There’s no shortcut to learning Google Ads (formerly known as Google AdWords), but there are many great resources out there to make the process easier. If you follow the steps below, you’ll be up-and-running in Google Ads in no time.
1. Learn The Basics From Google
To reap the full benefits of Google Ads, you need to establish a well-rounded foundation in the platform. Before spending a single dollar, you should be able to answer basic questions like:
- What are the advantages of Google Ads?
- What metrics do I need to track and how do I accurately track them?
- How do I access and analyze these metrics in Google Ads?
Google’s free training and certification center, Academy for Ads, is a great resource for answering these questions. The Academy offers a series of quick courses that walk you through all the tools and best practices needed to make the most out of the platform.
Google’s Academy For Ads dashboard
It’s easy to become overwhelmed, but it helps to propel your curiosity by reminding yourself why you’re taking the time to learn Google Ads. Be patient, put in the hard work upfront, and seek the long term reward of sustainable and scalable success with your Google Ad campaigns.
Pro Tip: Don’t wait until you’re certified to start playing around in your own Google Ads account. Leave out or unlink your billing information to avoid being charged, and use your account as a place to experiment and get comfortable navigating the platform.
2. Learn From A Diverse Range of Experts
While Google is a great introductory resource, it’s important to gather information from real-life users of the platform. Learn new creative and more advanced strategies for free, by exploring tutorials on YouTube, blog articles, webinars, meetups in your local community, or talking one-on-one with a Google Ads agency. As you do this research, consider checking out our free webinar on performing a DIY audit of your account.
You can also join the Google Ads conversation on Twitter by following thought leaders and innovators within the industry. Some of our favorite Google Ads and digital marketing related accounts to follow are:
- Search Engine Land: @sengineland
- Search Engine Round Table: @seroundtable
- BigCommerce: @BigCommerce
- Matthew Umbro: @Matt_Umbro
- Logical Position: @LogicalPosition
3. Keep Up on Platform Changes
Google constantly makes updates to Google Ads to improve its performance and user experience. Staying aware of these changes is crucial to getting the most out of the platform. Here are a few helpful industry news sources to that regularly publishes on changes to Google Ads features and best practices:
- Search Engine Land
- Search Engine Round Table
- PPC hero
- Google’s New AdWords Features
- The Logical Position Blog
Learning Google Ads is tricky to learn, because there is no one size fits all approach. You have to roll up your sleeves, and try it out yourself to understand its power.Now that you have the resources, get excited dive in, and stay curious!
