Cursor Setup Guide

Prerequisites

Setup (3 Minutes)

Step 1: Add Adspirer to Your MCP Config

Open Cursor's AI chat (Cmd+L or Ctrl+L) and paste this prompt:

Add the Adspirer MCP server to my global MCP config.
Server URL: https://mcp.adspirer.com/mcp

Cursor will create or update your ~/.cursor/mcp.json automatically.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "adspirer": {
      "url": "https://mcp.adspirer.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Step 2: Restart Cursor

MCP configs load on startup. Close and reopen Cursor for the connection to register.

Step 3: Install Agent Skills (Recommended)

Skills teach Cursor the correct workflow for using Adspirer's 100+ tools. Without skills, Cursor sees the tools but doesn't know the right order — should it research keywords before creating a campaign? Should it validate assets first? Skills answer these questions.

Install skills:

git clone https://github.com/amekala/ads-mcp.git /tmp/ads-mcp
cp -r /tmp/ads-mcp/plugins/cursor/adspirer/skills/ad-campaign-management ~/.cursor/skills/

Step 4: Install Cursor Rules (Optional But Powerful)

Cursor Rules are automatic instructions that trigger based on context. Adspirer's rule file enforces safety and best practices:

• Always check get_connections_status before running other tools
• Research keywords before creating Google Search campaigns
• Validate assets before launching campaigns
• Confirm with the user before any action that affects spend
• Never retry failed campaign creation without asking

To install Cursor Rules:

cp /tmp/ads-mcp/plugins/cursor/adspirer/rules/use-adspirer.mdc .cursor/rules/

The rule is set to alwaysApply: true, so Cursor will automatically enforce these workflows whenever you interact with Adspirer tools.

Step 5: Authenticate

Next time you ask Cursor to use an Adspirer tool, it'll prompt you to sign in. Your browser opens automatically for OAuth 2.1 authorization. Sign in, connect your ad platforms, done.

Step 6: Verify Your Setup

Open Cursor's AI chat (Cmd+L or Ctrl+L) and say:

Check my connected ad platforms

You should see a table showing your connected accounts — Google Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn Ads, TikTok Ads — with account names, IDs, and connection status.

What You Can Do

100+ tools across 4 ad platforms, accessible from Cursor's AI chat or inline editing:

Plus 8 automation tools for scheduling, monitoring, and cross-platform reporting.

Example Prompts

What to actually say to Cursor once you're connected:

Google Search Campaign

Create a Google Search campaign for my B2B software:
- Product: cloud-based inventory management for restaurants
- Target: restaurant owners and ops managers
- Budget: $75/day
- Research keywords with real CPC data first
- Suggest negative keywords to avoid irrelevant clicks

Google PMax Campaign

Build a Performance Max campaign for my online course:
- Product: "Advanced Python for Data Science" course, $199
- Target ROAS: 300%
- I have these image assets: [paste URLs]
- Write headlines and descriptions optimized for conversions
- Set up conversion tracking for purchases

Meta Ads Creative Testing

Set up a Meta carousel campaign for my furniture store:
- Products: 4 best-selling sofas ($800-$2,000 range)
- Target: homeowners aged 28-45, interests in interior design and home decor
- Budget: $50/day
- Image URLs: [paste 4 URLs]
- Write unique copy for each carousel card
- Optimize for purchases

LinkedIn B2B Lead Gen

Create a LinkedIn campaign targeting CFOs and Finance Directors:
- Company size: 200-5,000 employees
- Industries: manufacturing, logistics, retail
- Product: AP automation software
- Budget: $120/day
- Goal: demo request sign-ups
- Use this image: [paste URL]

Cross-Platform Performance Report

Pull performance data from all my connected platforms for the last 30 days.
Create a markdown report with:
- Executive summary with key metrics per platform
- Top 3 campaigns by ROAS across all platforms
- Wasted spend analysis (Google: zero-conversion keywords, Meta: fatigued creatives)
- Budget reallocation recommendations for next month

How Cursor Rules Improve Your Workflow

If you installed the Cursor Rule in Step 4, here's what changes:

Before Rules:

You: "Create a Google Ads campaign for running shoes"
Cursor: Immediately calls create_search_campaign with generic parameters → fails because no keyword research, no asset validation.

After Rules:

You: "Create a Google Ads campaign for running shoes"
Cursor: Automatically follows the workflow:

1. Calls get_connections_status (verify you're managing the right account)
2. Calls research_keywords with "running shoes" seed keywords
3. Shows you CPC data and keyword suggestions
4. Calls discover_existing_assets (check if you have images/headlines already)
5. Calls validate_and_prepare_assets (make sure assets meet Google's requirements)
6. Calls create_search_campaign with validated data
7. Asks for your confirmation before actually creating the campaign

Rules turn one vague prompt into a complete, validated workflow. You still control the final decision — nothing launches without your approval.

Safety Features

• All campaigns created PAUSED: Review before they spend money
• User confirmation required: Cursor asks before any write action
• Read-before-write enforcement: Skills prevent campaign creation without research
• Connection checks: Always verifies you're managing the correct account first
• No automatic retries: If something fails, Cursor waits for your input instead of retrying blindly

Troubleshooting

Cursor doesn't recognize Adspirer tools

Check your mcp.json file:

cat ~/.cursor/mcp.json

Make sure the JSON is valid (no trailing commas, proper quotes). Restart Cursor after any config changes.

"Connection failed" error

Your firewall or network might be blocking the MCP connection. Try:

• Whitelisting mcp.adspirer.com in your firewall settings
• Checking if your company VPN blocks external MCP servers
• Testing with a different network (mobile hotspot) to isolate the issue

Skills aren't working

Verify the skills directory:

ls -la ~/.cursor/skills/ad-campaign-management/

You should see a SKILL.md file. If the directory doesn't exist, re-run the copy command from Step 3.

Cursor Rules not triggering

Check that the rule file is in the right location:

ls -la .cursor/rules/

You should see use-adspirer.mdc. If it's not there, copy it from the GitHub repo again. Rules are per-project, so each project needs its own copy.

OAuth flow not opening

Some browser settings block automatic OAuth redirects. Try:

• Manually visiting adspirer.ai and signing in first
• Checking your default browser settings (Cursor uses your system default)
• Disabling browser extensions that might block pop-ups or redirects

FAQ

What's the difference between global and per-project config?

Global (~/.cursor/mcp.json): Adspirer works in every Cursor project. Use this if you manage ads regularly.
Per-project (.cursor/mcp.json): Adspirer only works in that specific project. Use this if you're working on a client's codebase and want ad management tools only for that client.

Can I use Adspirer with Cursor Composer?

Yes. Cursor Composer (multi-file editing mode) has full access to Adspirer tools. You can ask Composer to analyze campaigns, generate reports, and save the output as markdown files in your project — all in one flow.

Do I need both Skills and Cursor Rules?

No, but they complement each other. Skills teach Cursor how to use the tools. Cursor Rules enforce when and why to use them. Install both for the best experience, or start with Skills if you only want one.

How much does Adspirer cost?

Pricing is based on tool calls, not ad spend. Free tier: 10 calls/month. Plus: $25/mo for 50 calls. Pro: $75/mo for 100 calls. See full pricing details.

Can I manage multiple ad accounts?

Yes. Connect multiple Google Ads accounts, multiple Meta Business Managers, etc. Use the switch_primary_account tool to change which account you're managing, or specify the account ID in your prompts.

Related Documentation

• Claude Code Setup Guide
• Google Ads Integration Guide
• Google Ads + Adspirer Integration
• Pricing & Plans
• All Documentation