Overview of Google Ads Scripts API
- The Google Ads Scripts API allows you to automate and optimize campaigns using JavaScript. It provides a way to handle repetitive tasks, adjust bids, analyze data, and more.
- The scripting environment is similar to JavaScript, and it includes built-in objects and methods specific for Google Ads operations.
Understanding Key Objects and Methods
- **AdsApp:** This is the gateway to all functionality that the Google Ads Scripts API provides. It gives you access to campaigns, ad groups, ads, and more.
- **Selector:** Allows you to select a set of entities (like campaigns or ads) to work with. These can be filtered and iterated over.
- **Iterator:** An object that allows sequential access to a collection of entities returned by a selector.
- **Entities:** These include Campaigns, AdGroups, Ads, etc., that you will manipulate using the API.
Creating a Basic Script
- Start by creating a new script project in the Google Ads UI. This script will change bids based on some criteria.
function main() {
// Select all campaigns.
var campaigns = AdsApp.campaigns().get();
// Iterate through each campaign and make changes.
while (campaigns.hasNext()) {
var campaign = campaigns.next();
// Example: Pause campaigns with a specific name pattern
if (campaign.getName().indexOf("Test") !== -1) {
campaign.pause();
}
}
}
- This basic script iterates through all campaigns and pauses those with "Test" in their name.
Scheduling and Running Scripts
- Google Ads Scripts can be scheduled to run at specific intervals, ranging from once a minute to once a month.
- To schedule a script, click on the "Actions" menu, then "Run" or "Schedule." You can select the frequency that best suits your needs.
Advanced Automation Techniques
- **Automating Bids:** Use the script to adjust bids based on performance metrics such as click-through rate (CTR) and conversion rate.
function main() {
// Select keywords with more than 100 clicks.
var keywords = AdsApp.keywords()
.withCondition("Clicks > 100")
.get();
while (keywords.hasNext()) {
var keyword = keywords.next();
// Increase bid by 10% if CTR is above 5%
if (keyword.getStatsFor('LAST_30_DAYS').getCtr() > 0.05) {
var newBid = keyword.bidding().getCpc() * 1.10;
keyword.bidding().setCpc(newBid);
}
}
}
- This script increases the bid of high-performing keywords by 10%.
- **Reporting:** Automatically generate and send reports via email using spreadsheet integration.
function main() {
var spreadsheetUrl = 'YOUR_SPREADSHEET_URL';
var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.openByUrl(spreadsheetUrl).getSheets()[0];
// Headline for the report
sheet.getRange('A1').setValue('Campaign Performance Report');
// Select campaigns and report their names and costs
var campaigns = AdsApp.campaigns().get();
var row = 2;
while (campaigns.hasNext()) {
var campaign = campaigns.next();
sheet.getRange('A' + row).setValue(campaign.getName());
sheet.getRange('B' + row).setValue(campaign.getStatsFor('LAST_30_DAYS').getCost());
row++;
}
}
- The script above fetches the campaign performance and updates a specified Google Sheet with the data.
Best Practices for Using Google Ads Scripts
- **Testing:** Always test scripts in a controlled environment or use drafts for campaigns to ensure that nothing unexpected happens.
- **Logging:** Use the `Logger` object for debugging to understand how your scripts are executing.
- **Error Handling:** Surround your scripts with `try-catch` blocks to manage exceptions and log errors accordingly.
- **Documentation:** Keep your code well-documented for maintainability and better team collaboration.
