There’s no doubt that having an official Google Ads certification is a great way to demonstrate your expertise in the world of advertising on the internet, but the truth is, people always go back and forth on how useful one actually is, and if a Google Ads certification worth, even worth aiming for since it can take a lot of time and preparation to acquire.
If you’re interested in digital marketing and online advertising in any way, then you should definitely be considering trying to achieve a Google Ads certificate since it never hurts to expand your knowledge on the principles of advertisements and how they can feed into and benefit other markets, but in terms of how practically useful they are, the answer is a little more complicated.
Keep reading as we go through how useful a Google Ads Search certification really is, what can you do with a Google Ads Certification, and if you should try getting one for yourself depending on your job and future aspirations.
What Is A Google Ads Certification?
When Google recognizes that an individual has demonstrated their knowledge and proficiency in regards to online advertisement, they will then grant them a professional accreditation in the form of a certificate.
Once they have received this acknowledgment, the individual will then be able to contribute to a company’s Google partner credentials with Google Ads Campaigns and optimizing Google Search Campaigns.
Earning a certificate has actually changed over the years, however. It used to be the case that a Google Partners program was standalone, and you would be required to pay an up-front fee for taking the exam.
This has changed slightly over the years, especially with the rebrand to Skillshop. The exam is now free to take, and Google has provided training content to help learners prepare for the exam, though most people will still use external sites, applications, and Google Ads platform for training purposes which tend to be a little more in-depth about what you will need to learn and remember.
How Many Exams Are There?
As mentioned above, the Google Ads exam was once standalone, but in recent years and with the rebrand to Skillshop, Google now offers multiple exams, depending on the area that you want to specialize in.
For example, you can choose to take the exam to earn the Google Ads Video certification if you specifically want to hone in on Google Video Advertising Solutions and YouTube advertising, or you can aim to acquire the Google Ads Display certification if you want to demonstrate your ability to effectively use advertising in order to meet specific marketing objectives.
Keep in mind that you don’t need to earn the certification for each exam, and it’s advised that you only take the ones that are specifically relevant to your role or position within a company or business.
Is It Worth Earning A Google Ads Certification?
Because they have been around for so long, and since so many other advertisement certifications have also appeared alongside those offered by Google in the last decade, it has caused a lot of people to doubt the relevance of Google Ads certifications, but this isn’t to say that there aren’t still plenty of benefits to having one.
Let’s take a look at some of the biggest reasons why you should consider earning a Google Ads certification which could assist you in your future endeavors.
It Is Still The Minimum For Marketing Roles
As anyone who has an interest in marketing will know, advertising is at the core of selling products, and in order for a person to therefore take up a dedicated marketing role as part of a company or agency, a Google Ads measurement is usually seen as the minimum or expected requirement to succeed in this position.
Many employers agree that having at least a base level knowledge of advertising through Google is much more specific and relevant to know how advertising works than through a school textbook which can be less relevant to online shopping ads certification and the ways you can utilize them effectively on the web.
Low Bar To Pass
Even if you just follow the training courses provided by Google and don’t use other resources to expand your knowledge and prepare yourself for the exam, the bar to pass each exam is still fairly low and relatively straightforward.
If you’re serious about getting into online marketing and don’t already have a portfolio of experience to show your experience, these Google Ads-certified exams are a much easier way to demonstrate your willingness to learn and expand your knowledge in this field without you needing to dedicate months or years to learn everything for the exam.
For a particular specification exam, you will only need to get 80% of the questions correct to pass, while for Google Ads Apps Certification you will need 70%.
You Will Be Easier To Find For Employers
By going on the Google Partners page, employers are able to easily search for individuals who have acquired classifications in the local area which can make it very easy to find those specializing in a specific topic that they require for a certain role in their company or agency.
By earning a certification, you are therefore putting yourself out there by being recognized by the Google algorithm and making yourself known to future employers.
It Provides Invaluable Information
Regardless of your experience in PPC advertising, whether you have been doing it for years, or are simply trying to get to grips with how it works, every single Google Ads exam will teach you a ton of information you didn’t know before, and considering that each one is only moderately difficult, they are still well worth taking even just to refresh your knowledge on certain topics.
Reasons Not To Earn A Google Ads Certification
The biggest drawback to relying on a Google Ads certification is that it only provides a base knowledge of advertising, and additionally, the exams only take you through the preferred ways of advertising and marketing in the eyes of Google, so they will be putting a big emphasis on their features rather than giving you a grander scope of the tools and resources you can use across the web.
Even when you finish the exam, you’re therefore still going to require a lot of experience to fully understand some of the concepts they introduce and explain in the lessons and exams.
You are also required to take the exam every year, and while this is good to begin with so that you can refresh your knowledge frequently, after a while it can become more of a chore.
The Bottom Line
All in all, while it will only provide you with a foundation of knowledge in advertising rather than preparing you with all the information you need right off the bat, it can still be well worth earning a Google Ads certification if you’re interested in pursuing a position in the digital marketing space, especially considering how quickly and easily the exams can be taken.
The most important point to take from this is that these certifications are still highly valued, with many employers and specialists seeing them as a necessity, so if you have the time to spare and are ready to put the effort in to learn everything you need to pass.
We would still recommend aiming for a Google Ads certification and don’t forget, they are also completely free.
