How Do I Run A Google Ads Campaign?

This is an audit to convince your analytic mind in the face of performance anxiety that as a Google paid ad campaign manager, I’ve learned a few things about running a productive and meaningful search network-based text ad campaign that other people might find interesting or useful.

Many of us search the internet, to find a list of all the important-seeming things we must follow for PPC ad campaigns in 2019 and beyond. So I thought writing a checklist might help me more effectively than scrutinizing anything else.

I’ve come a long way since my first entry into the world of Google Ads. So I am very confident that certain readers find this list useful.

How do I make my Google Ads campaign successful?

Revisiting the lessons we learned - reconsidering them, even sharing them with others - allows them to flourish further. Purposes of this checklist vary from person to person, from campaign to campaign, but study this checklist (in no particular order) for optimizing ROI to invoke magic.

Consider what logical in your case, then, apply to see what you want to follow in your effort to combat competition and manifest a more meaningful and desirable campaign outcome.

1. The campaign setup is, truly, more important than anything else.
   
   
2. The goal conversions you want so badly to achieve might not prove as beneficial as you think they will. So don’t sweat it when, occasionally, you fall short.
   
   
3. Monitor competitors closely but remember, others are never thinking about you as much as you think they are.
   
   
4. Discover your USPs before start writing text ad copies.
   
   
5. It’s important, of course, to not take your problems regarding the keywords selection process and perceived failures seriously. But it also helps to make a habit of reminding yourself of the other aspects of users’ search behavior.
   
   
6. Similarly, it’s never a bad idea to run a test campaign preferably based on Analytics data. There’s a reason why so many successful ad campaign managers have confessed to being obsessive data analysts. You can create several “Campaign Drafts”, “Campaign Experiments”, and “Ad Variations” (all can be found under the “Drafts & experiments” menu) to test your ideas.
   
   
7. Endeavor persistently to find scope for improvement in landing page design through which users find purpose. Of course, it requires strategy, curiosity, bravery, and persistence. You have to try lots of different things, fail, rinse, and repeat it again. It’s a search that lasts for many years and years. It’s a continuous battle to find something more compelling. Challenge yourselves to continuously expand what in your industry might be possible to do or achieve.
   
   
8. Find meaning in your work and, more specifically, in laying out ad groups based on thematically separated keywords. Trust me, amazingly, Google’s system will pay you back.
   
   
9. There are several specific things you should do to consider strategically in your selection of negative keywords. One is to identify people who are not actually looking for your products or services. In your analysis, think seriously about what (or which search term) converts actually and why it works. Emulate them. Put them in a special bucket and rest everything you can think of as negative.
   
   
10. Commit to practicing in an approved manner. The best way to optimize your campaigns’ performances is to monitor them almost every day meticulously than most probably think necessary. The general equation being: plan + reiteration = progress.
    
    
11. It doesn’t matter how good history you have, which is why you should seek always to measure your campaign performance against set KPIs to be on time for things.
    
    
12. For similar reasons, try, as you’re able, to stay knowledgeable with the latest developments bring to us by Google.
    
    
13. A healthy Google Ads account = collection of more profitable ad campaigns. Plus, optimizing further your campaigns’ performances makes you feel better as in charge of the account.
    
    
14. Managing a PPC campaign is less fun if you never allow yourself in activities that bring you joy. Then indulge appropriately.
    
    
15. Effectively taking care of your mental well-being is the first building block of any successful ad campaign. Treat your mind as you would any other essential Google Ads account tool.
    
    
16. Practice moderation and do not follow any PPC checklist blindly. You have to find your own unique style to progress at your own speed. This will help you build in return a positive ROI-based campaign in the long run.
    
    
17. Show your potential customers you care about them. Build every inch of your landing page accordingly.
    
    
18. Read at least once Google’s help pages and/or support forums whenever you have time.
    
    
19. Take the help of “Performance Planner” (an inbuilt Google Ads tool) every time you have a semi-coherent reason to - it also helps to recognize opportunity and things as worthwhile and important. Get excited, even about the little things.
    
