How to Set Up Your First Google Ads Campaign Step-by-Step
Google Ads is one of the most powerful online advertising platforms, helping businesses reach customers right when they are searching for their products or services. Whether you’re a beginner or launching your first campaign, this step-by-step guide will help you start confidently and avoid common mistakes.
Step 1: Create or Sign In to Your Google Ads Account
Before running ads, you need a Google Ads account.
How to set it up:
Go to the Google Ads website
Sign in with your Google account
Click on “New Google Ads Account”
Choose “Expert Mode” for full control (recommended)
Expert Mode gives you access to all campaign types, targeting options, and tools.
Step 2: Choose Your Campaign Goal
Google will ask what you want to achieve with your ad.
Common goals include:
Sales – for e-commerce or product selling
Leads – for service-based businesses
Website Traffic – to drive visitors to your site
Brand Awareness – to increase visibility
Your goal helps Google suggest the right campaign settings.
Step 3: Select Your Campaign Type
This decides where your ad will appear.
Popular campaign types:
Search Ads – Text ads on Google search results
Display Ads – Image ads across websites
Video Ads – Promote through YouTube
Shopping Ads – Product-based ads for online stores
Performance Max – Automated ads across all platforms
For beginners, Search Ads are the easiest and most effective.
Step 4: Choose Your Target Audience
Next, decide who should see your ads.
Targeting options:
Location – Choose specific cities, states, or countries
Language – Select the languages your customers speak
Audience Segments – Interests, behaviours, or custom audiences
Device Targeting – Mobile, desktop, or both
Accurate targeting = lower ad spend + better results.
Step 5: Set Your Budget and Bidding Strategy
Google Ads works on a bidding system.
Setting your daily budget:
Choose how much you want to spend per day (e.g., ₹300–₹1000 minimum).
Choose a bidding strategy:
Maximize Clicks – Good for beginners
Target CPA (Cost per Acquisition) – For conversions
Target ROAS – For e-commerce
Manual CPC – Full control over cost per click
Start with Maximize Clicks until you gather data.
Step 6: Select Your Keywords
Keywords determine when your ad appears in search results.
Tips to choose keywords:
Use Google Keyword Planner
Pick keywords with medium competition
Avoid too broad keywords
Use long-tail keywords (e.g., “best digital marketing agency in Bangalore”)
Keyword Match Types:
Broad Match – Shows to a wide audience
Phrase Match – Shows for specific phrases
Exact Match – Very controlled and precise
For beginners: Use Phrase + Exact match combination.
Step 7: Write a Compelling Ad
Your ad must attract clicks and highlight your value.
Your ad should include:
A strong headline
Keywords from your list
Clear benefits
A strong CTA (Call to Action)
Example Headline:
“Affordable Graphic Design Services – Fast, Professional, Creative”
Example Description:
“Get high-quality designs for social media, branding, and websites. Quick delivery. 100% satisfaction.”
Step 8: Set Up Conversion Tracking
This is one of the most important steps.
Conversion tracking helps you measure:
Leads
Purchases
Calls
Form submissions
Website actions
Google provides a tracking code you place on your website. Without this, you can’t optimize your ads properly.
Step 9: Review and Launch Your Campaign
Before publishing:
Check spelling and grammar
Review keywords
Confirm location settings
Ensure tracking is installed
Click “Publish” and your ad will go live after approval.
Step 10: Monitor, Optimize, and Improve
Launching your campaign is just the beginning.
Optimize regularly:
Check which keywords perform best
Pause keywords with high cost but low results
Improve your ad headlines
Test new ad variations
Adjust targeting & bids
The more you optimize, the better your results become.
Conclusion
Setting up your first Google Ads campaign may seem complex, but following these simple steps makes the process smooth, efficient, and effective. With the right keywords, targeting, and optimization, Google Ads can bring high-quality leads, increased sales, and consistent business growth.