Getting Google Adwords Certified
When I first got hired here at Northeast Web Design, I was told that I was expected to get Google Adwords certified, and become a Google Advertising Professional. Well, I put that statement to work and began figuring out how to do just that!
How do I get Adwords certified?
First off, you have to have met the requirements for the program. I found it easiest to understand the features of your Adwords account and how to best optimize your clients’ results by studying key topics in the learning center. After meeting all requirements to take the test, the next thing to do was study. That’s where I found things to be a little tricky.
Preparing for the Adwords exam
I thought it best to see what others had said about the Adwords exam by searching blogs, and trying to find any up to date articles. Most of the information was outdated from about 2007 (before the change in interface) but whether older or more recent, they all said about the same. If you pass all the learning center practice questions, you will pass the actual exam. Headed back to Google, I found that you can study the material in quite a few ways. In the designated learning center, you have two options for studying; multimedia and text lessons. I would most definitely recommend reviewing both as the text lessons and multimedia lessons vary, and I found that there was actually more topics in the text lessons as opposed to the multimedia lessons.
There is also a second “learning center” called the Google Advertising Fundamentals Exam Learning Center. Google claims, “This Learning Center contains all the information you’ll need in order to pass the Google Advertising Fundamentals Exam.” GREAT, I thought. A mixture of studying both learning centers is obviously ideal, but does it really matter?
Taking the actual test…
Well according to this test, apparently not. I studied all topics, made notes, and even reviewed a second time over all material. However come test time, you can imagine how shocked I was to find outdated questions, repeated questions, and typos on the test. My test was 110 questions long, and I passed on the first try, October 19th, 2009, with the new Adwords interface. The list of changes that were made to the interface over the past few months were always on the left side of my account, but I figured since I started with the new interface, that the test would update as well. Wrong. Unfortunately, the test had multiple questions about tabs that no longer existed and features that have updated far beyond their previous state. Even while taking the test, and having the Adwords Help search open on my second monitor, the search could not even find anything related to what I was looking for!
I actually find it shocking that this Google exam, which can be so heavily weighted for one’s career, could be outdated. Plus, I am trying to become a Google Advertising Professional on a test with typos? Doesn’t seem right.
Is it worth it?
Despite my qualms with the exam, I think it is still very beneficial to become Adwords certified, and so do employers. One must study the whole program on a high level, and prove that they can run a successful campaign. Doing both will not only get you certified, but provide a better and professional service to your clients. I am proud to show the Google image like a badge of honor because I feel that it is a good representation that I am willing to work hard and not only make myself a success individual, but make my clients’ businesses successful. Talk about a win-win!
Adwords Exam Tips
If you are about to take the exam, or are considering doing so, there are a few things I would recommend.
- Study all learning centers! Everyone recommends it, and for a good reason. The more you know, the better prepared you will be.
- Pay attention to what you are doing. There are some questions that I had regarding what was under each tab. If you thoroughly browse through your account and all the tabs regularly, you’ll know what to find what the test is asking you for.
- Think of scenarios. I know at least for my test, I was asked a lot of scenario questions. Make up a scenario and figure out how you would solve it. Then you will know what you can and cannot do.
- Study the billing. I too was an individual who had lots of billing questions so make sure you know exact billing processes and payments.
- Open multiple tabs. Even easier if you have a second monitor! If you get stuck on a question, you can use the search to help you!
- Don’t rely on multiple tabs. ACTUALLY STUDY. Yes, you can have the assistance of the search, but you will never be able to pass just using that.
- Don’t stress over the time. You have 1 hour and 30 minutes to take about 110 questions. That is more than enough time! If you are unsure of an answer, press the check box in the upper right hand corner to tag it for later review and move on to the next question. At the end of the test, you can revisit any questions you were unsure of and have the opportunity to put in an answer. (Plus, you get the chance to answer the questions you KNOW instead of wasting time on the questions you DON’T!)
- RELAX! I was so nervous taking my test, but it really is not that bad as long as you came prepared. Study thoroughly, relax, and answer the questions to the best of your ability, and you will do fine on the exam. Yes, it is $50 every time you take it, but you have 2 opportunities a month to take the test, and you can continue to take it until you pass. Plus remember, once you passed, YOU PASSED! All that’s left to do is show off your snazzy Adwords Qualified Individual image, and put into action all the things you worked so hard on learning!
Google Adwords Success
They feature this video lots of places, but I absolutely love it. What a great story, and great example of how Adwords can better your business!
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