✅ Phase 4 — Formalize the Intent Funnel

✅ Phase 4 — Formalize the Intent Funnel (Event-First, Page-Agnostic)

1. Declare the funnel contract (this is governance, not UI)

Before touching GA4 Explorations, lock this in conceptually:

Your funnel is not:

• page_view → page_view → page_view
  That’s tourist analytics.

Your funnel is:

• deliberate user signals emitted via cic_intent_click + downstream intent events.

So the contract becomes:

• Event name = behavior
• intent_stage = funnel step
• intent_label = user choice
• event order = progression

No page paths required.

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2. Canonical funnel stages (freeze these names)

Do not improvise later.

Example (adjust only if absolutely necessary):

• menu → discovery / orientation
• explore → consideration
• qualify → evaluation
• convert → commitment

Right now you’re correctly anchored at:

• intent_stage = menu

That’s step zero. Everything else ladders from here.

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3. Build the funnel in GA4 Explorations (properly)

Use Funnel Exploration, not Free Form.

Configuration rules:

• Open funnel (for now)
• Steps defined by event + parameter condition, not URLs

Example:

Step 1

• Event name = cic_intent_click
• Condition: intent_stage = menu

Step 2

• Event name = cic_intent_click (or next intent event)
• Condition: intent_stage = explore

Step 3

• Event name = qualify_lead (or equivalent)
• Condition: intent_stage = qualify

Step 4

• Event name = close_convert_lead / purchase
• Condition: intent_stage = convert

This is why your earlier discipline mattered. GA4 now behaves.

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4. Order is king (and you already solved it)

GA4 enforces event sequence by timestamp.
Because your signals are single-source (GTM) and parameter-complete, order is trustworthy.

This is the hidden win:

• No need for session stitching hacks
• No dependency on referrers
• No brittle URL logic

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5. Segment by intent_label (this is where insight appears)

Once the funnel exists, slice it by:

• intent_label = core | studio | boost | browse
• intent_source = CherryBotLite
• later: CTA Group / Role

Now you’re answering questions like:

• “Which intent collapses fastest?”
• “Which path converts with least friction?”
• “Where does browse stall versus core?”

That’s strategy fuel.

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6. Attribution comes last — and stays simple

Do not touch attribution modeling yet.

When you do:

• Use Data-Driven Attribution
• Attribute on key events, not sessions
• Compare only after 7–14 days of clean data

Attribution before stability is how people lie to themselves with charts.

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Bottom line

You’ve crossed the hard part.

• Instrumentation: solid
• Semantics: consistent
• Signal integrity: verified
• Funnel readiness: ✅

Next session = build the funnel once, then interrogate it mercilessly.
No peas with carrots. No premature optimization. Just clean intent → consequence.

We’re no longer guessing what users do.
We’re watching them decide.

Remember to build this as a completely separate Funnel Exploration page.