> 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/quickstart-checklist.md).

# Quickstart checklist

Go from a new Rankability account to a grounded client and your first research, content, audit, or tracking result.

Go from a new account to a grounded client and your first usable result in the full Rankability application.

Before you begin, have the brand's canonical website, public name, primary language, and service area when location matters.

## 1. Create the workspace and let its brand knowledge build

Enter the brand's website and select **Create workspace**. Every workspace is created this way, including your first. Rankability then prepares the brand knowledge in the background: the **Workspace setup** card shows the brand voice being created, the knowledge base being prepared, and your review of the result, and you can use Serena while that work runs. Rankability notifies you when the brand knowledge is ready to review; if preparation fails, use **Retry preparation** on the card.

Creating the workspace and building its initial brand knowledge are included. Nothing is tracked, changed, or published by creating a workspace — start a Track report when you are ready, using [Setting up keyword tracking](/track/setting-up-keyword-tracking.md).

Your organization has its own **Account setup** card on Home covering the account, the subscription, and the first workspace, with an optional prompt to invite teammates.

## 2. Review your first Track results

Once you have started tracking, open each Track report and confirm that the customer question, brand, primary market, selected platforms, and captured answers match the intended scope. One customer question is one report, so compare reports instead of treating a topic as a combined score.

Use **Ask Serena** from a report when you want help interpreting that report's evidence. Use **Home** or another contextual Activity link when you need to review recommended work, in-progress actions, alerts, human handoffs, or completed outputs; Activity is not a top-level client-sidebar item.

## 3. Connect data

Open the client’s **Settings** and choose **Integrations**. Connect the services that apply to the client, then confirm the correct account and property.

Use the Google account that already has access to the intended property. Initial imports and source platforms can have reporting delays, so a successful connection may not produce complete charts immediately. See [Connecting client Google services](/account-and-settings/connecting-client-google-services.md) for property selection and recovery steps.

## 4. Add or review sources

Open **Settings → Sources** to review the generated knowledge and add supported client material. Serena uses eligible processed sources as client context.

## 5. Complete a first workflow

* Use **Research** to save a keyword opportunity.
* Use **Create** to start a brief, draft, or Autopilot run.
* Use **Track** to create a tracking project and run its first scan.

Review the displayed usage impact before a consequential or unusually large on-demand action. Full-platform tools are included; pooled capacity recovers continuously.

## 6. Invite or share

Invite teammates from organization settings. For outside stakeholders, use the client portal or a supported revocable share link instead of sharing your own login.

## Verify the workspace is ready

A useful first setup should leave you with:

* the correct client name, domain, and location;
* reviewed client sources and brand context;
* the intended integrations connected to the correct properties;
* at least one usable tracking result or a clearly labeled first scan still in progress;
* any required next action visible from Home, the report, or another contextual Activity link; and
* team or client access that follows least privilege.

Do not treat an empty chart as zero performance until the first import or scan has completed and its freshness is visible.

## Common setup problems

* **The website or brand is wrong** — Correct the client settings before creating more work. Project results inherit client context.
* **A Google property is missing** — Confirm the signed-in Google account has access, reconnect, and select the exact property.
* **A task is still running** — Open its current status and wait. Do not create a duplicate run solely because you left the page.
* **An action uses more than expected** — Review keywords, platforms, locations, pages, competitors, or other multipliers before approval. Use [Control your usage](/account-and-settings/control-your-usage.md) to set safeguards.
* **An outside stakeholder needs access** — Use [Setting up the client portal](/account-and-settings/client-portal-sharing.md) instead of inviting them as an Admin.

## Related articles

* [Creating a new client](/getting-started/creating-a-new-client.md)
* [Setting up keyword tracking](/track/setting-up-keyword-tracking.md)
* [Using Activity](/activity/tasks-board.md)
* [Connecting client Google services](/account-and-settings/connecting-client-google-services.md)
* [Troubleshooting common issues](/troubleshooting/troubleshooting-common-issues.md)