The analytics decision
The useful unit is a time-bounded evidence record that can be joined to traffic without erasing unknown attribution.
Build the data contract
- Define which AI referrals can be identified reliably in analytics
- Preserve an unknown or direct bucket rather than force-classifying sessions
- Map cited and owned URLs to canonical landing pages
- Compare visibility changes with referral sessions and assisted conversions by window
- Annotate releases, campaigns, and measurement changes before interpretation
Example data flow
A page may appear in citations on Monday and receive a referred session later, while another platform sends no referrer. The dashboard should show both the observed citation and the incomplete traffic evidence.
Evidence to retain for AI search and Google Analytics integration
Keep these fields with the decision:
- source object
- stable key
- time grain
- metric definition
- missing-data state
- transformation
- reconciliation
- owner
Limits and UnderAI's role in AI search and Google Analytics integration
Analytics joins show association, not guaranteed causal attribution. Privacy controls, referrer behavior, and cross-device journeys limit completeness.
UnderAI supplies answer and citation observations; Google Analytics supplies identifiable on-site behavior. The two systems should remain distinct but linkable.