A Useful Guide to Google Ads Certification
What is Google AdWords Certification?
Digital marketing is booming with the help of the internet and technology. People go online to search and get anything that they need. With the Google AdWords exam, you can become certified and be considered as an expert in online advertising. The only thing you have to do is pass the two examinations: Google AdWords Fundamentals and one of the additional advertising product assessments.
As an aspiring advertiser, you should know your target audience. The Ultimate Guide to Google AdWords states that there are three types of online searchers:
- “Informational searchers are people looking for general information on a topic. It’s usually hard to tell exactly what each person is looking for. One person might be doing research for a term paper. Another person might be killing time waiting for a bus. The vast majority of this group are not ready to buy and probably never will be.
- Comparison searchers are definitely interested in your product but they’re still at the research stage, checking out reviews and comparing prices. Some folks from this group will be ready to buy in a matter of days or even hours, but for others it may be weeks, months, or possibly never.
- Buyers are typing with one hand and their credit card in the other. They know exactly what they want and the only barrier to making a purchase is finding the right place and the right deal.”
What is Google AdWords?
It is a pay-per-click (PPC) advertising system of Google. It provides advertisers with two ways to get their clickable ads to appear in their search results: Google Search Network and Google Display Network.
What are the Google Search Network and Google Display Network?
According to Google AdWords Definition 2017, Google Network is divided into two groups:
- “The Search Network: Google search results pages, other Google sites like Maps and Shopping, and search sites that partner with Google to show ads.
- The Display Network: Google sites like YouTube, Blogger, and Gmail, plus thousands of partnering websites across the Internet.”
Google AdWords makes use of auction wherein advertisers have to pay and bid for the keywords that Google determines to be relevant. Whenever someone searches on Google, Google browses its pool of AdWords advertisers, and then the auction begins.
Format and Content of the Exam
How to get Google AdWords certification?
- Google Adwords Sign in
You need to create your Google Adwords account by signing up at Google Partners. You can choose your personal email for Individual certification or your agency’s email for company certification.
- Google Adwords Log in
After logging in to your Google AdWords account, you will look for the link for the Certifications. Read the exam details carefully.
- Google AdWords Certification
You have to take the first exam, which is the Google AdWords fundamentals assessment. After that, you can take the second. You can choose one from the various additional advertising product area assessments. When you have finished all of those, then you are officially certified.
What is the scope of the Google AdWords certification?
For you to get certified, you need to know what kind of exams you are taking. The table below shows the format and content outline of the Google AdWords certification exam:
| Assessment | Number of Questions (Multiple Choice Type) | Time Allowed | Passing Score |
| Google AdWords Fundamentals exam | 100 questions | 120 | At least 80% |
| Search Advertising | 100 questions | 120 | At least 80% |
| Display Advertising | 100 questions | 120 | At least 80% |
| Video Advertising | 74 questions | 90 | At least 80% |
| Shopping Advertising | 60 questions | 90 | At least 80% |
| Mobile Advertising | 70 questions | 90 | At least 80% |
On July 24, 2018, Google AdWords was rebranded into Google Ads. It is still quite similar, but a few little changes were done to improve it. It was to simplify its advertising systems and give way to more convenience to its users.
Its description and idea have remained the same. It is a platform for those who want to delve into digital marketing and be experts at advertising online. It challenges your knowledge regarding concepts such as Value proposition of online advertising, Campaign setup and management, Measurement, and Optimization.
How to get Google Ads certification?
- Google Ads Sign in
You need signup to Google Academy for Ads. You must use an email that is often used or an email that is associated with a Google Account.
- Google Ads Log in
You must log in to the website and access the necessary information in the Academy for Ads. Everything is free for your perusal. The platform contains Google Ads certification, Google Analytics, etc.
- Google Ads Certification
You’ll pick the Google Ads course that you want. You should first choose the Google Ads Fundamentals. It is a must for you since, without it, you cannot move on to the other assessments.
What is the scope of Google Ads certification?
You have to understand that the content outline of Google Ads is the same as its previous versions. The difference that is prominent is its format. The number of questions and the time limit has slightly changed.
For you to know more about the assessments, here is a description of each as found in Google Ads Help:
| Assessment | Description |
| Google Ads Fundamentals | The Google Ads Fundamentals assessment covers basic and intermediate concepts, including the benefits of online advertising and Google Ads, and best practices for managing and optimizing Google Ads campaigns. |
| Search Advertising | The Search Advertising assessment covers basic and advanced concepts, including best practices for creating, managing, measuring, and optimizing search ad campaigns across the Search Network. |
| Display Advertising | The Display Advertising assessment covers advanced concepts and best practices for creating, managing, measuring, and optimizing Display campaigns. |
| Mobile Advertising | The Mobile Advertising assessment covers the basic and advanced concepts of mobile advertising, including ad formats, bidding and targeting, and campaign measurement and optimization. |
| Video Advertising | The Video Advertising assessment covers basic and advanced concepts, including best practices for creating, managing, measuring, and optimizing video advertising campaigns across YouTube and the web. |
| Shopping Advertising | The Shopping Advertising assessment covers basic and advanced concepts, including creating a Merchant Center account and product data feed, and creating and managing Shopping campaigns. |
Also, the format is as follows:
| Assessment | Number of Questions (Multiple Choice Type) | Time Allowed | Passing Score |
| Google Ads Fundamentals exam | 65 questions | 90 | At least 80% |
| Search Advertising | 100 questions | 120 | At least 80% |
| Display Advertising | 100 questions | 120 | At least 80% |
| Video Advertising | 74 questions | 90 | At least 80% |
| Shopping Advertising | 63 questions | 90 | At least 80% |
| Mobile Advertising | 70 questions | 90 | At least 80% |
How to prepare for a Google Ads (AdWords) certification
The first thing you should do is to read the assessment study guides. It’s crucial that you know the relevant topics that are covered in the exam. You need to read the guides thoroughly. It is important that you have understood them and that you have familiarized yourself with the concepts mentioned.
