# Your first experiment

URL: https://docs.ablyft.com/guides/getting-started/first-experiment/

> From an empty account to a running experiment, step by step.



This guide takes you from a new account to your first running experiment. You need access to your website's code
(or someone who can add one line of code), and about 30 minutes.

If terms like *variation*, *page* or *goal* are new to you, read [Core concepts](https://docs.ablyft.com/guides/getting-started/concepts/) first.

## Before you start

You need:

* an ABlyft account,
* a **team** and a **project** for your website (see step 1),
* the **snippet** installed on your website (see step 2).

## Step 1: Create your team and project

When you sign up, ABlyft asks you to create a **team**. Enter a **Team name**, usually the name of your company. You can
work alone and invite colleagues later.

Then create your first project, one per website or application where you run experiments. Click
**Create your first project** and follow [Create a project](https://docs.ablyft.com/guides/projects-and-teams/projects/#create-a-project).
ABlyft opens the **Experiments** page of your new project.

## Step 2: Install the snippet

The snippet is one line of code that connects your website with ABlyft. Without it, no experiment can run.

1. In your project, go to **Settings → Snippet**.
2. Copy the code from **Implementation (base snippet)**.
3. Add it to the `<head>` of your website, or hand it to your developer.

The empty experiment list also links to the instructions with **First, implement the snippet**. All details are in
[Embed the snippet](https://docs.ablyft.com/developers/installation/snippet/).

> ABlyft does not check automatically whether the snippet is installed. Open the **Live Log** of your project after
> visiting your website to see whether events arrive.

## Step 3: Create the experiment

1. On the **Experiments** page, click **Create your first experiment** (later: **new experiment**).
2. Enter a **Name**. Use a clear, descriptive name, for example `Product page: bigger buy button`.
3. Enter an **Example URL**: a page of your website where the experiment will be visible, for example
   `https://example.com/product`. ABlyft uses it to build the preview link and to open the Visual Editor.
4. Optionally add a **Description**, then click **Create experiment**.

The new experiment has the status **Draft**. It does not run yet, and nobody sees it.

> **Example URL is not the targeting:** The example URL only helps you edit and preview. Where the experiment really runs is defined by *pages* in step 5.
> The snippet must be installed on the example URL, otherwise the Visual Editor cannot open it.

## What this page will cover

* Create the experiment and its variations
* Select pages, audience and goals
* Preview, then start