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Setting up Google Ads starts with the same foundation — an account, a clear goal, and keywords — but the available campaign types have changed significantly. This guide summarizes the latest basic steps, including the campaign types that are currently active in 2026.
Important update: Standalone Display campaigns are being phased out by Google and migrated to Demand Gen starting in mid-2026. Meanwhile, Performance Max has become the default recommendation for many new advertisers, accounting for around 45% of all Google Ads conversions globally. If you are just getting started, understand the latest campaign types before deciding on your strategy.
PPCPayment model: pay when your ads receive clicks
~45%Of global conversions come from Performance Max
Demand GenReplacement for Display-focused campaigns
Step 1: Create a Google Ads Account
- Visit the official Google Ads website. Click the button to get started, then sign in with an existing Google account or create a new one.
- Enter your basic business information. Provide your business name, website address, and time zone for tracking advertising performance.
- Verify your account. Verification can be completed through email or phone number to help secure access to your account.
- Add your payment information. Google Ads uses a pay-per-click (PPC) model. Payment options may include credit cards, debit cards, or bank transfers, depending on your region and available payment methods.
Step 2: Define Your Advertising Goal
Your campaign goal influences the settings that follow. If your focus is increasing website visits, prioritize landing-page optimization and ad clicks. If your goal is to sell products, focus your ads on product promotions and benefits.
For brand awareness, prioritize visual formats that help build brand recognition. New businesses may benefit from focusing on traffic to build an audience and customer base, while businesses with sufficient traffic can focus more directly on conversions to improve return on investment (ROI).
Step 3: Choose an Active Campaign Type in 2026
Search
Text ads appear in search results when users are actively looking for something. This campaign type provides detailed control over keywords and bidding.
Performance Max
An AI-powered campaign type designed to reach Google’s channels, including Search, Display, YouTube, Gmail, and Maps, using a single campaign and budget. It is now the default recommendation for many advertisers.
Demand Gen
A campaign type designed for visual advertising across platforms such as YouTube, Gmail, and Discover to build awareness and interest before users actively search.
Shopping
Displays product listings directly in search results, making it highly relevant for e-commerce businesses.
| Campaign Type | When to Use It |
|---|---|
| Search | Capture people who are already actively searching for your products or services |
| Performance Max | Maximize conversions across Google’s advertising channels |
| Demand Gen | Build awareness and interest before audiences begin actively searching |
| Shopping | Display product listings and catalogs for e-commerce businesses |
| Video | Run video-based campaigns on YouTube for branding, awareness, or consideration |
After choosing a campaign type, configure the basic settings, including target location, language, devices, and daily budget according to your target market and business needs.
Step 4: Create Your Ads and Choose Keywords
- Write concise and compelling ad copy. Your headline should clearly communicate the main offer, while the description provides additional information and encourages users to take action.
- Include a link to a relevant landing page. Make sure the destination page is closely related to the content and offer in your advertisement. This helps provide a better user experience.
- Use a clear Call-to-Action. Examples include “Learn More,” “Buy Now,” “Get Started,” or “Sign Up Today.”
- Research keywords using Google Keyword Planner. Look for relevant keywords with sufficient search demand and competition levels that are appropriate for your advertising strategy and budget.
- Consider keyword variations and synonyms. Expand your potential reach by considering the different ways your target audience may search for the same product, service, or solution.
Want to understand Google Ads strategy in more depth so your campaigns stay efficient and avoid wasting your budget?
Read: How to Avoid Wasting Your Google Ads Budget
Read also: Countries with the Highest Google AdSense CPC and Digital Marketing Training to improve your understanding of digital advertising and campaign management.
FAQ
1. Can Display campaigns still be created in Google Ads?
Standalone Display campaigns are being phased out and migrated toward Demand Gen starting in mid-2026. For new visual advertising campaigns, Demand Gen is the campaign type to consider instead.
2. What is Performance Max and why is it recommended?
Performance Max is an AI-powered campaign type designed to reach users across Google’s advertising channels from a single campaign. It can serve ads across channels such as Search, YouTube, Display, Gmail, and Maps, depending on campaign eligibility and settings.
3. Do I have to choose only one campaign type?
No. Advertisers can use multiple campaign types at the same time. For example, a business might use Search to capture high-intent users while also using Performance Max to reach potential customers across Google’s broader advertising inventory. Negative keywords and other campaign controls can help manage unwanted overlap.
4. How much initial budget is needed to start advertising?
There is no universal starting amount because Google Ads allows advertisers to set their own budgets. Your appropriate budget depends on factors such as your business goals, target audience, campaign type, competition, and expected conversion value. Start with an amount your business can comfortably test and monitor.
5. Which campaign type is best for beginners?
Search is often a practical starting point for beginners because it provides direct access to users who are already searching for products or services. Once you understand the basics of conversion tracking, bidding, and campaign optimization, you can explore other campaign types such as Performance Max or Demand Gen.
Conclusion
The basic foundation of setting up Google Ads — creating an account, defining campaign goals, choosing the right campaign type, and researching keywords — remains the same. However, Google’s advertising ecosystem continues to evolve as campaign types and advertising products are consolidated and updated.
Baca Juga:
With Google’s campaign landscape changing and Performance Max becoming increasingly important, beginners should understand the current options before choosing a strategy rather than relying entirely on older guides that may mention campaign types or settings that are no longer available in the Google Ads dashboard.
Start with a clear advertising objective, choose a campaign type that matches your marketing funnel, create relevant ads and landing pages, and monitor performance regularly. As you collect more data, you can refine your targeting, bidding, keywords, creatives, and budget allocation to build a more effective Google Ads strategy over time.
