If you’re getting ready to run Google Ads for your business, you may be wondering if you should become a Google Ads specialist. How much do you need to know Google Ads to run a successful ad campaign?
Read on as we explore what’s involved in being a Google Ads specialist, so you can make the right decision.
Sections
Step 1: Learn how Google Ads works.
The first step to becoming a Google Ads specialist is understanding the basics of how Google Ads works. We’ve written several blogs on this topic (see our beginner’s guide), but here’s a quick overview.
Google Ads is Google’s advertising program. It operates on a pay-per-click, or PPC, model, which means that you only pay when people click on your ads. Google Ads can appear throughout the traditional search results, in Google-owned properties such as Gmail, YouTube, and Google Play, and on over 2 million websites across the internet that comprise Google Display Network. Google Ads come in a variety of formats, including text, images, and videos.
You can learn more about Google Ads by watching videos on YouTube, taking online courses, or following blogs like ours, which cover Google Ads and other digital marketing topics.
Step 2: Get certified in Google Ads.
Speaking of courses, Google offers official (and free) online courses through Skillshop that will teach you the essentials of using Google Ads. At the completion of these courses, you can opt to take an exam and receive an official Google Ads certification.
Google Ads offers certifications (and related coursework) for the following focus areas:
- Google Search Ads
- Google Display Ads
- Google Video Ads
- Google Shopping Ads
- Google App Ads
- Google Ads Measurement
- Google Ads Creative
Each course ranges from 3 to 5 hours, with lessons split into shorter segments. For example, here’s a look at the lesson plan for the Google Ads Search certification:
After you review the study modules, you can find practice exams online before you take the final assessment. Each assessment takes up to 1.25 hours, and you’ll need to score 80% or higher to pass. If you fail, no worries — you can retake the exam as soon as the next day.
Step 3: Put your knowledge to work.
Once you’ve completed your Google Ads certification, the real learning begins. The best way to familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of Google Ads is through hands-on experience, running and managing your campaigns.
Google regularly makes changes to their ads program, whether it’s a new rule, new feature, or new ad type. Stay on top of these changes by following the Google Ads Twitter and YouTube channels. You can also subscribe to the official Google blog.
Connect with a Google Ads specialist now
As you can imagine, it takes a lot of work to become a true expert at Google Ads. The quickest way to become a Google Ads specialist — and enjoy the best results — is to leapfrog over the learning curve entirely.
Trust your ads to an agency with Google Ads specialists on staff, like Your Marketing People. As our client, you get to enjoy the benefits of working with experts who are working in Google Ads day in and day out, and who can apply their learnings from a variety of clients and campaigns to deliver the best results for you. Contact us now to learn more.
