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Support – FAQ

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The plug-in homescreen looks weird. It doesn’t look as clean as it used to. How do I make it look normal again?
This can happen after a new install of the plug-in. Just click CTRL-SHIFT-R at the same time on a Windows PC or Apple + R or command + R on Apple computers. Linux uses F5.

Do I have the latest version of the plug-in?
Check on the plug-in homescreen. We inform you of new versions in the feed. You can also go to the Plug-Ins menu item in WordPress. You’ll find a list of your installed plug-ins (both active and inactive). The version number accompanies the plug-in description. WordPress should inform you of new versions automatically. Please be aware that WordPress can take its time to show the new version in the Updates section.

All of my links are going to my homepage or my default page. What’s going on?
This happens when the plug-in can’t find the correct information in the db.
Step 1: Head into the plug-in
Step 2: Check one of the books that’s having the problem. Is the info for the book complete? For instance, is there a missing ASIN # or a missing url?
Step 3: If yes, then fill out the missing fields, save and try the link again.
Step 4: If no, then your db may have been corrupted. Hopefully, you’ve been backing up your data. If you have then head to the Backup/Restore button in the plug-in and click RESTORE FROM BACKUP to upload the backup ZIP file from your computer.

Why are you always bugging me to back up my data?
Because if the database gets messed up, it’s your only way to recover your records. Imagine if you don’t back up for a few months and lose all those urls you made! That means all the customers who click on your links will be taken to your homepage, not to your intended site. Also, please not, if you lose the data there’s nothing we can do for you because it’s stored with your website. So please back up!

What’s a custom url?
A custom url is a url that you can make for any use you want. Consider it your own personal bit.ly. We use custom urls for things like blog tours. For example if you’re making an appearance on a blog and you want to know how much traffic your promo for the appearance is driving to the blog tour site you can make a url for the promo and see how the link performs. The cool thing about custom urls is that they don’t need to be attached to a specific book. They can be used for any reason at all.

What’s a Core Link?
A Core Link is a pre-made link that is created whenever you make a new book record. We’ve made a bunch of Core Links for you so that you don’t need to spend time making urls for Facebook, Twitter, Bookbub, Amazon, Kobo, etc. They’re all made for you using the book data that you enter when you’re making the book record! You can add your own Core Links but be sure that the link is one that you really need to be made for every new release.

Do I need a fallback url?
No, but we highly recommend it. This is the page that your potential customer will be sent to if the url doesn’t work for some reason. It’s better for them to end up at a page that makes sense in case that happens.

Why would a url fail?
This happens when the plug-in can’t find the correct information in the db. If this happens…
Step 1: Head into the plug-in
Step 2: Check one of the books that’s having the problem. Is the info for the book complete? For instance, is there a missing ASIN # or a missing url?
Step 3: If yes, then fill out the missing fields, save and try the link again.
Step 4: If no, then your db may have been corrupted. Hopefully, you’ve been backing up your data. If you have then head to the Backup/Restore button in the plug-in and click RESTORE FROM BACKUP to upload the backup ZIP file from your computer.

What is the base url?
This is the page on your site that we use to route the customer through your site and to the intended destination. The plug-in usies your WordPress site to manage the traffic so a page on your site is needed to keep track of the traffic and route people correctly.

Why does the plug-in store IPs?
This is used for making sure you don’t register duplicate clicks per person. However, the larger you set this number the bigger your database will get. Bigger databases equals slower response. We think that 3 is a good number of days for this value, but you can go up to 365 days with this. Again, though, your system response will decrease as this database grows!

What does “beautify your url” mean?
Choosing to beautify your URLs means that you won’t have to have all that ugly code on your URLs. For example, a non-beautified URL looks something like this: www.yoursite.com/link?tah=123. Whereas a beautified URL would look like this: www.yoursite.com/link/123

Where can I get help?
You can email us at admin@theauthorhelper.com. We’ll get back to you as quickly as we can. We run The Author Helper in our spare time which varies depending on our book launch schedule. Please be patient. Also, please be aware that if you have corrupted your db and have not been backing up there’s really nothing we can do for you. So please back up.

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