Waste Detector

Google Ads Waste Detector

Scan a Google Ads account for the most common spend leaks, quantify each leak in dollars, and produce a prioritized action plan with UI paths and copy-paste artifacts.

Read-only by design. This skill does not modify your account. All remediation is delivered as action plans you execute in the Google Ads UI.

Account Context

Read ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/profile/account-profile.md at the start of every run. If it exists:

• Use known account IDs -- skip list_accounts discovery.
• Apply KPI targets as anomaly detection thresholds (e.g., flag CPA > target CPA).
• Note active tests when interpreting performance shifts.
• Check watch list for follow-up items from prior sessions. If it doesn't exist, fall back to list_accounts and suggest running platform-setup.

Data Access

• mcp__google-ads__query: Execute GAQL SELECT queries for waste detection.
• mcp__google-ads__list_accounts: Validate account visibility before running audits.

Agent Acceleration

When the account has more than 5 active campaigns, spawn the waste-scanner agent to run waste queries in parallel across campaign batches. Pass campaign IDs in batches and collect consolidated findings. For accounts with 5 or fewer campaigns, run sequentially (no agent needed).

Workflow

Phase 1: Run waste queries

Execute the eight query groups from references/gaql-queries.md.

Waste types covered:

Phase 2: Quantify impact

Use references/thresholds.md for exact detection thresholds and dollar formulas per waste type. Summary:

1. Apply the specific threshold for each waste type (not a single blanket rule).
2. Compute dollar waste using the formula specified per type.
3. Rank all findings by dollar impact descending.
4. Tag severity: HIGH (>$500/mo), MEDIUM ($100-500), LOW ($25-100), INFO (<$25).

Use references/benchmarks.md for QS-to-CPC pressure multipliers and CTR bands.

Phase 3: Build action plans

For every finding, produce a concrete action plan instead of API mutations. Each action plan includes:

1. Dollar table -- priority-ranked findings with entity path and spend.
2. UI path -- step-by-step navigation in Google Ads to fix the issue.
3. Copy-paste artifacts -- negative keyword lists, settings values, or other text ready to paste.

Action plan format per waste type

Type 1 -- Non-converting keywords (pause):

• Dollar table: keyword, campaign > ad group, match type, 30d spend, 30d clicks, action (Pause).
• UI path: Google Ads > Campaign '[name]' > Ad Group '[name]' > Keywords > select '[keyword]' > Edit > Pause

Type 2 -- Low quality score keywords (pause or improve):

• Dollar table: keyword, campaign > ad group, QS, QS sub-scores, 30d spend, estimated CPC premium, action.
• UI path: Google Ads > Campaign '[name]' > Ad Group '[name]' > Keywords > select '[keyword]' > Edit > Pause
• For QS improvement: note which sub-score (ad relevance, landing page, expected CTR) is dragging.

Type 3 -- Display expansion on Search (disable):

• Dollar table: campaign name, 30d spend, channel type, action (Disable content network).
• UI path: Google Ads > Campaign '[name]' > Settings > Networks > uncheck 'Include Google Display Network'

Type 4 -- Budget-limited campaigns (increase budget or reallocate):

• Dollar table: campaign, daily budget, IS lost to budget, estimated missed conversions, action.
• UI path: Google Ads > Campaign '[name]' > Settings > Budget > Edit daily budget
• Note: this is missed opportunity, not direct waste.

Type 5 -- Broad match without negative list (add shared negative list):

• Dollar table: campaign, broad match spend (30d), negative list status, action.
• UI path: Google Ads > Tools & Settings > Shared Library > Negative keyword lists > + New list
• Then: Google Ads > Campaign '[name]' > Settings > Negative keyword lists > Apply list

Type 6 -- Single-ad ad groups (add RSA variants):

• Dollar table: campaign > ad group, 30d spend, ad count, action (Create additional RSA).
• UI path: Google Ads > Campaign '[name]' > Ad Group '[name]' > Ads > + New ad > Responsive search ad

Type 7 -- Zero-impression enabled campaigns (investigate or pause):

• Dollar table: campaign, status, daily budget, 7d impressions, action.
• UI path: Google Ads > Campaign '[name]' > check status, targeting, ad approval

Type 8 -- Non-converting search terms (add as negatives):

• Dollar table: search term, campaign > ad group, 30d spend, 30d clicks, action (Add negative).
• UI path: Google Ads > Campaign '[name]' > Ad Group '[name]' > Search terms > select term > Add as negative keyword
• Copy-paste artifact: negative keyword list organized by match type.

Negative keyword copy-paste format

When search term negatives are recommended, group them for easy pasting:

-- PHRASE match negatives --
"term one"
"term two"
"term three"

-- EXACT match negatives --
[specific query one]
[specific query two]

Include the UI path for bulk adding: Google Ads > Tools & Settings > Shared Library > Negative keyword lists > [list name] > + Keywords > paste list

Output format

## Waste Report - [Date]

### Google Ads: [Name] ([Customer ID])
**Estimated Recoverable Waste: $X,XXX/month**

### Priority Action Table

| # | Priority | Waste Type | Entity | Campaign > Ad Group | 30d Spend | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---:|---|

### Detailed Findings

#### [Waste Type Name]
**Monthly Impact: $X,XXX | Severity: HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW**

[Dollar table for this waste type]

**How to fix:**
[UI path steps]

[Copy-paste artifact if applicable]

---

### Summary
| Severity | Count | Monthly Impact |
|---|---:|---:|
| HIGH | X | $X,XXX |
| MEDIUM | X | $X,XXX |
| LOW | X | $XXX |
| INFO | X | $XX |
| **Total** | **X** | **$X,XXX** |

### Notes
- Dollar figures are estimates where noted; benchmark assumptions are called out.
- This report is read-only. No account changes were made.

Guardrails

• Call out where dollar figures are estimates vs direct spend totals.
• Keep assumptions explicit for model-based calculations.
• Distinguish "true zero" from omitted zero-value GAQL rows.
• Read-only: This skill produces action plans only. No account modifications are made. All remediation requires manual execution in the Google Ads UI.

Profile Maintenance

After completing analysis, if ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/profile/account-profile.md exists:

1. Update Watch List with any new anomalies flagged in this run.
2. Update Active Tests if user mentioned starting or completing a test.
3. Append to Decision Log if actions were taken (pauses, negatives added, etc.).
4. Update "Last updated" date. Present proposed profile changes to the user before writing.

References

• references/gaql-queries.md
• references/thresholds.md
• references/benchmarks.md
• references/ui-paths.md