google-ads

name	google-ads
description	Query, audit, and optimize Google Ads campaigns. Supports two modes: (1) API mode for bulk operations with google-ads Python SDK, (2) Browser automation mode for users without API access - just attach a browser tab to ads.google.com. Use when asked to check ad performance, pause campaigns/keywords, find wasted spend, audit conversion tracking, or optimize Google Ads accounts.

Google Ads Skill

Manage Google Ads accounts via API or browser automation.

Mode Selection

Check which mode to use:

1. API Mode - If user has google-ads.yaml configured or GOOGLE_ADS_* env vars
2. Browser Mode - If user says "I don't have API access" or just wants quick checks

# Check for API config
ls ~/.google-ads.yaml 2>/dev/null || ls google-ads.yaml 2>/dev/null

If no config found, ask: "Do you have Google Ads API credentials, or should I use browser automation?"

---

Browser Automation Mode (Universal)

Requirements: User logged into ads.google.com in browser

Setup

1. User opens ads.google.com and logs in
2. User clicks Clawdbot Browser Relay toolbar icon (badge ON)
3. Use browser tool with profile="chrome"

Common Workflows

Get Campaign Performance

1. Navigate to: ads.google.com/aw/campaigns
2. Set date range (top right date picker)
3. Snapshot the campaigns table
4. Parse: Campaign, Status, Budget, Cost, Conversions, Cost/Conv

Find Zero-Conversion Keywords (Wasted Spend)

1. Navigate to: ads.google.com/aw/keywords
2. Click "Add filter" → Conversions → Less than → 1
3. Click "Add filter" → Cost → Greater than → [threshold, e.g., $500]
4. Sort by Cost descending
5. Snapshot table for analysis

Pause Keywords/Campaigns

1. Navigate to keywords or campaigns view
2. Check boxes for items to pause
3. Click "Edit" dropdown → "Pause"
4. Confirm action

Download Reports

1. Navigate to desired view (campaigns, keywords, etc.)
2. Click "Download" icon (top right of table)
3. Select format (CSV recommended)
4. File downloads to user's Downloads folder

For detailed browser selectors: See references/browser-workflows.md

---

API Mode (Power Users)

Requirements: Google Ads API developer token + OAuth credentials

Setup Check

# Verify google-ads SDK
python -c "from google.ads.googleads.client import GoogleAdsClient; print('OK')"

# Check config
cat ~/.google-ads.yaml

Common Operations

Query Campaign Performance

from google.ads.googleads.client import GoogleAdsClient

client = GoogleAdsClient.load_from_storage()
ga_service = client.get_service("GoogleAdsService")

query = """
    SELECT campaign.name, campaign.status,
           metrics.cost_micros, metrics.conversions,
           metrics.cost_per_conversion
    FROM campaign
    WHERE segments.date DURING LAST_30_DAYS
    ORDER BY metrics.cost_micros DESC
"""

response = ga_service.search(customer_id=CUSTOMER_ID, query=query)

Find Zero-Conversion Keywords

query = """
    SELECT ad_group_criterion.keyword.text,
           campaign.name, metrics.cost_micros
    FROM keyword_view
    WHERE metrics.conversions = 0
      AND metrics.cost_micros > 500000000
      AND segments.date DURING LAST_90_DAYS
    ORDER BY metrics.cost_micros DESC
"""

Pause Keywords

operations = []
for keyword_id in keywords_to_pause:
    operation = client.get_type("AdGroupCriterionOperation")
    operation.update.resource_name = f"customers/{customer_id}/adGroupCriteria/{ad_group_id}~{keyword_id}"
    operation.update.status = client.enums.AdGroupCriterionStatusEnum.PAUSED
    operations.append(operation)

service.mutate_ad_group_criteria(customer_id=customer_id, operations=operations)

For full API reference: See references/api-setup.md

---

Audit Checklist

Quick health check for any Google Ads account:

Check	Browser Path	What to Look For
Zero-conv keywords	Keywords → Filter: Conv<1, Cost>$500	Wasted spend
Empty ad groups	Ad Groups → Filter: Ads=0	No creative running
Policy violations	Campaigns → Status column	Yellow warning icons
Optimization Score	Overview page (top right)	Below 70% = action needed
Conversion tracking	Tools → Conversions	Inactive/no recent data

---

Output Formats

When reporting findings, use tables:

## Campaign Performance (Last 30 Days)
| Campaign | Cost | Conv | CPA | Status |
|----------|------|------|-----|--------|
| Branded  | $5K  | 50   | $100| ✅ Good |
| SDK Web  | $10K | 2    | $5K | ❌ Pause |

## Recommended Actions
1. **PAUSE**: SDK Web campaign ($5K CPA)
2. **INCREASE**: Branded budget (strong performer)

---

Troubleshooting

Browser Mode Issues

• Can't see data: Check user is on correct account (top right account selector)
• Slow loading: Google Ads UI is heavy; wait for tables to fully load
• Session expired: User needs to re-login to ads.google.com

API Mode Issues

• Authentication failed: Refresh OAuth token, check google-ads.yaml
• Developer token rejected: Ensure token is approved (not test mode)
• Customer ID error: Use 10-digit ID without dashes
• proto-plus CopyFrom errors: Assign directly (e.g., operation.create = obj) instead of CopyFrom on create fields
• contains_eu_political_advertising required: Set to integer 0/1 (not boolean)
• RSA text too long: Descriptions must be ≤ 90 chars