🔍 Overview
Search Atlas supports two distinct integration paths for OTTO SEO: Website Studio (Search Atlas's built-in website builder) and WordPress (via a plugin or manually embedded pixel). These two paths are completely independent systems. Understanding how they differ will explain why your OTTO pixel status may appear inconsistent across platforms and why publishing changes requires different steps depending on which system your site uses.
⚙️ How the Two Integrations Work
Website Studio is Search Atlas's native website builder. When your site is built and hosted here, the OTTO pixel is embedded and managed entirely within the platform. Changes you make in Website Studio — including SEO optimizations pushed by OTTO — must be explicitly published through the Website Studio interface before they go live on your domain.
WordPress integration works differently. The OTTO pixel is installed on your WordPress site through the Search Atlas (MetaSync) WordPress plugin — you install the plugin, then in WordPress open Search Atlas → Settings, paste your Search Atlas API key, and paste the OTTO Pixel UUID. The plugin then handles the pixel. The JavaScript code snippet is intended for non-WordPress platforms or alternative installs such as Google Tag Manager. WordPress communicates its pixel status back to Search Atlas independently, which means the pixel can appear active in WordPress while still showing as inactive in Search Atlas if the connection has not fully completed or if the site being tracked does not match a verified property in your account.
❓ Why Does My OTTO Pixel Show Active in WordPress but Inactive in Search Atlas?
This mismatch can happen for one or more of the following reasons:
- Domain verification is pending: Search Atlas requires your domain to be verified before it recognises an active pixel connection. Even if the pixel code is live on your WordPress site, the Search Atlas dashboard may show it as inactive until verification is complete.
- Property mismatch: The domain where the pixel is installed must exactly match the property added in your Search Atlas account. Any discrepancy between the installed domain and the verified property can prevent the active status from syncing.
- Plugin or theme conflict: Certain WordPress plugins or theme customisations can interfere with the pixel, causing Search Atlas to receive no signal even though the code appears installed.
- Pixel not yet detected: After installation, it may take some time for Search Atlas to detect and confirm the pixel as active.
❓ Why Can't I Push Website Studio Changes to My Live Site?
If you are managing your site through Website Studio, changes do not go live automatically. You must publish them manually through the Website Studio interface. If published changes are not reflecting on your live domain, confirm that your domain is correctly connected to your Website Studio project and that you have completed the publish step within the platform.
🛠️ Steps to Resolve Pixel Status Issues
- Confirm that the domain you are working with is added and verified in your Search Atlas account.
- Check that the domain on which the pixel is installed matches your verified property exactly.
- If using WordPress, verify that the Search Atlas (MetaSync) plugin is active and up to date, that your Search Atlas API key is entered under Search Atlas → Settings, and that the OTTO Pixel UUID has been pasted in.
- If using Website Studio, ensure you have published your changes through the Website Studio interface after making any updates.
- If the status has not updated after completing the above steps, contact our support team with your project name, the domain in question, and a description of the current pixel status you are seeing.
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.
Additional Notes
Within Website Studio, open your project for the relevant domain and add your OTTO pixel code to the site's header code area. Once the code has been added, publish your site — the pixel will not be live until the site has been published.