When it comes to learning PPC, there’s a lot of content out there. My search for “how to learn ppc” had 3,020,000 results, in fact. The internet is a vast land of knowledge (& sometimes a little junk), so I narrowed it down & composed a list of tips that I have found useful for learning PPC.
1. Blogs & Newsletter Subscriptions
The easiest way for me to stay on top of all that’s happening in our industry is to subscribe to my favorite sites’ newsletters. Not only do these sites share the latest news & happenings, but they also have a lot of useful information for techniques & account management. Some of my favorites are: SearchEngineWatch.com, SearchEngineLand.com, Inside AdWords & PPCChat. (Those are just a few) I try to set an hour block in my weekly schedule to just read industry news & research.
2. Twitter
Hands down, the best way to engage with the PPC community online. I have found many useful articles on Twitter, as well as been able to engage in a community that would be much harder to establish if it wasn’t for this platform.
3. Editor Programs
I have written posts in the past about Google AdWords Editor & I really think that AdWords Editor & Bing Ads Editor are two of your biggest tools when you’re new in PPC. Not only do these programs allow you to be highly efficient, but they also allow you to make a lot of changes OFFLINE. The ability to edit offline has really helped me get down basic functions because if I make a mistake, I will just dump all my changes and start over again. These programs have helped me to develop better work flow processes & become more efficient.
4. Utilize Your Peers & Coworkers
One of your biggest resources are the industry pros right next to you! Have a question about an Excel formula or a need a faster way to do something? Ask your coworkers! Chances are if they’ve been in the industry long, they have a couple of tips & tricks for you that can save you time & teach you something. If you are looking for new ways to engage with your team, check out this article about brainstorming & ways your team can get the most out of it.
5. YouTube
Especially when it comes to Excel, if you have a question that a co-worker doesn’t know, YouTube it! I’m someone who learns from a) seeing how the process is done properly & then b) doing the process myself & figuring out what went wrong when it goes astray. When I was learning how to construct pivot tables, I don’t know how many times I looked up this video & videos like it on YouTube! Most of the time the videos don’t correlate directly to PPC, but they can at least help you get down the process itself.
6. Becoming Google AdWords certified & A Bing Ads Certified Professional
I learned a lot when I was studying up for & taking these exams. If you’re just starting out, I highly recommend starting at the beginning of one of these programs & working your way through. After you’ve studied up & have a basic understanding of things, I recommend these Google Hangout videos to help you prepare for the AdWords Fundamentals Exam & the AdWords Advanced Search Exam.
7. Trial & Error
Sometimes you can’t fathom how well something will go (or how bad it will fail) until you try it out. Whether this means trying out a new process in AdWords Editor or coming up with new ad copy ideas, don’t be afraid to be adventurous! PPC needs people who get out of the box, so don’t limit yourself to tried & true methods all of the time.
No matter how long you’ve been in the industry, there’s always more learning to be done! When you were just starting in PPC, what did you find to be helpful? We would love to hear your suggestions in the comments!
