Frequently Asked Questions

Wordpress - MarTech

  • How do I fix a critical WordPress error on a client website?

    See the full KB article here.  

    A critical error is actually a Fatal PHP Error. 

    You’ll need the SFTP credentials for the website, an SFTP client (WinSCP for Windows or Cyberduck for Mac or Termius for the enlightened), a quality code editor Sublime Text or VSCode. 

    1. Confirm Staging is functional.
    2. Push Staging to Production.
    3. Used an SFTP client to login to the site.
    4. Enabled Debug mode via wp-config.php 
    5. Refreshed the site. 
    6. Noted the error displayed. When you see /plugins/PLUGIN-NAME/ and if it starts with Fatal Error, that is the problem plugin.
    7. In this case it was Header Footer Elementor: https://wordpress.org/plugins/header-footer-elementor/
      1. This is not a plugin we need at all, delete the offending plugin. 
      2. This is always fine on production if it gets the site live again.
    8. Disable debug mode in wp-config.php by setting the directive to “false”.
    9. Clear the WPEngine cache.
    10. Refresh and confirm the site was functional again.

    Add the following to wp-config.php

    // Enable WP_DEBUG mode
    define( 'WP_DEBUG', false );
    define( 'WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY', false );

  • Can I use this cool free plugin or theme I found?

    Nope! At least not in the way you think. 

    We work on Standard Operatiung Procedures and purchase a few Agency Level plugin packs. This gives us access to hundreds of plugins that by and large have been vetted for compatibility, reliability and sustainability (ie the code is well written, secure and the company that develops it is stable).

    1. Introducing new plugins causes the team to need to understand and learn a new "thing" when in reality our requests are repeatable.
    2. Speed issues arise from poorly written plugins.
    3. You're most probably going to be duplicating something we are already paying to use.

    Our Plugin Packs

    1. Essential Add-Ons by WPDeveloper.
      1. We have the Agency Unlimited Bundle located at https://store.wpdeveloper.com/user/dashboard 
      2. Essential Add-Ons for Elementor.
      3. Better Docs Pro.
      4. Notifications X Pro.
      5. Essential Blocks Pro.
      6. Schedule Press.
    2. Unlimited Elements for Elementor.
      1. https://unlimited-elements.com/ 

    TO DO: Add the complete list of plugin packs.

Sales

  • On a Grow Program if a client wanted to prioritize updating a logo is that something we can fit within a sprint?

    Answer: it really depends on the scope of the logo redesign/update being requested ie how far it goes into the brand and what they are looking to update. Also depends on this size of the Grow Program. At minimum it would be one 2-week sprint I would think and we would just need to be clear that it would not spill over into a brand redesign.

    Typically we do not include design in Grow Programs as these programs are performance based, as long as we are in scope, keep it tight and never lose focus of the goal of the program we can usually accomodate.

    Warning! Please be casreful of over-accomodating a client with requests that go outside of the scope of the Program. 100% of the time, when this has happened 2-3 months later the client will ask why they haven't seen a performance increase or growth and we lose the program.

Google Ads

  • How can I improve Quality Score

    There are a ton of recources available for improving Quality Score.Google Ads Quality Score is a metric that measures the relevance and usefulness of your ads and keywords. It's a rating system that determines the quality of your ads based on several factors, including click-through rate (CTR), relevance, landing page experience, ad relevance, historical performance, and more. A higher Quality Score means that your ad is more relevant and useful to users, and as a result, Google will reward you with a better ad position and lower cost-per-click.


    Here are some action items that you can do to improve your Google Ads Quality Score:

    Improve your keyword relevance: Make sure that your ad groups are organized around relevant themes and that your keywords are closely related to your ad copy and landing pages. Use negative keywords to exclude irrelevant searches.

    Improve your ad relevance: Your ad copy should be relevant to the keywords you're bidding on and should include the keyword in the headline and description. Use ad extensions like sitelinks and callouts to provide more information to users.

    Improve your landing page experience: Your landing page should be relevant to your ad and should provide a good user experience. Make sure that your landing page loads quickly, is mobile-friendly, and has clear calls-to-action.

    Increase your click-through rate (CTR): A higher CTR indicates that your ads are more relevant and useful to users. Experiment with different ad copy and ad formats to increase your CTR.

