Guest contributor Frances Brittle of Cloud CMA says:

I recently experienced an issue logging in to one of my web based email-marketing accounts. In my quest to gain access, I conducted a series of basic troubleshooting steps that I'd like to share with you. I've included some general information on why these steps are relevant and what they're testing for. These steps are a surefire way to save time, and get on with what you're doing without being--or inadvertently becoming--a "techie."

The problem I was having started on the login page of the web-based account I frequently use. I was entering the correct login ID and password, but kept getting a "timeout" message. My browser suggested that I try back later, or refresh the page--both of which I did, neither of which were successful.

I then navigated through the following four steps, which ultimately resolved my issue and got me back on my way to email marketing! As a busy agent, if you ever encounter a web-related issue, don't panic, just follow these four basic troubleshooting steps:

Step 1: Check other websites.

Your Internet connection could be the problem. If so, then no matter what site you're trying to visit, it won't load. If other websites do, in fact, load correctly, then the Internet connection is definitely not the culprit. Narrowing down what isn't causing the problem is equally as important as determining what is.