Overview
The Rules Program gives experienced advertisers direct control over how Trellis reacts to performance conditions.
Instead of relying only on automated optimization strategies (like GrowthMax or ROAS Boost), you can define your own logic for when and how bids should change.
You’ll find this option in Advanced Settings → Rules Program (Optional). Or within the Left Hand Navigation -> Placement -> Configuration for organization level rules.
How It Works
Rules Programs are sets of instructions that tell Trellis how to handle bids when certain conditions are met — for example:
“If a keyword gets more than 15 clicks with no conversions, lower the bid by 10%.”
“If ACoS is under 20% and conversions are above 5, raise the bid by 15%.”
Each program can include multiple rules and conditions that work together to manage bids with precision.
You are able to use Only Rules or Optimization Strategies with Rules, this allows you to setup campaigns that only use your custom rules, or use both the optimization strategies of Trellis along with your custom rules.
Setting Up a Rules Program
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Navigate to Advanced Settings → Rules Program.
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Select a pre-defined rule from the dropdown (if you’ve created one previously).
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Or click Create New Rules to open the Rules Builder.
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Define your conditions, such as clicks, conversions, or ACoS thresholds.
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Choose how you want Trellis to respond (e.g., increase or decrease bid by a percentage).
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Save your rules and apply them to your Media Plan.
Example Rule
| Condition | Action |
|---|---|
| Keyword has ≥ 10 clicks and 0 conversions | Reduce bid by 15% |
| Keyword has ≥ 5 conversions and ACoS ≤ 20% | Increase bid by 10% |
When to Use Rules Programs
| Use Case | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Custom scaling strategies | You want granular control over bid changes beyond algorithm presets. |
| Testing new logic | You’re experimenting with performance-driven automation. |
| Client-specific requirements | Different clients or brands have unique profitability targets. |
Best Practices
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Start with 1–2 simple rules and refine over time.
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Avoid conflicting rules (e.g., one increases bids when ACoS < 25%, another decreases at 24%).
- You are only able to apply one bidding rule program per campaign - however, you can have multiple rule sets within a one program, so ensure your program covers all of the conditions you would like applied.
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Review performance weekly to ensure rules align with your goals.
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If unsure, stick with Trellis’s default optimization strategies — they already balance scale and efficiency.
- Ensure you test your rules on a smaller campaign, to ensure that it is acting as expected and all potential scenarios are covered.
- You can view the Bidding Rules History on any individual target to understand the changes the rule is making.
💡 Tip: You can assign different Rules Programs to different campaigns for testing. This is ideal for agencies managing multiple brands with varied objectives.