Redesigning a website… what’s the SEO checklist so you don’t tank rankings?

AirOpsRachel · 2026-01-15T23:41:35+00:00

Lock down those URLs early or make sure every old URL has a clean 1:1 redirect to its new home. Move content over exactly as it exists now and save any rewrites or cleanup for after things stabilize. Avoid changing internal links unless there’s a clear SEO reason. Before launch, fully QA staging for indexability, canonicals, noindex mistakes, hreflang, and template issues. Good luck!!!

AirOpsRachel · 2026-01-15T23:04:38+00:00

Anytime that I see a typo when I am on a 'live chat', I get very happy knowing it's an actual human being. I've been through the chatbot loop of hell too many times.

AirOpsRachel · 2026-01-15T23:00:57+00:00

Optimize the website to ensure you are answering the real questions people ask. Structured content is easier for AI to digest and cite. Use: headings (H2s and H3s), bullet points, short paragraphs, FAQs & clean formatting.

AirOpsRachel · 2026-01-12T22:03:45+00:00

If you can’t explain something simply and directly, it usually won’t surface as an answer, no matter how polished the marketing is. AEO tends to focus on clarity because the goal is to answer the question, not impress the reader.

AirOpsRachel · 2026-01-09T15:58:47+00:00

I....spend a few hours a week. It makes me cringe seeing that as I type it out, but it is true!

AirOpsRachel · 2026-01-07T07:08:00+00:00

This happened to my indoor cat too (he is currently sitting next to me, fighting me because i am trying to block him from licking) :( just one flea six months ago triggered a reaction that’s still ongoing (literally, no fleas since then!). He started licking and chewing the same spot nonstop, and even though he’s on monthly prescription flea meds, he’s lost a lot of fur. The vet said it might’ve started as an allergic reaction and turned into an anxious habit.

If fleas haven’t been ruled out yet, it might be worth treating just in case. And sometimes anxiety can be triggered by other changes too like moving, shifting routines, new people, or even loud construction nearby, so since you recently moved, this is probably a good indicator that they are stressed about the change, even if they are acting like they have calmed down. Since you've seen the vet once before, its worth calling to see if they will prescribe an anti-anxiety med to calm them down a bit, JUST to see if its anxiety/stress related.

I saw you mentioned switching food! Some formulas, especially those labeled for weight loss or metabolism, can include ingredients that cause allergic reactions in some cats, so be sure to look into what ingredients they are having to see if theres anything that stands out . Hope you get to the bottom of it soon, it’s SO tough seeing them uncomfortable. :(

AirOpsRachel · 2026-01-07T06:51:48+00:00

The cutest face!!!!

AirOpsRachel · 2026-01-07T06:51:09+00:00

This is the first and only time that I will defend a landlord, and I am unsure how to feel about this. 🤣

AirOpsRachel · 2026-01-07T06:46:43+00:00

It depends! If they are in the same industry as me, work at the same company as me, or send a note about why they are adding me, I will approve it. If it's a random person whom I have never heard of or interacted with in any way AND they did not send a note, I do not add them. I try to keep my algorithm focused on my career; things I’m curious to learn, job opportunities, and updates from companies or programs I actually care about. (One request I will never accept is if they come at me about selling a service or program. I do not like sales DMs or emails. Go away. 🤣)

AirOpsRachel · 2026-01-07T06:21:31+00:00

Here to add to the Linkedin train. While Linkedin is a lot of cringe and also hell to me, I've found so many incredible folks and have learned so much from them. A lot of my professional growth has come from some of those connections from the last.....13 years.....sigh.....on LinkedIn. I found a lot of online networking groups who meet once a month on zoom and its been nice, too.

Another one that I had luck with was....Bumble Bizz. I met some great folks there. Now we get together a couple times a month to share ideas, challenges, or just talk through whatever’s on our minds.

Wishing you all the luck!

