In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses need efficient tools to manage their online advertising campaigns. One such indispensable tool is Google Ads Business Manager. Whether you’re a small business owner or a digital marketing enthusiast, understanding the basics of Google Ads Business Manager is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of your online advertising efforts. In this guide, we’ll cover what Google Ads Business Manager is, why it’s important, and how to set it up for your business.
What is Google Ads Business Manager?
Google Ads Business Manager is a platform that allows businesses to manage multiple Google Ads accounts from a single, centralized dashboard. It is designed to help agencies, large companies, and marketers oversee their advertising efforts across different accounts and campaigns without the need to log in and out of each account individually.
In essence, Google Ads Business Manager (often referred to as a Manager Account) is an umbrella account that can link multiple individual Google Ads accounts. This is particularly useful for businesses that operate in multiple regions or have distinct product lines requiring separate campaigns, or for agencies managing ads for multiple clients.
Why is Google Ads Business Manager Important?
Understanding the importance of Google Ads Business Manager is key to appreciating its value. Here’s why it’s an essential tool:
Streamlined Account Management:
If you’re managing several Google Ads accounts, logging in and out of each account can be time-consuming and cumbersome. Google Ads Business Manager streamlines this process by providing access to all linked accounts from a single login, saving time and reducing the potential for error.
Improved Collaboration:
Google Ads Business Manager makes it easy to collaborate with your team or clients. You can grant access to different accounts without sharing individual account credentials, allowing for more secure and efficient collaboration.
Centralized Billing:
With Google Ads Business Manager, you can consolidate billing across multiple accounts. This means that instead of receiving separate invoices for each account, you can manage billing more efficiently, making it easier to track and allocate your advertising budget.
Enhanced Reporting and Insights:
The platform provides a unified view of all your campaigns, enabling you to monitor performance across different accounts from one dashboard. This feature is particularly beneficial for agencies and large businesses that need to generate reports across multiple clients or divisions.
Flexibility and Control:
Google Ads Business Manager offers greater flexibility in account management. You can quickly switch between accounts, adjust user permissions, and monitor ad performance without navigating through different interfaces.
How to Set Up Google Ads Business Manager?
Google Ads Business Manager offers greater flexibility in account management. You can quickly switch between accounts, adjust user permissions, and monitor ad performance without navigating through different interfaces.
Step 1: Create a Google Ads Manager Account
If you don’t already have a Google Ads Manager account, you’ll need to create one. Here’s how:
Visit the Google Ads Manager Account Signup Page:
Go to ads.google.com/home/tools/manager-accounts/ and click on the “Create a manager account” button.
Sign in with Your Google Account:
Use your existing Google account to sign in. If you don’t have a Google account, you’ll need to create one.
Set Up Your Manager Account:
Enter your business name, select your time zone, and choose your preferred currency. This information is crucial as it cannot be changed later.
Explore the Manager Account Dashboard:
Once your account is set up, you’ll be directed to the Manager Account dashboard. From here, you can start linking individual Google Ads accounts or create new ones.
Step 2: Link Existing Google Ads Accounts
If you already have Google Ads accounts, you can link them to your new Manager Account:
Navigate to the ‘Accounts’ Tab:
In your Manager Account dashboard, click on the ‘Accounts’ tab.
Link Existing Accounts:
Click on the blue plus (+) button and select “Link existing accounts.” You’ll need the Customer IDs of the accounts you want to link. Once you enter the Customer ID, an invitation is sent to the account, which the account owner must accept.
Manage Permissions:
Once the account owner accepts the invitation, the account will appear in your Manager Account dashboard. You can now manage permissions, set budgets, and monitor performance across all linked accounts.
Step 3: Create New Google Ads Accounts
If you need to create new Google Ads accounts under your Manager Account, follow these steps:
Go to the ‘Accounts’ Tab:
In the Manager Account dashboard, click on the ‘Accounts’ tab.
Create a New Account:
Click the blue plus (+) button and select “Create a new account.” Fill in the necessary details, such as account name, time zone, and currency.
Customize Settings:
After creating the account, you can customize settings, set up campaigns, and start running ads.
Step 4: Set Up Billing
To manage your advertising budget effectively, set up billing within your Manager Account:
Access the ‘Billing’ Section:
In your Manager Account dashboard, click on the ‘Billing’ tab.
Choose a Billing Setup:
You can either set up consolidated billing for all linked accounts or manage billing individually for each account. Consolidated billing simplifies the payment process and helps in budget tracking.
Enter Payment Information:
Provide your payment information, such as credit card details or bank account information. Ensure all details are accurate to avoid payment disruptions.
Review Invoices:
Regularly review your invoices in the Billing section to monitor expenses and ensure that you’re staying within budget.
Step 5: Monitor Performance and Optimize Campaigns
Once your Google Ads Business Manager is set up, you can start monitoring the performance of your campaigns across all linked accounts:
Use the ‘Overview’ Dashboard:
The Overview dashboard gives you a snapshot of all account activity. Here, you can monitor metrics like clicks, impressions, conversions, and budget spend.
Customize Reports:
Google Ads Business Manager allows you to create custom reports tailored to your business needs. You can filter data by account, campaign, or specific metrics, making it easier to analyze performance and optimize campaigns.
Set Automated Rules:
To streamline campaign management, set up automated rules that adjust bids, pause underperforming ads, or send notifications based on predefined conditions.
Best Practices for Using Google Ads Business Manager
To get the most out of Google Ads Business Manager, consider these best practices:
Regularly Review Account Permissions:
Ensure that only authorized individuals have access to your accounts. Regularly review and update user permissions to maintain security.
Organize Accounts for Easy Management:
If you manage multiple accounts, organize them into subgroups or labels within the Manager Account. This makes it easier to navigate and manage campaigns.
Stay Updated with Google Ads Features:
Google frequently updates its platform with new features and tools. Stay informed about these changes to leverage them for your campaigns.
Use Cross-Account Conversions:
If you manage multiple accounts, enable cross-account conversions to track and optimize conversions across all accounts efficiently.
Leverage Advanced Reporting Tools:
Utilize advanced reporting tools and metrics available in Google Ads Business Manager to gain deeper insights into campaign performance and identify areas for improvement.
Conclusion
Google Ads Business Manager is a powerful tool that simplifies the management of multiple Google Ads accounts. Whether you’re an agency handling various clients or a business with multiple product lines, Google Ads Business Manager offers the flexibility, control, and insights needed to run successful advertising campaigns. By understanding its features and following the setup process outlined in this guide, you can maximize your efficiency and drive better results from your online advertising efforts.
Getting started with Google Ads Business Manager might seem challenging at first, but with practice and continuous learning, you’ll soon find it to be an invaluable asset in your digital marketing toolkit.