Skill v1.0.0
currentAutomated scan100/100version: "1.0.0" name: ads-start description: "Guided first-run wizard. Walks the user from cold install to a working audit pipeline: business-context capture, per-platform connection choice (MCP / direct API / manual) with step-by-step OAuth verification, optional Zernio + Meta Developers account walkthroughs, profile persistence to ~/.claude-ads/profile.json. Re-runnable to edit settings (/ads start edit), reset (/ads start reset), or check status (/ads start status). Use when user says start, setup, init, onboard, first time, get started, walkthrough, connect my accounts, conectar mis cuentas, empezar." user-invokable: false argument-hint: "[reset | edit | status]" allowed-tools: Bash, Read, Write, AskUserQuestion
Guided onboarding wizard
You are running the first-run / re-entry wizard that produces and maintains ~/.claude-ads/profile.json. This is the canonical entry point for new users and the only place the user re-edits their saved context. The wizard never auto-invokes other /ads commands — at the end it suggests the next command and exits.
Core rules
- One question at a time. Each step uses ONE
AskUserQuestionblock with
2–4 options, then writes the answer to the profile via python3 scripts/profile.py set <dot.path> <value> BEFORE asking the next question. Partial completion must be recoverable.
- Step-by-step verification. For OAuth / MCP setup, dictate one step at a
time, wait for the user's "done", run a verification call, diagnose errors. Cap retries at 3 per platform before offering "skip + come back later".
- Never store secrets in the profile. Tokens, API keys, refresh tokens
live in environment variables only. The profile records api_key_present: true/false, never the value.
- The wizard is inert at the end. Suggest the next command in plain text,
do NOT execute it.
Subcommand routing
Read the user's argument (if any):
| Arg | Behavior | |
|---|---|---|
| (none) | Phase A — detect first-run vs re-entry. | |
status | Run python3 scripts/profile.py get, print a 5-line summary, exit. | |
edit | Skip Phase A welcome, jump to the edit selector in Phase A.4. | |
reset | Confirm with AskUserQuestion → call python3 scripts/profile.py reset --yes → restart from Phase A. |
Phase A — Detect first-run vs re-entry
A.1 Run python3 scripts/profile.py get and capture exit code.
- Exit
2(no profile) → first-run: print the welcome banner below, then go
to Phase B.
- Exit
0(profile exists) → re-entry: print a 5-line summary (industry,
spend bracket, active platforms, last command) and go to A.4.
A.2 First-run welcome (print verbatim, adapt to user's language):
Welcome to claude-ads. I'll walk you through 4 quick steps:1. Tell me about your business (~1 min)2. Connect Meta / Google / TikTok — one at a time, step by step (~2-10 min each)3. Optional: Zernio for publishing creatives, Meta for Developers4. Pick your first actionNothing leaves your machine. Tokens go to env vars, not the profile.You can re-run /ads start edit anytime to change settings, or /ads start resetto start over.
A.3 First-run: run python3 scripts/profile.py init and continue to Phase B.
A.4 Re-entry edit selector — AskUserQuestion:
"What do you want to change?"
Business context— re-run Phase B.Meta connection— re-run Phase C for Meta only.Google connection— re-run Phase C for Google only.TikTok connection— re-run Phase C for TikTok only.Zernio publishing— re-run Phase D Zernio block.
(AskUserQuestion will add "Other" — treat it as cancel.)
After completing the selected edit, write last_command_at via python3 scripts/profile.py set last_command_at $(date -u +%FT%TZ) and exit with a one-line "Saved." confirmation.
Phase B — Business context (first-run or edit context)
Four sequential AskUserQuestion blocks. Save EACH answer immediately.
B.1 Industry — AskUserQuestion (single-select)
Options: Ecommerce · Local service · Real estate · Healthcare · Finance · Agency / multiple clients · Other.
Map to profile values: ecommerce, local-service, real-estate, healthcare, finance, agency, other.
Then: python3 scripts/profile.py set context.industry <value>.
B.2 Monthly ad spend — AskUserQuestion (single-select)
Options: Under $500/mo · $500–$2,000/mo · $2,000–$10,000/mo · $10,000+/mo. (User can pick "Other" and type an exact figure — coerce to a number.)
Map bracket → midpoint USD: 250, 1250, 6000, 25000. If user gave an exact number, use it.
Then: python3 scripts/profile.py set context.monthly_spend_usd <number>.
B.3 Primary goal — AskUserQuestion (single-select)
Options: Sales / revenue · Leads / signups · App installs · Phone calls · Brand awareness.
Map → sales, leads, app-installs, calls, brand.
Then: python3 scripts/profile.py set context.primary_goal <value>.
B.4 Active platforms — AskUserQuestion (multiSelect: true)
"Which platforms do you actively run (or plan to run) ads on?"
Options: Meta (Facebook + Instagram) · Google Ads (incl. YouTube) · TikTok Ads.
Require ≥1. Map to ["meta","google","tiktok"] subset.
Then: python3 scripts/profile.py set context.active_platforms '<json>'.
Phase C — Per-platform connection wizard
For each platform in context.active_platforms (in order Meta → Google → TikTok, only those selected in B.4), run the loop below.
C.1 Tier selection — AskUserQuestion (single-select)
"How do you want to connect `<PLATFORM>`?"
| Option | Save as connections.<p>.tier | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
MCP server (recommended) | mcp_claude_ai for Meta · mcp_cohnen for Google · mcp_adsmcp for TikTok | Capa 1. Quickest. | |
Direct API (free, OAuth once) | direct_api | Capa 2. Full control. | |
Manual exports for now | manual | Capa 3. Always works, no setup. | |
Skip — set this up later | skipped | Leave unconfigured. |
If manual or skipped: write the tier, write connected_at to now, skip C.2-C.4, continue to the next platform.
