Expected duration: 1 - 2 weeks I am facing a critical issue with my WordPress website hosted on a dedicated Kinsta server. Every time I send email campaigns via ConvertKit, the server experiences a significant spike in errors (500, 502, 503 & 525), leading to downtime and disrupted user experiences. This issue is persistent despite multiple attempts to address it with Kinsta support, and I need expert help to resolve it.
BACKGROUND -> Hosting: Dedicated Kinsta server (C2-standard-8) with 8 CPUs, 32GB RAM, and 20 PHP workers. -> Emails: Weekly campaigns to ~40,000 subscribers through ConvertKit.
Error Details: -> Errors predominantly occur immediately after an email campaign is sent. -> High traffic spikes from email tracking links (with query strings like ck_subscriber_id and utm_ parameters) overwhelm the server. -> Admin-ajax requests appear to be a contributing factor. -> Disabling caching for ck_subscriber_id cookies may be causing conflicts when combined with UTM parameters.
Additional details: -> Code snippet plugin previously caused errors (now resolved by deactivating it). -> Ongoing PHP worker and cron job timeouts have been reported in the logs. -> There is a large spike in cache MISS status when emails are sent. -> Attached is a chat thread with Kinsta providing fuller details. -> Here is an example of the URL string from our newsletter - https://www.conservation-careers.com/job/conservation-detection-nosework-seminar-2025/?utm_source=convertkit&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Unmissable%20opportunities%20in%20Conservation%20this%20week%20-%2015873629
OBJECTIVES Root Cause Analysis: -> Investigate the server logs, performance, caching and traffic behaviour during email campaigns. -> Identify specific conflicts or configurations causing the errors.
Optimization & Fixes: -> Resolve any issues identified in the Root Cause Analysis. This may include the following, -> Addressing conflicts between caching rules, UTM parameters, and ck_subscriber_id. -> Optimizing admin-ajax usage to reduce server load. -> Implementing efficient caching rules for email campaign links.
Testing & Monitoring: -> Monitor server performance during the next email campaign to confirm the issue is resolved. -> Provide a detailed report of changes implemented.
Recommendations: -> Suggest further performance improvements for WordPress on Kinsta hosting. -> Propose preventative measures for scalability during high-traffic periods.
Past Kinsta support actions: -> Temporarily disabled caching rules for ck_subscriber_id. -> Recommended enabling pre-caching for campaign URLs. -> Restarted PHP and adjusted NGINX settings to handle traffic better.
Deliverables: -> A detailed report of the issue and resolution steps. -> Implementation and validation of fixes to prevent recurrence. -> Recommendations for improving server performance and handling high traffic.
Requirements: -> Proven experience with WordPress performance optimization, particularly on Kinsta hosting. -> Familiarity with ConvertKit and handling query string conflicts in email tracking. -> Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills, especially with PHP worker management, caching, and admin-ajax optimization. -> Clear communication and ability to document solutions.
If you can help resolve this issue and enhance my server’s performance, please provide a brief outline of your approach and relevant experience.
Shopify E-Commerce Store Build Category: ECommerce, HTML, Payment Gateway Integration, SEO, Shopify, Shopify Development, Web Development, Web Design Budget: ₹750 - ₹1250 INR
25-Nov-2025 16:59 GMT
Creador(a) de Contenido UGC para Videos Cortos -- 2 Category: Content Creation, Content Strategy, Influencer Marketing, Instagram, Script Writing, Social Media Marketing, TikTok, Video Editing, Video Production, YouTube Budget: $2 - $8 USD
25-Nov-2025 16:58 GMT
Web-Based Ticketing Platform Category: API Development, Database Management, Express JS, JavaScript, Node.js, NoSQL Couch & Mongo, React.js, RESTful API, Web Development Budget: $30 - $250 USD
Pokémon Character Illustrator Needed within 1 day Category: 2D Animation, 2D Drawing, Art Consulting, Art Installation, Character Illustration, Digital Art, Graphic Design, Illustration, Photoshop Budget: $30 - $250 NZD
25-Nov-2025 16:54 GMT
Custom Translation Workflow Website -- 2 Category: API Development, HTML, MySQL, Payment Processing, PHP, Software Architecture, User Experience Research, Web Development Budget: £250 - £750 GBP