Quick Start

This guide will help you set up VitalSentinel and start monitoring your website in just a few minutes.

Step 1: Create Your AccountCopy Anchor Link

1. Go to app.vitalsentinel.com
2. Click Create a free account
3. Enter your email and create a password
4. Check your email and click the verification link

Step 2: Create a WorkspaceCopy Anchor Link

After logging in, you'll be prompted to create a workspace:

1. Enter a name for your workspace (e.g., "My Company")
2. Select a plan:
   • Free - Perfect for getting started (1 domain)
   • Starter - For small websites (3 domains)
   • Lite - For professionals (5 domains)
   • Standard - For agencies (25 domains)
   • Advanced - For large organizations (50 domains)
3. Click Create workspace (Free plan) or Continue to checkout (paid plans, where the workspace is created after payment)

Step 3: Add Your DomainCopy Anchor Link

1. Enter your website URL (e.g., https://example.com)
2. Click Start monitoring this domain
3. VitalSentinel will verify your domain is accessible

Once added, VitalSentinel immediately starts:

• Finding and reading your sitemaps with Sitemap Monitoring
• Collecting Core Web Vitals data (CrUX)
• Running Lighthouse tests on your homepage (mobile and desktop)
• Monitoring uptime (homepage availability checks)
• Checking SSL certificate status and expiration
• Monitoring domain expiration
• Monitoring robots.txt for changes

Step 4: Install Tracking Scripts (Optional)Copy Anchor Link

To collect real user performance data, add the RUM script to your website:

<script
  src="https://rum.vitalsentinel.com/rum.js"
  data-key="YOUR_TRACKING_ID"
  async
></script>

For web analytics, also add:

<script
  src="https://analytics.vitalsentinel.com/analytics.js"
  data-key="YOUR_TRACKING_ID"
  async
></script>

Where to Add the ScriptsCopy Anchor Link

Add the scripts to the <head> section of your HTML, or use your platform's integration:

• WordPress - Use a header scripts plugin or add via wp_enqueue_script() in your theme
• Shopify - Go to Settings → Custom code and add to the Head section, or edit theme.liquid directly
• Next.js - Use the next/script component in your root layout.tsx or page components
• React - Add to index.html in the public folder

Step 5: Connect Google Integrations (Optional)Copy Anchor Link

For complete technical SEO and traffic insights, connect your Google account:

1. Click Integrations in the workspace sidebar
2. Click Connect Google Account
3. Authorize access to Google Search Console
4. Return to your domain and link the property

Step 6: Connect Server Logs (Optional)Copy Anchor Link

To see how search engine and AI crawlers treat your site, connect your server logs:

1. Open your domain and click Server Log Monitoring in the sidebar
2. Click Connect a log source
3. Choose Cloudflare Worker (real time, all plans) or Your own server (SFTP, FTPS, S3, R2, Google Cloud Storage or a file upload, on paid plans)

See Server Log Setup for what to prepare.

What's Next?Copy Anchor Link

Verify Your SetupCopy Anchor Link

After installing the scripts, visit your website and check the VitalSentinel dashboard:

1. Go to your domain's Overview page
2. Within a few minutes, your first data should appear.