Report Builder lets you create branded SEO performance reports for clients and internal stakeholders. Site Explorer provides competitive analysis and backlink data. This article covers the most common questions about reporting and analytics in Search Atlas.
What can I build with Report Builder?
Report Builder produces custom PDF reports combining data from across your Search Atlas projects — keyword rankings, GSC performance, site audit results, backlink metrics, local heatmaps, GBP stats, and competitor comparisons. Reports can be white-labeled with your agency logo, scheduled to auto-deliver to clients by email, and shared via a live link.
How do I connect Google Search Console to my reports?
Connect GSC from Settings → Integrations → Google Search Console. Follow the OAuth flow, select your GSC property, and the connection is active. ✅ Once connected, GSC data (keyword performance, pages, clicks, impressions) appears as an available data module in Report Builder.
Why does GA4 show as connected but no data is loading?
If GA4 appears connected in your settings but the report is empty or shows errors, the connection credentials may have expired or become stale without the dashboard reflecting it. Try: (1) disconnecting and reconnecting GA4, (2) re-authorizing the Google account that has GA4 property access, (3) contacting support with your report URL — they can check whether your credentials are valid in the backend.
Why are images missing from my downloaded report PDF?
⚠️ Image loading in exported PDFs can fail if the report was exported before all data widgets finished loading. Wait for the full report to render in your browser (all charts showing data), then export again. If images from a specific widget are consistently missing, contact support with the report ID.
Why are icons or tooltips cut off in my exported GSC performance document?
This is a known rendering issue in some export templates where UI elements clip at the edge of the export canvas. Use the standard export format (not landscape) and ensure your browser zoom is at 100% when triggering the export. If the issue persists, contact support with a screenshot — the report template may need an update.
What is Site Explorer?
Site Explorer is Search Atlas's competitive analysis tool. Enter any domain to see its organic keyword rankings, estimated organic traffic, backlink profile, top pages by traffic, and competitor overlap. It's useful for identifying competitor content gaps and link building opportunities. Access it from Site Metrics → Site Explorer in the left sidebar.
Why do I get a "this page belongs to a different domain" error when downloading backlinks?
This error occurs when the domain in your download request doesn't match the domain in the platform's context for that request. Try re-entering the domain in Site Explorer's search field and initiating a fresh export rather than refreshing an old one. If the error persists, contact support with the exact domain you're analyzing.
How do I schedule reports to auto-send to clients?
In Report Builder, open any report and go to Reports → Report Builder → Automated email reports (EMAIL REPORTS column). Set the frequency (weekly, monthly), choose the delivery day and time, and enter the recipient email address. Reports are sent as PDF attachments. ✅ Make sure your agency logo and branding settings are configured in Agency Hub before scheduling reports for white-labeled clients.
Can clients receive white-labeled reports without Search Atlas branding?
Yes. When hide_watermark is enabled in the client's Agency Hub settings and your logo is configured in Branding, exported and scheduled reports show your agency's branding. ⚠️ If Search Atlas branding still appears in client reports, check that the watermark toggle is enabled for that specific sub-account in Agency Hub → Customers.
What is the difference between Site Explorer's traffic data and Google Search Console?
Site Explorer uses estimated traffic models based on keyword rankings and CTR curves. GSC shows actual traffic from real Google users. They will differ — use Site Explorer for competitive benchmarking (GSC doesn't show competitor data) and GSC for accurate real-user traffic analysis of your own properties.
💡 Tip: Use both together: Site Explorer for understanding competitors, GSC for validating your own traffic trends.
How do I use Report Builder for GBP/local clients?
Add the Local SEO module to your report to include GBP profile data, heatmap scores, review stats, and post activity. Local heatmaps can be embedded directly as visual components in the report. If the local module isn't visible in your Report Builder, your plan may not include it — contact support to confirm.
GA4 shows as connected in Report Builder but my data isn't loading. What's wrong?
A "connected" status with no data typically means the OAuth token for your Google account expired or was revoked — this happens automatically after extended inactivity or when Google account permissions are changed. To fix: (1) Go to Settings → Integrations → Google Analytics 4 and disconnect GA4. (2) Reconnect by going through the OAuth flow and selecting the correct GA4 property. (3) Return to Report Builder and verify data loads. 💡 If data still doesn't appear after reconnecting, check that the GA4 property has data for the date range you're viewing — a recently created property may have limited historical data.
Images are missing from my downloaded Report Builder documents. What should I do?
Wait for all data widgets on the report page to fully finish loading before triggering the export — downloading while widgets are still rendering produces documents with missing images or blank sections. ⚠️ If the issue persists after waiting: (1) try a different browser (Chrome recommended), (2) disable browser extensions — ad blockers can intercept download requests, (3) if specific widget types consistently fail to appear in exports, contact support with the report URL and a description of which sections are missing.