Troubleshooting Guide

Find solutions to common issues and errors.

Connection Issues

Can’t Connect to WordPress

Symptoms: Connection test fails, “Authentication failed” error

Solutions:

1. Verify Application Password

   • Generate a new Application Password in WordPress
   • Copy it exactly (no spaces or line breaks)
   • Update BlogShoot settings

2. Check HTTPS

   • Ensure your site uses HTTPS (not HTTP)
   • Verify SSL certificate is valid
   • Update WordPress Site URL if needed

3. REST API Disabled

   # Test if REST API works
   curl https://yoursite.com/wp-json/

   • Should return JSON, not error
   • If blocked, contact your host

4. Firewall Blocking

   • Whitelist BlogShoot IPs
   • Check security plugins (Wordfence, iThemes Security)
   • Review hosting firewall rules

Connection Works But Publishing Fails

Symptoms: Test connection succeeds but can’t publish posts

Solutions:

1. Check User Permissions

   • Verify user has Editor or Administrator role
   • Test creating a post manually in WordPress

2. Check Disk Space

   • Ensure hosting has available storage
   • Clean up old media files if needed

3. Plugin Conflicts

   • Temporarily disable security plugins
   • Test publishing again
   • Re-enable plugins one by one

Content Generation Issues

Generation Takes Too Long

Normal Time: 3-5 minutes

If longer than 10 minutes:

1. Check your internet connection
2. Refresh the page
3. Check status in Activity Log
4. Contact support if stuck

Generated Content Not Matching Expectations

Solutions:

1. Update Questionnaire

   • Provide more detailed responses
   • Include specific examples
   • Clarify brand voice

2. Be More Specific in Topic

   • Instead of: “Marketing tips”
   • Try: “Email marketing tips for e-commerce stores selling handmade jewelry”

3. Use Content Variations

   • Generate multiple versions
   • Compare and choose best
   • Combine elements from different versions

Wrong Tone or Style

Solutions:

1. Review Brand Voice section in questionnaire
2. Specify tone in topic description:
   • “Write in casual, friendly tone”
   • “Use professional, technical language”
3. Edit content after generation

Publishing Problems

Images Not Uploading to WordPress

Symptoms: Post published but missing images

Solutions:

1. Check Upload Permissions

   # SSH into server
   ls -la wp-content/uploads
   # Should be writable (755 or 775)

2. Increase Upload Limits Add to php.ini:

   upload_max_filesize = 64M
   post_max_size = 64M

3. Check Available Storage

   • Verify hosting has space
   • Clean up old uploads

Post Published to Wrong Category

Solutions:

1. Check default category in WordPress Settings
2. Verify category mapping in BlogShoot
3. Manually recategorize in WordPress

Formatting Issues in WordPress

Symptoms: Content looks wrong on your site

Solutions:

1. Theme Conflicts

   • Test with default WordPress theme (Twenty Twenty-Four)
   • Contact theme developer if issue persists

2. CSS Conflicts

   • Check theme’s custom CSS
   • Add custom CSS to fix specific issues

3. Page Builder Issues

   • Rebuild content in page builder
   • Consider using classic editor

Account & Billing

Can’t Log In

Solutions:

1. Forgot Password

   • Click “Forgot Password” on login page
   • Check spam folder for reset email

2. Account Locked

   • Wait 30 minutes after failed attempts
   • Contact support if locked longer

3. Email Not Verified

   • Check inbox for verification email
   • Request new verification email

Billing Issues

Solutions:

1. Payment Failed

   • Verify card details
   • Check with your bank
   • Try different payment method

2. Wrong Plan Charged

   • Contact support with transaction details
   • We’ll issue refund/credit

Performance Issues

Dashboard Loading Slowly

Solutions:

1. Clear browser cache
2. Try different browser
3. Check internet connection
4. Check status page

Generation Queue Stuck

Symptoms: Content stuck in “Generating…” status

Solutions:

1. Wait 15 minutes (may be high traffic)
2. Check Activity Log for errors
3. Cancel and retry generation
4. Contact support if persists

Error Messages

”Rate Limit Exceeded”

Meaning: Too many API requests

Solutions:

• Wait before next request
• Upgrade plan for higher limits
• Contact support for temporary increase

”Invalid API Key”

Solutions:

1. Regenerate API key
2. Update key in your application
3. Check for extra spaces or characters

”Quota Exceeded”

Meaning: Monthly article limit reached

Solutions:

• Wait for next billing cycle
• Upgrade plan
• Purchase additional articles

”WordPress Connection Lost”

Solutions:

1. Reconnect WordPress site
2. Generate new Application Password
3. Test connection

Getting More Help

Before Contacting Support

Please have ready:

• Your account email
• Detailed description of issue
• Steps to reproduce
• Screenshots if applicable
• Browser and WordPress versions

Contact Methods

• Email: [email protected]
• Live Chat: Available in dashboard (Pro+ plans)
• Community: Discord

Response Times

• Critical issues: 4 hours
• High priority: 24 hours
• Normal: 48 hours
• Feature requests: 5-7 days

Useful Resources

• WordPress Requirements
• API Documentation
• Video Tutorials
• Community Forum