---
title: Initial configuration
slug: '2674'
canonical_url: https://docs.coveo.com/en/2674/
collection: project-guide
source_format: adoc
---
# Initial configuration
This article focuses on the initial configuration phase of your search project.


![Search project activity diagram | Coveo](https://docs.coveo.com/en/assets/images/coveo-solutions/search-project-activity-diagram-initial-configuration-highlighted.svg)

## Create your organization

Before you can start working on your search project with the [Coveo Platform](https://docs.coveo.com/en/186/), create an [organization](https://docs.coveo.com/en/185/).
You can do this in one of several ways:

* Contact a [Coveo Sales](https://www.coveo.com/en/contact) representative to set up an organization for you.

* Start a [free trial](https://www.coveo.com/en/free-trial) with a new trial organization.

* Create a test organization (Test organizations have limited performance and can't be upgraded, so you should create a trial organization if you need more flexible limits.) from the organization drop down menu in the [Coveo Administration Console](https://docs.coveo.com/en/183/).

* [Use the Coveo CLI](https://docs.coveo.com/en/cli#coveo-orgcreate-name) to create a test organization.

* [Use the Platform API](https://platform.cloud.coveo.com/docs?urls.primaryName=Platform#/Organizations/rest_organizations_post) to create a test organization.

You will typically use the [Administration Console](https://docs.coveo.com/en/1841/) or CLI to interact with your organization and the various resources it hosts for you.
If necessary, you can invoke the Platform API directly to achieve the same results.

## Familiarize yourself with the Administration Console

The Coveo Administration Console is the main interface for managing your organization and its resources.
It is divided into several sections, each with its own purpose and functionality.
Read more about the Administration Console and its sections in the [About the Administration Console](https://docs.coveo.com/en/1841/) article.

## What's next?

The [Locate and index content](https://docs.coveo.com/en/2679/) section of this guide offers tips and tricks on how to retrieve, enhance, and [index](https://docs.coveo.com/en/204/) content to maintain a clean and up-to-date index.
Applying its recommendations early in your search project will have a profound and positive impact thereafter.