🗺️ Overview: Two Integration Paths, One Pixel
OTTO uses a tracking pixel to monitor your site and power its SEO automation. However, the way the pixel is installed depends entirely on where your site is built and managed. There are two separate integration paths:
- WordPress sites — pixel is deployed via a WordPress plugin integration
- Website Studio sites — pixel is deployed via header code embedding inside the Website Studio builder
These paths are independent. A pixel active on a WordPress site does not automatically register as active inside Search Atlas, and vice versa. Understanding which path applies to your site is the first step to resolving any status discrepancy.
🔌 Path 1: WordPress Integration
If your live site runs on WordPress, the OTTO pixel is connected through a dedicated WordPress plugin. The general process involves installing the appropriate Search Atlas / OTTO plugin, connecting it to your OTTO project, and ensuring the pixel code is correctly applied across your site. Once the plugin is active and the pixel is correctly configured, return to Search Atlas and open your OTTO project to check whether the pixel status has updated to Active. If it does not, see the troubleshooting section below.
🏗️ Path 2: Website Studio Integration
If you are building or managing your site inside Search Atlas Website Studio, the WordPress plugin is not used. Instead, the pixel is embedded directly in the site's header code through the Website Studio builder.
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. After publishing, return to your OTTO project in Search Atlas and allow some time for the pixel status to update to Active.
⚠️ Why Your Pixel Status May Differ Between Platforms
This is the most common source of confusion. Here are the scenarios that cause a status mismatch:
- WordPress plugin active, Search Atlas still shows Inactive: The pixel code may not have been applied correctly through the plugin, or there may be a delay before Search Atlas can detect it.
- Website Studio code added, but pixel still Inactive: The most common cause is that the site has not been published after adding the pixel code. Changes made inside Website Studio — including header code additions — only take effect on the live site after you explicitly publish them.
- Pixel active in one path but not the other: Remember that these are two entirely separate integration paths. Activating the pixel via the WordPress plugin has no effect on a Website Studio project, and vice versa. Confirm which path your domain is actually using.
🛠️ Troubleshooting Pixel Status Issues
If your pixel status is not updating as expected, use the checklist below to identify the cause:
- Confirm whether your domain is hosted on WordPress or inside Website Studio — apply the correct path for your setup.
- For Website Studio: verify that you have published the site after adding or updating the pixel code.
- For WordPress: verify that the plugin is active and that the pixel code has been saved within the plugin settings.
- Allow sufficient time after publishing or saving for the pixel status to propagate before rechecking in your OTTO project.
If you have confirmed the correct path, published your changes, and the pixel status still does not update, escalate to our support team. When you do, please have the following ready: your project name, the domain in question, which integration path you are using (WordPress or Website Studio), and any relevant timestamps for when you made changes.
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.