Bot request, citation, visit: three numbers for three questions
Ferdinand Hofmann
AI crawler requests have increased, yet the visit report shows little change. Both reports may be correct because they count different events.
A request is a technical observation
A request bearing a known bot name establishes that the name appeared in the reported access data. It does not establish a later citation or a prospective customer visit.
Identity matters too. KI Score identifies crawlers through known user-agent names, without IP verification. The name therefore does not constitute a verified identity. Separate verification requires the methods published by the provider.
A source link is a different observation
A monitoring answer may cite a specific page. That identifies a URL cited in that answer, not whether anyone clicked it.
A brand can also be mentioned without a link to its domain. Source citations and brand mentions deserve separate rows in the monthly report.
A referral needs available referral information
KI Score’s AI Referrals view examines reported page visits attributable to an AI service from referral information. Collection requires a server integration, and only reported requests can appear.
When data is missing, check the integration and selected period first. An empty table establishes neither a lack of AI use nor a lack of visibility. Missing referral details may also prevent an actual visit being connected to an earlier contact.
A clear sequence helps a team discuss the results: what was requested, what was cited, and which visits were attributed? Each supports its own technical or editorial questions without turning bot counts into an estimate of customer demand.
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