| name | paid-search-ads-playbook |
| description | Google and Microsoft paid search planning: structure, keywords, match types, negatives, RSAs, bidding lens, and landing-page alignment for conversion-focused spend. |
When to Activate
Use this skill for Google Ads (Microsoft Ads analogs) planning: structure, keywords, match types, negatives, RSAs, bidding lens, and landing-page alignment. This is paid search, not organic SEO—intent is conversion and efficient spend, not rankings.
First Questions
- Business & offer — What sells, margin, and primary conversion (lead, purchase, trial)?
- Geo & language — Countries, cities, languages?
- Budget & goal — Daily/monthly cap, target CPA/ROAS (or learning phase expectations)?
- Funnel stage — Brand, non-brand, competitor, remarketing?
- Existing assets — Live account structure (if any), feed/SAIQ, conversion tags health?
- Landing pages — URLs per offer; mobile speed and message match?
Account & Campaign Structure
- Separation of intent: Brand, generic non-brand, competitor, and remarketing belong in distinct campaigns (or clear ad groups with budget control at campaign level).
- Naming: Consistent convention (geo | network | intent | offer).
- Budget: Avoid dilution—fewer strong campaigns beat many starved ones early.
- Networks: Search vs Performance Max / Display—do not mix goals blindly; call out when PMax or Display changes assumptions.
Keywords & Match Types
- Match types (modern Google): Exact and Phrase are precision tools; Broad requires strong negatives and monitoring.
- Themes: One tight theme per ad group (5–15 closely related keywords, not kitchen-sink lists).
- Cannibalization: Same keyword in multiple ad groups/campaigns causes auction confusion—consolidate or use negatives to sculpt.
- Expansion: Mine search terms reports (conceptually); add winners as keywords, losers as negatives.
Negative Keywords
- Build shared negative lists (geo exclusions, job seekers, free-only intent, irrelevant industries).
- Ad-group-level negatives to sculpt traffic between sibling groups.
- Review weekly in early phases; stale negatives hide volume.
Responsive Search Ads (RSAs)
- 15 headlines / 4 descriptions where possible; pin only when legally or brand-required (pinning reduces combinations).
- Coverage: At least 3 distinct value props, 2 CTAs, 1 keyword-rich headline, 1 trust/credibility.
- Policy: Avoid superlatives without proof; medical/financial sensitivity.
Bidding & Goals (Framing, Not Live Optimization)
- Learning: Major changes reset learning; batch edits.
- tCPA / tROAS: Need conversion volume; suggest thresholds honestly.
- Manual / eCPC: When automation lacks data.
- Portfolio: Align bid strategy with actual conversion lag and value rules.
Conversion Tracking & Quality
- Primary vs secondary conversions—avoid optimizing on weak proxies.
- Enhanced conversions / consent—note when relevant.
- Landing page: Message match headline ↔ ad; one clear CTA; speed and mobile UX.
Tools and data sources (keyword/API + page read)
- Volume & CPC signals:
seo_search_volume, seo_keyword_ideas, seo_related_keywords, seo_keyword_suggestions for seeds and expansion.
- Paid estimates:
seo_ad_traffic_by_keywords for impression/click/cost scenarios when comparing bid levels.
- SERP context:
seo_serp_analysis when auction insight helps (ads + organic layout).
- Landing pages:
web_scrape to audit copy, CTAs, and offer clarity—never guess page content without a URL.
Be explicit: tool outputs are estimates; validate in the ad platform.
Quality Gate (before final deliverable)