Troubleshooting: Press Release Issues

Configure Your Knowledge Graph for PR Distribution

Why Your PR Won't Publish Despite a Filled-In URL If your website URL appears to be saved in your account settings but the system still blocks you from publishing a Press Release, the issue is almost always the source of that URL — not the URL itself. PR Distribution does not pull your website URL from your general account profile or your Google Business Profile (GBP). It requires the URL to be registered specifically inside the OTTO Knowledge Graph. If that information is missing or incomplete, publishing will remain blocked regardless of what is saved elsewhere in the platform. What Is the OTTO Knowledge Graph? The OTTO Knowledge Graph is a structured entity profile that OTTO (Search Atlas's SEO automation engine) uses to understand and represent your business across SEO tasks. It stores verified information about your brand, including your canonical website URL, and shares that data with other platform features — including PR Distribution. Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is a separate integration. Even if your GBP is fully connected and your URL appears there, PR Distribution does not read from GBP for publishing eligibility. The two sources are independent. How to Add Your URL to the OTTO Knowledge Graph Because the exact location of the Knowledge Graph URL field within OTTO SEO may vary depending on your account setup, we recommend reaching out to our team for guided assistance to ensure the setting is updated correctly for your project. When you contact us, please have the following ready: - The name of the project you are trying to publish a Press Release for - The full website URL you want to register (including https:// or http://) - A note confirming whether you have already attempted to update the URL in your GBP integration or general account profile Our team will locate the correct Knowledge Graph field for your project and confirm once the URL has been set so that publishing is unblocked. Common Mistakes to Avoid - Updating only the GBP integration: Changes made inside the Google Business Profile connection do not carry over to the OTTO Knowledge Graph. The two must be updated independently. - Using a URL without the protocol: The full URL including https:// (or http:// if your site does not use SSL) is required. Partial URLs may not be accepted. - Working in the wrong project: If you manage multiple websites, each project has its own Knowledge Graph. Make sure the correct project is being updated for the Press Release you want to publish. 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.

🚫 Fix Google Image URL Errors in PR Distribution

🔍 What Is This Error? When you proceed after creating a press release in PR Distribution, you may see an error message that reads [URL] is too long. This error appears when an image URL in your press release is hosted on Google's servers — specifically any URL containing googleusercontent.com. Google-hosted image URLs are blocked in PR Distribution. This is a platform-level restriction, not a browser or account issue. The error will always appear for these URLs regardless of the image size or file type. ⚠️ Why Google-Hosted URLs Are Blocked URLs from googleusercontent.com are blocked in PR Distribution. Because PR Distribution syndicates your press release to multiple third-party publishers, all image URLs must be stable and publicly accessible. Google-hosted URLs do not meet these requirements and are blocked at the point of submission. ✅ Three Ways to Fix This You have three options to resolve this error. Choose the one that best fits your workflow. 📤 Option 1 — Upload the Image Directly 1. Open your press release in PR Distribution. 2. Replace the existing Google-hosted image URL with an image uploaded from your device. 3. Proceed to the next step to continue. This is the recommended option. Directly uploaded images are stored on Search Atlas servers, ensuring they remain accessible to all distribution partners. 🌐 Option 2 — Use a Publicly Hosted Image URL 1. Upload your image to a reliable public hosting service such as your own website, a CDN, WordPress Media Library, Imgur, or a similar platform. 2. Copy the direct image URL from that service. The URL should end in a file extension such as .jpg, .png, or .webp. 3. Open your press release in PR Distribution and replace the Google-hosted URL with the new public URL. 4. Proceed to the next step to continue. Make sure the URL you use is a direct link to the image file itself, not a webpage that contains the image. You can verify this by opening the URL in a browser — it should display only the image, with no surrounding page content. 💾 Option 3 — Download the Image, Then Upload It 1. Open the Google-hosted image URL in your browser. 2. Right-click the image and select Save image as to download it to your device. 3. Open your press release in PR Distribution. 4. Replace the existing Google-hosted URL with the image file you just downloaded. 5. Proceed to the next step to continue. This option is useful if you do not have access to the original image file and need to re-host it yourself. 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.

