
Define the problem
Start with the affected URLs, observed change, and business consequence. A ranking decline can have several causes that require different evidence. Keep the next round of work small enough to assess clearly.
Use crawls, search reports, release history, and page comparisons to check the explanation. Avoid treating one tool score as a complete diagnosis. Try the main customer task on a phone before signing off.
- A written brief
- Named responsibilities
- Agreed review points




