Can I Learn Google Ads On My Own?

As one of the quickest and most accessible platforms for reaching a targeted audience with your message, Google Ads is an invaluable tool for marketers, entrepreneurs, and others with a product or service they need to get in front of as many eyes as possible. Free resources and on-demand courses can help you learn the basics of the platform if your goal is limited to learning only the essentials required to create a simple campaign quickly. However, beginners and experienced marketers alike will find that learning Google Ads is considerably easier with the help of a live instructor in a live online or in-person Google Ads class. This article explores the advantages and disadvantages of learning Google Ads on your own, self-teaching tools, and attractive alternatives to learning Google Ads independently.

Advantages of Self-Teaching Google Ads

Self-teaching Google Ads offers several benefits that can be advantageous, especially for highly motivated learners with some experience in digital marketing or those whose learning goals are limited to the basics required to get started on a single small campaign. These include the immediate accessibility of self-teaching resources compared to Google Ads classes led by live instructors, which are the most expensive learning formats and require students to wait for the course start date to begin their studies. 

While live Google Ads classes are virtually always the fastest path to mastering the platform, free resources and on-demand courses allow students to get started immediately. Additionally, free resources are obviously the most cost-effective way to learn Google Ads, and on-demand courses are usually—though not always—more budget-friendly than live classes due to the low overhead of these passive income products for the provider.

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Free Google Ads Learning Resources

• Google Skillshop: Skillshop is Google’s hub for free Google Ads education, offering a range of courses to help users master various aspects of digital advertising. The platform provides comprehensive training for certification in areas like Search, Display, Video, and Shopping campaigns. Beyond certification prep, Skillshop covers additional topics, such as audience insights and privacy considerations. The platform features practical exercises and mock exams to help students prepare for their certification tests.

• Noble Desktop: Professional training school Noble Desktop provides several free resources to support beginners in getting started in their Google Ads journey. They offer a free introduction to digital marketing video course that covers Google Ads, SEO, Google Analytics, and other pillars of the field. Additionally, Noble Desktop’s Google Ads Learn Hub is a wealth of information for those charting their educational path and for answering many of the questions that arise throughout a learner’s training.

• YouTube: YouTube offers numerous free videos on Google Ads for everyone from beginners to advanced Digital Marketers looking to refine a specific skill set. Surfside PPC is a channel featuring tutorials on the basics geared toward beginners, while Guaranteed PPC’s videos focus on strategy for users of all levels. Davie Fogarty provides a complete Google Ads guide to the process of building an ad campaign, in addition to strategy advice. Meanwhile, ZoCo Marketing’s channel offers tutorials on the Google Universal App Campaign, useful for those wishing to use Google Ads on mobile apps.

• Podcasts: Numerous podcasts are available for Google Ads learners and users at all levels. These are most often geared toward users with some experience, providing tips on strategy and conversations with marketing professionals, though Google Ads Fundamentals Podcast and some others offer beginner-friendly content. The Paid Search Podcast, Rothman PPC, and Google Ads Strategy with Kyle Sulerud are some of the top Google Ads podcasts available today for an immersive learning experience that can be enjoyed while commuting, doing housework, or even out for a jog.

On-Demand Google Ads Classes

On-demand Google Ads classes are another option for learning Google Ads independently. This training format allows students to perform their classwork at any time and at whatever pace works for them. Also known as asynchronous courses, on-demand Google Ads classes include pre-recorded video classes, articles, quizzes, and projects without live scheduled sessions or specific deadlines.

These on-demand courses are usually offered on a subscription platform where students pay a membership fee, either for a month or a year. Some platforms offer a free trial period, so students can watch some videos before deciding whether to commit to the full program. The free trials may last from a week to a month, allowing learners to view several sessions before spending money.

One advantage of on-demand classes is that they allow students to go back and review any material they find challenging. Additionally, learners are able to watch wherever and whenever they like, providing a mix of structure and flexibility that can be ideal for motivated but busy Google Ads learners. 

However, these benefits come at the significant disadvantage of sacrificing the access to a live instructor provided by live Google Ads classes. Google Ads students in on-demand courses are in a similar boat as learners relying on free resources in that they are likely to hit roadblocks and other forms of discouragement without the guidance and mentorship of a live expert instructor dedicated to their success. Questions that can easily be answered in real-time in a live Google Ads class can lead to significant difficulties for independent learners.

Learn more about the various Google Ads training formats available.