    Improve your historical performance: Google considers your account's historical performance when determining your Quality Score. If you have a good track record of providing relevant and useful ads, your Quality Score will be higher.

    Optimize your ad bidding strategy: Make sure that you're bidding on keywords that are relevant to your business and that you're not overbidding for clicks. Use bidding strategies like target CPA or target ROAS to optimize your ad spend.


    By following these action items, you can improve your Google Ads Quality Score and achieve better ad performance. Keep in mind that improving your Quality Score is an ongoing process, and it's important to regularly review and optimize your campaigns to maintain a high Quality Score. 

    Resources

    https://adalysis.com/quality-score/

  • How do I make sure my Google Ads are in the top position?

    Achieving the top position on Google Ads is not guaranteed, as it is determined by a combination of factors such as your ad’s relevance, the quality of your landing page, your bid, and the competition for the ad space. However, here are some strategies that you can implement to increase your chances of achieving a top position:

    Set a competitive bid: The bid amount is an important factor that determines the ad’s placement on the search results page. A higher bid can increase the chances of getting a top position, but it’s essential to strike a balance between your bid and your return on investment.

    Improve your ad relevance: Google Ads rewards advertisers who create highly relevant ads by giving them better ad positions. Ensure that your ad copy matches your target audience’s search intent and incorporates your target keywords.

    Optimize your landing page: Your landing page’s quality score is an essential factor that determines ad position. Make sure that your landing page is relevant, easy to navigate, and provides a good user experience.

    Increase your ad’s click-through rate: A higher click-through rate (CTR) indicates that your ad is resonating with your target audience. Experiment with different ad formats, headlines, and descriptions to improve your CTR.

    Use ad extensions: Ad extensions can provide additional information and increase the ad’s visibility on the search results page, potentially increasing your chances of achieving a top position.

    Remember, achieving a top position is not always necessary to generate results. It’s essential to focus on creating ads that are highly relevant to your target audience, provide a good user experience, and deliver value to your business.

Looker Studio

  • How can I switch data sources in my Data Studio (Looker Studio) reports

    You can replace the data source for selected charts and controls, the current page, or the entire report. Reasons you might want to do this include:

    • Copying a report and replacing your data source with a client's data source.
    • Testing a report with no email filters applied, then switching to a data source with email filtering.
    • Switching the data source for a selected component from one account, sheet, or database table to another.
    • Overriding the default page or report-level data source.

    What happens when you replace a data source

    When you replace a data source in your report, Looker Studio tries to map the fields in the old data source to the fields in the new data source based on a number of matching criteria, including field ID, field name, and other configuration information from the report itself. Looker Studio won't try to map your old fields in calculated fields and filters.

    If no suitable match is found, your report may display components with the message:

    Chart configuration incomplete
    Invalid/Missing dimensions, metrics, filters.

    To fix this, edit the incomplete components and select new dimension, metric, sorting, and/or date range fields.

    We strongly recommend you review your entire report for accuracy after replacing any data sources used in the report.

    Replace a component data source

    1. Edit your report.
    2. Select one or more charts or controls.
    3. On the right, in the selected component's property panel, select the Setup tab.
    4. Click the current data source name.
    5. Select an existing data source, or, at the bottom, click NEW DATA SOURCE.
      1. Learn more about creating a data source.
    6. If prompted, click Add to report.

    Replacing the data source for one component has no effect on the other components in your report.

    Replace a page or report-level data source

    Most reports won't have page or report-level data sources unless you've explicitly set them. Setting a data source at the page or report level has no effect on existing components in your report. Instead, new components you add use the page or report-level data source by default.

    Replacing a page or report-level data source follows the same process as outlined above.

    Replace the data source for the current page

    1. Edit your report.
    2. Navigate to a specific page.
    3. Select Page > Current page settings.
    4. On the right, in Current Page Settings, select the Setup tab, then click the current data source (or Select Data Source, if no data source has been added).
    5. Select an existing data source or create a new one.
    6. If prompted, click Add to report.

    Replace the data source for the entire report

    1. Edit your report.
    2. Select File > Report settings.
    3. On the right, in Report Settings, click the current data source (or Select Data Source, if no data source has been added).
    4. Select an existing data source or create a new one.
    5. If prompted, click Add to report.