> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://publishflow.crisp.help/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Getting started with PublishFlow

# How to Get Started

Welcome to PublishFlow!

We appreciate you joining. In this article, we will show you how to get started and get an overview of our tool.

The best first step: Watch the tutorials in the **Learning Center**, right on your dashboard. Start with **Welcome to PublishFlow** (3 minutes) and **Creating Your First Book** (4:30 minutes). You find all tutorials again later in the **Tutorials** tab.

# Overview of Your Dashboard

**The sidebar: your tools**

1. **Dashboard:** The main view of PublishFlow. Here you see your stats, the Learning Center and all your books. It is the hub from where you do everything else.
2. **Niche & Positioning:** Our niche, positioning and competitor analysis tool researches your niche, analyzes your main competitors and gives you 3 book concepts that aim to be superior to your competition. Details: [Niche & Positioning Tool: Overview](https://publishflow.crisp.help/en/article/niche-positioning-tool-overview-1ifde2u/)
3. **Visuals:** Our design suite for everything around your book. Create a cover from scratch, build a matching back cover and wraparound, create A+ content, turn your visuals into a video ad or generate Facebook ad creatives. Details: [Visuals by PublishFlow: Overview](https://publishflow.crisp.help/en/article/visuals-by-publishflow-overview-w25r3i/)
4. **Translation:** Translate your finished book into another language. Details: [Translation Tool: Overview](https://publishflow.crisp.help/en/article/translation-tool-overview-1chjte2/)
5. **Book Optimizer:** Upload a book you already have. Maybe a ghostwriter wrote it for you, you wrote it yourself or you created it with AI. However your text was written, you can optimize it with PublishFlow's editing suite: It improves and tightens your existing text, without adding new content. Run the Fact-Check and use the editing and proofreading steps. Details: [Book Optimizer: Overview](https://publishflow.crisp.help/en/article/book-optimizer-overview-98b4za/)
6. **Expert Collaboration:** Invite experts or editors who then get access to your book in PublishFlow. An expert can write your entire book. You can also create it together. To make collaboration effective, this feature includes suggestions, comments and a chat. Details: [Expert Collaboration: Overview](https://publishflow.crisp.help/en/article/expert-collaboration-overview-xmnztu/)

**The sidebar: resources**

7. **Tutorials:** All video tutorials about PublishFlow in one place, so you can get the most out of every tool.
8. **Referral Program:** We have a very generous referral program. Earn 1 book credit for each referral (plus other special bonuses). Details: [Referral Program](https://publishflow.crisp.help/en/article/referral-program-ieq0q3/)
9. **Community:** Opens our community on Skool. Connect with other PublishFlow authors, share your progress and learn from each other.
10. **What's New:** Every new feature and update, explained shortly after release. Worth a regular look.

**The main area**

11. **Your stats:** Words generated, time saved, money saved and covers created, counted across all your books.
12. **Learning Center:** New tutorials to quickstart your PublishFlow journey. You can browse them with the arrows or close the section.
13. **My Books:** All books you have created with PublishFlow. Before your first book, you see a **Create Your First Book** button here instead.
14. **The flame icon:** A shortcut to What's New. It glows orange when there are new updates.
15. **Need more credits?:** If you need more book credits to create more books, click here to buy single credits or discounted packages.
16. **Search books:** Type in the title of your book to find it. The more books you have, the more you will appreciate this feature.
17. **+ New Book:** Click here to create a new book. After you click the button you can select how you want to start your book. When you continue, one book credit will be used.
18. **Book credits:** At the bottom of the sidebar you see the number of book credits you have left. Starting a new book costs one credit.
19. **Profile:** Your account details: profile settings, badges, account authentication, [subscription and billing](https://publishflow.crisp.help/en/article/managing-your-subscription-billing-credits-yeh0qt/) and log out. Here you can also switch between light and dark mode.
20. **Support Chat:** If you need help, click the chat icon at the bottom of your screen to open our support chat. Our AI assistant is there for you 24/7 and can solve most problems. If you need more help, we are happy to jump in and answer your questions personally.

# Your Next Step

Ready to write? Create your first book and follow the [PublishFlow Writing Process](https://publishflow.crisp.help/en/article/the-publishflow-writing-process-from-first-draft-to-finished-book-kkuhua/) from first draft to finished book. A good companion for the start: [Create your first book](https://publishflow.crisp.help/en/article/create-your-first-book-1h9xueu/)