Google Ads Code Samples Reference Skill

Purpose: Automatically reference official Google Ads API examples when building new functionality.

Type: Reference/efficiency skill (auto-invokes when implementing new Google Ads features)

Status: Production - Use before writing new Google Ads code

What This Skill Deliberately Does NOT Do

• Run the samples. It finds, explains, and adapts proven patterns (see the Instructions steps); executing the resulting code is yours to do.
• Write GAQL for you. Simple reporting queries belong to gaql-query-patterns, not here.
• Wrap mutations in approval. The samples show mutations; the two-step preview-and-approve gate is mutation-safety.
• Maintain or vet the samples. They are Google's official google-ads-python examples (cloned in Setup) — this skill indexes them, it doesn't own or warrant them.

Setup (One-Time)

This skill assumes you have a local checkout of Google's official Python samples repo at ./google-ads-python/:

git clone https://github.com/googleads/google-ads-python.git

All paths below reference google-ads-python/examples/ relative to the project root. Adjust paths if you cloned elsewhere.

When to Auto-Invoke This Skill

Claude should invoke this skill automatically whenever user asks to:

1. Build new Google Ads scripts (not ad-hoc queries)
2. Implement new API operations (mutations, campaign creation, etc.)
3. Work with unfamiliar Google Ads API features
4. Create agents that interact with Google Ads API
5. Solve Google Ads API errors (check examples for proper patterns)

Examples that trigger this skill:

• "Create a script to add Performance Max campaigns"
• "Build an agent to manage account-level negative keywords"
• "How do I batch create campaigns using the API?"
• "Write a script to update bidding strategies across accounts"
• "I'm getting an error with customer negative criteria - how should this work?"

DO NOT trigger for:

• Simple GAQL reporting queries (we already have patterns)
• Reading existing scripts
• Running existing workflows

Available Example Categories

We have 39 official Google example scripts organized by category:

Account Management (10 scripts)

Located: google-ads-python/examples/account_management/

Key examples:

• get_account_hierarchy.py - MCC account traversal
• list_accessible_customers.py - Available customer accounts
• get_change_summary.py - Account change history
• get_change_details.py - Detailed change tracking
• create_customer.py - Creating new accounts
• link_manager_to_client.py - MCC linking
• invite_user_with_access_role.py - User management
• update_user_access.py - Permissions management
• verify_advertiser_identity.py - Identity verification

Campaign Management (8 scripts)

Located: google-ads-python/examples/campaign_management/

Key examples:

• add_complete_campaigns_using_batch_job.py - Bulk campaign creation
• get_all_disapproved_ads.py - Ad disapproval checking
• validate_ad.py - Pre-flight ad validation
• add_campaign_labels.py - Label management
• create_experiment.py - Campaign experiments
• set_ad_parameters.py - Dynamic ad parameters
• update_campaign_criterion_bid_modifier.py - Bid adjustments

Advanced Operations (19 scripts)

Located: google-ads-python/examples/advanced_operations/

Key examples:

• add_performance_max_campaign.py - Performance Max setup
• add_responsive_search_ad_full.py - RSAs with all assets
• add_smart_campaign.py - Smart campaigns
• add_demand_gen_campaign.py - Demand Gen campaigns
• add_dynamic_search_ads.py - DSA campaigns
• create_and_attach_shared_keyword_set.py - Shared negative keywords
• find_and_remove_criteria_from_shared_set.py - Shared set management
• use_portfolio_bidding_strategy.py - Portfolio bidding
• use_cross_account_bidding_strategy.py - Cross-account bidding
• add_ad_group_bid_modifier.py - Bid modifiers
• get_ad_group_bid_modifiers.py - Reading bid modifiers

Reporting (2 scripts)

Located: google-ads-python/examples/reporting/

Key examples:

• parallel_report_download.py - Efficient multi-account reporting

Instructions

When invoked, follow this protocol:

Step 1: Understand the User's Request

Parse what the user is asking for:

• Operation type: Create, read, update, delete?
• Resource type: Campaign, ad group, keyword, account setting?
• Scale: Single account or MCC-wide?
• Special features: Batch operations, mutations, reporting?

Step 2: Search Examples for Relevant Patterns

Based on the operation, search the appropriate category:

# For campaign/ad creation
ls google-ads-python/examples/campaign_management/
ls google-ads-python/examples/advanced_operations/

# For mutations and shared sets
grep -r "SharedSet" google-ads-python/examples/
grep -r "mutate" google-ads-python/examples/

# For account operations
ls google-ads-python/examples/account_management/

# For specific keywords
grep -r "CustomerNegativeCriterion" google-ads-python/examples/
grep -r "PerformanceMax" google-ads-python/examples/

Step 3: Read the Most Relevant Example(s)

Once you identify 1-3 relevant examples, read them:

# Read the full example to understand the pattern
Read: google-ads-python/examples/advanced_operations/add_performance_max_campaign.py

Pay attention to:

• Service client usage (e.g., client.get_service("CampaignService"))
• Operation structure (e.g., CampaignOperation)
• Field access patterns (e.g., operation.create.name = "...")
• Error handling patterns
• Batch operation techniques
• Resource name construction

Step 4: Explain the Pattern to the User

Before writing code, tell the user:

I found a relevant example: add_performance_max_campaign.py

This shows the pattern for:
- Creating asset groups
- Setting up audience signals
- Linking to merchant center
- Batch creating all resources in one call

I'll adapt this pattern to your specific needs...

