> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.rankability.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.rankability.com/getting-started/creating-a-new-client.md).

# Creating a new client

Create a Rankability client from the correct website and review the included brand knowledge setup.

A client keeps one brand's knowledge, integrations, projects, Activity, audits, tracking, and Serena context together. Create a separate client only when the work needs an independent brand and evidence boundary—not simply because you want another project for the same website.

## What you need

Prepare:

* The client's primary website domain.
* The public brand name you expect Rankability to learn from that site.
* The primary language and service area when location matters; you can review these after the client exists.

You can connect Google services, add private sources, and refine the brand voice after the client exists.

1. Open **Workspaces**.
2. Select **Add workspace**.
3. Enter the website, such as `example.com`. Rankability accepts the bare domain and validates that it looks like a complete website address.
4. Select **Create workspace**. Rankability creates the workspace and starts its initial brand setup.

Creating the client and its initial knowledge setup is included. Each client counts toward your plan's brand workspace allowance, which **Billing** shows alongside your other allowances. Subscriptions bought before the current packaging keep the client terms they were sold at their protected price.

Every route to workspace creation uses this same form, including older quick or guided links, so your first workspace and your tenth are created the same way.

After the workspace opens, Rankability prepares its brand knowledge in the background and a **Workspace setup** card tracks that work: the brand and website added, the brand voice created, the knowledge base prepared, and your review of the result. You can use Serena while preparation runs, and Rankability sends a notification when the brand knowledge is ready to review. If preparation fails, the card says so and offers **Retry preparation** — the workspace itself is still available. The card also links the optional next steps: connecting Search Console and setting up tracking.

## If the domain already exists

When Rankability detects an existing accessible client for the same domain, use that client instead of creating a duplicate. This protects the brand knowledge, sources, Activity history, measurements, and existing work that Serena already uses.

If you intentionally need a second, isolated client for the same domain, create it only through a flow that explicitly warns you about the duplicate and offers **Create anyway**. The second client starts from scratch and does not inherit the original client's context.

## What to do next

1. Review the client name and domain in [Client settings](/account-and-settings/client-settings-reference.md).
2. Check the initial website context and add missing client material under **Settings → Sources**. See [Serena sources and data connections](/serena/advisor-knowledge-base-and-data-connections.md).
3. Connect the correct GSC, GA4, GBP, or other supported property only when the workflow needs it. A connected Google account is not complete until the intended property or profile is selected.
4. Ask Serena about the client, choose **Research**, **Create**, **Audit**, **Promote**, **Track**, or **Automate**, or use Home and contextual links to open the client's Activity record.
5. Review the usage impact before starting an unusually large content, research, tracking, audit, promotion, or enrichment action.

Full-platform tools are included. Later high-impact actions can display a usage estimate before on-demand work begins. Your organization chooses whether to start or publish that work.

## Troubleshooting

* **The create button is unavailable** — Enter a complete dotted domain.
* **The suggested brand is wrong** — Correct the name and Brand & voice fields after creation in Workspace settings.
* **The wrong location was learned** — Correct the default location or service-area evidence in Workspace settings before location-sensitive work.
* **An existing client opens** — The domain already belongs to an accessible client. Continue there to preserve its history.
* **Client creation is blocked by the account state** — Follow the billing or upgrade action shown in the product. Existing clients remain available.
* **The site cannot be fully read** — Finish creating the client, then add the important material under **Settings → Sources**.

Continue with the [Quickstart checklist](/getting-started/quickstart-checklist.md) after the client opens.