C.2 Load the platform setup walkthrough
Read the relevant reference file:
| Platform | Reference | |
|---|---|---|
| Meta | ads/references/setup-meta.md | |
ads/references/setup-google.md | ||
| TikTok | ads/references/setup-tiktok.md |
Each file has Sections A (MCP), B (Direct API), C (Manual). Jump to the section that matches the user's tier choice. Within that section, walk the steps in order.
C.3 Step-by-step verified walkthrough
For each STEP in the chosen section:
- Print the step verbatim: its Goal, the exact URL/action under "Do
this", and what they should "Expect to see".
AskUserQuestion→ "Done with step N?" with options:
Done — next stepHit an errorCancel and skip this platform
- On
Done: continue to the next step. - On
Hit an error: read the step's "On error" branch and ask the user to
describe what they saw. Suggest the most likely fix from the reference. Retry the step. Cap at 3 attempts → offer to skip.
- On
Cancel: setconnections.<p>.tier = "skipped"and continue to next
platform.
After the LAST step, run the verification call:
| Platform | Tier A (MCP) verification | Tier B (Direct API) verification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta | Call mcp__claude_ai_Facebook__ads_get_ad_accounts | python3 scripts/api/meta_fetch.py --account-id <id> --what account | |
Call mcp__cohnen_google_ads__list_customers (if available) — else ask user to paste customer_id | python3 scripts/api/google_fetch.py --customer-id <id> --what account | ||
| TikTok | List advertiser via MCP tool — else ask user to paste advertiser_id | python3 scripts/api/tiktok_fetch.py --advertiser-id <id> --what account |
(If the MCP tool isn't present in this session — e.g., the user hasn't enabled it on claude.ai — fall back to asking the user to paste the account ID manually and skip the live call. Record last_verified_at: null so /ads next knows to re-verify next time.)
C.4 Save the connection
On verification success:
python3 scripts/profile.py set connections.<platform>.ad_account_id "<id>"python3 scripts/profile.py set connections.<platform>.connected_at "$(date -u +%FT%TZ)"python3 scripts/profile.py set connections.<platform>.last_verified_at "$(date -u +%FT%TZ)"
Print ✓ confirmation with the account ID. Continue to next platform.
Phase D — Optional account-creation walkthroughs
D.1 Meta for Developers (only if Meta tier == direct_api)
AskUserQuestion:
*"Do you already have a Meta for Developers account? (Required for thedirect Meta API path.)"*
Options: Yes — I have one · No — walk me through it · Skip.
On No: load ads/references/setup-meta-developers.md and run the step-by-step loop (same pattern as C.3). When the user has created their app and added the Marketing API product, return to C.3 step 1 of the Direct API section in setup-meta.md.
D.2 Zernio publishing (asked once at the end of Phase C, regardless of tier)
AskUserQuestion:
*"Do you want to enable/ads publishfor posting generated creatives to 14+social networks? Zernio's free tier covers 2 connected accounts forever (nocredit card)."*
Options: Yes — walk me through Zernio signup · Maybe later — skip · I already have an account.
Yes: loadads/references/setup-zernio.md, run step loop. On success
write zernio.signed_up = true. If user reports they saved the API key to ZERNIO_API_KEY, also write zernio.api_key_present = true.
I already have an account: just ask ifZERNIO_API_KEYis exported.
Write zernio.signed_up = true and zernio.api_key_present accordingly.
Skip: leave defaults (false).
Phase E — First-action recommendation
Print a one-screen summary:
✓ Profile saved to ~/.claude-ads/profile.json✓ Connected: <platform list with tier>✓ Zernio: <on / off>
Then AskUserQuestion:
"You're set up. What would you like to run first?"
Options (filter to what the user actually configured):
/ads audit — full multi-platform audit(recommended if ≥2 platforms
connected with tier ≠ skipped).
/ads <single-platform> — deep-dive on one platform(single-select the
platforms they connected).
/ads plan <industry> — strategic plan from your industry template
(use their context.industry, falling back to generic).
Just exit — I'll explore on my own.
Print the EXACT next command to type (do not invoke it). Example:
Great — next, type: `/ads audit`
Finalize: python3 scripts/profile.py set last_command "/ads start" && python3 scripts/profile.py set last_command_at "$(date -u +%FT%TZ)".
Status mode (/ads start status)
Run python3 scripts/profile.py get and print:
claude-ads profileIndustry: <context.industry or "—">Monthly spend: ~$<context.monthly_spend_usd>/moGoal: <context.primary_goal>Active platforms: <comma list>Meta: <tier> · <ad_account_id or "—"> · last verified <relative time>Google: <tier> · <ad_account_id or "—"> · last verified <relative time>TikTok: <tier> · <ad_account_id or "—"> · last verified <relative time>Zernio: <on/off> · API key <present/missing>Last command: <last_command> (<relative time>)
Exit without further prompts.
Error handling
- If
python3 scripts/profile.pyis not executable, run it as `python3
scripts/profile.py …` (already the default).
- If
~/.claude-ads/is read-only, print the path and ask the user to fix
permissions before retrying.
- If
AskUserQuestionreturns "Other" without useful text, treat as cancel
for that step.
Output contract
The wizard does NOT produce a report file. It only writes ~/.claude-ads/profile.json and emits user-facing prose. Other /ads commands read the profile via python3 scripts/profile.py get.