## **🔍 What Is Search Atlas MCP?**

Search Atlas MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a standardized connection layer that lets external AI agents and automation tools — such as Manus, Claude, or custom AI workflows — communicate directly with your Search Atlas data and features. By connecting an AI agent to Search Atlas MCP, you give it access to SEO tools, site metrics, keyword research, and more, all without leaving your preferred automation environment.



## **🤖 What Is the Search Atlas Coworker?**

The Search Atlas Coworker is an AI agent built into the platform. It can receive instructions, execute SEO tasks, and report back results. The Coworker is designed to work across messaging platforms, including Slack, so you can delegate tasks conversationally without logging into the dashboard for every action.

Think of the Coworker as your always-on SEO assistant — you assign tasks in plain language, and it handles the execution using your connected Search Atlas account data.



## **⚙️ How to Connect Search Atlas MCP to an AI Agent (e.g. Manus)**

1. **Locate your MCP credentials:** Log in to Search Atlas, then navigate to Settings → API Keys to find or create your Search Atlas API key. Alternatively, you can authenticate via OAuth login (an active subscription is required). Keep these credentials private.
2. **Open your AI agent platform:** In Manus (or your chosen agent), go to the integrations or tools section and select the option to add a custom MCP server or external tool connection.
3. **Enter your MCP details:** Paste your Search Atlas MCP endpoint URL and provide your Search Atlas API key via the X-API-Key header (or authenticate via OAuth login). Save the connection.
4. **Test the connection:** Run a simple test query (for example, ask the agent to retrieve keyword data for a domain) to confirm the connection is live and returning results.
5. **Assign permissions:** Ensure the operations your agent needs (such as reading keyword rankings or pulling site metrics) are enabled for your account tier. Some operations may require a specific plan level.

**Important:** If you see JWT authentication errors or the agent connects but returns no output for completed tasks, this is a known issue currently being investigated by the engineering team. See the troubleshooting section below for next steps.



## **💬 How to Use the Search Atlas Coworker in Slack**

1. **Connect Slack to your Search Atlas account:** From your Search Atlas dashboard, navigate to the Coworker or Integrations section and follow the prompts to authorize your Slack workspace.
2. **Invite the Coworker bot to a channel:** In Slack, invite the Search Atlas Coworker bot to the channel where you want to use it (type **/invite @Search Atlas Coworker** and select the bot from Slack's autocomplete).
3. **Assign tasks in plain language:** Mention the bot and describe the task you need. For example: *@SearchAtlasCoworker run a keyword gap analysis for example.com vs competitor.com*.
4. **Review task output:** The Coworker will post results directly in the Slack channel once the task is complete. Complex tasks may take a few minutes.
5. **Iterate and refine:** You can follow up in the same thread with additional instructions to refine the output or assign a new related task.

## **✅ Best Practices for Using the Coworker**

- **Be specific with instructions:** The more detail you provide (target domain, competitor URLs, target keywords, location), the more accurate the output.
- **Use dedicated channels:** Create a focused Slack channel for SEO tasks to keep outputs organized and easy to reference.
- **Check task status:** If you do not receive output after several minutes, re-send the request or check whether the Coworker is still processing a previous task.
- **Keep credentials secure:** Never share your Search Atlas API key in public Slack channels or with unauthorized team members.

## **🛠️ Troubleshooting Common Issues**

- **Authentication error when connecting MCP:** Double-check that you copied the full API key without extra spaces. If the error persists, generate a new API key from Settings → API Keys and reconnect. This is a known issue under active investigation.
- **Agent connects but returns no output:** This is a known bug affecting some accounts where Slack task and job completions return empty responses. Our engineering team is actively working on a fix. In the meantime, try reassigning the task or testing the same request via the Search Atlas dashboard directly.
- **Required operations not permitted:** If your AI agent can see Search Atlas MCP but cannot execute certain operations, your account permissions may need to be updated. Contact support using the method below.
- **Coworker bot not responding in Slack:** Confirm the bot was successfully invited to the channel and that your Slack integration is still authorized in Search Atlas settings. Re-authorizing the connection often resolves this.

## **📞 Need More Help?**

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.