    
20. Don’t try operating any kind of vehicle without knowing how to ride it. Similarly, evaluate all the options you have before finalize your bid strategy. Resist the temptation of automation at first. Bad things will happen. Trust me.
    
    
21. That said, don’t be afraid to try new, scary-seeming things like, “Portfolio strategies” and “Advanced controls” - can be found under “Shared Library”. Expand your horizons! Acquire experience! However, think twice before applying anything.
    
    
22. In fact, do everything you can - as often as you can - to broaden your perspective through reviewing data in “Audience lists”, “Audience insights”, and “Audience sources” - all are under Audience manager - another exceptionally helpful tool available for campaign managers.
    
    
23. That said, aim to establish a fruitful daily routine. Planned repetition makes you (AND THE CAMPAIGNS that you are managing) better. In many ways, we prove a product of our routine. Construct it accordingly with the help of the “Search attribution” feature of Google Ads.
    
    
24. There never comes a time in your life when you can afford to say - I need not practice or work on my PPC knowledge to become better. You have to stay loyal to your strategically designed campaigns specific to “Rules” and “Scripts” (both can be found under the Bulk Actions feature). You must continue trying to deliver better outcomes by leveraging the power of the “Keyword Planner” tool. You can never afford to become complacent, at least not if you want to continue improving the ROI. Because to improve, ultimately, is to improvise. Let your abilities go full throttle.
    
    
25. When you waste hours scrolling through Facebook, you’re practicing indolence. When you are using the “Ad Preview and Diagnosis Tool”, you’re practicing to be self-aware.
    
    
26. Invest time in team-building or partnering with similar-minded people so they can influence you positively, appreciate your achievements, and create healthy competition for you. After all, we are a product of who we surround ourselves with. More practically, surrounding yourself with people who themselves try to maintain positive mindsets will make it easier for you to do the same.
    
    
27. Do your best in all circumstances to be a team player, to be a true professional. Respect your peers however trust your own ability and ideas - be courageous and confident. Don’t get overconfident though.
    
    
28. Think transparently, speak clearly, and act considerately. Reflect all these character traits at the time of campaign creation and setting KPIs for the same.
    
    
29. Do not stress much on (at least initially) CTR, Ad Rank, CPC, ROAS, and blah-blah-blah - all the technicalities. A lot of people try to run campaigns on those terms. To me, without first considering the consequences of the right combination between keywords, landing page(s), and ad text(s) - may upset people they care about.
    
    
30. You can mitigate your risk of losing your ground to competitors by making a habit of keeping a tap on the latest changes before they do realize the actual potential. Simply put, the present is important, as well as anticipating the future. For example, in preparation for the upcoming holiday season, Google has declared two new ways to reach our target audience with our text ads. With the help of “Affinity Audiences” and “In-market Audiences”, we’ll be able to get out to relevant prospects with ease.
    
    
31. Timing is important - when you want to show your ads to whom? So, schedule your ads accordingly. You should also carefully consider the devices option – whether the ads will be displayed on all - computers, tablets, and mobile devices or only on your selected ones.
    
    
32. Keep checking “Recommendations” for untapped areas. But important to remember, “Your optimization score” is just an indicator. Don’t put much emphasis on it. At the same time, keep an eye on “Demographics” data so you can make informed decisions to optimize your ad campaign performance.
    
    
33. Sometimes, you have to raise your voice for yourself, stand up to bullies, and demand what you’ve earned. For that, the “Change history” feature and “Reports” and “Dashboards” will help you out. Stay always up-to-date with insights. If anyone questions you, counter them with valid data with you.

Finally, remember that this list is neither exclusive nor exhaustive.

This serves me, thus sharing with you all. Whenever you run into them - don’t follow them blindly. Rather, distill from them what matters most to you as a person, relevant to your Google Ads campaign management, then discard the rest and move on.

I would suggest you write your own checklist for running Google Ads campaigns better. It will serve the community. Hopefully, remind you what you have achieved and where to focus.

Yes, I have not restricted my checklist only to technicalities regarding running any successful Google Ads campaigns as I firmly believe that, PPC campaign management is more about a psychological game rather than how good you are with your technical Gyan!