Template:AfD in 3 steps

I – Put the deletion tag on the article.

• Insert {{subst:afd1}} at the top of the article. Do not mark the edit as minor.
  If this article has been nominated before, use {{subst:afdx|2nd}}or{{subst:afdx|3rd}} etc.

• Include in the edit summary AfD: Nominated for deletion; see [[Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/NominationName]]. replacing NominationName with the name of the page being nominated. Publish the page.
  The NominationName is normally the article name (PageName), but if it has been nominated before, use "PageName (2nd nomination)" or "PageName (3rd nomination)" etc.)

II – Create the article's deletion discussion page.

The resulting AfD box at the top of the article should contain a link to "Preloaded debate" in the AfD page. Click that link to open the article's deletion discussion page for editing. Some text and instructions will appear.

You can do it manually as well:

• Click the link saying "deletion discussion page" to open the deletion-debate page.
• Insert this text:
  {{subst:afd2 | pg=PageName | cat=Category | text=Why the page should be deleted}} ~~~~
  Replace PageName with the name of the page, Category with a letter from the list M, O, B, S, W, G, T, F, and P to categorize the debate, and Why the page should be deleted with the reasons the page should be deleted.
• If appropriate, inform members of the most relevant WikiProjects through one or more "deletion sorting lists". Then add a {{subst:delsort|<topic>|<signature>}} template to the nomination, to insert a note that this has been done.
• Use an edit summary such as Creating deletion discussion for [[PageName]]. Publish the page.

III – Notify users who monitor AfD discussions.

• Open the articles for deletion log page for editing.
• At the top of the list on the log page (there's a comment indicating the spot), insert:{{subst:afd3 | pg=NominationName}}
  Replace NominationName appropriately (use "PageName", "PageName (2nd nomination)", etc.)
• Link to the discussion page in your edit summary: Adding [[Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/NominationName]]. Publish the page.
• Consider letting the authors know on their talk page by adding: {{subst:Afd notice|Page name}} ~~~~
  If this is not the first nomination, add a second parameter with the NominationName (use "PageName (2nd nomination)" etc.): {{subst:Afd notice|PageName|NominationName}} ~~~~