Recover ChatGPT 404 Traffic with GA4

09/22/25
Source: SEO – Practical Ecommerce by Ann Smarty. Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of How to Track and Manage ChatGPT-Generated 404 Errors in Google Analytics 4

ChatGPT often provides links that lead to 404 error pages due to hallucinated URLs, generating nearly three times more errors than Google Search. Although traffic from ChatGPT is currently under 5%, monitoring these broken links is essential to preserve valuable visits. The recommended approach involves tracking 404 URLs in Google Analytics 4, creating helpful 404 pages, and selectively implementing 301 redirects for traffic-generating broken URLs.

Optimixed’s Overview: Effective Strategies for Identifying and Resolving ChatGPT-Induced 404 Errors

Understanding the Challenge of ChatGPT-Generated Broken Links

Many websites are experiencing an increasing number of visitors coming from ChatGPT-generated links. However, a significant portion of these URLs are hallucinated — meaning they do not actually exist — leading to a rise in 404 “page not found” errors. According to recent research, ChatGPT links result in error pages nearly three times more frequently than traditional Google Search links. This creates a pressing need for website owners to monitor and manage these errors effectively, especially as overall Google Search traffic declines.

Step 1: Tracking 404 Errors from ChatGPT in Google Analytics 4

  • Navigate to the Engagement > Pages and screens report in Google Analytics 4 to view all pages receiving traffic.
  • Change the dimension selector to Page titles and screen class for better clarity.
  • Apply a filter on Session source/medium by selecting “Contains” and typing ChatGPT to isolate traffic originating from ChatGPT.
  • Review the filtered list and identify pages with 404 errors by visiting them and confirming the error page title (e.g., “404 Response Error Page”).
  • Search for this specific error page title within the filtered list to refine the results further.
  • Add Page path and screen class as a secondary dimension to reveal the exact hallucinated URLs causing the errors.
  • Bookmark this customized report to monitor these problematic URLs regularly.

Next Steps for Reducing Lost Visits

Once you have identified the error-generating URLs from ChatGPT traffic, the next important steps include:

  • Creating user-friendly 404 pages that assist visitors in finding relevant content to reduce bounce rates.
  • Implementing 301 redirects strategically only for the broken URLs that demonstrate consistent traffic, thereby preserving SEO value.

By proactively tracking and managing these 404 errors generated by ChatGPT links, website owners can safeguard their traffic and improve overall user experience despite the challenges posed by AI-generated content.