Standing instructions: rules your agent always follows

Standing instructions are rules your agent follows every time it runs, such as "we're online only" or "never suggest budget changes".

Setting one by email

Just tell your agent in a reply, using words like "from now on" or "we don't". For example:

• From now on, never pause the brand campaign
• We don't service Campbelltown
• We're online only, stop suggesting location changes

Your agent confirms it has remembered the rule ("I've also remembered this for future summaries"), or tells you if it's already on file.

Where to see them

Your rules are listed on the Preferences tab under Standing instructions. Each one can be switched on or off, edited or deleted.

Adding one in the dashboard

Click Add and choose:

• Lock a rule: a hard rule the system itself enforces, so suggestions that break it are never sent. The options are:
  • No location suggestions
  • No budget suggestions
  • No bid strategy changes
  • Leave Performance Max campaigns alone
  • No new keywords (blocking search terms is still allowed)
  • Never pause campaigns
• Write an instruction: anything in your own words, for Google Ads, Facebook or both.

If you don't see the Add button, send the rule to your agent by email instead.

Changing or removing a rule

The easiest way is to edit, switch off or delete it on the Preferences tab. A new email only replaces an older rule when it clearly reverses it. Rules set up by our team show "contact us to change this one"; reply help please if one needs updating.