Skip to content
Are you an advertising agency or other online consultant managing Google Ads (formerly Google AdWords) accounts? Do you have access to all of the resources Google has to offer? If you are not utilizing Google Partners, you may be shortchanging yourself. Everyone that has a Google Ads (AdWords) account, or manages Google Ads accounts for businesses, has access to Google’s helpdesk and online help forums. Is it worthwhile to have access to additional training seminars and more? Of course, it would be for both you and your clients. If you need assistance you may also inquire about our white label services.
What is Google Partners?
Google Partners is Google’s program with in-depth training in all areas of Google Ads. Along with the study guides, you take an exam to become certified in each section. There are six sections within the Google Ads (AdWords) training; Fundamentals, Advanced, Display, Video, Mobile, and Shopping. Once you pass the Fundamentals and Advanced exams, you earn your Google Ads certification. After you have passed the other four exams, you earn a Google’s Ads Specialist certification.
[bctt tweet=”Google Partners benefits agencies by helping find new clients, earn company specializations, and more.” username=”ThatCompanycom”]How to Become a Google Partner?
In this quick guide, we will show you all the steps necessary with detailed instructions for:
- Sign up
- Google Partner Badge Instructions
- Google Specializations and Exam Requirements
- The Google Partner Search
What is Google Partner Setup or Sign Up?
To take advantage of all the benefits, you must first sign up for Google Partners. If you are an agency, you will create a Partners company account using the email associated with your company’s MCC. Your profile will have some basic information. It will include the name of your company, company logo, your website, and your physical location. You will also list the services you provide and any industries you may specialize in, such as clothing retail, auto sales, or services.
Once your company has earned the Partner badge, you can opt-in or out of having your company appear on Google Partner Search. If it sounds simple, it is. Google will verify the email address used to set up the account. It must also have standard or administrative access to your MCC. Google will also verify your web site as part of the verification process.
As an individual managing PPC accounts, you can create a personal profile and associate yourself with the Google Partner account for the company you work for. This will allow you to talk with Google about accounts housed within your company’s MCC. You will need to provide your contact email and phone number along with your job role.
So now you are signed up, and you are done. Not entirely, it is actually just the beginning.
Google Partner Badge
After you have your company signup for the Google Partners program, you can qualify for Google Partner status. To achieve Partner status, you have to show your Google Ads (AdWords) skills, meet ad spend requirements, and company agency client base growth as well as sustained growth for clients.
There are two levels of Google Partner Badges; Google Partner and Premier Google Partner. Once you have earned your badge, you display a dynamic badge on your website to show prospective clients the high standards you have achieved through training provided by Google. When you hover over the three vertical dots, it displays the areas of specialization your company has achieved.
Google provides a static badge to use on printed marketing materials and social media that list the areas of specialization your company has achieved.
Badges and Meanings
What is the difference between the two classifications? One area the differs is with the certified individuals you have within your company. With the base partner badge, you must have at least one individual that is Google Ads certified. With the Premier badge, you must have a minimum of two individuals that are Google Ads certified. To be certified, an account manager must pass the Google Ads Fundamentals exam plus one of the specialty courses Google provides. These include courses and exams for Search (advanced concepts), Display, Mobile, Shopping, or Video advertising.
There are also differences in the Google Ads (AdWords) spend requirements. You want to be sure the highest level MCC is reporting to your profile, so the spend for all of the accounts linked to sub-MCC’s will be counted as well. You must remember that only the spend from the day you link an account to your MCC will be counted. If you link an existing account that has been running before linking, only the spend from that day will count and not any from before that date. For the basic badge, the minimum spend is $10k for the previous 90 calendar days, and there must be spending in at least 60 of those 90 days. For the Premium badge, the spending requirements are higher but are based on the country and market areas.
The Benefits within Google Partners
Whether you are a Member or are a Google Partner or a Premier Google Partner, you have access to benefits such as Google’s educational materials, Google Ads (AdWords) account support, agency growth assistance, and other rewards.
As a Member, you have product training and certifications, sales training, and Google Community membership and product updates. You also have access to phone, chat, and email support for all of your Google Ads accounts. Google will work with you for improved sales.
As a Google Partners member, you have a few additional benefits in support and agency growth, such as listing in Google Partner Search, for prospective clients to find you and new business strategy consulting.
As a Premier Google Partner, you have available executive business training and more.
What are Google Ad Specializations to Achieve and the Exam Requirements?
Average Position Is Moving Away from Google Ads – Now What?
As most of you know by now, unless you are one of the new Google Ads users, Google has eliminated the Average Position feature within the Google Ads interface. For many of us long time users of the Google Ads (formerly Google Adwords) platform, we have relied heavily on the Average Position to strategically place our ads in the position that is most beneficial or most profitable to us or our clients.
The Search and Display Advertising exams have 100 questions and 120 minutes allotted to take the exam. The last three exams have a time limit of 90 minutes with the Video Advertising exam having 74 questions, the Mobile Advertising exam with 70 questions, and the Shopping Advertising exam with 63 questions.
For each specialization that is passed, an icon is added to your Google Partner badge to let prospective clients you have completed Google’s training in that area. It is very important to remember that just because you have passed a test for a specialization, it is good forever. With all the updates and new pieces, Google adds to each area of advertising, there is more to learn, and you must be recertified every year. You may think it is time away from working with a customer account, but without the proper tools, you cannot give your client the results they want and deserve.
Google Partner Search
To be included in the Google Partner Search, you must first earn a Google Partner or Premier Google Partner status. When a prospective client goes to Google Partner Search, they select services they need, provide what their monthly budget or Google spend, will be, along with other details before they are given a list of qualified agencies for them to choose from.
Your agency’s position in the search is determined by a number of factors, including certifications and specializations earned, company performance, monthly budget limits, and more. To get the most out of Google Partner Search, it is essential to stay current on certifications and have positive company growth.
The Takeaway
While there is time and work to be invested in earning your Google Partner status, the benefits greatly outweigh any negatives, you may think there may be. How can a free education program be unrewarding? Access to a free referral department is valuable but must be used in connection with your in-house sales team.
Take that first step towards improving yourself and your business. Consider Google Partners thoroughly; you won’t regret it.
About the Author
Gary Harvison
Gary has been with That! Company since June 2014, starting as a novice. He currently provides services to clients and white label PPC agencies Under the guidance of several SEM masters with 10+ years of individual experience, Gary has become proficient in various platforms of SEM, including Google Ads, Bing, and, most recently, Facebook. Gary is certified as a Google Specialist covering all facets of Google Ads (formerly Adwords). Along with his SEM duties, Gary trains new members of the SEM team in specialized report creation and distribution. He also aids in client onboarding processes and procedure training.
