Creating a Google Ads account in 2025 is a straightforward process, whether you're a complete beginner or looking to set up a manager account. Here's a step-by-step guide:
Before You Start (Important Considerations):
- Google Account: You'll need a regular Google account (e.g., Gmail) to sign up for Google Ads.
1 If you don't have one, you can create it during the process. For business, it's often recommended to create a separate Google account.2 - Website/Landing Page: While you can create an account without immediately setting up a campaign, having a relevant and easy-to-navigate website or landing page that you want to advertise is crucial for running effective ads.
3 - Business Goal: Think about what you want to achieve with Google Ads (e.g., more calls, website traffic, sales, leads, app installs, brand awareness).
4 This will guide your campaign setup. - Long-Term Commitment: Google Ads is a "marathon, not a sprint." It takes time to optimize campaigns and see full potential. Be prepared for some initial effort and monitoring.
- Conversion Definition: Clearly define what a "conversion" means for your business (e.g., a purchase, a form submission, a phone call). This is essential for tracking your ad performance.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Google Ads Account:
-
Go to the Google Ads Website:
- Open your web browser and go to ads.google.com.
- Click on the "Start now" button (or "Sign in" if you already have a Google account you want to use).
-
Sign in with your Google Account:
- If you're already signed in to a Google account, it will likely ask you to confirm.
- If not, sign in with the Google account you want to link to your Google Ads account. If you need to create a new Google account, click "Create account" and follow the prompts (choose "To manage my business" if applicable).
5
-
Choose Your Main Advertising Goal (or "Switch to Expert Mode"):
- Google Ads often tries to guide new users through a simplified "Smart Campaign" setup by asking for your main advertising goal (e.g., "Get more calls," "Get more website sales or sign-ups").
6 - Pro Tip for More Control: For most users, it's highly recommended to click on "Switch to Expert Mode" at the bottom of the page (usually located below the campaign goal options).
7 This gives you full control over your campaign settings from the start, rather than using the automated Smart Campaign option.
- Google Ads often tries to guide new users through a simplified "Smart Campaign" setup by asking for your main advertising goal (e.g., "Get more calls," "Get more website sales or sign-ups").
-
Create Account Without a Campaign (Recommended for First-Timers):
- In Expert Mode, Google might still prompt you to create a campaign immediately.
- Look for an option like "Create an account without a campaign" (or similar wording) at the bottom or on the left side. Clicking this allows you to set up your account and billing information first, giving you time to plan your campaigns later.
- If you want to dive straight into a campaign, you can choose a campaign type (e.g., Search, Display, Video, Shopping, Performance Max) and proceed with the prompts.
-
Provide Business Information:
- You'll be asked to provide some basic business information, such as:
- Country: Select the country where your business is based.
- Time Zone: This is important for reporting and billing and generally cannot be changed later. Choose the time zone your business operates in.
- Currency: Select the currency you use for your business. This will be used for billing.
- You'll be asked to provide some basic business information, such as:
-
Set Up Billing Information:
- This is a crucial step to activate your account and allow your ads to run. You'll need to provide your payment details.
- Google will create a payments profile to store your billing information for future use.
8 - Choose your payment method (e.g., credit card, debit card, bank transfer, depending on your region).
9
-
Review and Submit:
- Carefully review all the information you've entered.
- Read and accept the Google Ads Terms and Conditions.
- Click "Submit" to activate your Google Ads account.
After Creating Your Account:
- Explore Your Dashboard: Familiarize yourself with the Google Ads interface.
- Set Up Conversion Tracking: This is vital for measuring the success of your campaigns. Learn how to set up conversion tracking to see which ad clicks lead to valuable actions on your website.
- Plan Your First Campaign:
- Keyword Research: Identify relevant keywords that people are searching for related to your products or services. Google's Keyword Planner (a free tool within Google Ads) can help.
10 - Ad Copy and Assets: Write compelling headlines and descriptions for your ads. Gather images, videos, and logos if you plan to run display or video campaigns.
- Targeting: Decide who you want to reach (locations, languages, demographics, interests).
- Budget and Bidding Strategy: Set a daily budget and choose a bidding strategy that aligns with your campaign goals.
- Keyword Research: Identify relevant keywords that people are searching for related to your products or services. Google's Keyword Planner (a free tool within Google Ads) can help.
- Launch Your First Campaign: Once you have a clear plan, create your first campaign.
- Monitor and Optimize: Regularly check your campaign performance. Make adjustments to your keywords, bids, ad copy, and targeting to improve results.
Additional Tips for 2025:
- Performance Max Campaigns: These are increasingly important in Google Ads. They use Google's AI to find your best-performing ad formats across Search, Display, YouTube, Discover, and more, from a single campaign. Consider using them for broader goals.
- AI Integration: Google's AI plays a significant role in optimization.
11 Provide clear assets and goals to allow the AI to work effectively for you. - Mobile-First: Ensure your website and landing pages are mobile-friendly, as a large portion of searches come from mobile devices.
12 - Link Other Google Accounts: Linking your Google Business Profile, YouTube channel, or Google Merchant Center (for e-commerce) can provide more opportunities and tailored recommendations.
13
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to creating and utilizing your Google Ads account to reach your marketing objectives in 2025.
0 Comments