It’s extra frustrating if, like me, you’re not a technical person. It’s just 1s and 0s, right? And it worked the last time you used it. What could possibly have changed?
It happened to me last week. I was trying to add some new photos to a client's website. I followed the same steps I had used a dozen times. It. Just. Didn’t. Work.
The Insanity Definition
You know the trope about doing the same thing over and over and expecting the same results? Yeah, I did that.
Then I restarted my computer.
I cleared the cache.
I tried accessing the website with different browsers. First Firefox and then Safari. Then back to Chrome.
I muttered.
Next Step: Seek Support
I tried writing to the company that built the particular piece of software – a plug-in, sort of an app for websites – but never got a response.
Finally, I opened up a support chat with Elegant Themes, the company that made the software that drives the website. I gave the support tech access to the site, and it worked fine for her.
Arrrgh.
So I sent her a little screen share video showing what was (not) happening for me.
That did the trick. She replicated the problem and diagnosed it. Eureka!
Conflict Discovered
It turns out that another plug-in, one of those website apps, was interfering with the plug-in I was
using to add photos. But I still had to figure out which plug-in caused the problem.
To do that, I needed to deactivate ALL the plug-ins (15 or so) and reactivate them one at a time until I found the one that broke the photo process.
So what caused the problem? The rogue plug-in (used for managing an events calendar) had been updated a few weeks before. Plug-in updates are common and usually benign, but in this case, the update triggered an issue with the other plug-in.
I
have no idea why. The rogue plug-in was not mission-critical, so it remains deactivated. And new photos are on the site.
I’m sharing all this to remind you that software breaks. If it has never happened to you or your business, I guarantee it will. Take a breath. And get tech support on the line as soon as you can.
This Week’s Jargon: Connected TV
I’m starting to see more references to "CTV," and maybe you’re hearing more about it, too. Connected TV refers to
programming and advertising that is streamed from the internet directly onto a television set.
So when marketing folks or ad salespeople talk to you about CTV, they’re talking about running ads on programs accessed through devices like Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, and an Amazon Fire TV Stick. Gaming devices that connect to your TV like Xbox or Playstation also count.
You might ask, "Hey, isn’t that the same as OTT (over the top?)" In fact, connected TV is a subset of OTT, which applies to streaming content that appears on any device, including desktop computers, tablets and mobile devices.
Like other types of internet marketing, advertisers can fine-tune their targeting by geography, demographics and audience behavior.
National brands have been the early adopters of CTV marketing, but improvements to technology and tracking mean local advertisers have access, too.
The next newsletter arrives April 23. Here in the Northeast, we’ll be hoping for some more spring-like weather. The annual income tax deadline will have come and gone.
April 10 is Siblings Day, and if you don’t like your siblings or don’t have any, you can post photos of your pets on April 11, National Pet Day. For the environmentally aware among us, Earth Day is April 22.
As ever, be grateful. Be generous. Be patient. Love.
Thanks for spending some of your time with me, . I appreciate you.
Mark
P.S. - This newsletter was 100 percent created by me, a human.
P.P.S. - Some links in this email might be affiliate links, which could generate small commissions for me at no extra cost to you.
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