Account Setup Checklist
Complete your post-onboarding configuration with this 5-step setup guide.
Overview
After your first project is created, a setup checklist automatically appears in the sidebar. This checklist guides you through the essential configuration steps needed to get the most out of Rankfender. Each step is tracked independently, and the checklist disappears once all five steps are complete.
You can complete the steps in any order, but the recommended sequence below ensures each step builds on the previous one for a smooth setup experience.
Checklist Summary
| Step | What to Do | Where | Completion Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Visual Identity | Upload your logo and set brand colors | Project Settings > Brand Book | Logo URL and brand colors are saved |
| 2. Connect GSC | Connect Google Search Console | Project Settings > Integrations | GSC site URL is saved |
| 3. Content Plan | Generate topics and enable auto keywords | Content > Planner | At least 1 topic exists |
| 4. Content Style | Set article style and default tone | Content > Settings | Article style and default tone are set |
| 5. Report Automation | Enable automated reports | Reports | Auto-generate is enabled and frequency is set |
Step 1: Visual Identity
Navigate to Project Settings > Brand Book and upload your company logo. You can upload a PNG, SVG, or JPG file. Next, set your primary and secondary brand colors using the color picker or by entering hex values directly.
This step is marked as complete when both a logo URL and at least one brand color are saved in your project settings. Your visual identity is used across generated reports, content previews, and exported materials.
Step 2: Connect Google Search Console
Go to Project Settings > Integrations and connect your Google Search Console account via OAuth. Once authenticated, select the property that matches your project domain. Rankfender will import your organic keyword data, including search queries, average positions, clicks, impressions, and CTR.
This step is marked as complete when a GSC site URL is saved to your project. The imported data powers the Organic Performance section under Keywords and enriches your content planning with real search data.
Step 3: Content Plan
Open Content > Planner and generate your first set of topics. Rankfender uses your brand book, connected keywords, and competitor data to suggest relevant content topics. You can also enable auto keywords to have the system continuously discover new keyword opportunities.
This step is marked as complete when at least one topic exists in your content planner. Topics serve as the foundation for AI-generated articles and your overall content strategy.
Step 4: Content Style
Visit Content > Settings to configure your article style and default tone. The article style determines the structural format of generated content (such as how-to guides, listicles, or long-form analysis). The default tone controls the voice used across all generated articles (professional, conversational, authoritative, and so on).
This step is marked as complete when both the article_style and default_tone fields are set. These settings ensure every piece of content aligns with your brand voice from the start.
Step 5: Report Automation
Navigate to Reports and enable automated report generation. Choose your preferred frequency (daily, weekly, or monthly) and configure which metrics to include. Automated reports are delivered to your dashboard and can be exported or shared with stakeholders.
This step is marked as complete when auto_generate is enabled and a report frequency is set. Once configured, Rankfender will generate and deliver reports on your chosen schedule without any manual intervention.
Checklist Completion
The setup checklist disappears from the sidebar once all five steps are marked as complete. You can always revisit and modify any of these settings later through their respective pages. If you reset a setting that was previously configured (for example, disconnecting GSC), the checklist will not reappear, but you may lose functionality that depends on that configuration.