Is The Google Advertising Professionals Program Worth It?

[CompuGeneration]

I am currently looking into the Google Advertising Professionals program.

I understand the details of the program. The main points being the 90 day ad spend of $1000+, $50 exam fee, and the 100 question 1.5 hour exam.

I would like some feedback from any users that have experience in this program.

Has it helped your business in any way?
Qualified Individual or Qualified Company?
Did the study tools / exam help you expand your knowledge of Adwords or PPC marketing?

Any other comments or feedback is greatly appreciated.

[arthurakay]

I haven't taken the course... but I think there's one big benefit (if you're working for an SEM firm):

#3 - Promote your business with Google's name recognition.

Being able to brag about your certification/partnership with Google is always a crowd pleaser at sales meetings. Even if you don't learn a thing, I'm willing to bet you'll get a return on that $1000+ by just closing a sale or two.

Now, if you're not an SEM vendor (ie, you're doing SEM for your own company in-house) I suppose there could be a nice benefit to taking the course... assuming, of course, that you learn $1000 worth of stuff you didn't know before.

Really drilling down into A/B/C testing and the buffet of other helpful tools that AdWords has, it could be a good class to take if you're new to AdWords. However, I'm willing to bet that it's not worth that much money to people who already know their way around AdWords very well.

But again, this is pure speculation on my part... I haven't taken the course

[CompuGeneration]

Originally Posted by arthurakay

Even if you don't learn a thing, I'm willing to bet you'll get a return on that $1000+ by just closing a sale or two.

The $1000 expenditure would be on your Adwords campaign(s). So that expense would already be justified by the traffic you gained.

By quickly glancing at the Adwords Learning Center I don't assume I would be gaining a greater understanding of Adwords. I have already managed $10k+ / month accounts in highly competitive markets. Am I assuming incorrectly?

Does anyone else have experience with this program?

[sitecreations]

Absolutely worth it. With so many people running around half-a**ing adwords campaigns, people want to get a bit of a credibility indicator. This is the closest thing that exists.

I think small barriers to entry are always a good thing. It dramatically cuts down on riff-raff and improves the quality of the program in question.

I wish Google had some kind of a program that rewarded adwords consultants for outstanding improvements.

Think of a program where you could baseline a client's performance on Adwords, work with them to improve it, and then come back to Google with a case study proposal. This might earn you a "enhanced" level (like a "star") on your GAP logo perhaps?

[krisidious]

wow... yet another scam to spread paid scamvertizing.... paid clicks are fake clicks or just plain wasted money...

what's your search term so I can cost you a few hundred dollars tomorrow?

I mean why are IT pros falling for such a scam? entire companies are made on trying to keep google honest in the shell game... and you're going to pay them to test you and say you can make ads? someone please explain where the benefits are? never mind... just keep on shelling out the money to the $900 a share company, that lists virii and spam pages in your natural listing number #1 spot all the while charging you a dollar or two per click of your paid advertising...

suckers make the economy run so I should gripe I know... but if you're going to blow money, at least donate like 10% to Wounded Warrior Project - Home

[kkharrison]

I did get the certification and the fact that it required a certain ad spend was not lost on me. I work on my own and simply having the logo on my cards and site is all I do; there are people who need the reassurance and it has helped my business.

FYI, the only way you can be certified as a Google "Professional" is if more than one person is certified in the company; otherwise you are stuck being a Google "Individual".

Acknowledging Krisidious' comments, you have an important point. In my case it was easier at the time to pay the $50 for the benefits afforded me and I really did not know how other marketers felt about it.

To be honest I learned more about AdWords almost anywhere but in that course. And my test was inadvertently designed for someone in the UK; I passed even not knowing what a "Pound Sterling" was valued to be. (A Google rep expressed concern that this happened but never followed up with me as promised.)

As you know, when setting up PPC, there's the Google way - and the right way. But people still trust Google. So...

[playingthegame]

Of course it is usefull. Whether you do it for yourself or as a ppc service any from of training or testing will help you and for 50$ it is a drop in the ocean compared to costs.

It cannot hurt can it?

[CompuGeneration]

Originally Posted by sitecreations

Absolutely worth it. With so many people running around half-a**ing adwords campaigns, people want to get a bit of a credibility indicator. This is the closest thing that exists.

I think small barriers to entry are always a good thing. It dramatically cuts down on riff-raff and improves the quality of the program in question.

You wrote, and passed, the Adwords exam. Does that in itself makes you a credible campaign manager? (I'm not trying to say you aren't credible) If you've ever worked with existing Adwords accounts before you're probably seen some pretty messed up campaigns. Some of which were designed by Adwords Qualified Individuals.

Originally Posted by sitecreations

I wish Google had some kind of a program that rewarded adwords consultants for outstanding improvements.

Think of a program where you could baseline a client's performance on Adwords, work with them to improve it, and then come back to Google with a case study proposal. This might earn you a "enhanced" level (like a "star") on your GAP logo perhaps?

