Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting

Running into issues with ColdCheck? This guide will help you solve the most common problems and get back to writing messages that sound like you.

Messages Don't Sound Like Me

This is the most common concern. Let's figure out what's happening.

The message sounds too formal

Why this happens:

• Your writing samples are too formal

• You haven't added enough casual examples

• The AI is erring on the side of professionalism

How to fix it:

1. Add more casual samples

   • Include internal team emails

   • Add Slack or informal messages

   • Show examples of your friendlier side

2. Specify tone in your intent

   • Add "keep it casual" or "friendly tone"

   • Mention the relationship: "writing to a close colleague"

   • Say "conversational" if that's what you want

3. Check your samples

   • Remove overly formal documents

   • Keep samples that show how you naturally write

   • Balance formal and casual examples

The message sounds too casual

Why this happens:

• Your samples are mostly informal

• Missing examples of professional communication

• Context unclear in your intent

How to fix it:

1. Add professional samples

   • Include client emails

   • Add formal correspondence

   • Show your professional voice

2. Specify the context

   • Mention "professional tone" in your intent

   • Say who you're writing to: "reaching out to a potential client"

   • Include relationship context: "first contact"

3. Use email format

   • Email format tends to be more structured

   • LinkedIn format is naturally more casual

   • Choose the format that matches your need

The message doesn't capture my personality

Why this happens:

• Samples are too similar or one-dimensional

• Missing the personal touches that make you unique

• Not enough samples to capture your range

How to fix it:

1. Add diverse samples

   • Include messages where your personality shines

   • Show different aspects of how you communicate

   • Add samples with your natural humor or warmth

2. Add more samples overall

   • 3 samples is a start, but 7-10 is better

   • More examples = more nuanced understanding

   • Show your full range of expression

3. Include email threads

   • Threads show how you naturally respond

   • Conversations reveal personality better than one-off messages

   • Add threads where you were being authentically you

Messages Are Too Long or Too Short

Length issues are usually about samples or intent clarity.

Messages are too long

Why this happens:

• Your intent has too much detail

• Your samples tend to be lengthy

• Context suggests more explanation is needed

How to fix it:

1. Simplify your intent

   • Focus on key points only

   • Remove extra details

   • Say "keep it brief" explicitly

2. Add shorter samples

   • Include concise emails you've written

   • Show examples of your quick responses

   • Demonstrate your ability to be succinct

3. Use LinkedIn format

   • LinkedIn naturally produces shorter output

   • Better for quick, punchy messages

   • Encourages brevity

Messages are too short

Why this happens:

• Intent is too vague or minimal

• Samples are mostly brief messages

• Missing key details to expand on

How to fix it:

1. Add more detail to your intent

   • Include all the points you want to cover

   • Mention context and background

   • Specify what needs explanation

2. Add longer samples

   • Include emails where you provide detail

   • Show how you explain complex ideas

   • Demonstrate your thorough communication style

3. Be specific about what to include

   • List the points to cover in your intent

   • Mention if context or background is needed

   • Say "detailed explanation" if that's what you want

Wrong Tone for the Situation

Sometimes the tone doesn't match what you need.

Too enthusiastic

Problem: The message sounds overly excited when you need to be measured.

Solution:

• Add "measured tone" or "professional" to your intent

• Include samples where you're more reserved

• Mention the serious nature of the topic in your intent

Not enthusiastic enough

Problem: The message feels flat when you want to convey excitement.

Solution:

• Say "I'm excited about this" in your intent

• Add samples where you express enthusiasm

• Use phrases like "really looking forward to" in your intent

Too direct

Problem: The message feels blunt when you need to be diplomatic.

Solution:

• Mention "need to be tactful" in your intent

• Add samples of sensitive communications

• Specify the delicate nature of the situation

Not direct enough

Problem: The message is too wordy when you need to be straightforward.

Solution:

• Say "be direct" or "get to the point" in your intent

• Add samples of your direct communication

• Specify "clear action items" or "concise"

Technical Issues

Generation is taking too long

What to do:

• Wait up to 30 seconds (this is normal)

• Refresh the page if it's been over a minute

• Try generating again

• Contact support if it consistently fails

Can't add writing samples

What to check:

• Samples must be at least 50 words

• Check for special characters or formatting issues

• Try pasting plain text instead

• Make sure you're not adding duplicate samples

Edits aren't saving

What to try:

• Check your internet connection

• Try refreshing and editing again

• Clear your browser cache

• Try a different browser

Content Issues

Missing key information

Problem: The generated message doesn't include important details from your intent.

Solution:

• Make sure details are clear in your intent

• Put key facts on separate lines

• Use bullet points for important items

• Add "make sure to mention [specific detail]"

Wrong structure

Problem: The message structure doesn't match what you need.

Solution:

• Describe the structure in your intent

• Say "start with X, then cover Y, end with Z"

• Add samples with the structure you prefer

• Specify if you want bullet points or paragraphs

Repetitive phrasing

Problem: The same phrases appear too often.

Solution:

• Click regenerate for a fresh version

• Add more varied samples

• Make sure your samples aren't repetitive themselves

• Try rewording your intent

When Voice Matching Isn't Working

If you've tried everything and it still doesn't sound like you:

Do a voice profile reset

1. Review all your samples

2. Remove samples that don't represent you well

3. Add 3-5 new, high-quality samples

4. Try generating a message again

Start with a clean slate

Sometimes it helps to:

• Remove old samples

• Add current examples only

• Focus on quality over quantity

• Build back up gradually

Provide feedback on outputs

• Edit the generated message to sound like you

• Save that edited version as a new sample

• This helps ColdCheck learn what you prefer

• Over time, results improve

Still Not Working?

Contact Support

When reaching out, include:

• What's not working (be specific)

• Examples of outputs that don't sound right

• What you expected instead

• Screenshots if helpful

Check Our Resources

• Tips for Better Results - Advanced techniques

• Understanding Voice Matching - How the system works

• Help Center - Other guides and FAQs

Common Questions

Q: How long does it take for new samples to improve results? A: Changes take effect immediately. Try generating a message right after adding new samples.

Q: Can I delete old samples? A: Yes! Go to Voice Training and remove samples that don't represent you anymore.

Q: Why does the same intent generate different results? A: We add natural variation so messages don't sound robotic. Each generation is unique while staying true to your voice.

Q: Can I have different voice profiles for different purposes? A: Not yet, but this is on our roadmap. For now, add diverse samples to show your range.

Q: How often should I update my samples? A: Review your samples every 6 months or when your role/style changes significantly.

Prevention Tips

Avoid issues before they happen:

• Add 5-7 varied samples from the start

• Include both formal and casual examples

• Be specific and detailed in your intents

• Review and refine your voice profile regularly

• Save great outputs as new samples

Most issues are solved by improving your writing samples or providing clearer intent. Take time to build a strong voice profile, and you'll have fewer problems down the road.

Need more help? We're here for you. Reach out to support anytime.