How to Create a Google Ads Campaign

How to Create a Google Ads Campaign: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Introduction

In today’s fast-paced digital world, online advertising has become one of the most effective ways to reach potential customers. Among all digital advertising platforms, Google Ads (formerly Google AdWords) stands as the undisputed leader. With billions of daily searches, Google gives businesses the power to display their products or services right when people are looking for them.

Whether you’re a small business owner, a freelancer, or a digital marketing professional, learning how to create a Google Ads campaign is a skill that can significantly boost your online visibility, traffic, and sales.

In this detailed guide by SocialDigiPro, we’ll walk you through the entire process — from understanding what Google Ads is, to creating your first campaign, optimizing it, and analyzing results. By the end, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence to launch effective Google Ads campaigns that deliver real results.

What is Google Ads?

Google Ads is Google’s paid advertising platform where advertisers can bid to display brief advertisements, service offerings, product listings, or videos to web users. These ads can appear on:

Google’s Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs)
YouTube videos
Gmail
Google Display Network (partner websites and apps)

It operates mainly on a Pay-Per-Click (PPC) model — meaning you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. This makes it one of the most cost-effective ways to promote your brand online.

Why Use Google Ads?

Before we dive into creating a campaign, let’s understand why Google Ads is so valuable:

Massive Reach: Google processes over 8.5 billion searches per day, offering unmatched exposure.
Intent-Driven Marketing: You target people actively searching for your product or service.
Precise Targeting: You can target based on keywords, demographics, location, interests, and even device type.
Budget Control: You set your daily budget and only pay per click or impression.
Measurable Results: Every click, impression, and conversion can be tracked, helping you optimize campaigns effectively.

Types of Google Ads Campaigns

Before creating your campaign, it’s important to choose the right campaign type based on your goal.

Search Campaigns
- Text ads that appear on Google search results.
- Ideal for lead generation and direct conversions.
Display Campaigns
- Visual banner ads across websites and apps in the Google Display Network.
- Great for brand awareness and remarketing.
Shopping Campaigns
- Product-based ads for eCommerce businesses.
- Display product image, price, and store name directly in search results.
Video Campaigns
- Ads shown before, during, or after YouTube videos.
- Excellent for storytelling and increasing brand engagement.
Performance Max Campaigns
- An all-in-one campaign type that uses automation to display ads across all Google channels.
App Campaigns
- Promote app installs and engagement across Google Play, YouTube, and the Display Network.

Step-by-Step: How to Create a Google Ads Campaign

Now let’s go through the entire process step by step.

Step 1: Set Up Your Google Ads Account

To start, visit ads.google.com and sign in using your Google account.
If you’re new, click “Start now” and follow the setup instructions. You’ll be asked for basic details like your business name, website, and billing information.

Once done, you’ll be taken to the Google Ads dashboard, where you can create and manage your campaigns.

Step 2: Define Your Campaign Goal

Google Ads offers several goals based on what you want to achieve. You can choose from:

Sales – Drive purchases or conversions.
Leads – Get form submissions, sign-ups, or inquiries.
Website traffic – Increase visits to your website.
Brand awareness and reach – Show your brand to as many people as possible.
App promotion – Get more app downloads or engagement.

Selecting the right goal helps Google recommend the most suitable campaign settings and ad formats.

Step 3: Choose Your Campaign Type

Based on your goal, select from the types mentioned earlier (Search, Display, Shopping, Video, etc.).

For beginners, a Search Campaign is usually the best starting point since it targets people already searching for your services or products.

Step 4: Set Your Campaign Name and Network

Give your campaign a clear name like “Digital Marketing Services – Search Campaign.”

Then choose where your ads will appear:

Search Network: Ads on Google Search results pages.
Display Network: Optional; includes partner websites.

If you’re new, it’s best to uncheck “Display Network” initially to focus on search results.

Step 5: Choose Target Locations and Languages

Targeting is critical to campaign success.

You can choose:

Specific countries or cities (e.g., India → Mumbai)
Radius targeting around your business location
Languages your customers speak

For local businesses, focusing on your city or region gives better ROI.

Step 6: Set Your Budget and Bidding Strategy

Your budget determines how much you’ll spend daily. You can start small and scale up later.

Google offers various bidding strategies like:

Maximize clicks – get the most clicks within your budget
Maximize conversions – let Google optimize for conversions
Target CPA (Cost Per Acquisition) – ideal for specific conversion goals
Manual CPC (Cost Per Click) – you set the bid amount manually

If you’re just starting, “Maximize clicks” is a simple and effective choice.

