How To Get a Google Ads Certification: A Step-by-Step Guide | Indeed.com
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How To Get a Google Ads Certification: A Step-by-Step Guide

Updated April 1, 2024

A person sitting on a rug looks at a laptop on a coffee table.Gaining marketing certifications can help you distinguish yourself from your peers, whether advancing your career with your current employer or looking for a new job. One credential that marketing specialists often earn is the Google Ads certification. Learning about this certification may help you decide if it aligns with your career goals.In this article, we discuss Google Ads certification, share how it can benefit you and explain how to earn certification.
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What is a Google Ads certification?

Google Ads certification is a professional accreditation that Google offers to individuals who pass exams in basic and advanced content areas in Google Ads. There are six exam sections, each with different topics. Topics include:
  • Google Ads search: This exam tests your knowledge of running a successful Google Search campaign by using automated tools such as Smart Bidding and Audience Solutions to increase campaign performance toward specific marketing objectives.
  • Google Ads display: This exam tests your knowledge of Google Display, including your ability to use the tool to develop effective campaigns and strategies to achieve specific marketing goals and maximize your advertising investment by using Google Display.
  • Google Ads video: This exam tests your ability to use YouTube and Google Video to reach broad audiences during their entire consumer life cycle, including how to tell effective stories about products, increase the number of views and improve engagement with video media.
  • Shopping ads: This exam tests your ability to use shopping ads to reach a wide variety of potential customers and evaluates your skills at optimizing shopping ads campaigns to maximize conversion rates.
  • Google Ads apps: This exam tests your ability to use Google Apps to deliver ad campaigns to create a larger company impact and your understanding of the basic skills necessary to create and run campaigns and optimization strategies.
  • Google Ads measurement: This exam tests your skills in using Google measurement tools to gain insights about successful ad campaigns, conversion rates and optimization. It also tests your ability to notice and use metrics to drive marketing and campaign decisions.
Related: What Is Google Analytics? Definition and Benefits

Benefits of a Google Ads certification

There are a few major benefits to getting a Google Ads certification. While many certifications can provide broad knowledge, Google Ads offers specialized training on a specific platform's advertisement process. Here are some other benefits:
  • It can boost your resume. Earning Google Ads certification helps future employers and clients know you're certified in online advertising. This can help you gain new clients, increase business size and stand out to employers during job searches.
  • It can help you contribute to organizational success. Certification is part of the process to help organizations become a member of the Google Partners program. It can help organizations gain more influence through Google and develop relevant best practices in their industries.
  • It can develop your professional skills. Google Ads certification can help you develop excellent advertising skills. As you renew your certification each year, your advertising and marketing skills can continue to develop and improve.
Related: 6 Google Certifications for Career Advancement (With FAQ)
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How to get a Google Ads certification in 6 steps

If you want to earn a Google Ads certification, you can begin the process right away. Here are six steps to follow to earn this certification:

1. Set up a Skillshop account

The first step toward earning your Google Ads certification is to set up an account with Skillshop. The steps below can help you get a Skillshop account:
  1. Set up a Google account.
  2. Go to the Google Skillshop webpage and follow the directions to set up an account.
  3. Review and update your profile once you've created a Skillshop account.
  4. Sign in to Skillshop.
  5. Input your company name, if applicable.
  6. Choose your time zone.
  7. Select your preferred language from the list of 22 languages.
  8. Choose to get emails from Skillshop.
  9. Select a recovery email.
  10. Share your Skillshop profile with your company and Google.
  11. Choose "Save."
Related: How To Get Google Analytics Certification (Plus Benefits)

2. Learn about the Google Ads exams

Once you have a Skillshop account, you can learn about the different Google Ads exams. You can discover how many lessons Skillshop offers for each exam, the exam lengths and the questions to expect for each exam. This information can help you plan for learning about new content and develop a strategy for passing each exam on your first attempt. You can better understand which areas you want to study specifically to pass the exam successfully.Related: 26 Digital Marketing Certifications To Improve Your Resume

3. Take lessons related to Google Ads exam content

After you locate lessons for each exam, dedicate time to each task. When you learn the lessons, take notes to remember the content you learned. Consider reviewing the lessons or conducting additional research to ensure you truly understand the content. The lessons can help you learn new skills related to advertising and increase your knowledge of the industry.Related: How To Study Effectively: 22 Study Tips That Really Work

4. Prepare for the Google Ads exams

After you complete the lessons for Google Ads exam content, you can prepare to take the exams. First, review your notes and look through the lessons one last time to ensure that you know as much as possible for the exams. When you review your notes, try to make a study schedule. You can spread out the review to make it less stressful. Finally, take the day before the exam to relax, eat well and get a good night's sleep to prepare for exam day.Related: 20 Marketing Jobs That Pay Well

5. Take the Google Ads exams

On exam day, eat a decent breakfast to ensure you can focus on the exams. This can help you remain positive and free from distractions during the test. Ensure you have a good internet connection and fully charge your computer to avoid the stress of an accidental disconnection. You can access the test through Skillshop. Here are a few tips to consider when you take the exam:
  • Take your time. Instead of rushing to answer each question, try to move slowly. This can improve the quality of your answers.
  • Print out your notes. Consider printing out your notes so you can reference them when needed. Although you don't rely on your notes, having them nearby is helpful.
  • Test when you're ready. Instead of moving through each lesson quickly, try taking your time with the process. The certification is more valuable if you spend time learning and understanding the Google Ads principles.
Related: 25 Effective Tips for Note-Taking

6. Renew your certification each year

Google Ads certification needs renewal each year. While you might not review all the content every year, it's important to review the lessons just in case there are changes in using Google Ads and its related programs. You can retake the tests yearly to ensure you have a current certification. With a current certification, you can keep your resume updated and stay current with the trends and changes in Google Ads.Please note that the company mentioned in this article is not affiliated with Indeed.
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