📣 Fix PR Distribution Duplicate Titles and UTM Tracking

🔍 Overview When using the PR Distribution feature in Search Atlas, two common issues can affect your press releases: duplicate titles appearing in the published content and the inability to track distribution links with UTM parameters. This article explains why these happen and how to resolve both issues. 🗺️ How to Access PR Distribution To reach the PR Distribution feature, follow these steps: 1. Log in to your Search Atlas account. 2. In the left sidebar, click Authority. 3. Select Campaigns from the expanded menu. 4. Open an existing campaign or create a new one to access the press release editor. You can also navigate directly to /outreach/press-release in your browser. ⚠️ Why Duplicate Titles Appear A duplicate title occurs when the press release title is entered in two places during the creation process: - The dedicated Title field at the top of the press release form. - The body content of the press release itself, where some users manually type the title again as the first line. Because the platform automatically publishes the content from the Title field as the headline, repeating it inside the body results in the title appearing twice in the final distributed release. ✅ How to Fix Duplicate Titles Follow these steps to ensure your press release title appears only once: 1. Navigate to Authority → Campaigns and open your press release. 2. Check the Title field at the top of the form — confirm your headline is entered here. 3. Scroll into the body content area and review the first line of your text. 4. If the first line of the body matches or closely mirrors the Title field, delete it from the body. 5. Begin your body content with the first paragraph of the press release text instead. 6. Save your changes before submitting for distribution. Best practice: Always treat the Title field as the sole location for your headline. Keep the body focused on the press release content only. 🔗 Adding UTM Parameters to Distribution Links UTM parameters allow you to track traffic from your distributed press releases in Google Analytics or any other analytics platform. Here is how to add them to the links included in your press release body: 1. Before writing your press release, build your UTM-tagged URLs using a UTM builder tool (such as Google's Campaign URL Builder). 2. Define your UTM values — for example: - utm_source: press_release - utm_medium: pr_distribution - utm_campaign: your_campaign_name 3. Copy the full UTM-tagged URL generated by the tool. 4. In Search Atlas, navigate to Authority → Campaigns and open your press release. 5. In the body content area, paste your UTM-tagged URL wherever you want the link to appear. 6. Highlight the anchor text, apply the hyperlink, and paste the full UTM URL as the destination. 7. Review the link to confirm the UTM parameters are intact before submitting. Important: UTM parameters must be added to your links before you submit the press release for distribution. They cannot be appended after the release has been published. 💡 Tips for Clean Press Releases - Always preview your press release before submitting to catch formatting issues like duplicate titles early. - Keep links to a minimum and ensure each one serves a clear purpose — search engines and syndication partners may flag releases with excessive outbound links. - Use consistent UTM naming conventions across all campaigns to make analytics reporting easier to interpret. - Check your Sent tab (left sidebar → Authority → Sent) to review previously distributed releases and verify how links and titles appeared after publication. 🆘 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.

