Google Ads  /  account setup

Setting up your Google Ads account

A quick, one time setup. You create and own the account and the billing. Your marketing team then builds and runs the campaigns for both homes. About 10 minutes. Have a credit or debit card handy.

Before you start Sign in with the Google account you want to own this and be billed under (your main business email). If that email is not already a Google or Gmail login, Google will walk you through creating one. Nothing here will spend money on its own: your team builds every campaign paused, so ads only run after you and your team agree to launch.
Part 1

Create the account

  1. Go to ads.google.com and click "Start now"
    Sign in with your business Google account. If you are asked to pick or create an account, choose New Google Ads Account.
  2. Enter your business name and website
    Business name can be simple, for example Buena Park Care Homes or your company name. Website: familytiesliving.com (or your main site). Click Next.
  3. On the "Choose your goal" screen, do NOT pick a goal
    Instead, look at the bottom of that screen for a small line that says "Not ready for a campaign? Set up an account only" and click Set up an account only. This skips building an ad, which your team will do for you.
If you don't see that link It only appears once you reach the goal screen. If you got pushed into building an ad, click Back until you see "Choose your goal," then look at the very bottom for "Set up an account only."
Part 2

Confirm your account settings

Read this before clicking Continue On the "Confirm your account settings" screen, set the Time zone to "Los Angeles Time" (Pacific Time). It may show as GMT minus 7 or GMT minus 8 depending on the season, both are correct as long as it says Los Angeles. Google often defaults this to New York or Denver, which is wrong for California. This cannot be changed later, ever. Double check it before you continue.
  1. Billing country: United States
    This should already be correct.
  2. Time zone: Los Angeles Time (Pacific)
    See the red note above. This is the one setting people get wrong, and it is permanent.
  3. Currency: US Dollar (USD)
    Then click Continue.
Part 3

Add your billing

  1. Add your payment method
    Enter your credit or debit card. You may see a temporary $50 hold to verify the card, which drops off on its own within about a week. It is not a charge.
  2. Grab the free credit if offered
    If you see a "Spend $500, get $500 in ad credits" promotion, accept it. It is free advertising money once you start spending.
  3. Submit
    Finish the setup. Your account is now created. You will be charged only for actual ad spend, on the 1st of the month or when you hit a billing threshold, and only after your team launches the campaigns.
Part 4

Give your team access

This lets your marketing team build and manage the campaigns without needing your password.

  1. Open Admin, then "Access and security"
    In the account, click Admin (the gear icon, bottom left), then Access and security.
  2. Add the team email
    Click the blue plus (+) to add a user. Enter tim@atj.digital, choose access level Admin, and send the invite.
  3. Send Tim your account number
    It is the 10 digit number at the top right of your account, in the format 123-456-7890. Text or email it to Tim, and let him know the invite is sent.
That's it Your team takes it from here: they build both campaigns (Family Ties and Knott's Landing), paused, and walk you through launch when the sites and tracking are ready.

Do

  • Set the time zone to Los Angeles (it is permanent)
  • Use "Set up an account only" so you skip building an ad
  • Add tim@atj.digital as an Admin user
  • Accept the $500 credit promo if shown

Don't

  • Don't build a campaign or set a budget, your team does that
  • Don't leave the time zone on New York or Denver
  • Don't worry about spend, everything starts paused
  • Don't share your password, the Admin invite is all your team needs