Can I Learn Google Ads For Free?

Thanks to Google Skillshop, Noble Desktop’s library of resources, and numerous YouTube and podcast creators, learning the fundamentals of Google Ads for free is absolutely doable. However, very few learners are able to go beyond the basics and develop professional-level mastery of Google Ads without a paid live course. While Skillshop provides a practical how-to guide for using the platform, a solid understanding of theory, strategy, and customer behavior is essential to creating successful, high-performing Google Ads campaigns. Most learners report that they need an actual human to teach these components and mentor them through hands-on instruction to master Google Ads, and a paid live online or in-person class featuring an expert instructor is the ideal way to access this. This article will discuss the variety of free Google Ads learning resources available, how to use them in your training, their limitations, and what to do as your next step after learning the basics of Google Ads utilizing free resources.

What Free Resources are Available for Learning Google Ads?

• 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.

Learn more about the best free Google Ads resources and tutorials.

How to Make Use of Free Google Ads Resources

Strategic Use of Free Resources

A clear strategy is necessary for Google Ads learners to get the most out of free resources. Identifying specific learning goals is the first step for any student to ensure that any resource they choose is in alignment with their personal objectives. For example, learners who are solopreneurs with some background in marketing and technology may have the goal of learning the basics of Google Ads to get started with an ad campaign for their services as quickly as possible. Their learning plan—including free resources and paid classes—will look very different from that of beginners who wish to master Google Ads comprehensively in addition to other marketing skills to launch a new digital marketing career.

Preparing for Formal Training

The vast majority of Google Ads learners can plan to use free resources like those provided by Google Skillshop and Noble Desktop to learn the fundamental concepts and vocabulary, but the aspiring Digital Marketer—and likely the solopreneur—will want to prepare to invest in a paid class for professional skill development. In fact, one of the best uses of free resources is building a solid foundation before enrolling in a structured Google Ads course. Podcasts like the Google Ads Fundamentals Podcast and The Paid Search Podcast can be ideal for auditory learners to familiarize themselves with fundamentals enough to be confident on the first day of their class. Those who take advantage of free resources before attending a live online or in-person class tend to find they are ready to grasp the class materials more easily.

Supplementing Paid Training

For those already enrolled in a live Google Ads class, free resources can serve as valuable supplements to their training. Noble Desktop’s Google Ads Learn Hub and their free seminars on digital marketing are excellent tools for reinforcing classroom learning. These and other resources—such as YouTube channels Surfside PPC and Guaranteed PPC—can offer additional explanations and perspectives that can enhance understanding and retention of the materials covered in class.

Read more about how to learn Google Ads.

Limitations of Free Resources

While free resources for learning can be incredibly valuable, Google Ads students attempting to learn exclusively from them will quickly discover their limitations. These resources are excellent for helping beginners map out their educational journey and learn the fundamentals, like how to set up an account and the basic vocabulary of the platform. They can also be useful for answering questions that arise throughout a learner’s training, as they can provide an alternative explanation while students are practicing Google Ads skills between class sessions. Skillshop, YouTube videos, and podcasts can also be very beneficial for advanced students and even working Digital Marketers to help them stay abreast of industry news, application updates, and changes in best practices.

However, free resources are unable to offer significant in-depth training, nor do they provide structured curricula or the accountability of a set learning schedule. Learners also cannot count on free resources to be updated frequently, and even those that tend to leave out-of-date blog posts, podcasts, and videos online where they can cause confusion for the independent Google Ads student. Additionally, free resources will not connect learners with the guidance and mentorship of expert Google Ads instructors, whom many students cite as the most helpful resource in their learning careers. The passionate and experienced Google Ads instructors that learners meet in paid classes are invested in the success of their students and will walk them through curricula designed to ensure they learn the skill set thoroughly and without gaps. Live instructors also provide students with practical hands-on exercises, answer questions as they arise in real-time, and troubleshoot issues before they turn into significant pitfalls in a learner’s journey to proficiency.

What to Do After Utilizing Free Google Ads Resources

Once students have mastered the basics of Google Ads through free resources, they will be ready to advance their skills through paid, live training. Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool can help you find beginner, intermediate, advanced, and even comprehensive Google Ads classes near you or live online. For those seeking a seamless progression from beginner to advanced levels, an all-in-one bootcamp like Noble Desktop’s Google Ads Bootcamp can provide a structured learning path to proficiency. Alternatively, Noble’s Classes Near Me tool can connect individuals to live short courses for beginners, where they can benefit from a live instructor leading them through essential theoretical and strategic knowledge along with more complex practical skills like keyword research and determining a target audience. After attending a beginner Google Ads class, learners can enroll in intermediate and advanced Google Ads courses to learn more about optimization, analytics, conversion tracking, advanced bidding strategies, and other tools and techniques for building a complete PPC advertising skill set.

Depending on their career path and specific aspirations, advanced Google Ads learners may wish to pursue Google Skillshop certifications to feature in their resumes, LinkedIn profiles, and freelance portfolios. Pursuing training in the areas of these certifications can help learners develop an area of specialization, such as using Google Ads in apps, utilizing Google measurement apps, video ad campaigns, and AI-powered performance ads. Skillshop offers some training to help learners prepare for these certifications, but enrolling in a live online or in-person class led by a live instructor will be the fastest and most effective way to learn the skills required to pass the certification exams. Whatever an individual’s Google Ads learning goals, a live expert instructor is the most valuable resource a student can use to achieve them. An expert instructor is able to offer real-time guidance, personalized feedback, and answers to questions that could form significant roadblocks for an independent learner.

Mastering advanced and specialized Google Ads skills will allow learners to take on more complex campaigns, optimize ad spend, achieve better ROI, and manage higher budgets with confidence. This level of expertise in Google Ads can also unlock new job opportunities in digital marketing, as businesses are always looking for individuals who can maximize their advertising efforts. For those learning Google Ads to launch a new career, Noble Desktop’s Digital Marketing Certificate is a comprehensive career-focused bootcamp that provides all the Google Ads training a beginner needs, plus all of the following steps required to land a first job in the field. This includes hands-on training in other digital marketing tools, techniques, concepts, and best practices, building a professional portfolio, networking opportunities, and one-on-one career support with an expert instructor.

Learn about complementary skills and advanced topics to learn after Google Ads.

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.