Most people turn to Google to find answers and research products before they buy them. Business owners have two options to get in front of them: Organic or SEO, where you optimize your web pages and expect the search engine to rank your content. Second, you pay Google to generate clicks on your website or landing pages. 69.04% of businesses use Google Ads for PPC, making it the most popular platform. But most business owners don’t know how to run effective search ads, or just don’t have the time for it. You can help these businesses with your Google Ads expertise. But, how do you become one? In this post, we’ll uncover an easy and relatively quick path to becoming a Google Ads specialist so that you can start your career in this growing industry. Let’s dive in.
Why Become a Google Ads Expert?
Google is the most popular search engine in the World. Any business owner, whether e-commerce, SaaS, or anything else, would want to attract traffic from it. The traffic search engines offer is high-intent, meaning that people are actively looking for solutions rather than casually scrolling, unlike social media. So, there’s high demand in almost every industry.
The second reason to become a Google Ads expert is that it’s not a hard skill to master. You need the basic knowledge and practical projects under your belt to start getting jobs. Besides, there’s no shortage of information and courses on this topic.
Master Google Ads Fundamentals
Before you can run your first campaign, learn the fundamentals, including:
- How Google Ads work (Quality score, auction system, ad rank)
- Key metrics (Cost per click, keyword competition, conversion rate, ROAS)
- Google Ad policies (What’s allowed, what isn’t)
- Account structure (Campaigns, ad groups, ads, and keywords)
- Keep an eye on AI and automation trends
Campaign Types
Google Ads offers multiple campaign types, each serving a different purpose.
- Search Ads (Appear on Google search results)
- Display Ads (Appear on websites as banners)
- Video Ads (In YouTube videos)
- Shopping Ads (Product listings on Google Shopping)
- Discovery Ads (Appear in Gmail and Google Discovery feed)
- App campaigns (For apps)
Plus, your Google Ads bidding strategy determines how you spend your budget (Clicks, conversions). You can either let Google manage your budget and maximize conversions or set a per-click budget to put a cap on it.
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Get Certified
You don’t need a degree or a high-level certificate to become a Google Ads expert. Your skills, work ethic, and experiences are more than enough to land you a decent job. Having said that, having a certificate from a reputable organization, like Google itself, can definitely help boost your credibility. By not skipping this step, you can target clients and employers who take certifications as an important part of an employee’s career, opening up more opportunities for you. You can start by getting certified for free from Google Skillshop. It offers a range of certifications:
- Google Ads Search Certification
- Google Ads Display Certification
- Video Ads Certification
- Shopping Ads Certification
Get Hands-On Experience
Once you have the fundamental Google Ads knowledge and a certification from a reputable source, it’s time to do some practice. Without practical projects, you’ll be stuck in theory and won’t be able to grow in your career. Here are a few ways to get started.
Run Test Campaigns
Google lets you create your own campaigns without putting a lot of hurdles in your path. All you need is an active Google Ads account and some funds. If you don’t have money to invest in test campaigns, consider working for a business for free in exchange for the experience.
Do Freelance Projects
Freelancing lets you work on projects for a variety of clients in different industries, without having to work for them full-time or sign a contract. This helps you get your foot in the door before you can move on to a bigger role. Freelance platforms like Upwork are a great starting point, but you can also find remote, short-term roles on LinkedIn, Indeed, and even Facebook. Just make sure to network in the right groups and communities and get yourself noticed by sharing helpful content.
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Work as an Intern
Many companies prefer to hire interns and train them for specific roles before they can trust them with sensitive projects. An internship is a great way to build your portfolio and gain relevant experience in a professional environment.
Build Authority
Becoming a Google Ads expert is a rewarding career. It is one that doesn’t require a lot of time and money investment, either. As a result, the competition is high as well. Think about what makes you stand out among other service providers and helps you get noticed. It’s your authority on the topic and skill. Build a personal brand to make yourself a go-to choice for business owners when they’re looking for help. Here’s how to do it:
- Create Case Studies: Case studies show results. Share screenshots of client results (With their permission) or your own dashboard to demonstrate your expertise
- Share Helpful Content: Create content on popular topics, targeting your ideal prospects (Think small businesses and companies who might need Google Ads services)
- Network on LinkedIn: Spend time on LinkedIn and build your professional network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s address some frequently asked questions about becoming a Google Ads expert.
How Long Does It Take to Become an Expert in Google Ads?
It depends on the time you devote to learning it and your personal learning curve. The process involves learning the fundamentals, doing practice or real projects, and building your portfolio.
How Much Do Google Ads Experts Make?
According to Ziprecruiter, a Google Ads expert makes anywhere around $53k/year, which roughly translates to $26 an hour.
Is Google Ads Hard to Learn?
Learning the basics and publishing a campaign is simple and straightforward. However, learning advanced strategies may take time, effort, and practice.
Conclusion
Becoming an expert in any in-demand skill is challenging and takes time, especially when you want to stand out. Google Ads are no exception. Start from the fundamentals and learn from Google Skillshop. Start implementing the theory on personal or client projects. To get your foot in the door, consider offering Google Ads management at a low price. As you build your portfolio, case studies, and personal brand, you’ll be able to apply for more advanced, high-paying roles and market yourself as an expert.