A Summary of the Assessment Study Guides
- Google Ads Fundamentals Assessment – The guide is divided into three modules: Understanding the value of online advertising; Setting up an AdWords campaign, and Measuring and optimizing performance. After reading it, you’ll be able to understand how online advertising can help you with your advertising goals. It will also help you know how to create and manage your Google campaigns.
- Search Advertising Assessment – The guide is divided into three modules:
Module 1: Searching advertising overview
Module 2: Set up your Search Network campaign
Module 2.1: Showing your ads
Module 2.2: Determine your bid and budget
Module 3: Measure your Search Network campaign
Module 3.1: Monitor your Search Network campaign
Module 3.2: Optimize your Search Network campaign
When you are already done reading the guide, you’ll be able to understand the trends in search advertising and creating and managing Search Ad campaigns. You’ll also be able to determine their performance.
- Display Advertising Assessment – The guide is divided into five modules: About the Google Display Network; Setting up a Display Network; Showing your ads on the Display Network; Reaching your audience on the Display network, and Measuring and optimizing performance on the Display Network.
With these modules, you’ll learn the significance of ads on the Display Network and how they can help you meet your branding goals. It also helps with your Google Display ads creation and management. You’ll be able to reach your target audience by understanding how these campaigns work.
- Mobile Advertising Assessment – The guide is divided into four modules: Mobile overview; Bidding and targeting; Mobile Ads; and Measurement. You’ll be able to know more about mobile consumers and mobile-specific bidding and targeting strategies. You’ll also understand how to make your mobile ads and sites better.
- Video Advertising Assessment – The guide is divided into three modules: An overview of video advertising; Campaign creation and management; and Performance measurement and optimization. By reading the study guide, you’ll figure out how video ads on Youtube can help achieve your advertising goals. It will also help with creating and managing your video advertising campaigns.
- Shopping Advertising Assessment – The guide is divided into four modules: Overview of how Product Listing Ads work; Create a Google Merchant account; Create your product data feed, and Create Shopping campaigns in Google Ads. Learning all of these will help you with creating and managing your Merchant Center account and Shopping campaigns. It will also tell you how crucial Shopping ads are and the use of product data feed submission.
These are just summaries of the assessment guides you’ll have to pore over. You’ll need to learn them by heart to pass the assessment tests. You can check them out through this link: https://support.google.com/google-ads/topic/3204437?hl=en&ref_topic=3111012.
The second thing you need to do is to make your own notes. You’ll be taking the exam online and with the use of your computer. Writing an outline of the topics you have studied will make it easier for you. You’ll have notes that you can quickly scan to answer some questions that you may have forgotten the answers to. Memory aids will help you work through the exam with the time allowed. You can search the internet for answers, but it may not be time conducive. It is not a wise thing to do because you might fail because of it.
Lastly, you should answer practice tests.
A better way of preparing yourself is to simulate the exam itself. You’ll know what to do from the get go and you won’t find yourself confused and wasting time. You’ll be calm and unhurried when you actually take the assessments. You can use so many resources to help guide you through if you just know where to find them. Here are some of the tests you should try: ( insert links for pgt practice tests)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Google Adwords certification cost?
The Google Adwords exam had cost $100. But now since it has rebranded into Google Ads, it doesn’t have a cost anymore. It is completely free.
Can you retake the Google Ads certification, and would there be any additional Google Ads exam cost?
You can retake the exam after one day. There is no cost because it is free.
How to get the study material for Google AdWords certification?
You can visit Google Ads Support, where you can find the assessment study guides for the exam. You can also make use of free practice tests online. They can properly help you prepare for your test.
What is the use of Google Adwords certification exam?
By passing the certification exam for Google Adwords, now called Google Ads, you’ll be considered as a certified professional advertising expert. You can put it in your resume when you apply for jobs and it will give you a lot of credibility when it comes to knowledge about online advertising. Your company can also get a stronger branding if it is considered as a certified Google Partner.
What is required to become a Google partner?
For you to become a Google partner, all you need to do is have your own Google Partner account. You then have to take the Google Ads certification exam to qualify. You have to pass your preferred assessments, and if you do, you are now considered a Google partner.
Is it worth doing the digital marketing course by Google?
Yes, it is. You wouldn’t lose anything by learning about Google Ads. Everything is free, so you won’t have to pay, and if you fail, then you can always take it again. You’ll gain credibility by learning. With everything being easily searched on the Internet these days, digital marketing is an advantage in the industry.
How Pass Google Certified Digital Marketing Courses?
You need to study the free guides you can find at Google Ads, or you can go to the Academy of Ads to know more about the digital marketing courses.
How to apply for a Google certification course?
All you need to have is a Google Account so you can sign up for the online courses and for you to take the exam. Everything is done for free and what you are required to do is to study everything as thoroughly as you can to get your Google certification.
What are some free Google certifications?
The Google Ads Certification is free. You can take Google certification courses such as the Google Fundamentals Assessment and specialize in additional advertising product assessments such as Search Advertising, Display Advertising, Video Advertising, Shopping Advertising, and Mobile Advertising. You can get certifications such as Google Ads Search Certification or Shopping Ads Certification, among others.