Perhaps this would be a better solution. I wonder how Google might grade you on this?... By click through rate (CTR) improvement(s)?... By return on investment (ROI) improvement(s)?... By site conversion(s)?... By ad spend?....

Part of the problem I see with the entire Google Adwords Professional Program is that it's just a regurgitation of their system internals. It doesn't really provide you with, or prove that you have, an advanced understanding of how to build and maintain a successful PPC advertising campaign.

Does this program exist to help you build trust with ignorant clients? Or does it actually have value beyond that?

[khurramali]

I am in the program and have completed all the requirements except for the exam process.

I have been too busy with other projects and will definately give the exam and get the certification.

if you already have clients then actually they pay towards your certification, becase you can use their ad spent budgets towards fulfilling your requirements.

[seo4china]

Planning to pass it as well. It's getting tougher to convince clients in your credentials in terms of PPC account management, and a Google logo would definitely help.

[jordanmcclements]

I passed the exam in Jan 2008.

It is not particularly hard or expensive, and the free £50 advertising they give you for new clients really does make a difference when trying to persuade someone to give Adwords a try.

But I have to agree with Krisidious to a large extent...

It is very easy to waste money on an Adwords campaign even when you do know what you are doing (there are some niches where it is *extremely* hard to make a profit from Adwords)....

Also - it seems that when one client was unhappy with results, and I 'paused' their campaign before reaching £55 - Google still charged them an amount over and above the 'activiation fee'. So it has not been an unmitigated success...

Q. Does this program exist to help you build trust with ignorant clients? Or does it actually have value beyond that?

A. - Mostly the former. It reminds me a lot of the exams you used to have to take to become a CNE (Does anyone remember when Novell was a BIG name?) in that you are expected to regurgitate the corporate line, and it is no substitute for experience...

[seo4china]

So they give you £50 for EVERY new client?

[jordanmcclements]

You get £50 for the first five clients you take on and once 3 of them have spent £100, you get another set of £50 'vouchers'.

[mawells]

Haven't found the time to take the exam yet and I'm torn between taking it and becoming a Google Adwords "Professional" or staying unbiased by continuing to offer my clients other Internet programs in addition to Google. (While it's true that the quantity of clicks they get from Google is much higher than other programs like Yahoo and MSN - there is some quality that some of my clients get from other programs.) As a professional Internet Marketer, I'm not sure I can sell my soul to the devil by becoming certified for just Google.

Now that opens up a can of worms for certification at Yahoo and MSN. Not sure if they have programs, but I'll bet they (at least MSN) will charge a lot more than $50, if they do. No amount of "test taking" is going to makeup for the 10 years experience I have in Internet marketing - going all the way back to go.com.

[Webconomist]

kind of like the Good Housekeeping seal.

If you're serious about PPC, then take Yahoo!'s course as well. You need 2 or more for company approval with Google.

Also, look at it from your prospective customers POV; they see Google as viable, to your client it's important...and nothing is more important than the client. They pay your mortgage payments and your in business to make a profit. Leverage what you can.

[jordanmcclements]

Everyone, listen...

It costs $50 / £25 to take the test. If you have spent enough already on Adwords to qualify to take the test, then a couple of hours revision will let you pass the exam.

I don't think that anyone could honestly argue that this is not good value for money if you are thinking about getting more than one new Adwords client....

(Leaving aside the whole value for money / ethical debate)...

[hblackburn]

Just to chime in from an employer perspective. As Director of Internet Marketing I have hired Search professionals to work for my company and GAP certification was absolutely a requirement. It's not because I think you learn that much from it, but I want someone who takes the initiative to get the certs regardless. At least it shows they are committed to learning and improving themselves. And I have had very good luck in that each of the people I hired are very good at what they do.

[qh4dotcom]

I don't have any experience with the progarm but I have seen websites where the owners claim they are Google Advertising Professionals and it adds credibility to their websites. I even bought a product from one of their sites.

[SharewarePro]

Yes, it's worthwhile.

If you're selling AdWords services anyway!

[JamesBang]

I passed the exam a couple of years ago and it expires in a couple of weeks. I currently have quite a few clients that I manage PPC campaigns for and, if I let this expire, will I no longer be able to manage these PPC accounts from my expired account?

[SharewarePro]

Originally Posted by JamesBang

I passed the exam a couple of years ago and it expires in a couple of weeks. I currently have quite a few clients that I manage PPC campaigns for and, if I let this expire, will I no longer be able to manage these PPC accounts from my expired account?

Why not just take the exam again? You'll still be able to manage the accounts, but you'll lose your qualified status.

[JamesBang]

I'm not sure if I'll pass the exam without preparing again and time is short at the moment. Thanks for your reply, I just wanted to make sure if I didn't have time to pass the exam that we wouldn't lose the accounts as I have another adwords account that I have never passed the exam for and don't have the ability to manage client's account on that account. I just wanted to make sure that the same thing wouldn't happen on the account I use to manage client's accounts.

