Creating a project in SearchAtlas allows users to audit and track website performance while leveraging OTTO’s optimization capabilities. Whether starting from the Site Auditor or Site Explorer, this guide walks you through the process of setting up your project, integrating important data sources, and understanding how to manage audit results effectively.
1. Starting the Project Creation Flow
You can create a project from two primary pages:
Site Auditor page
Site Explorer page
Click the Create button to initiate the project creation flow.
2. Add Your Website
Once you click Create, you can either:
Search for the website, or
Manually add the website to the project.
3. Set Up the Knowledge Graph
After adding the site, you’ll be prompted to set up the Knowledge Graph for your business. This involves connecting first-party business data, including your Google Business Profile (GBP), Search Console, and Analytics, ensuring that all critical business information is part of your audit.
4. Install the JavaScript Pixel
Next, you'll need to install the JavaScript Pixel on your website. This pixel is vital because it enables OTTO to perform page modifications and optimizations on your site.
The JavaScript pixel will work on all content management systems (CMS), including WordPress, Shopify, Webflow, and custom-built sites. Since the pixel is CMS-agnostic, it can also support sites built on React or other frameworks.
5. Triggering the Site Audit
Once the project is created, SearchAtlas will trigger the first site audit. The Site Auditor will scan your website for issues related to:
Images
Links
Title tags
Headers
Meta descriptions
These results will be reflected in the site audit report, where OTTO will offer suggestions for improvement.
6. Understanding Site Auditor Limitations
It’s important to note that SearchAtlas’s Site Auditor does not support JavaScript rendering at this time. This means that while OTTO deploys changes through JavaScript, the Site Auditor may not reflect those changes in the audit report.
This does not imply that the optimizations are ineffective—Google supports JavaScript rendering, and it will recognize the modifications when crawling your site. The absence of visible updates in the Site Auditor does not mean the changes haven't been applied.
Pro Tip: If clients are concerned about why site audit results don’t reflect the optimizations made by OTTO , explain that the Site Auditor’s limitations with JavaScript rendering are the cause. Reassure them that Google can still see these changes.
7. Configuring Crawl Parameters
By default, the Site Auditor crawls the top 100 pages of your website. If your site has more than 100 pages, make sure to adjust the crawl budget so the entire website is scanned. You can find these settings under the Crawl Settings tab.
This is particularly important to ensure you're auditing the entire site, rather than just a portion.
8. Future Features: Customizable Suggestions & Auto-Deploy
SearchAtlas is also working on a feature that will allow users to:
Calibrate quota consumption: Choose how many resources are used for various issue types.
Adjust refresh intervals: Set how frequently suggestions appear for specific tasks.
Auto-deploy suggestions: Automate the deployment of changes without manually clicking the deploy button.
These features are not yet live but will give users greater control over OTTO suggestions and the frequency of updates.
9. Connect First-Party Business Information
Finally, connect first-party data from sources such as Google Search Console and Google Analytics. This ensures that OTTO is working with up-to-date performance data to deliver relevant optimizations. You can link these accounts by navigating to Settings > Google Integrations.
Once connected, OTTO will utilize the data to provide actionable insights and suggestions for site improvements.
10. Final Steps: Review and Optimize
Now that your project is set up, you can begin reviewing the audit results and applying the suggestions OTTO provides. Remember to adjust the crawl budget and connect essential first-party information to get the most accurate insights from your site audit.
Conclusion
Creating a project in SearchAtlas is a simple yet powerful way to monitor and improve your website's performance. From installing the JavaScript pixel to adjusting your crawl parameters, the process is designed to be flexible and scalable. If you run into questions about why audit results might not reflect recent changes, remember that the Site Auditor’s limitations with JavaScript rendering are the cause, but rest assured that Google will see the optimizations.
For additional questions, be sure to visit our [Knowledge Base] or reach out to our support team!