Drawbacks to Learning Google Ads on Your Own

Some Google Ads learners with extensive digital marketing experience and an aptitude for self-teaching may find themselves able to meet their goals independently, but almost every aspiring Google Ads user will find that training with a live instructor offers a substantially easier, more streamlined journey to proficiency. The primary drawback to learning Google Ads on one’s own is this lack of a live instructor to act as a guide through a proven curriculum that progresses logically through the essential Google Ads concepts and skills. 

Self-teaching learners often run into roadblocks when questions arise, while a live instructor would be able to provide answers to help students avoid those roadblocks. Many of the most difficult aspects of learning Google Ads—such as the art of storytelling, determining audience, and navigating Google Ads best practices—are incredibly challenging when studying the platform independently. However, these and other Google Ads tools and techniques can be mastered in no time with the assistance of an experienced live instructor. Finally, students can count on their training to be current with the latest updates to Google Ads when they enroll in a live online or in-person course, but even on-demand course curricula can quickly become outdated, especially without the human touch of a live instructor.

Alternatives to Learning Google Ads on Your Own

While learning Google Ads independently has the benefits of flexibility and affordability, many who desire to master the platform find that the advantages of live Google Ads classes are well worth the investment. Whether hosted in-person at a brick-and-mortar campus or live online in a teleconferencing classroom, this class format boasts several features that help Google Ads learners meet their goals considerably faster and easier than those who attempt to learn on their own.

Why Learn Google Ads with a Live Instructor

• Hands-on instruction with immediate guidance: Live online and in-person Google Ads classes often prioritize practical exercises and hands-on campaign creation. The guidance of a live instructor through these projects streamlines students’ path to becoming skilled Google Ads users. 

• Real-time feedback and answers to questions: Live expert instructors can provide immediate feedback to students that can help them develop good habits from day one while also avoiding common pitfalls. These instructors can also answer any questions that arise during the learning journey in real-time, allowing students to quickly navigate through potential roadblocks.

• Practical insights of an experienced professional: The typical live Google Ads instructor is a highly experienced digital marketing professional whose teaching brings practical, actionable insights that can only be developed through time spent creating successful ad campaigns. Students can benefit from the tips, tricks, and advice informed by the instructor’s experience, as they can apply from day one what the latter has learned from years on the job.

• Personalized attention and tailored instruction: Live Google classes are often deliberately capped at a small size, so instructors are able to offer personalized attention to every student. As instructors lead real-time lectures, discussions, and hands-on exercises, they can adjust their approach to meet the specific needs of their current cohort of students.

• Other benefits of an interactive classroom: Learning in an interactive classroom with a live instructor and classmates allows students to participate in and learn from lively discussions. Additionally, an experienced live instructor, classmates, and sometimes other industry professionals visiting the classroom can form a valuable professional network that can lead to job and collaboration opportunities.

Learn more about which Google Ads training format is right for you.

Learn Design Skills with Noble Desktop

Professional training school Noble Desktop offers a 12-hour Google Ads Bootcamp live online or in-person at their campus in Midtown Manhattan. Flexible scheduling options allow you to complete the class in two full-time sessions or about two weeks of part-time evening sessions so you can continue working through your studies. Ideal for business owners, entrepreneurs, and current or aspiring marketers, Noble’s Google Ads Bootcamp provides the theoretical and practical training you need to help you manage your campaigns effectively. Your live instructor will lead you through topics such as setting up and managing a Google Ads account, keyword strategies and match types, bidding strategies, the Google Ads auction process, creating effective ads, optimizing campaigns for maximum results, and best practices for landing pages and conversion tracking. Students receive a verified digital certificate of completion and the option to retake the course for free if desired.

Noble Desktop’s Google Ads Bootcamp can be taken on its own or as a part of their Digital Marketing Certificate. This certificate program is a perfect fit for you if you aspire to launch a new career in marketing or add extensive digital marketing skills to your current professional tool kit, including Google Ads expertise, SEO, social media marketing, and analytics tracking. This flexible career-focused bootcamp is available as a live online or in-person class in Manhattan and on a full-time or part-time schedule. With hands-on projects and personalized guidance by live expert instructors, you’ll discover how to develop and manage multi-tiered campaigns, optimize your marketing for search engines, and utilize Google Analytics to track performance and conversions. Perks of this Digital Marketing Certificate program include a bonus AI for Marketing class, a free retake option, six one-on-one mentorship sessions for career support, guided portfolio development, and a verified digital certificate of completion, all setting you up for success in your future marketing career.

Noble Desktop also offers a free tool that makes it easy to find live Google Ads classes near you.