Step 5: Adapt the Pattern

Create new code based on the example, but adapted for:

• User's specific account/campaign structure
• Our authentication (google-ads.yaml)
• Our safety systems (the mutation-safety skill if mutations)
• Our naming conventions
• Our error handling standards

Step 6: Reference the Source

In the new script, add a comment:

"""
Create Performance Max campaigns for property management accounts

Based on official example:
google-ads-python/examples/advanced_operations/add_performance_max_campaign.py

Adapted for:
- Example portfolio structure
- mutation-safety approval workflow
- CSV-driven batch creation
"""

Example Workflow

User asks: "Create a script to add account-level negative keywords to multiple accounts"

Your process:

1. Search for relevant examples:

   grep -r "negative" google-ads-python/examples/advanced_operations/
   grep -r "CustomerNegativeCriterion" google-ads-python/examples/

2. Find: create_and_attach_shared_keyword_set.py (closest match)
3. Read the example:

   Read: google-ads-python/examples/advanced_operations/create_and_attach_shared_keyword_set.py

4. Explain to user:

   "I found create_and_attach_shared_keyword_set.py which shows how to create shared negative keyword sets. However, for TRUE account-level negatives (that appear in Account Settings), we need CustomerNegativeCriterionService, not SharedSetService. Let me check if there's a more specific example..."

5. Search more specifically:

   grep -r "CustomerNegativeCriterion" google-ads-python/examples/

6. If not found:

   "The examples don't have a CustomerNegativeCriterion example, but the shared keyword pattern shows the proper structure for mutations. I'll adapt it using CustomerNegativeCriterionService based on the API docs..."

7. Create the script using the shared keyword pattern as a template

Benefits of Using This Skill

Efficiency Gains

• 50-75% faster for complex operations (proven patterns vs trial/error)
• 25-40% faster for standard operations (better structure)
• Higher success rate on first attempt

Quality Improvements

• Proper error handling (examples include it)
• Correct service usage (no guessing)
• Best practices built-in (Google's own patterns)
• Fewer API errors (examples are tested)

Learning Effect

• Each example teaches Google's preferred patterns
• Builds knowledge for future implementations
• Reduces dependency on examples over time

Quick Reference: Example Index

For Creating Campaigns

• Performance Max: advanced_operations/add_performance_max_campaign.py
• Demand Gen: advanced_operations/add_demand_gen_campaign.py
• Smart: advanced_operations/add_smart_campaign.py
• Dynamic Search: advanced_operations/add_dynamic_search_ads.py
• Batch creation: campaign_management/add_complete_campaigns_using_batch_job.py

For Mutations & Updates

• Shared negative keywords: advanced_operations/create_and_attach_shared_keyword_set.py
• Campaign labels: campaign_management/add_campaign_labels.py
• Bid modifiers: advanced_operations/add_ad_group_bid_modifier.py

For Ads

• RSAs: advanced_operations/add_responsive_search_ad_full.py
• Call ads: advanced_operations/add_call_ad.py
• Display ads: advanced_operations/add_display_upload_ad.py
• Ad validation: campaign_management/validate_ad.py
• Disapprovals: campaign_management/get_all_disapproved_ads.py

For Account Management

• Account hierarchy: account_management/get_account_hierarchy.py
• List accounts: account_management/list_accessible_customers.py
• Change history: account_management/get_change_summary.py + get_change_details.py
• Create accounts: account_management/create_customer.py
• User access: account_management/invite_user_with_access_role.py

For Bidding Strategies

• Portfolio bidding: advanced_operations/use_portfolio_bidding_strategy.py
• Cross-account bidding: advanced_operations/use_cross_account_bidding_strategy.py

For Reporting

• Multi-account reports: reporting/parallel_report_download.py

When NOT to Use This Skill

Skip this skill when:

• Writing simple GAQL queries (the gaql-query-patterns skill covers these)
• Reading/debugging existing scripts
• Running existing agents
• Making minor modifications to working code

When to Load Other Skills

Success Criteria

This skill is successful when:

1. ✅ Relevant example found before writing custom code
2. ✅ Example pattern explained to user
3. ✅ New code adapted from proven pattern
4. ✅ Source example referenced in comments
5. ✅ Time saved vs writing from scratch
6. ✅ Fewer API errors due to proper structure

Related Documentation

• Links to official Google Ads API docs — see developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs
• google-ads-python/examples/README.md - Safety warnings and usage guide
• GitHub: https://github.com/googleads/google-ads-python
• Samples index: https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/samples

Created: 2025-10-28 Status: Production - Auto-invoke for new Google Ads development Trigger: User requests new Google Ads scripts/agents/functionality