[jordanmcclements]

Originally Posted by SharewarePro

Why not just take the exam again? You'll still be able to manage the accounts, but you'll lose your qualified status.

Correct - not a big deal really.... Just do it when you are ready...

[namepimp]

I see that "exam" is just to take you spend more money in adwords. dont you see that

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by namepimp

I see that "exam" is just to take you spend more money in adwords. dont you see that

How does taking the exam make you "spend more money in adwords?"

[jordanmcclements]

It actually allows your clients to spend less money on Adwords as:

1. They get a free £50 worth of clicks.
2. They have someone who knows what they are doing managing their account!

[khurramali]

you have to take the exam every year.

plus you have to charge your clients extra, there is no way that Google Adwords charges your clients extra for your services.

meaning, if you negotiate 10% of their monthly spent as managing charges, then you have to bill your clients seperately.

Its a big market but Google does not promote this very much.

They advertise Adwords as a 5 minute up and running deal. As a result, Many people over spend and conversions / ROI is very low.

the upside is that they have good online training material.

I am in the program myself, but finding clients is very difficult.

[jordanmcclements]

Originally Posted by khurramali

you have to take the exam every year.

It's actually every second year you have to take the exam.

[khurramali]

Bigger Ad Agencies might hire you if you have the certification becase they want to become certified themselves and the only way is to hire people who are certified.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by khurramali

plus you have to charge your clients extra, there is no way that Google Adwords charges your clients extra for your services.

meaning, if you negotiate 10% of their monthly spent as managing charges, then you have to bill your clients seperately.

[Dinghus]

I always find it amusing when somebody goes ballistic about PPC and what a ripoff it is. The same thing could be said about every form of paid advertising.

As far as anybody hitting my ads for hundreds of dollars, well, Google has actually improved dramatically in that area. I was able to show my visitor logs and they could clearly see 1 IP address hitting my ad link a couple of hundred times rapidly. I did not pay for a single one of those clicks and that person's ISP was informed of the fraud.

Of course if you know what you are doing, you will avoid those criminals for the most part.

As far as getting certified, it does impress people even when it is meaningless. So if you are serious about running PPC campaigns for people, get the certification.

[khurramali]

Originally Posted by deepsand

what is that you do not understand.

Voice your concerns so we can clear it up.

Basically, there are two options, First is that you find clients on your own for Google Adwords, These will be new clients and they will sign up, provide their credit card details and give you authorization to manage their campaign, in this case you will have to design and implement their campaigns from scratch, do keyword research, industry research etc.

Second option calls for convincing existing adwords clients to give you authorization to manage their accounts, in this case you have to convince them that you can get them a better deal, meaning optimize their campaign while lowering their monthly spend.

Certification goes a long way for both these options.

[deepsand]

plus you have to charge your clients extra

How is this a consequence of certification?

[khurramali]

Originally Posted by deepsand

How is this a consequence of certification?

how else do you expect to get paid for your services!

Google is not paying me anything for managing any campaigns.

so i must charge the clients extra, right, either fixed monthly fee or a percentage of their monthly spent on google adwords.

[deepsand]

With or without certification, you need to do your own billing.

[williamc]

someone zap this bloody spamming monkey please

[deepsand]

He's what's known as a "carpet bomber."

[bluewaves]

Originally Posted by khurramali

I am in the program myself, but finding clients is very difficult.

Have you found any better results lately?

[arslan220]

yes Google advertisement program is very worth using it we are using it for our company and we are getting good conversions for our business.

[deepsand]

Originally Posted by arslan220

yes Google advertisement program is very worth using it we are using it for our company and we are getting good conversions for our business.

I think that you misunderstood.

The subject of discussion here is, not Google's AdWords, but their Google Advertising Professionals program.

[jordanmcclements]

By the way, I think they have improved their service recently.

They now give you 20 50GBP (or equivalent) vouchers which you can apply to customer accounts before then end of 2009.

There is no longer the problem of Google holding back extra vouchers until at least three of your clients have spent 100GBP on Adwords. They have also made their marketing materials in the Adwords Pro Centre better (though that wouldn't have been hard!)...

[chinaseo]

I think it's getting easier to pass it, and it's worth it not because of what you learn, but because it seems more serious for clients.


Hacene

[EcommerceTechs]

I´m with chinaseo on this. With the Certified Individual bagde or even best, the Certified Company badge, the client feel more safe. Afer all, Google gives you that logo.

[jandrewee]

the only benefit i see is to have the stamp to put on your website which can have a good effect on people and a must have if you are selling a ppc product or you are a search engine marketing firm

[jordanmcclements]

It also looks very good on your business cards...

[hotbizsol]

looks like the adwords professional logo is doing magic to some SEM professional. So, it should be worth it. However, it seems to be more difficult to qualify as a company than as an individual.

[jordanmcclements]

Yeah - the 'company' version requires you to manage a spend of $100,000 or more during a 90 day period. So this one really sorts out the men from the boys (or woman from the girls). By the way, I do fully intend to get the company qualification in the not too distant future...