hosted.

* **Contact email issues:**
Double-check the email in the intake form; update and rebuild if necessary.

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## Hand-off

* Once satisfied, let the customer know their site was created on their account.
* Remind them that in production they’ll access site management via their standard DreamHost Panel paths (the **AI Builder staff icon does not appear for customers**).

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*End of guide.*