Getting Started: Writing Formulas

This guide walks you through writing a basic formula using the Formulas (v2) syntax. Before starting, you may want to review the Core Concepts & Definitions.

Writing Your First Formula

Ensure you are using the Formulas (v2) syntax by enabling the 'Use v2' toggle.

Let's filter for Targets that have good click-through rates (ctr) but potentially high acos, and create a Custom Property for their Revenue Per Click (RPC).

1. Set the Source to Targeting.

2. In the Editor, type:

// Filter for active keywords with clicks but no orders in the last 14 days
clicks(14d) > 5
and match type = "broad"
and orders(14d) = 0
and state = "effectively enabled"

3. Breakdown:

• clicks(14d) > 5: This checks if the target has received more than 5 clicks in the last 14 days. Since clicks is a performance metric measured over-time, it's a a time-based property and requires a time-period in parentheses following the property.
• and orders(14d) = 0: This adds the condition that the target must have resulted in zero orders during that same 14-day period. This is also a time-based property.
• and match type = "broad": This adds the condition that the targets must be a broad-match target. Since match type isn't measured over time and only looks at the current attributes of a property, it's a static property and doesn't require a time-period.
• and state = "effectively enabled": This ensures we only look at targets that are currently enabled, and the ad group and campaign they're in are also enabled. This is also a static property.
• This whole expression is the Formula Expression that filters the Targeting dataset.

Validating Your Syntax

• Formula is valid: Looks good!
• Parsing Error / Other Errors: Check for typos (like c1icks instead of clicks), mismatched parentheses (), missing semicolons ; after let statements, using incorrect operators for the data type, or forgetting time periods on time-based properties. Refer to the Syntax Reference and Error Handling.

Saving and Next Steps

Once valid:

• Preview the Segment results by refreshing the filtered results and clicking the drop down.
• Configure the Workflow by selecting an action and schedule.
• Enable the Formula using the 'Enabled' toggle in the toolbar, allowing the Formula to run using your selected schedule and actions.
• Save the Fromula. Remember, defining an Action/Schedule is currently required. See Workflows & Actions.

Further Learning:

• Creating Custom Properties
• Using Time Periods
• Combining Conditions: Boolean Logic

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