📋 Overview
This article helps you resolve two common connection problems in Search Atlas: the WordPress Content Genius plugin not syncing posts, and a connected Google Business Profile (GBP) account not appearing in your dashboard. Most issues are caused by expired permissions, plugin version mismatches, or account access settings. Follow the steps below to get both integrations working again.
🔌 Part 1: WordPress Content Genius Plugin Not Connecting or Syncing
If your posts are not publishing to WordPress or the plugin shows a connection error, work through these checks in order.
✅ Step 1: Confirm Plugin Installation and Version
- Log in to your WordPress admin dashboard.
- Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
- Confirm the Search Atlas / Content Genius plugin is installed and Active.
- Check that you are running the latest version. If an update is available, click Update Now, then deactivate and reactivate the plugin.
🔑 Step 2: Re-verify the API Connection
- In WordPress, open the Content Genius plugin settings.
- Copy the API key shown in your Search Atlas dashboard under Settings > Integrations > WordPress.
- Paste the key into the plugin field and click Save or Connect.
- A green confirmation message indicates a successful connection.
If the key is rejected, generate a new key in Search Atlas and paste the updated value.
👤 Step 3: Check User Permissions
The WordPress account used for the connection must have Administrator or Editor rights. Accounts with limited roles cannot publish synced content. Update the user role under Users in WordPress if needed.
🛡️ Step 4: Rule Out Conflicts
- Security plugins and firewalls: Tools like Wordfence or server-level firewalls can block incoming sync requests. Temporarily disable them to test, then add Search Atlas to the allowlist.
- Caching plugins: Clear your cache after connecting so new settings take effect.
- REST API: Content Genius relies on the WordPress REST API. If a plugin or security rule disables it, sync will fail. Re-enable the REST API to restore syncing.
🔄 Step 5: Test a Manual Sync
- Return to your Search Atlas dashboard.
- Select a draft and choose Publish to WordPress.
- Confirm the post appears in your WordPress drafts or published list.
📍 Part 2: Connected Google Business Profile Not Showing in the Dashboard
If you linked a Google Business Profile but it does not appear in Search Atlas, the cause is usually a permissions or refresh issue.
🔐 Step 1: Confirm Account Ownership and Access
The Google account you connected must have Owner or Manager access to the business profile. Profiles where you only have limited or pending access will not display. Verify your access level at business.google.com.
🔁 Step 2: Reconnect the Google Account
- In Search Atlas, go to Local → GBP Projects and click Connect GBP Account.
- Disconnect the existing account.
- Click Connect GBP Account and sign in.
- On the Google permissions screen, make sure every requested permission box is checked. Unchecked boxes are the most common reason profiles fail to load.
- Complete the authorization.
🗂️ Step 3: Select the Correct Location
If your Google account manages multiple locations, you may need to choose which profile to display. Open the GBP integration panel and select the correct business location from the dropdown.
⏳ Step 4: Allow Time to Sync
Newly connected profiles can take up to 15 minutes to populate. Refresh the dashboard or log out and back in if the profile has not appeared after this window.
⚠️ Step 5: Check for Suspended or Unverified Profiles
Google will not share data for profiles that are unverified, suspended, or pending review. Confirm the profile is verified and in good standing in your Google Business Profile account before reconnecting.
🐞 Known Issue: Connecting GBP During Onboarding Also Connects Google Search Console
If you connected your Google Business Profile through the onboarding flow, you may notice that Google Search Console is also connected automatically, even if you did not explicitly select it. This is a known issue our engineering team is working to fix; the two integrations are meant to be connected independently. If you only intended to connect GBP, you can safely disconnect Google Search Console afterward under Settings > Integrations.
🐞 Known Issue: Citation Scan Fails With a 400 Error (Missing "State" Field)
If your profile connects but the Citation Scan on the GBP Overview page does not complete — returning the error "Citation scan requires a complete business profile. Please add the following: state." — the profile is missing its required state field, usually because of an incomplete profile sync from Google. Our engineering team is tracking this issue and a fix is planned. In the meantime, open your profile at business.google.com, confirm the full business address (including the state/region) is complete, then reconnect or refresh the profile in Search Atlas.
🆘 Still Need Help?
If both integrations are correctly configured and the problem continues, contact our support team with the following details to speed up resolution:
- Your Search Atlas account email.
- The WordPress site URL and plugin version.
- A screenshot of any error message.
- The Google account email and business profile name you are trying to connect.
Our team can review the connection logs on our end and help restore full sync functionality. WordPress publishing now records every sync attempt (including the error code and payload) in an append-only log, and our team is automatically alerted when a publish keeps failing for about 15 minutes — so persistent sync failures are often flagged on our side even before you reach out.