Step 7: Choose Your Target Audience

You can refine your targeting further using:

Demographics: Age, gender, income level
Interests: Categories like travel, tech, beauty, etc.
Remarketing lists: People who’ve visited your site before

Advanced audience targeting ensures your ad budget is spent efficiently.

Step 8: Select Keywords

Keywords are the foundation of your search campaign.

Use Google Keyword Planner to find high-volume, low-competition keywords related to your business.

For example, if you’re promoting digital marketing services, keywords might include:

“Digital marketing agency in Mumbai”
“SEO expert near me”
“Google Ads services for small business”

Use match types strategically:

Broad match: shows ads for related searches
Phrase match: shows ads for searches that include your keyword phrase
Exact match: only for searches that exactly match your keyword

A mix of phrase and exact match keywords usually works best for focused campaigns.

Step 9: Write Compelling Ad Copy

Your ad copy decides whether someone clicks or scrolls past.

Each text ad includes:

Headline 1, 2, 3 (max 30 characters each)
Description 1, 2 (max 90 characters each)
Display URL (website link)

Tips for writing great ad copy:

Include your main keyword in the headline.
Highlight your unique selling points (e.g., “Free Consultation”, “Guaranteed ROI”).
Add a strong CTA (Call To Action) like “Get a Free Quote Today” or “Book Now.”

Example Ad Copy:

Headline: Google Ads Expert in Mumbai | Boost Your Leads
Description: Drive traffic & sales with expert-managed Google Ads campaigns. Get measurable results today!

Step 10: Set Up Ad Extensions

Ad extensions improve visibility and click-through rate (CTR). Use:

Sitelink extensions: Add links to specific pages
Call extensions: Add a phone number
Location extensions: Show your business address
Callout extensions: Highlight offers like “24/7 Support” or “Free Consultation”

Extensions make your ads larger and more informative — and best of all, they’re free to add.

Step 11: Review and Launch

Once everything is set, preview your ad and double-check:

Spelling and grammar
Keywords and bidding strategy
Target locations and budgets

Click “Publish” to launch your campaign. Google will review it, usually within 24 hours.

Optimization Tips for Better Results

Creating your campaign is only the beginning. Success comes from continuous monitoring and optimization.

1. Monitor Performance Regularly

Use your Google Ads dashboard to track:

Click-through rate (CTR)
Conversion rate
Cost per click (CPC)
Quality score

2. Pause Poor-Performing Keywords

Remove keywords with low CTR or high cost and focus on profitable ones.

3. Use Negative Keywords

Add irrelevant keywords to the Negative Keywords list to prevent wasted clicks.
For example, if you sell premium services, you might exclude “free” or “cheap.”

4. Test Different Ad Copies (A/B Testing)

Experiment with different headlines and descriptions to see what works best.

5. Optimize Landing Pages

Make sure your ad leads to a relevant, fast-loading landing page that matches your ad copy and encourages conversions.

6. Leverage Conversion Tracking

Set up conversion tracking to measure leads, sales, and form submissions directly from Google Ads.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not using proper keyword match types
Ignoring negative keywords
Sending traffic to the homepage instead of specific landing pages
Not tracking conversions
Setting unrealistic budgets
Not testing different ad copies or extensions

Advanced Strategies for Professionals

Once you’re comfortable with basic campaigns, explore advanced features like:

Remarketing campaigns to re-engage past visitors.
Dynamic Search Ads that automatically create ads based on your site content.
Smart Bidding with machine learning optimization.
Performance Max campaigns for full automation across Google channels.

These tools can take your advertising to the next level.

Conclusion

Creating a successful Google Ads campaign isn’t just about setting it up — it’s about understanding your audience, choosing the right keywords, crafting compelling ad copy, and continuously optimizing.

With the right approach, Google Ads can drive high-quality leads, boost sales, and grow your brand faster than most marketing channels.

At SocialDigiPro, we help businesses unlock the true potential of Google Ads through strategic planning, creative execution, and continuous optimization. Whether you’re new to digital marketing or looking to scale, a well-structured Google Ads campaign can transform your online presence.

Written by: SocialDigiPro

Your Digital Growth Partner in Mumbai
🚀 Helping brands grow with smart digital marketing, SEO, and paid advertising strategies.