📰 Understanding Your PR Distribution Order Status

📋 What Does 'Publishing' Status Mean? When your PR Distribution order shows a status of Publishing, it means your press release has been submitted to our distribution network and is actively being picked up and published by media outlets. This is a normal, expected status that can persist for several weeks while syndication completes across all outlets. Seeing Publishing with no links yet is not a sign that something has gone wrong. Links are added to your order report progressively as each outlet confirms publication. ⏱️ How Long Does PR Distribution Take? PR Distribution orders can take an extended period of weeks to fully complete. This timeline reflects the real-world pace at which media outlets index, publish, and confirm placement of your press release. Here is what to expect at each stage: - Submission: Your press release enters the distribution network shortly after your order is confirmed. - Active Publishing: Outlets begin picking up and publishing your release. This phase can span several weeks. - Link Reporting: As placements are confirmed, live links are added to your order report. This happens progressively, not all at once. - Completion: Your order status updates to reflect full completion once all confirmed placements have been reported. Because syndication depends on the schedules and indexing speeds of many independent media outlets, there is no fixed date by which all links will appear. Variation between orders is completely normal. 📅 What to Expect While Your Order Is Publishing If your order is still showing Publishing with no links, it is likely within the normal processing window. Links may begin appearing at any point and will be added to your report as they are confirmed by each outlet. There is no action required on your part while your order is in Publishing status. 🔍 How to Check Your Order Report 1. Log in to your Search Atlas account. 2. In the left sidebar, navigate to Authority → PR Distribution (Press Releases). 3. Locate your order and click on it to open the order details. 4. Scroll to the links section to view any placements that have been confirmed so far. We recommend checking your report periodically rather than daily, as new links are added as outlets confirm publication. ⚠️ When Should You Be Concerned? In most cases, a Publishing status is nothing to worry about. However, you should reach out to our team if your order has been in Publishing status for an unusually long time with no links or updates appearing, so we can investigate the status of your distribution on your behalf. When contacting support, please have your order name, order ID, and the date the order was placed ready so we can look into it as quickly as possible. 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.

📘 How to Publish Press Content in Search Atlas (Authority Building > PR Distribution)

📌 Overview Media Rooms help you showcase PR campaigns and brand mentions on a centralized, professional page. This capability is now managed from Authority → Authority Building → PR Distribution (Press Releases) in the left sidebar of your Search Atlas dashboard, and can be set up in a few different ways depending on your publishing workflow. This article walks you through the general approach for each method: Watch the original walkthrough video (this video shows the previous "Media Rooms" interface; the current steps are described below under Authority → Authority Building → PR Distribution (Press Releases)). - Manual setup - Using templates - Automated deployment ✍️ Method 1: Manual Setup Use this method if you want full control over the content and layout. - Go to Authority → Authority Building → PR Distribution (Press Releases) from the left sidebar of your Search Atlas dashboard. - Create a new press/media entry. - Manually add headlines, body copy, and media links. - Save and publish. 📐 Method 2: Using Templates Ideal for speed and consistency across campaigns. - Open the available templates from your PR Distribution settings. - Choose a saved layout or create a new one. - Apply the template to your selected PR campaign. - Customize as needed before publishing. ⚙️ Method 3: Automated Deployment Best for teams using automated publishing workflows. - Enable automation from your campaign settings. - Link your PR campaign and select the auto-publish option. - Define your publish triggers and content rules. - The platform will auto-generate and publish your press content. 💡 Pro Tips - Make sure your branding elements (logo, brand colors, fonts) are up to date in your account settings before publishing. - Use relevant keywords in titles and body copy to boost SEO. - Preview your content before publishing to ensure layout integrity. Note: exact menu names and button labels may vary as the platform evolves — if you don't see an option described here, check Authority → Authority Building → PR Distribution (Press Releases) or ask your Account Manager. 💬 Need 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.

🛠️ Resubmit Failed Press Release Distributions

📋 What happens when distribution fails? A failed press release distribution should be reviewed before any further submission. The confirmed resubmission steps are not available in this guidance. 🔎 What to check before trying again 1. Identify the affected press release and distribution channel. 2. Record the exact failure message or status shown for that channel. 3. Check whether the distribution is still processing or has finished failing. 4. Avoid repeatedly submitting the same release while the status is still processing. ✅ What can I do next? - Review the failure details and confirm whether the release or selected channel needs attention. - Do not create a duplicate submission unless a confirmed resubmission procedure is provided. - Prepare the release name, affected channel, exact error message, and time of the failure when requesting assistance. Because the confirmed resubmission procedure is not available here, use the recorded failure details to request guidance rather than assuming that another submission will resolve the issue. 💬 Need help with a failed channel? If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be instantly connected with a member of our team.

