Do I Need to Set Up a Google Ads Account to Run Google Ads?

If you’re considering advertising your business online, Google Ads is one of the most powerful platforms available. With Google Ads, you can reach potential customers right when they’re searching for your products or services. But before you dive in, you might be wondering: Do I need to set up a Google Ads account to run Google Ads? The simple answer is yes — and here’s why.

Why You Need a Google Ads Account

Google Ads isn’t like other forms of advertising where you just pay and your ad appears. Instead, it’s a complex system where you create and manage your ads, choose who sees them, and control your budget. All of this happens through your Google Ads account, which acts as your personal dashboard.

Here are the key reasons why a Google Ads account is essential:

1. You Control Your Campaigns

Your Google Ads account lets you create multiple campaigns, each targeting different audiences or goals. For example, you could run one campaign targeting people searching for “best podiatrist in Sydney,” and another targeting a broader audience interested in foot care products.

Without an account, you wouldn’t be able to:

• Choose keywords to target

• Set geographic locations or languages

• Decide when and where your ads appear

• Manage your daily or monthly budget

2. You Set Your Budget and Bids

Google Ads works on a bidding system. You decide how much you’re willing to pay each time someone clicks your ad (called cost-per-click or CPC). Your account lets you set budgets and bids to control your advertising spend.

If you don’t have an account, you have no way to manage or track your budget.

3. You Can Monitor and Optimize Performance

One of the biggest advantages of Google Ads is its transparency. With your account, you can see:

• How many people saw your ads

• How many clicked them

• What keywords performed best

• Which ads led to sales or inquiries

This data lets you tweak your campaigns for better results — something impossible without an account.

How to Set Up Your Google Ads Account: Step-by-Step

If you’re new to Google Ads, setting up an account might seem intimidating. But it’s quite straightforward:

Step 1: Sign Up at ads.google.com

Go to ads.google.com and sign in with your existing Google account (or create one). This will be your Google Ads login.

Step 2: Enter Your Business Information

Google will ask you for basic info:

• Business name and website URL

• Billing country and time zone

• Currency preferences

This info helps Google tailor your experience.

Step 3: Set Your Advertising Goals

You’ll be prompted to choose your main goal — for example:

• Get more website visits

• Receive phone calls

• Increase store visits

Selecting a goal helps Google recommend campaign settings.

Step 4: Choose Your Campaign Type

Google Ads offers different campaign types:

• Search Ads: Text ads that appear in Google search results

• Display Ads: Visual banners on websites across the internet

• Video Ads: Ads on YouTube

• Shopping Ads: Product listings in Google search

Choose the type that fits your business objectives.

Step 5: Define Your Audience and Keywords

Next, select geographic locations, languages, and keywords relevant to your products or services. For example, if you’re a podiatrist in Parramatta, you might target keywords like “foot pain treatment Parramatta” or “ingrown toenail treatment Sydney.”

Step 6: Set Your Budget and Bids

Decide how much you want to spend daily or monthly and set your bidding strategy. You can start small and increase your budget as you see results.

Step 7: Create Your Ads

Write compelling ad copy, headlines, and choose visuals (for display/video campaigns). Your ads should clearly communicate what you offer and include a strong call to action.

Step 8: Review and Launch

Once everything looks good, review your campaign settings and launch your ads. You’ll now have access to detailed performance data through your account.

Can You Run Google Ads Without an Account?

The short answer: No, you can’t run Google Ads without setting up a Google Ads account. This account is fundamental to creating, managing, and tracking your campaigns.

What If You Don’t Want to Manage Your Account?

Managing Google Ads can be time-consuming and requires a learning curve. If you’d prefer not to handle it yourself, you have options:

Hire a Google Ads Consultant or Agency

Professionals can set up, run, and optimize campaigns for you. This lets you focus on your business while benefiting from expert management.

If you’ve never run Google Ads before or don’t have an account set up, the process can be confusing and overwhelming. Hiring a Google Ads specialist can simplify everything — we can manage your campaigns efficiently from our MCC account, helping you get fast, reliable results without the hassle

Use Simplified Platforms

Some third-party tools and platforms offer simpler Google Ads management interfaces. They require a linked Google Ads account but make campaign creation easier.

Google Local Services Ads (For Some Industries)

In certain industries, Google offers Local Services Ads, which let you advertise without a traditional Google Ads account. These ads appear at the top of search results with a “Google Guaranteed” badge. However, these are limited to specific business types.

Final Thoughts

If you want to advertise on Google, setting up a Google Ads account is a must. It gives you full control over your campaigns, budgets, and results. While it might seem complex at first, Google’s step-by-step setup and user-friendly dashboard make it manageable — especially if you start with a small budget and scale up.

Whether you choose to manage your ads yourself or hire a professional, your Google Ads account is the foundation of any successful campaign.