Set up OTTO SEO, configure its AI content settings, and deploy automated fixes to your site. This article also covers the agent chat workaround for a persistent "Invalid URL" error when adding a new domain.
🚀 Step 1: OTTO Project Setup
Watch the step-by-step Loom video for a visual walkthrough.
- From the left sidebar, go to OTTO SEO.
- Go to All Sites (SEO Automation) and click Create.
- Enter your website URL → click Continue.
- Select your Google Search Console (GSC) property (if available). If not visible, go to the GSC tab and activate the project globally.
- Select your Google Business Profile (GBP) (if available).
- Review and add your Business Information: business address, social profiles, and author (Authorship).
- Click Continue.
- Select your CMS and install your OTTO Pixel (see How to Install OTTO Pixel).
- Click Continue, then open your new OTTO project.
⚠️ "Invalid URL" Error When Adding a Domain
If the project-creation form returns a persistent "Invalid URL" error that survives standard troubleshooting, add your domain through the agent chat interface instead:
- Open Coworker in Search Atlas.
- Ask the agent to create a new OTTO project for your domain (for example: "Add example.com to OTTO SEO").
- Once the project is created, open it in OTTO SEO and set the crawl schedule to Weekly, choosing any available crawl provider so your site is fully processed as soon as possible.
Your new OTTO project will appear in the OTTO SEO dashboard and is ready for configuration.
📊 Step 2: OTTO Dashboard Review
Your dashboard is divided into a top section and a bottom section.
Top Section
- OTTO Grader — displays Optimization Score, Flawless Pages, and Issues Fixed.
- OTTO Pixel Snippet status — 🟢 Green = Installed | 🟡 Yellow = Duplicate | 🔴 Red = Not installed.
- GBP & GSC buttons — connect or update your integrations.
- Knowledge Graph — keep this at 100% completion for better suggestions and content creation.
- OTTO Autopilot Settings — schedule automated runs.
- Export — download a work summary and OTTO suggestions.
- Knowledge Base — access OTTO help articles.
- Share URL — generate a view-only shareable project link.
Bottom Section
- Generate OTTO suggestions.
- Review, refine, and deploy fixes directly to your site.
✍️ Step 3: AI Writing Settings
Customize how OTTO generates content to match your brand voice at the project or individual issue level.
Project-Level Instructions
These apply across your entire OTTO project.
- Open your OTTO project → go to OTTO Settings.
- Select the AI Writing tab.
- In Additional AI Instructions, enter your guidelines (max 1,000 characters).
- Click Update Settings.
If you exceed the character limit, an error blocks saving. To remove instructions, clear the field and click Update Settings.
Issue-Level Instructions
These apply to one specific OTTO issue only, in addition to any project-level settings.
- Navigate to the issue (e.g., Title Tags).
- Click Refine Prompt — a side drawer opens.
- Enter custom instructions (max 1,000 characters).
- Click Save.
⚙️ Step 4: OTTO Engage/Disengage Toggle
Turn OTTO on or off at any time without uninstalling it. When disengaged, all fixes remain saved but are hidden on your site until you re-engage — no data is lost.
- To change status: click the Engage/Disengage button in Settings.
🔍 Step 5: OTTO Diagnostics Tool
Use Diagnostics to confirm your OTTO Pixel installation and verify that deployed fixes are live on your site. Open the Diagnostics panel from your OTTO project to run a check and review the results.
🎯 You now know how to create an OTTO project, navigate the dashboard, fine-tune AI writing settings, and resolve a persistent "Invalid URL" error using the agent chat workaround. Next, visit the How to Install OTTO Pixel article to complete your setup.