ai-traffic-tracking

# Analytics: AI Traffic Guides tracking of AI-driven search traffic in Google Analytics 4 and Google Search Console. **When invoking**: On **first use**, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On **subsequent use** or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output. ## Scope - **AI search traffic**: Track in GA4 and GSC; separate AI sources from organic referral - **Google AI Overviews**: AI summary box in Google search (formerly SGE) - **AI-driven search**: Traffic from ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, etc. ## Why Track Separately - AI traffic is growing but GA4 often groups it as Referral, Organic, or Direct - AI visitors may have stronger intent and higher conversion - Separating AI Overviews from organic helps assess AI impact ## GA4: AI-Driven Search ### Option 1: Exploration Report (Recommended) 1. **Explore** →**Free form** 2. **Dimensions**: `Session source` (or `Session source / medium`) 3. **Metrics**: Sessions, Engagement rate, Event count, etc. 4. **Filters**: Add filter →`Session source` **Matches regex** →use regex below 5. Configure table, save report **Regex (common AI sources):** ``` chatgpt\.com|openai\.com|openai|perplexity\.ai|perplexity|doubao\.com|chat\.qwen\.ai|copilot\.microsoft\.com|copilot\.com|(business\.)?gemini\.google|chat\.deepseek\.com|deepseek\.com|poe\.com|anthropic\.com|claude\.ai|bard\.google\.com|edgeservices\.bing\.com ``` ### Option 2: Custom Channel Group 1. **Admin** →**Data Display** →**Channel Groups** 2. Copy default group, name e.g. "Default and AI Chatbots" 3. Add channel "AI Chatbots": `Source` **Matches regex** (same regex) 4. **Important**: Place "AI Chatbots" above "Referral" so it matches first 5. Save and use in Traffic Acquisition ### Option 3: Custom Report 1. **Reports** →**Library** →Create Detail Report 2. Use Traffic Acquisition template 3. Add filter: `Session source` **Matches regex** (same regex) 4. Save and add to menu ## Common AI Source Domains | Platform | GA4 Source examples | |----------|---------------------| | ChatGPT | chatgpt.com, openai | | Perplexity | perplexity.ai, perplexity | | Copilot | copilot.com, copilot.microsoft.com | | Gemini | business.gemini.google, gemini.google | | Claude | claude.ai, anthropic.com | | Bing Chat | edgeservices.bing.com | ## Google AI Overviews - **GA4 + URL fragment**: Some AI Overview clicks add URL fragments; can use GTM (partial coverage) - **GSC**: For AI Overviews analysis in GSC (filter, limitations), see **google-search-console** ## Checklist - [ ] AI sources identified in GA4 (Session Source) - [ ] AI traffic Exploration report created - [ ] Channel group updated with AI above Referral (if used) - [ ] Custom report added to Library (optional) - [ ] GTM + URL fragment for AI Overviews (optional) - [ ] GSC AI-oriented query filter (optional; see **google-search-console**) ## Output Format - **GA4 setup**: Exploration, channel group, or custom report - **Regex**: Adapted to user's observed sources ## Related Skills - **generative-engine-optimization**: GEO strategy; AI traffic tracking measures GEO impact - **traffic-analysis**: Traffic sources, attribution, UTM - **analytics-tracking**: GA4 events and conversions - **google-search-console**: GSC AI traffic analysis - **robots-txt**: AI crawler allow/block strategy