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How to Be a Google Ads Freelancer: Our Complete Guide

How to Be a Google Ads Freelancer: Our Complete Guide

Arguably, everyone's dream when learning how to become a Google Ads specialist is becoming a Google Ads specialist freelancer. Think about it: working whenever and wherever you want. But easier said than done—which is we're writing this guide on how to be a google ads freelancer.

As a Google Ads agency, we are essentially our own bosses, so not only do we understand the dream, but we're kind of living it ourselves. And since we believe that everyone ought to live out their dream, we are going out of our way to explain what the steps you need to take to become a Google Ads expert freelancer are.

We are also going to explain what kind of work you'll be expected to do, what kind of jobs there are available, as well as the kind of payment you can look forward to.

So, let's stop dillydallying, and get right to it!

Table of contents
how to be a google ads freelancer

What Is Google Ads Freelancing?

Google Ads freelancing is essentially the practice of being a freelance Google Ad specialist. In other words, you’ll be working with Google Ads as a self-employed marketer that offers their services to third-party clients.

Your work will consist of the regular responsibilities of a Google Ads specialist, like managing paid ad campaigns for clients, optimizing their campaigns, etc. We’ll look at the kinds of things that will be expected from you as a freelance ads specialist.

We will also be looking at some benefits you can enjoy from being a freelancer in this field.

However, we won’t go too much into the benefits of becoming a freelancer Google AdWords specialist, as we have already written about whether becoming a Google Ads specialist is worth it. The pros and cons that we looked at there apply both to regularly employed and self-employed marketers.

What Does a Freelance Google Ads Specialist Do?

If you have no idea what is involved in a Google Ad specialist freelance role, then we’re here to fill in that gap in your knowledge. The short of it is that, as a freelance Google AdWords expert, you need to manage ad campaigns for clients in order to generate more leads, reduce ad budget, boost ROI and revenue.

However, if you wanted the long version of that, let’s briefly take a look at some examples of the most common responsibilities that you will likely be tasked with during your Google Ads freelance work

  • Performing keyword research in order to pinpoint the most relevant and profitable opportunities for a business

  • Providing recommendations on the direction of the general paid advertising strategy

  • Writing reports on the performance of the various campaigns that are being managed

  • Creating, launching, and managing Google Ads campaigns for your clients

  • Managing paid ad campaigns on other platforms, like Bing Ads

  • Providing support on the creation of new landing pages

  • Optimizing landing pages and paid ad campaigns in order to boost their outreach

Usually, however, you will find all of the responsibilities that are expected out of you listed on the Google Ads specialist job description of the role you’re applying for. Therefore, it’s imperative that you thoroughly read the job application first before applying!

After all that we’ve said, it’s easy to see that being a Google Ads specialist is a legit occupation, regardless of whether you’re employed by a company or you work as a freelancer. So, don’t be too fussed when someone gives you 

What Google Ads Freelance Jobs Can You Find?

You’ll be happy to learn that PPC specialists are actually always in demand because businesses are always trying to improve their customer outreach through digital marketing. So, naturally, with PPC being a big part of digital marketing, there are always plenty of Google Ads jobs up for grabs.

This also includes freelance jobs for Google Ads specialists, so you don’t have to worry about being short of work if you decide to take this career path or simply working a side hustle using Google Ads. All you have to do is take a look at a platform like Upwork to understand what we’re talking about!

On the other hand, when it comes to the kinds of Google Ads specialist freelance jobs that you can find, there are also many forms that these can be found in. For example, you can be contracted to be a freelance Google Ads consultant, where you provide your advice on how best a company manages its paid advertising strategy.

Otherwise, you can be hired to be a freelance Google Ads manager, where your primary role is to manage the ads campaigns of a client, do all the necessary optimizations to secure a great ROI, etc. That’s only scratching the surface of the kinds of Google Ads freelancer jobs that you can find, so be sure to look around!

How Much Does a Google Ads Freelancer Make?

The amount of money that a Google AdWords freelancer can make is a little different to your average Google Ads specialist salary. This is because rather than a fixed salary that’s written in black and white on an employment contract, a freelancer will often have different salaries or payments depending on the client or the contract that they took up.

Moreover, a Google Ads freelance salary is usually calculated using an hourly rate rather than a yearly fixed sum, as is usually the case when working for an employer full-time. Finally, when accepting work from clients from platforms like Fiverr and Upwork, how much you get isn’t always up to you either.

However, we can tell you that the Google Ads freelancer salary is between $15 – $40, according to Upwork, which is decent. Remember, though, that that average is calculated over a wide range of competences, levels of experiences, and roles. But it’s the usual rate you’ll get when being an average freelance marketer.

On the other hand, when you become a well-known freelance PPC expert, then you can start earning $80 an hour minimum.

How to Freelance Google Ads

If you’re genuinely considering becoming a freelance Google Ads expert, then we need to hit you with a truth bomb first: the process to become a Google paid ads freelancer is a long and arduous journey. In fact, it’s a process that takes years just to be able to become a freelancer.

