ad-platform-tracker

# Ad Platform Tracker Skill

A comprehensive skill for tracking algorithm changes, policy updates, compliance requirements,
and competitive intelligence across Meta and Google Ads platforms.

---

## Four Tracking Modules

| Module | File | Purpose |
|--------|------|---------|
| Meta Algorithm & Policy | `references/meta-tracker.md` | Meta ad system changes, Andromeda, features |
| Google Ads Algorithm & Policy | `references/google-tracker.md` | PMax, Smart Bidding, AI Max, policy changes |
| Regulatory & Compliance | `references/compliance-tracker.md` | GDPR, CCPA, iOS privacy, ad policies |
| Competitive Intelligence | `references/competitive-tracker.md` | Competitor ads, benchmarks, best practices |

**When to load each file:**
- Meta question → load `meta-tracker.md`
- Google Ads question → load `google-tracker.md`
- Compliance/privacy/policy question → load `compliance-tracker.md`
- Competitor/benchmarking question → load `competitive-tracker.md`
- General audit or "check everything" → load all four

---

## Quick Assessment Framework

When a user reports a campaign issue or asks "why did X change?", run through this:

1. **Platform Change?** → Check the relevant tracker file for recent algorithm/feature updates
2. **Compliance Risk?** → Check if account/vertical is in a sensitive category (health, finance, political)
3. **Creative Fatigue?** → For Meta: check creative diversity, similarity scores, refresh cycle
4. **Structural Issue?** → For Google PMax: check channel reporting, negative keywords, asset quality
5. **Competitive Shift?** → Check if competitors changed messaging, offers, or formats

---

## Output Templates

### Daily Update Digest
```
DATE: [date]
PLATFORM: Meta / Google / Both
CHANGE: [what changed]
SEVERITY: Critical / High / Medium / Low
IMPACT DATE: [when it takes effect]
AFFECTED: [all accounts / specific verticals / regions]
RECOMMENDED ACTION: [what to do]
```

### Campaign Impact Assessment
```
UPDATE: [name of update]
CURRENT CAMPAIGN STATUS: [affected / not affected]
METRICS AT RISK: [ROAS, CPM, CPA, reach, etc.]
URGENCY: [act now / act within 30 days / monitor]
SPECIFIC CHANGES NEEDED: [list]
```

### Compliance Alert
```
REGULATION: [GDPR / CCPA / Meta Policy / Google Policy]
RISK LEVEL: High / Medium / Low
DEADLINE: [compliance required by]
AFFECTED CAMPAIGNS: [list]
REMEDIATION STEPS: [numbered list]
```

---

## Data Sources to Monitor

**Meta Official:**
- Meta for Business blog: https://www.facebook.com/business/news
- Meta Transparency Center: https://transparency.fb.com/
- Meta Ads Library: https://www.facebook.com/ads/library
- Meta Graph API changelog: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/graph-api/changelog

**Google Official:**
- Google Ads blog: https://blog.google/products/ads-commerce/
- Google Ads Help Center: https://support.google.com/google-ads
- Google Ads Developer Blog: https://ads-developers.googleblog.com/
- Google Marketing Live announcements (annual, May)

**Industry Sources (fast-track updates):**
- Jon Loomer Digital (Meta expert): https://jonloomer.com
- Social Media Examiner: https://socialmediaexaminer.com
- Search Engine Journal (Google Ads): https://searchenginejournal.com
- WordStream / Search Engine Land: https://wordstream.com
- Foxwell Digital (Meta policy specialist): https://foxwelldigital.com

**Competitive Intelligence:**
- Meta Ads Library API: https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/api/
- Google Ads Transparency Center: https://adstransparency.google.com/

---

## Scraping Strategy

When asked to monitor or scrape platform updates, use the **web-scraper skill** (Firecrawl or Apify) to:

1. **Official blogs** → Firecrawl `/crawl` on Meta/Google blog URLs, filter for last 7 days
2. **Meta Ads Library** → Apify actor `apify/facebook-ads-scraper` for competitor ads
3. **Google Ads Transparency** → Firecrawl `/scrape` on specific advertiser pages
4. **Industry blogs** → Firecrawl `/search` for recent updates ("Meta algorithm update 2025")
5. **RSS feeds** → Firecrawl `/scrape` on RSS feed URLs for real-time monitoring

```python
# Example: Monitor Meta blog for updates in last 7 days
firecrawl_payload = {
    "url": "https://www.facebook.com/business/news",
    "formats": ["markdown"],
    "onlyMainContent": True,
}

# Example: Search for recent Google Ads changes
firecrawl_search = {
    "query": "Google Ads Performance Max update 2025",
    "limit": 10,
    "scrapeOptions": { "formats": ["markdown"] }
}
```

---

## Current State of Knowledge (as of early 2026)

### Meta — Critical Facts
- **Andromeda** fully rolled out globally October 2025 — creative is now the primary targeting mechanism
- Andromeda uses NVIDIA Grace Hopper Superchip, 10,000x increase in model capacity vs. predecessor
- **Engaged-view window** changed from 10s → 5s in 2025
- **Value Rules** expanded to Leads objective
- **Threads Feed** placement added — test for scaling
- **Lookalike restrictions** on health/finance data (Sept 2025)
- **Creative similarity scoring** active — too-similar ads punished with higher CPMs
- Sensitive category blocking (health, finance) started January 2025 — blocks mid/lower funnel events
- Meta AI chatbot personalization rolled out Dec 16, 2025 (excluding EU/UK/South Korea)

### Google Ads — Critical Facts
- **PMax channel-level reporting** went live November 2025 for all accounts
- **Full Search Terms Reporting** in PMax added in 2025
- **Campaign-level negative keywords** (10k limit) added January 2025
- **Search themes** expanded from 25 → 50 per asset group
- **AI Max** launched at Google Marketing Live May 2025 (new search campaign type)
- **Power Pack** = PMax + Demand Gen + AI Max (Google's new recommended setup)
- **Demand Gen** showed 26% conversion increase in tests
- **Waze ads** inventory added to PMax store goals (US only, Nov 2025)
- First-party audience exclusions added to PMax (2026 rollout)
- Budget projection report added to PMax

### Compliance — Critical Facts
- 19 US state privacy laws in effect by 2025
- Meta blocks custom audiences with sensitive attributes (health/finance) as of Sept 2025
- GDPR: requires opt-in, up to €20M or 4% global revenue fines
- CCPA/CPRA: opt-out model; requires "Do Not Sell" link
- Health/wellness brands: Add to Cart and Purchase events blocked for optimization (Jan 2025)
- Financial services: new mandatory Special Ad Category (Jan 14, 2025)
- Political ads: "Paid for by" disclaimer required, tighter targeting restrictions

For full deep-dive detail on any module, load the relevant reference file.