Troubleshooting

The process of systematically testing, finding, and fixing problems (such as bad ads, websites, or reports).

Top Tips

#1 Always check if you are an .

If something goes wrong, don't assume that something is broken, always look for human error first. In most cases, if something doesn't work, someone just did something wrong.

This is the first thing to check in all situations. And always, ALWAYS check three times that you didn't make the mistake before assuming it was someone else.

Tip: If you ask a client-side technician about a problem and the problem suddenly disappears without saying he solved it, he's probably hiding the fact that it's solved. There is no need to be rude to the customer when this happens as it does not help anyone. However, make sure your boss knows the sequence of events (and write them down so you know how to deal with the customer in the future).

#2 Respect the intellect. Respect them.

Know who to ask questions about a topic. There will always be someone who knows a lot more about just about everything than you do, so make sure you know who they are so you can ask for help if you need it.

This could be someone in your organization or just product support. When you meet someone who knows what they're doing and helps you, write it down (at least in your head).

Don't accept their answer if it helps you, or make sure you understand it (and ask questions if you don't). Of course, having this level of help means that the helpful person likes you (at least a little bit), so make sure you don't bore them with too many questions. And don't ask them to do the work for you! Giving knowledge is one thing, but a watch is another.

#3 Take responsibility and leave it in the hands of others.

Know who is in charge. This is really part #2, but knowing who needs to fix something doesn't feel like it's all on you! This person is probably also a domain expert, or at least knows someone who can ask if something is going wrong.

#4 Experiments aren't just for hippies and scientists.

try everything. I mean literally that you should try to understand and test every variation of what you are doing. Play with all the settings of the platform you use. Check all the boxes you've never checked, fill in all the fields, read all the helpful articles, run all kinds of reports.

This means that you need to install a trial version of everything you can play. If you are responsible for using the platform, you should know exactly what to do.

More importantly, if you're using them in conjunction with other settings, you'll need to know ahead of time what the different settings do, or else you could end up in the water. And again, don't just use them, learn how they work so you know what to do if something goes wrong.

#5. Your brain is smarter than you think if you give it some time to rest.

Use your imagination. Don't be afraid to take your time and sit down and think about the problem. At first, you may feel like you're relaxing, but sitting down and trying to visualize what's happening can really help.

For example, if you go from the first visit to the media server to the final impression of the measured ad on the user's computer and look at all the processes, you can determine which part of the campaign deviates from the norm and needs further investigation.

#6 You are probably never alone, don't act like that.

Exchange ideas with the person next to you. Two heads are always better than one! Even if they don't do the same job as you, their answers and questions can help you figure out where you're wrong and what to do next.

#7 Question for dummies. Knowledge is for winners.

Satisfy your curiosity. If you're wondering if there's a connection between the strange behavior and a particular website, report it and check it out! The more you understand, the better you can do your job.

#8 Sometimes things are too good to be true.

never let go If something inexplicably works well, don't accept it as a gift from the gods and find out why.

Everyone sounds the alarm when something goes wrong or breaks, but if something works too well, it can go unnoticed. However, this does not mean that it is not broken and can cause problems later.

#9 Be a nerd at work.

read newsletters. Almost every platform you subscribe to will send you some sort of newsletter with the latest updates. It's almost always boring, but reading through them will help you focus on product features and stay informed.

It really doesn't take long and it's a relatively pleasant and slow way to start the day. And remember, you're doing this to get money. A better job usually means getting paid more.

#10 Back to the beginning.

Read the instructions again! If there is a textbook, study guide, or just your notes on when you first used something, read it again in about 6 months.

There's always something you've forgotten or haven't used, and it's almost always a good idea to re-read this simple document once you really understand the product.

#11 Dream... of your job.

Dream about your industry. This is terrible advice that I've always hated myself for, but sometimes when I'm not working I think about how advertising could be better, not in general, but in details.

I didn't invent a completely new way of doing things, but I understood why things are the way they are and how the pieces fit together. This allows me to appreciate everyone around me much better and use the different skills, platforms and products available to me on a much higher level.

It also grips your subconscious mind, meaning solutions can come to you at the wrong time without even trying (in fact, I once came up with a solution to an Excel problem I didn't even know existed).