ai-traffic-tracking

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name: ai-traffic-tracking description: When the user wants to track AI search traffic in GA4 or GSC. Also use when the user mentions "AI traffic," "ChatGPT referral," "Perplexity traffic," "AI Overviews," "GA4 AI sources," "AI search analytics," "track AI referrals," "AI search traffic," "Claude traffic," or "how to track AI traffic." metadata: version: 1.0.0

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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