The Google Partner badge means certified staff, a minimum level of managed ad spend, and Google’s recommended practices applied in client accounts. It is proof that an agency or freelancer is real and competent. It is not proof that they are right for you.
Digital Freelancer is a certified Google Partner, right here on the Northern Beaches. The badge is not a sticker you buy. Here is what Google asks of a partner, and why it matters to you.
What the Google Partner badge means
- Certification. Pass Google’s own exams to show advanced knowledge of the advertising platform, and keep passing them as the platform changes.
- Activity. Meet a minimum level of ad spend across the accounts I manage, which shows the business is real and busy.
- Performance. Apply Google’s recommended practices in client accounts, so each account is set up to get the most out of its budget.
In Google’s words, the badge recognises companies that excel with Google’s products: their businesses are healthy, their customers are happy, and they follow best practice. As a Google Partner I am committed to helping you attract, measure and convert more visitors with Google Ads and the products around it.
How I run a Google Ads account
I monitor and optimise campaigns continuously to hold the position your ads need and get the best result the budget allows. In practice that means:
- Keyword strategy and selection, then pruning what does not convert
- Improving keyword quality so every click costs less
- Split-testing ad copy and landing pages
- Conversion tracking and goal analysis, so we measure sales and enquiries, not clicks
- Monthly reporting with recommendations, in plain English
- Being contactable by phone and email, which sounds basic and is surprisingly rare
Why choose a freelancer over an agency for Google Ads?
Budget friendly. Start-up or established business, I make sure every dollar you spend has a job to do. Small budgets are welcome. Relationships. I want to understand your business well enough to plan for steady, long-term growth rather than a quick spike. Your profit. I track every call and email your advertising generates and show you the return, month by month. Local. I am based in Manly. If you would rather talk this through over a coffee than a ticket queue, that can be arranged.
The badge is one of several things to check before you hire anyone. I have written up the other questions worth asking.
Ready to see what a properly run account looks like? Start with a free Google Ads health check.
Note: Google AdWords was renamed Google Ads in 2018. This post has been updated to use the current name.
Questions people ask
How do I check whether someone really is a Google Partner?
Ask for the badge link. Google issues partners a badge that links to their entry in the Partners directory, and a real badge can be verified there. A badge image on a website proves nothing on its own.
Does a Google Partner get cheaper clicks?
No. Click prices are set by the auction, not by the badge. What a partner brings is certified knowledge and accounts set up to Google’s recommended practices, which tends to lower costs over time.
Sources
- Google Partners program, Google