There is no Google Ads freelancer course that will show you everything you need to know in order to succeed as a self-employed PPC marketer. And that’s because the whole process will depend on your own experiences 

In order to become a Google Ads freelancer, you’re first going to need to go through the whole process of becoming a Google Ads specialist: firstly, you need to learn how to use the platform, and use it well. This, in itself, takes years to master. You might want to also pick up a Google Ads certification as well, so you can become a certified ads expert.

If you’re interested in how to get Google Ads certified, we have written a complete guide on the matter, so be sure to check it out. Finally, you’re going to need to land an entry-level PPC role or else sign up for an internship in order to get some hands-on experience.

If those seem like a lot of steps, that’s actually the first “phase” of getting a Google AdWords expert freelance career. Once you’ve garnered enough experience from working your job, then and only then can you consider taking up Google Ads work as a freelancer.

There are many ways you can find clients for Google Ads work at this point: you can either use freelancer platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, PeoplePerHour, Freelancer, Indeed, etc. Or else you can do a lot of cold outreach and networking, trying to find prospective clients by reaching out directly to companies or people that seem to be in need of pay-per-click marketing services.

You also need to present yourself as credible and competent a marketer as possible. So, much like you would when applying for any average job, where you create an amazing resume that blows your potential employer’s mind, you need to do the same when looking for freelance gigs and contacting clients.

But rather than a Google Ads specialist resume, however, you’re going to need to build a portfolio of successful campaigns, as well as many testimonials as you can get your hands on.

If this seems like a long process, that’s because it is. It takes time. Lots of it. However, if you simply 1) improve your Google Ads specialist skills, 2) grow your clientele and 3) gain as many good reviews as you can, you can eventually get the job of your dreams!

On a final note: becoming a successful freelancer is also a key stage of eventually opening your own marketing agency. If you want to know the full process of how to set up a Google Ads agency, we suggest reading our guide on the matter.

How to Be a Google Ads Freelancer for Beginners: What Skills Do You Need?

There are many skills which are important for a freelance Google AdWords specialist to have. It’s impossible to list all of the pertinent digital marketing skills which would be ideal for a freelancer working with Google Ads to have. Moreover, different Google AdWords freelance jobs will ask for different skills as well, so not every skill is important for every job.

However, the following skills would definitely be among the most important:

  • The ability to use Google Ads like an absolute pro

  • The ability to use other paid advertising platforms like Bing Ads, LinkedIn Ads, etc.

  • Familiarity with digital marketing in general

  • Being able to write compelling ad copy

  • Thoroughly understanding the customer acquisition journey

  • Familiarity with data analytics

  • Knowing the value of landing pages and being able to create them

  • The capability of designing new ad creatives

FAQs

How do I start a career in Google Ads?

If you’re interested in making a career out of being a Google Ads specialist, then there are a few things that you’re going to need to do. Firstly, you need to learn how to use the Google paid advertising platform, and one of the best and quickest ways is by taking a Google Ads course.

Secondly, you might consider picking up a Google Ads specialist certification. This is an accreditation that’s given out by Google themselves that certifies that an individual knows their stuff when it comes to Google Ads. If you’re wondering whether the Google Ads certification is worth it, we suggest reading our blog post on that.

Afterwards, you’re going to need to find an entry-level job or an internship in order to start gaining some hands-on experience. If you put your mind to it, you’ll slowly get better at the job, and you will see your Google Ads career unfold right in front of you. And remember: the better you are at the job, the more you can earn! 😉

Can I earn money from Google Ads?

Yes, you absolutely can make money as a Google Ads specialist! There are plenty of jobs that require the use of Google Ads, most of them with very respectable salaries, and you could definitely land one of them if you commit to becoming a PPC specialist.

Can I freelance with Google Ads?

Yes, definitely! There are a lot of freelance Google Ads jobs out there that are just waiting to be picked up. Furthermore, since paid advertising is a fundamental part of digital marketing, there is a lot of demand from clients for a freelance AdWords specialist. All you need to do is make sure you have enough experience so that your clients leave only good reviews about your work!

How much do Google Ads freelancers make?

This differs depending on many variables, like how many clients they have, their geographical location, etc. But the most important factors that determine how much to charge for Google Ads management are the level of expertise and the amount of experience of a Google AdWords expert freelancer. For example, beginner marketers would only be able to earn around $10 – $15 an hour. A marketer with a lot of experience, on the other hand, can make $100+ an hour.

Where to advertise freelance services for Google Ads?

There are plenty of places where you can advertise your Google Ads services. You can either use Google Ads itself (which is kind of funny if you think about it), or else you can use other platforms, like social media advertising platforms, such as LinkedIn Ads. Otherwise, you can even use platforms like Upwork or Fiverr and use their advertising services in order to promote yourself.

Is becoming a freelance Google Ads specialist worth it?

Well, if the prospect of traveling the world while working with Google Ads and PPC in general excites you, then yeah, becoming a Google Ad freelancer is definitely worth it. Not only can you make your own conditions, and getting paid handsomely for it, but you’ll be working in pay-per-click marketing—which is obviously your passion if you’re on this blog!

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