A common way for companies to advertise online is through Google Ads. However, most entrepreneurs don’t have the knowledge to run campaigns effectively and so they turn to experts for help.

A Google Ads specialist is familiar with the ins and outs of Google along with the best way to structure campaigns. If you’re interested in joining this field and delivering consistent results while you’re at it, there is much you need to learn.

In this guide, we provide you the basics about becoming a Google Ads specialist in the Philippines.

What is a Google Ads specialist?

Imagine that you’re fishing but for paid advertising instead of marlins or groupers. Your ocean is all of the search traffic on Google and its partner sites.

Your job as a virtual Google Ads specialist is to find the best spot to fish for leads. You also have to determine what ads to use as the right bait. Not to mention that you have to lure in enough customers to ensure your expeditions are profitable every month.

A good specialist is one who sends a steady stream of prospects to their client. The problem is that it takes time and effort to be effective in AdWords, especially when you don’t have a background in pay-per-click advertising. This is why companies outsource paid search instead.

What does a Google Ads specialist do?

If you want to take advantage of the demand for a Google Ads specialist in the Philippines, you may choose between 2 paths: agency or freelance. Before we look at these in detail, let’s consider what you’re expected to do in general.

• Creating strategies and goals – covering the methods you’ll take to achieve advertising goals
• Launching new campaigns – identifying the queries clients want to target in their campaigns
• Managing advertising campaigns – maintains and optimises campaigns weekly and monthly
• Sending performance reports – showing clients if campaigns are meeting the established goals

Those are the things you’ll be doing across the board, regardless of the kind of work arrangement you prefer. Now, how do these differ when you work in an agency or freelance?

Working in an agency

You are given an entry to mid-level role as part of a team. Most of the time, you have to work under an account manager that oversees the advertising strategy. The AM also serves as the main point of contact for clients, meaning you won’t have to face them directly.

Your responsibilities focus entirely on:

• Conducting keyword research to determine the best opportunities for advertising
• Mining for new long-tail keywords, negatives, and match types on reports
• Interpreting reports produced on Google AdWords
• Creating and testing new ads
• Performing competitive analysis
• Overseeing the bidding strategies
• Implementing changes to boost campaign performance

When you’re part of an agency, expect to manage dozens of accounts at the same time. Your workload will demand long hours focused on ad testing and data analysis. You have to thrive in the variety of accounts rather than be overwhelmed by it.

Working as a freelancer

You’ll be doing the same type of work as the account manager in an agency. On top of the regular tasks of an agency specialist, you have to communicate with the client yourself as well as aid them in developing their business.

Rather than juggle a number of clients, freelancers maintain only a few. You will have to specialise by client type or industry too. As you’re not part of a team, it’s best to work on projects with a budget below 10,000 dollars per month.

Why get Google AdWords Certified?

Google AdWords is hard to navigate when you’re new to pay-per-click advertising. If you want to have strong foundational knowledge, it pays to get a Google AdWords certification.

What is Google AdWords certification?

It means having professional accreditation from Google showing that you’re proficient in AdWords. With it, you may display a badge on your website, resume, or profile that you’re an advanced AdWords user and an expert in PPC.

Why must you get certified ASAP?

1. It shows that you’re credible

Like any other certification online, it demonstrates your skill, knowledge, and credibility in this niche. It serves as social proof that you’re supported by Google themselves, at least when it comes to AdWords.

2. It gives you a higher value

There are plenty of candidates out there so who’s to say that clients will choose you over them. A Google Partner badge convinces them that you have an edge over the other specialists.

3. It builds your resume

Everyone is capable of listing down their professional history on their resume. A certification backs up your claims of success. It emphasises that you delivered quality results to your previous employers.

4. It offers you free promotion

When you get Google AdWords certification, you get listed on their verified website of partners. You are personally recommended by Google to prospective clients. They will even highlight the certifications you possess.

How do you get certified?

The process of getting professionally accredited in Google AdWords is summarised into 5 steps:

1. Creating or selecting your Google account.

If you work in an agency, you may be required to use a work email address. As a freelancer, it’s recommended that you set up a professional account rather than use your personal one.

2. Getting started in the Skillshop

While logged in to your professional account, access the Skillshop and choose what certification you want to get. You might want to do the video certification before the measurement one, for instance.

3. Preparing for your exams

To get each certification, you have to take and pass an exam. You’re provided with sample questions so you have an idea what to expect in the assessments.

4. Passing the exams

When you pass the exam for any of the specialities, you will be awarded a certification. You may choose to master all of them or you may stop with one specialisation.

5. Connecting with Google Partners

This is an optional step for those who work for an agency. Basically, you connect your individual account to the company master account that is a Partner.

Where to work as a Google Ads specialist?

Once you’ve acquired your Google AdWords certification, it’s worth honing your skills in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets too. When all of these are done, you’re ready to apply as a Google Ads specialist in an advertising agency or for an individual project.

Make your job search easier with our help at Remote Workmate. Let us connect you to clients from around the world and guide you through the application process. We provide guides like these so you’re well-informed while applying as a virtual Google Ads specialist too.