When you set up a brand new Google Ads account, it is easy to get sucked into using Google's setup wizard. This is not always desirable because it means that:
- you will end up being made to create your first campaign as part of the initial account setup process
- that campaign is likely to be a Smart Campaign - which means you'll have limited access to important settings such as specific targeting, ad formats, ad groups, and bidding strategies relevant to your advertising objectives. When entering your campaign settings manually, you can create more effective Google Ads campaigns that align better with your business goals.
Fortunately, there is a way to set up a new Google Ads account without having to create a campaign at the same time.
In this article, I'm going to explain step-by-step how it's done.
Find out how to write eye-catching ads that will jump off the page and get you more clicks.
The Correct Way to Create a New Google Ads Account
Choose an Email Address
Visit the Google Ads website and click the blue Start Now button. You'll be asked to enter your email address. If you already have an email address that is associated with a Google account (e.g. a Gmail address) use that one and then click Next and enter your password.
If you don't have an existing Google account email, click the Create Account link, choose the Myself option, and then follow the instructions to create and confirm your new Google Account.
Switch to Expert Mode
You'll then be asked what your advertising goal is. Ignore these options and click the "Switch to Expert Mode" link at the bottom of the screen.
Skip Campaign Creation
Now you'll be asked what type of campaign you want to create. Ignore all the options and click the "Create an account without a campaign" option at the bottom of the screen.
Confirm Your Regional Settings
Check that the timezone and billing currency options on the next screen are correct, adjust them as required, and then click Submit.
Setup Google Ads Billing
You'll now be taken into your new Google Ads account. From here, the final step is to click the Billing icon on the top menu bar, followed by Settings, and then enter your billing address and payment information. I recommend you opt for post-pay rather than pre-pay billing and that you use credit/debit card as your payment method rather than direct debit. The latter can take several days to get approved, during which time your ads can't run.
Having completed all these steps, you'll now have a blank canvas of a Google Ads account which is ready for you to create your first ad campaign.
Before you go live, remember to integrate Google Analytics and set up conversion tracking to gain deeper insights into user behaviour and accurately measure the success of your advertising efforts.
Conclusion
Google Ads allows businesses to reach a vast audience by placing their ads in front of millions of potential customers actively searching for products or services similar to theirs on Google Search.
With just a few clicks, advertisers can create an account and gain access to the platform's powerful features and tools while maintaining flexibility in campaign timing and strategy.
This alternative method allows businesses to take their time in crafting a well-thought-out campaign, ensuring maximum effectiveness and ROI when the time is right.
Thanks so much for this! I keep wanting to check out the Google Ads platform but am not ready to run a campaign yet. I wonder how many Google Ads you see are people who didn’t know how to make an account without running a campaign…
Fun fact: If you missed the “expert mode” button, you can always press Back until you get back to that first screen, and your draft campaign will be saved.
A million times thanks!
Thank you so much! This was massively helpful!