---
title: Google Ads Report Guidelines skill
slug: agent-platform/docs/google-ads-report-guidelines-skill
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
---

The **Google Ads Report Guidelines** skill is an org skill in the Optimizely Opal Skills Directory that turns raw Google Ads account data into a prioritized audit of what to pause, scale, and fix, with the estimated dollar value of each action clearly surfaced.

It applies to everyone in your organization. An administrator installs and configures it once.

## Skill details

- **Shortcut** – `/google-ads-report-formatting`
- **Type** – Org skill
- **Setup** – Required

## What the skill does

- Turns Google Ads account data into a prioritized audit of what to pause, scale, and fix, with the estimated dollar value of each action.
- Compares findings to your own targets first, then to labeled industry figures.
- States the account currency, and says plainly when data is unavailable instead of estimating it.
- Reports return on ad spend only when conversion value is tracked.

## Before you begin

- You must have the **Manage Instructions** permission to install this skill. If you do not, click **Request** in the Skills Directory to ask an administrator to install it.
- Connect Google Ads in Opal before you use this skill.
- Have your answers and files ready. Opal asks for them during setup.

## Information Opal asks for

Every input is optional. If you skip all of them, Opal still produces an audit from your account data.

- **Business Context** (Optional) – What your business does. If you skip this, Opal acts as a general paid search strategist.
- **Account Structure** (Optional) – How your campaigns are organized. If you skip this, Opal infers brand and non-brand campaigns and labels them as inferred.
- **Targets and Unit Economics** (Optional) – Your targets and deal economics. If you skip this, Opal uses labeled industry benchmarks and doesn't model return on ad spend.
- **Standing Rules** (Optional) – House rules that Opal treats as hard constraints.
- **Report Sample** (Optional) – A sample report. Its section order and headings outrank the built-in format.

## Install the skill

1. Go to **Directory > Skills**.
2. Find **Google Ads Report Guidelines** and click **Install**.
3. In the **Setup required** dialog, click **Set up in chat**.
4. Answer Opal's questions and upload any files it asks for.
5. Confirm the details when Opal asks.

For details about browsing, installing, updating, and uninstalling skills, see [Skills Directory overview](docId\:jw_PeWvKOXocy3ihL5h9w).

## Use the skill

After setup, enter `/google-ads-report-formatting` in Opal Chat to run the skill on demand. Opal also applies it automatically when your request matches its **When to use** conditions. Try prompts like the following:

- *Give me a pulse on my Google Ads account.*
- *Cut the fat from my Google Ads campaigns.*
- *Audit my Google Ads and tell me what to pause or scale.*

## Things to know

- The skill applies one configuration across your whole organization, so agencies or organizations that manage several accounts can't set per-account targets or rules.
- Opal does not provide bid recommendations, forecasts, change history, or auction insights.

## Update the skill

When Optimizely publishes a new version, **Update** displays on the skill's card in the Skills Directory. Opal keeps the information you provided during setup and asks only for anything the new version adds. See [Update a skill](docId\:jw_PeWvKOXocy3ihL5h9w).

## Related skills

- [LinkedIn Ads Report Guidelines skill](docId\:SXimaVTsQcMUepvNbW39w)
- [GA4 Report Guidelines skill](docId\:WiOyvKex4g64DQqEQnPSu)

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**

If you use Opti ID, administrators can turn off generative AI in the Opti ID Admin Center. See [Turn generative AI off across Optimizely applications](docId\:X5U0kKD2azV5cIdNqwGNj).
:::