Will Google Adwords certificate help?

[deanpallatt]

Hi,

I am new to SEO and I have been given the opportunity to take the Google Adwords and Analytic tests.

Will these help me and how?  What will I be able to do with these certificates?

All answers will be helpful.

Thanks B

[magicrob]

I'd definitely recommend...both. When I worked for an Agency I did my AdWords exam almost immediately (about 3 years ago) and it quickly taught me everything I needed to know in order to run their and their client's campaigns. My exam coupled with the client spend made the agency a Google Certified Partner which was great in helping them signup new clients.

I've kept renewing the AdWords exam and now manage my own client's campaigns. Every time I re-qualify Google send me 20 £75 AdWords Vouchers which are great for helping to sign up new customers.

I'm taking my Analytics exam in the next couple of months (when I get a moment) due to a specific client's needs.

[deanpallatt]

Thank you for your quick response.

Did you learn the AdWords exam content through reading the information on the learning centre on google?

As I am new to SEO, is there anything you can recommend for me to do?

Thanks,

B

[magicrob]

Yes, the learning centre on Google gives you enough information to pass the exam and get the qualification. However for your own benefit there's lots to be learned by using AdWords itself.

If you have access to a campaign already then log in and have a play around. If you don't have access, or don't know anyone that does then perhaps start a campaign for yourself. DM me if you don't have access and I'll send you a voucher.

Thanks

Rob

[RikkiD22]

I think the certificates help. You can display them on your website / CV which will give you more credibility.

Obviously the analytics certificate is more appropriate to SEO but if you are ever going to offer PPC services then it is great to get too.

[OptimizeSmart]

Hi Dean,

What course you pursue depends a lot on your professional goals and not on what you are being offered. If you want to pursue a career in SEO then their is no need to be Adwords certified (though basic knowledge of adwords always help). However analytics certification is definitely going to help you no matter whether you choose SEO or PPC, both or any internet marketing field.

[firstconversion]

I would definitely recommend it. Its pretty cheap and will quickly highlight where you need to go and learn more.

[automation.engineer]

There is a lot to learn if you are new to SEO. Certainly, anything that you are able to learn from Google will be helpful, as they are generating 80+% of the search traffic for most web sites. I would also learn what you can from SEOMoz, as well as Avanish Kaushik (see his Occam's Razor blog) , SEO Book, and Marketing Sherpa.

The Google focus will tie directly to SEO keywords pretty quickly, which isn't a bad place to start--it's very understandable, but is only a small piece of the SEO puzzle. You need to focus on many different areas, but it all needs to tie back to the business.

The certificates provide an external credential that basically says you have a level of understanding. That gets your foot in the door. What will keep you there is business results.

[Syed1]

Yes it will definitely help as it will give some credibility - especially with newbies and businesses not very online savvy. Don't expect to learn and remember a lot from those tests....most of the learning will come from actual experience aka trial-and-error, online tutorials/blogs, forums & your peers.