Start with the market and ticker context
Begin with a watchlist, recent price movement, and market news. That context helps separate a clean options setup from a ticker that is moving because of event risk, liquidity, or broad market pressure.
Move from volatility to construction
Review implied volatility, compare the skew and term structure, choose an expiration and strike area, then build a strategy that matches the directional thesis and risk tolerance.
Use flow as confirmation, not a shortcut
Unusual options flow can highlight where activity is concentrated, but it should be compared with price, IV, Greeks, and the trade's payoff profile before it influences a decision.