How to Set Up Your First Google Ads Campaign: A Step-by-Step Guide
Read Time 5 mins
If you’re ready to start advertising online but don’t know where to begin, Google Ads is a great place to start. It’s one of the most powerful platforms for reaching potential customers when they’re actively searching for what you offer.
In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to set up your first Google Ads campaign, step by step.
What You Need Before You Start
Before diving into the setup, make sure you have the following ready:
- A Google account (Gmail or Workspace)
- A website or landing page to send traffic to
- A clear goal (e.g. get leads, sell products, drive traffic)
- A rough budget in mind
- A list of keywords or search terms your audience might use
👉 New to PPC? Start with our guide: What is PPC?
Step-by-Step Setup Guide
Step 1: Create a Google Ads Account
- Go to ads.google.com
- Click Start Now
- Sign in with your Google account
- Choose “Switch to Expert Mode” (this gives you complete control)
- Select “Create a campaign without a goal” for more flexibility
Step 2: Choose Your Campaign Goal
Google will ask what you want to achieve. Common goals include:
- Sales: Drive purchases on your website
- Leads: Collect contact info from potential customers
- Website traffic: Get more visitors to your site
Choose the one that best aligns with your business objective.
Step 3: Select Campaign Type
You’ll now choose where your ads will appear:
- Search: Text ads on Google search results (great for high intent)
- Display: Visual ads on websites and apps
- Shopping: Product listings for e-commerce
- Video: Ads on YouTube
- Performance Max: Automated ads across all Google channels
For beginners, Search campaigns are often the best place to start.
Step 4: Define Your Audience
Set your targeting preferences:
- Location: Choose countries, cities, or a radius around your business
- Language: Select the language your customers speak
- Audience segments (optional): Target based on interests or behaviours
You’ll also choose keywords, the search terms you want your ads to show up for. Use Google’s Keyword Planner to find relevant terms with good search volume.
Step 5: Set Your Budget and Bidding
- Daily budget: How much you’re willing to spend per day
- Bidding strategy: Choose how you want to pay (e.g. clicks, conversions)
For beginners, start with Maximise Clicks or Maximise Conversions and adjust as you learn what works.
💡 Tip: Start small (e.g. £5–£10/day) and scale up once you see results.
Step 6: Write Your Ads
Each ad includes:
- Headlines (up to 3): Grab attention with keywords and benefits
- Descriptions (up to 2): Explain what you offer and include a call-to-action
- Final URL: The page users land on after clicking
Ensure your ad copy is relevant to both your keywords and landing page. This improves your Quality Score, which affects your ad rank and cost.
👉 Learn more: What is Quality Score in Google Ads?
Step 7: Launch and Monitor
Once your ads are ready, click Publish. Google will review your ads (usually within 24 hours), and then they’ll go live.
After launch:
- Monitor performance in your dashboard
- Track metrics like clicks, impressions, CTR, and conversions
- Pause underperforming ads and test new variations
Tips for First-Time Advertisers
- Use ad extensions (like callouts or sitelinks) to boost visibility
- Keep your landing page relevant and mobile-friendly
- Don’t try to target too many keywords at once, start focused
- Review your campaign weekly and make minor adjustments
- Be patient, Google Ads takes time to optimise
Final Thoughts
Setting up your first Google Ads campaign might feel overwhelming, but once you understand the process, it becomes a powerful way to grow your business. Start small, stay focused, and use data to guide your decisions.