Migration aioseo to RM Pro & Staging & Registering staging w/ GSC

Greetings,

In process of migrating from aioseo to rank Math Pro (have not yet purchased). Have staging option via Siteground and want to re-configure re-do site (maybe new theme?) and s dev using staging.

I do not understand the RM staging info re registering the staging site with GSC and why install during staging instead of purchase / install Pro and then moving to staging.

This goes to best practices: Better to install / buy (not activate?) well live – then move to staging and activate / set up? Have faced “enormous challenges” prior from staging files being indexed by Google because of conflicts between aioseo and SG’s CLI staging (ended up with ~ 10 staging site urls / robots / sitemaps causing huge grief. Understand “Reading -> avoid indexing”.

Also – I am a classic “pro-sumer” – small business competing with larger competitors for the needed Pos #1 & 2 for long tail keywords. They all use Yoast. Had 9 results in pos 1 – 3 then that was blown up by conflict with aioseo’s issues for redirects (on Xmas day!)

Need to migrate – redo site “properly” AND – my competitor’s home pages use an added url to “win” My site: vanjobs.ca (tech / It recruiter / agency for > 25 years) and to add “it-tech” to vanjobs.ca would be desired outcome (unless adding page) competitors are it-iq.com/tech and SwimRecruiting.com/it-technology <– make sense? As an fyi, I own all TLD’s for vanjobs (com / net / org) and switched to .ca ~ 2018 as repointing com brought it’s “power” so no decrease with .ca

I need to do this perfectly – and if you suggest an example site or theme (astra or divi?) will do.
This is a “deliverable” for aioseo and Rank Math. It is my LIVELIHOOD – i.e. – cannot lose. My conversion “sucks” and need an awesome template / example to follow for getting transactional keywords for “companies” (clients) to go in and CLICK / Contact.

Cheers – and look forward to what we can do Mark Strong (Goog Mark Strong Canada or Vancouver) I’m honest – and I am the best. Just saying…. s*********@g******** best case