🔎 What This Integration Does
OTTO needs a connection to your website so it can deploy SEO recommendations, such as meta tags, schema, and content updates, without you editing code by hand. Connecting through Cloudflare is one of the easiest methods because it works at the network level. Once linked, OTTO changes go live automatically, with no plugin or manual file edits required.
There are two ways to set up the Cloudflare connection: the API token method covered in this guide, and a DNS-based installation method that you can choose when creating a new project. Both are selectable from the installation step in your project setup. This article focuses on the API token method.
✅ Before You Begin
Make sure you have the following ready:
- An active Cloudflare account with your website added to it.
- Your domain already routing traffic through Cloudflare (your nameservers point to Cloudflare).
- Admin access to both your Search Atlas account and your Cloudflare account.
- Permission to create an API token in Cloudflare.
If your site is not yet on Cloudflare, add it there first and confirm it is active before continuing.
🔗 How to Connect via Cloudflare
Follow these steps inside your Search Atlas dashboard:
- Open OTTO SEO → All Sites (SEO Automation) from the left-hand menu and select your project.
- When prompted to choose an installation method, select Cloudflare.
- In a separate tab, log in to your Cloudflare account.
- Go to My Profile, then API Tokens, and click Create Token.
- Use a token template that grants Zone and Worker permissions, or follow the exact permissions listed on the Search Atlas connection screen.
- Copy the generated API token.
- Paste the token into the Cloudflare connection field in Search Atlas and click Connect.
- Select the correct zone (domain) you want OTTO to manage and confirm.
Search Atlas will verify the connection and confirm when OTTO is active on your site.
If you prefer not to use an API token, you can instead choose the DNS installation method during new project creation and follow the on-screen DNS instructions.
⚙️ Activating OTTO Changes
After the connection succeeds, OTTO deploys a lightweight script through Cloudflare. To make sure recommendations go live:
- Confirm the OTTO toggle for your project is switched on.
- Review the recommendations in your dashboard and approve the ones you want deployed.
- Allow a few minutes for changes to apply across the Cloudflare network.
🛠️ Troubleshooting Common Issues
If the connection fails or changes do not appear, check the following:
- Invalid token: Recreate the API token and confirm it includes the required Zone and Worker permissions.
- Wrong zone selected: Make sure you chose the exact domain you want OTTO to manage.
- Site not on Cloudflare: Verify your nameservers point to Cloudflare and the domain shows as active.
- Changes not visible: Clear your browser cache and Cloudflare cache, then recheck after a few minutes.
- Caching plugins: Temporarily purge any third-party caches that may be serving an older version of your pages.
💡 Tips for a Smooth Setup
- Use a dedicated API token for Search Atlas so it is easy to manage or revoke later.
- Keep your Cloudflare account on a plan that supports Workers, as OTTO relies on them to deploy changes.
- If the API token approach does not fit your setup, consider the DNS installation method available during project creation.
- Re-check your connection status if you ever change your Cloudflare settings or nameservers.
💬 Need More Help?
If you need further assistance, click the chat icon in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type "Human Teammate" to start a live chat with a member of our team.