Create a campaign

Next: Set up your bid and budget

A campaign allows you to promote your products or services on Google’s vast network of search results, websites, videos, mobile apps, maps, shopping listings, and more.

You'll choose a campaign type based on your advertising objective, brand strategy, and how much time you’re able to invest.

Tip: Each campaign type has its own set of targeting and ads. For example, a Search campaign lets you place text ads on search results, whereas a Video campaign lets you advertise video ads on YouTube.

This article outlines how to create a new campaign, and provides links to complete the setup based on your campaign type.

Note: As Google enhances the new user onboarding process, new Google Ads users may experience an updated workflow. The content below pertains to Google Ads users who have already created, and logged into, their Google Ads account.

 


Instructions (Existing users)

Select your advertising objective and choose a goal

The first step in creating a new campaign is choosing your advertising objective. After you choose this objective, you will be guided in choosing your goals. This goal will help you determine the best campaign type to reach your intended audience.

CREATE IN MY ACCOUNT

  1. In your Google Ads account, click the Campaigns icon Campaigns Icon.
  2. Click the Campaigns drop down in the section menu.
  3. Click Campaigns.
  4. Click the plus button , then select New campaign.
  5. Choose your campaign objective, then follow the prompts in Google Ads.
  6. Click Continue.

Optimize your campaign as you create it

As you create your campaign, you may receive notifications based on your setting selections. These notifications may alert you of issues that can result in decreased performance or that may be significant enough to prevent you from publishing your campaign.

The campaign construction navigation menu that appears as you construct your campaign provides a holistic view of your construction progress and will call attention to notifications that you may want to address. Move between steps in the navigation menu to easily review and resolve potential issues with your targeting, bidding, budget, or other campaign settings. Learn how to Set up your campaign for success.

Select a campaign type

Your campaign type determines the places online where customers will find your ads.

Each campaign type has a different setup and set of best practices. Refer to the guides included at the end of these instructions to finish setting up your campaign.

  1. Select a campaign type. If you selected a goal, you’ll be given the options for the best campaign types to achieve it.
  2. If your campaign type has subtypes, choose one.
  3. Click Continue.
  4. You’ll be taken to a new page to select your settings, set up ad groups, and create your ads. Follow the guides below to complete these steps based on your campaign type:
    • Search: Text ads on search results
    • Display: Image ads on websites
    • Video: Video ads on YouTube
    • Shopping: Product listings on Google
    • Demand Gen: Advertise within online feeds
    • App: Promote your app on many channels
    • Smart: Simplify your campaigns
    • Performance Max: Find high value customers across all channels

Tip: You may notice messages that guide you to ensure certain settings aren’t preventing your ads from running. Try to fix any potential issues before publishing your campaign.

If you encounter an error message while creating a new campaign, fix those errors before you go any further as this may prevent you from publishing your campaign.

 


Instructions (New users)

New users creating an account on Google Ads should visit the Google Ads homepage and click "Start Now". When you begin the signup flow, Google will walk you through the process to recommend a campaign, and get you up and running on Google Ads.

This process can be broken down into 3 steps:

  1. Add business information.
  2. Create campaign goals and budget.
  3. Enter payment details.

1. Add business information

Google will ask you for your business name, as well as the URL of your business, in order to gather information and make account setup as seamless as possible. Information you provide here will be pre-filled later on in the process.

Additionally, you have the opportunity to link existing accounts, such as your Google Business Profile, or your YouTube channel. By adding this information, Google can provide more tailored solutions for your campaign.

2. Create campaign goals and budget

After you add your business information, Google will ask your goal for this campaign. For information regarding goals, review About Campaign Goals in Google Ads. Based on the goal you select, Google will guide you to the proper campaign type which will best suit your needs.

Based on the campaign type you choose, you will select your settings, set up ad groups, and create your ads. Follow the guides below to complete these steps based on your campaign type:

  • Performance Max: Find high value customers across all channels
  • Search: Text ads on search results
  • Display: Image ads on websites
  • Video: Video ads on YouTube
  • Shopping: Product listings on Google
  • Demand Gen: Advertise within online feeds
  • App: Promote your app on many channels
  • Local: Promote your locations on many channels
  • Smart: Simplify your campaigns

Follow the automated steps to provide your payment information.

3. Enter payment details

As the final step, Google Ads will guide you to provide your billing information. For more details, review Google’s Account & Billing topics.

 


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