Calling all PPC marketers and entrepreneurs curious about how to become a Google Ads specialist ' whether you're a seasoned PPC marketer ready to level up or a total Google Ads beginner who doesn't know where to start, you're in luck! Google AdWords nerds like us at ClickGUARD can help you navigate your way to becoming a Google Ads specialist online no matter your experience level.

How to become a Google Ads specialist, what is one, how much do they make, and why does every business need a talented Google Ads pro on board?

Find all your answers below!

What Is a Google Ads Specialist?

Running a successful digital business is no walk in the park, nor is being a savvy advertiser. 

Even more difficult? Doing both at the same time. 

Even more difficult? Finding the right talent and training your people to achieve their maximum performance.

A good Google Ads specialist is a business owner's saving grace, providing expert management for all aspects of Google Ads campaigns so entrepreneurs can focus on running the other pieces of their business. Digital advertising is a bit like a chessboard - we're talkin' strategy, calculation, and behind-the-scenes management of different moving parts - that a Google Ads specialist handles deftly. 

A Google Ads specialist is essentially an expert in online advertising, having completed a Google Ads certification course to learn all the nitty gritty details. They can manage everything from Display, Shopping, and Mobile adverts to campaign strategy to targeting keywords. 

As a PPC marketer, learning how to become a Google Ads specialist is the next logical step to up your game as a trusted source of advertising skill and knowledge. Outsourcing PPC (pay-per-click advertising) to a Google Ads specialist is a smart move for business owners to ensure their campaign is run in the most efficient, strategic way possible.  

If you're an entrepreneur, you know that adding more skills to your arsenal is the lifeblood of entrepreneurs in this ever-changing digital landscape. Maybe you've been dabbling in Google Ads while you handle your own marketing, and you might be curious about how to become a Google Ads specialist but aren't sure what steps to take. 

No worries - if you want to become a Google Ads specialist (or train your employees into this), we've got your back.

How Much Does a Google Ads Specialist Make? 

The pursuit of geeky knowledge is enough to convince us at ClickGUARD that learning how to become a Google Ads specialist is worthwhile (we're nerds here, remember?), but let's also talk about the important aspect of income.  

Google Ads specialists are sought-after professionals with skills and knowledge in a huge - and growing - industry. According to Glassdoor, the average base pay for a Google Ads Specialist is over $70,000.

If you want to learn how to become a Google Ads specialist, you're making a smart and lucrative career move. 

While specialists will be paid at different rates based on the varying complexity of work they do and the types of businesses they do it for, all Google Ads experts need the same foundational knowledge. 

What skills and expertise do you need to succeed as an effective, results-driven Google Ads specialist?

Let's dive deeper into everything you need to get on board and become the Google Ads specialist you dream to be.

What Skills Do You Need to Become a Google Ads Specialist?

A Google Ads specialist is an expert in PPC advertising using AdWords that uses their know-how to cut down on PPC-related costs and optimize advertising campaigns.  

Let's say you're already a PPC marketer, or you do your own marketing for your online business. You've used AdWords for advertising campaigns. What further skills propel you into 'specialist' territory?

Beyond knowledge of the inner workings of the obvious AdWords services like Google Shopping , Display, Video, Mobile, and Search Ads, we've curated a list of some of the top skills you'll need to become a Google Ads specialist.

1)  Statistics and data analysis

2)  Market research

3)  Copywriting finesse

4)  Keyword targeting

5)  Understanding of customer behavior 

6)  Brand building awareness

A successful and thriving business boils down to having a deep understanding of what works and what doesn't so businesses can do more of the good and less of the bad, and a Google Ads specialist pulls the above skills together seamlessly for that purpose. Their expert toolbox holds all the info to help businesses visualize their customer's journey, build advertising campaigns, understand which marketing strategies will drive the most sales and why, and tweak anything that needs improving. 

If that list seems daunting, don't worry - we've been there! You can learn how to become a Google Ads specialist even if you're a complete beginner. 

How to Become a Google Ads If You're Starting from Scratch 

Google offers the Google Ads certification to marketers who demonstrate basic and advanced proficiency in Google Ads. Google Ads training can benefit platform newbies by giving you foundational knowledge and exposing you to different ways of working with Google Ads. Through the certification you'll learn how to navigate Google Analytics, create successful marketing campaigns, and be better equipped to make strategy implementation decisions that are the best for your company.

Google itself offers (free!) training courses. You must pass exams to achieve certification, but with over 20 hours of content covering display ads, shopping ads, apps, video, and more, you'll walk away with a ton of new knowledge and be fully prepared to crush the exams. 

If you're looking for something even more comprehensive and actionable, ClickGuard created The Google Ads Masterclass you can check out ' it's an A to Z course designed to teach you everything you need to create effective PPC strategies, use Google Ads to your advantage, and grow your business.

We might be a little biased (??), but if you're serious about learning how to become a Google Ads specialist, this ultimate masterclass is worth checking out! 

Now that you're familiarized with a few options on how to become a Google Ads specialist from scratch, you might be wondering if going through a course is worth it. Sure, a Google Ads and/or PPC masterclass will elevate your game further in the digital business and marketing realm, but is a certification enough to become a Google Ads specialist? 

There are definite benefits to taking a training course, especially if you are new to PPC but even if you have experience as a marketer. You'll gain a deeper understanding of marketing strategies and be set apart from the rest of the pack with new, in-depth knowledge about making the most of ad space on the world's largest search engine network.

Beyond that, it's crucial to gain real experience doing the work. 

Managing AdWords campaigns effectively and saving businesses money on their clicks in the process is not simple, and no certification program can replace hands-on experience. Completing a masterclass or certification is a solid foundation but showing those new savvy skills out in the digital world is where you get to prove that you are a Google Ads specialist.  

As with any career path, your success (and the amount you earn) will reflect the level of knowledge and skills you have, so while it's not guaranteed that certification will earn you thousands right out of the gate, completing the course will provide you with substantial expertise to get started. In the end, the question of how to become a Google Ads specialist is more of a "how much effort are you willing to put into it". A good course helps you get jumpstarted, but once that's done. you'll need to get your feet wet into action -- and that's why we designed a course that brings everything together, from the "mechanics" of Google Ads to marketing basics that help you succeed in PPC.

In Conclusion...

It can be daunting to step into the 'expert role' and go from "how to become a Google Ads specialist" to actually doing it, but now you're equipped with all the info you need to go from zero to hero in the realm of Google Ads. It might not be easy-peasy, but it surely is worth it!

Whether you become a Google Ads specialist for the purposes of your own business or for other businesses, you're going to feel like a hero when you cut costs and increase lead generation like you were made for it. It's time-consuming to learn the ins and outs of Google Ads and there are tons of businesses managing their own campaigns without realizing how much more effective their advertising could be.

You'll be the expert that can walk the walk and deliver concrete, cost-effective results. 

If you're a PPC or Google Ads beginner, taking an online certification course or masterclass on Google Ads is a surefire way to up your game. And even those of you with prior experience would benefit from an in-depth and actionable course - our take at ClickGUARD is that you never know what you might need to know, so you can't go wrong with knowing more. ?\_(?)_/?

Whether you choose to take a course to dive deeper or not, we hope you're feeling more confident about taking the plunge to become a Google Ads specialist.