🛠️ Fix PR Publishing Failures and Resubmission Workflow

Overview If your press release (PR) failed to publish, this article explains what to do next. Because PR publishing failures can have different root causes depending on your account and submission details, our support team will need to investigate your specific case to identify the exact cause and guide you to the correct fix. What to Have Ready When You Contact Support To help our team resolve your PR publishing failure as quickly as possible, please gather the following information before reaching out: - The name or title of the PR that failed to publish. - The exact error message or status shown at the time of failure (a screenshot is helpful if available). - The date and time the submission was attempted. - Any details about the distribution channel or options you selected during submission. Having these details ready will allow our team to identify the cause of the failure and advise you on the correct resubmission steps for your situation. 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.

📰 Fix a Stuck Press Release & Low OTTO Scores

🔍 Overview If your press release campaign has been sitting in Publishing status for longer than expected — or your OTTO Authority and Content scores remain low despite completing optimization tasks — this article walks you through the most common causes and fixes. ⏳ Why Is My Press Release Stuck in 'Publishing'? A press release can get stuck in Publishing status when one or more distribution channels encounter an error during the syndication process. This can happen due to a temporary issue with a third-party distribution partner, a network timeout, or an internal processing delay. Email notifications may also be delayed or suppressed when a channel fails partway through. Key things to know: - Most distributions complete within a few hours. Anything beyond 24 hours is worth investigating. - A single failed channel can cause the entire campaign to appear stuck. - You will not always receive an email notification when a channel fails — this is a known limitation currently being improved. 🛠️ How to Resolve a Stuck Press Release Because a stuck press release campaign involves a backend processing issue with distribution channels, this cannot be self-resolved through the platform interface. To get it resolved, please escalate to the support team. When you do, have the following information ready: - The exact name of the stuck press release campaign - The date and time you submitted the campaign - How long it has been showing Publishing status - Any error messages or notifications you may have received The support team will investigate the distribution channel error on the backend and work to complete or retry the campaign on your behalf. 📊 Why Are My Authority and Content Scores Still Low? Your OTTO scores — including Authority and Content — are calculated based on a combination of factors that update over time. Completing individual optimization tasks does not always produce an immediate score change. Here is why your scores may still appear low: - Processing delay: OTTO scores refresh periodically, not in real time. After completing tasks, allow 24–48 hours before expecting a visible score update. - Incomplete task clusters: Some score improvements only register after an entire group of related tasks is completed, not individual items within the group. - Press release distribution still pending: If your campaign is stuck in Publishing, the authority signals from that campaign will not yet be reflected in your scores. Resolving the stuck campaign first is recommended before reassessing your scores. 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.

🛠️ Remove an Inaccurate Published Press Release

📌 Understand what can be removed Published press releases can be managed in Search Atlas, but removing a release from the platform does not necessarily remove copies already published on distributor or partner websites. Search Atlas does not currently provide a self-service option to retract a release from every external distribution site. A removal or correction request must be reviewed and handled by our team. 🔍 Gather the release details Before contacting support, collect the information below: - The Search Atlas project or account connected to the release - The release title and publication date - The reason the release is inaccurate or should be removed - The Search Atlas release link, if available - Every distributor or publication URL where the release appears - The exact text or details that need correction 📊 Check the release in Search Atlas 1. Open Authority in the left sidebar. 2. Select PR Distribution. 3. Locate the relevant release and select View report to review its status and distribution details. Do not create a duplicate release while the removal or correction request is being reviewed. 🔒 If the account is frozen A frozen account does not prevent you from requesting help. Include the frozen account status in your message and provide the release details and external URLs listed above. Our team can review the request and explain the available next steps. 💬 Request removal or correction If the release has already been distributed, ask our team to review removal or correction with the specific release and distribution URLs. External sites may have their own publishing and removal policies, so removal cannot be guaranteed from every location. If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be instantly connected with a member of our team.