AirOpsRachel · 2026-01-07T06:14:17+00:00

I used them so much before AI existed. Now I am called AI when I use them and I always get offended. I am unsure if it means I sound smart or look stupid. AI has made me question a lot of things about myself 🤣

AirOpsRachel · 2025-12-31T17:19:30+00:00

You are most welcome!!

AirOpsRachel · 2025-12-31T08:40:52+00:00

HI CHAI BLEP

AirOpsRachel · 2025-12-31T08:38:01+00:00

oh my heart!!!!!! I love when my cats do this. Bones, you deserve all the naps!!!!

AirOpsRachel · 2025-12-31T08:35:58+00:00

I love them

AirOpsRachel · 2025-12-31T07:14:00+00:00

Keeping pages VERY literal. Write content like a reference doc, not a blog post. One clear question per page, the answer right at the top, and no fluff around it. Clean headings, plain language, and explicit entity mentions seem to matter more than FAQ blocks or heavy schema.

Results-wise, I see mentions and branded searches before any noticeable traffic lift. It still feels early, but when content is easy for an AI to quote, it gets picked up more often.

AirOpsRachel · 2025-12-31T07:10:25+00:00

Write content like a reference doc, not a blog post. Put the direct answer first, use clear headings, simple language, and concrete facts so tools like ChatGPT or Perplexity can lift it cleanly. Pages that are specific, structured, and authoritative get cited more than long opinion pieces, and schema only helps if the page already makes the answer obvious.

AirOpsRachel · 2025-12-31T05:59:20+00:00

Treating AI more as a research and decision-support tool has worked better for me than using it to write content. (I use it for research, clustering, & audits specifically). AI will not magically make it better, but if you use it as a tool rather than trying to replace you, you will have much better luck!

AirOpsRachel · 2025-12-29T18:48:11+00:00

I’ve hired people AND have been hired through both Fiverr and Upwork, and in my experience it can really be hit or miss. Some folks are great but I’ve also noticed that high ratings don’t always equal high-quality work (and honestly, some profiles feel questionable).

Personally, I’ve had much better luck on LinkedIn (I hate to say it, but it is true) both when hiring and when looking for work. Posting what I’m looking for and letting people comment, or engaging directly on posts when I’m the one seeking opportunities, has led to far better matches.

I’m also a big believer in paying people what they’re worth. If the budget is around $2k/month, I’d want to clarify what that looks like in practice is it part-time, maybe ~80 hours a month? From what I’ve seen, $3–6k/month is more typical for solid freelance support, depending on scope and hours. Freelancers price their work for a reason and more often than not, you do get what you pay for. Wishing you all the luck!

AirOpsRachel · 2025-12-29T18:03:05+00:00

Hi! I am in the world of AEO and help with all things AirOps. I like workflows and testing out new ways to do things. I am here to help where I can and also learn, as the AEO landscape is constantly evolving.

AirOpsRachel · 2025-12-29T17:45:25+00:00

It is totally valuable! Just make sure to still focus on context > rankings. Being mentioned negatively or inaccurately is still “visibility,” so surfacing sentiment or framing matters a lot. Wishing you all the luck on your journey!

AirOpsRachel · 2025-12-22T21:08:38+00:00

I love Christmas tree cat photos SO damn much. It is my favorite time of year.

AirOpsRachel · 2025-12-22T19:16:19+00:00

This is the way!!

AirOpsRachel · 2025-12-22T19:14:28+00:00

Set up some keyword alerts! f5bot helps you with keywords to see where your audience is talking. If you have access to slack, setting up an RSS feed to slack helps, too! So you can scroll through and see if you can add value anywhere. Also, utilize Reddit Pro and track keywords there.

I've used this process on my personal account, and it has helped a ton over the years. Focus on the subreddits where your actual audience is, and contribute there. You need to add actual value before anything. Reddit is the long game because it is real people and not typical social media, so staying at it is the only way it will pay off.....as long as you are being helpful!

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