Connecting a data source is usually the first real step after creating a workspace, since dashboards and AI Analytics both depend on having at least one source connected.
How connecting works, conceptually
Each data source is connected through an authorization flow specific to that source — either signing in to the source's own platform and granting Coefficient permission to read data on your behalf (for OAuth-based sources like Google Search Console, Meta, Meta Ads, and LinkedIn), or entering a credential directly, like a service-account key or API key (for sources like Google Analytics 4 and Thinkific). Coefficient never asks for your data source account password directly.
Once connected, use "Sync Now" to pull in historical and current data. Syncing is triggered manually today rather than running automatically on a schedule.
Choosing what to connect first
If you're not sure where to start, connecting your primary web analytics source (like GA4) and, if applicable, an advertising source (like Meta Ads) covers the majority of common reporting needs and unlocks blended dashboard templates that combine the two.
After connecting
Once a source is connected, you can:
- Add prebuilt dashboard widgets for that source.
- Reference its metrics when asking AI Analytics a question.
- Combine it with other connected sources in a blended dashboard or report.
If a sync fails
Sync issues are usually caused by a revoked authorization or a change on the source platform's side. See Troubleshooting Integration Syncs for how to diagnose and resolve the most common cases.