View Full Version : Google Adwords Professionals - First batch of qualified SEMs due this week.....
Chris_D
02-06-2005, 01:46 AM
Google launched its 'Google Advertising Professionals' programme around November 11th 2004 - almost 3 months ago.
https://adwords.google.com/select/ProfessionalWelcome
Part of the qualification was that you had to do an exam, and then:
Build and maintain at least US$1,000 (or your local currency equivalent) total spend for your or your team's My Client Centre account during the 90-day period.
https://adwords.google.co.uk/support/select/professionals/bin/answer.py?answer=12241
That means that during this week the first batch of "Google Advertising Professionals" should become qualified - assuming that they have done the test when it was announced in the second week of November, and assuming that they have since served their 90 days of managing accounts in accordance with the program's rules.
Let us know when you get your accreditation!
:)
Chris_D
02-11-2005, 11:04 PM
I just realised that I got my Google Advertising Professional qualifiaction - there it was in the Pro Centre Tab of My Client Centre Adwords account! I was expecting an email.
Anyone else?
Web Diversity
02-12-2005, 04:43 AM
Chris,
Good job!!
I am sure you must be one of the first.
Black_Knight
02-12-2005, 09:35 AM
I just wish the certification were a bit more meaningful.
I'd really love to see a day when the AdWords we see regularly had been properly thought out for the advertisers.
Look at the amount of thought missing in a search for Flower beds (http://www.google.com/search?q=flower+beds&num=30) for an example of the poorly implemented AdWords use I still see all the time.
Or for something more tricky, why not try searching for amatuer insurance providers (http://www.google.com/search?q=amatuer+insurance+providers&num=30) or worst loans company (http://www.google.com/search?q=worst+loans+company&num=30) and look at the companies paying to spike their own reputations just because they haven't used even basic negative matching.
Real fun (for me, anyway) can be had by searching for bad PPC management (http://www.google.com/search?num=30&&q=bad+PPC+management). Looks like the AdWords for that search are self-justifying. ;)
Somehow, I don't think the certification is going to make much if any difference to this. The training, like most use of AdWords, is still not advanced enough. That said, our PPC account managers are still being told to take the course seriously. Customers probably won't know that the certification doesn't mean much.
Windsun
02-12-2005, 05:02 PM
ILook at the amount of thought missing in a search for Flower beds (http://www.google.com/search?q=flower+beds&num=30) for an example of the poorly implemented AdWords use I still see all the time.
I love that one. Near the top of the list:
Low Prices. Smart Deals.
See the difference.
Shopzilla.com
Shopzilla.. flower beds.. what am I missing?
Chris_D
02-12-2005, 09:21 PM
try searching for amatuer insurance providers or worst loans company and look at the companies paying to spike their own reputations just because they haven't used even basic negative matching.
Ammon, I think expecting large companies to cover misspellings (like amatuer) for negative phrase matching is expecting a little much - a degree of cost/benefit has to come into play.
Its pretty easy to play games with any kind of dynamic insertion generated advertising, using negative phrases. Like looking for advertisements for things like 'thieving robbing gas and electricity suppliers', or 'dodgy mobile phone company'. It usually comes down to a cost benefit decision by the advertiser. ;)
I hope the qualification addresses the bigger issues of professional campaign management within the published guidelines.
For example - where phrases are bid on - but the products don't exist on the site - like the examples in this thread:
http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?p=32032#post32032
These types of advertisements are genenerally offering products which aren't offered on the landing page, and which therefore could potentially be in breach the published AdWords Editorial Guidelines.
The Google Advertising Professionals programme has only had qualified members for less than a week. I think Google will wait until there is a critical mass before it starts to make the programme more meaningful - it hasn't even made a press release!
seobook
02-13-2005, 09:23 AM
The Google Advertising Professionals programme
one thing that I think sucks about it is that it is only for AdWords and while they call it "Google Advertising Professionals" the logo looks like an ad for AdWords.
Black_Knight
02-13-2005, 09:46 AM
Ammon, I think expecting large companies to cover misspellings (like amatuer) for negative phrase matching is expecting a little much - a degree of cost/benefit has to come into play.
But that's my point, Chris. I am not expecting any and every large company to do this. I'm expecting people given a certificate stating they are "Advertising Professionals" from Google themselves should know about the basic negative phrase matching which should at the very least exclude the words free, freebie, amatuer, amateur, unpaid, second-hand, etc for products which are only sold new.
That's a basic level, not an advanced level.
I hope the qualification addresses the bigger issues of professional campaign management within the published guidelines.
For example - where phrases are bid on - but the products don't exist on the site - like the examples in this thread:
http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showthread.php?p=32032#post32032
or even like the 'flower beds' example with ads only from matress manufacturers and furnishers (oh, and eBay affiliates, of course), with which I opened my post, perhaps?
PaulH
02-13-2005, 12:06 PM
Glad you mentioned it, only just noticed it was there, now what to do with it? :D
I thought there would be some way clients could verify who was qualified? all i see is a poxy image that every SEM site will have by the end of next week – great!
PaulH
02-13-2005, 12:12 PM
or even like the 'flower beds' example with ads only from matress manufacturers and furnishers (oh, and eBay affiliates, of course), with which I opened my post, perhaps?
That made me smile, not sure our US friends here see that one though.
AussieWebmaster
02-19-2005, 01:10 PM
Congratsw all who took it and are now qualified as true Google Professionals... am actually taking it this week... got sidetracked from November until now with new site roll outs and other redesigns etc.
Am hoping to have a little time this week to get that done and finish the powerpoint presentation for SES..
excell
03-17-2005, 09:50 AM
Congrats to all who acheived this qualification... before I found this thread I was noticing quite a few websites already wearing the badge and was clueless as to what it meant. I noticed it but I didn't bother clicking through to find out more or anything. - So thanks for mentioning this, now I know something new :)
Customers probably won't know that the certification doesn't mean much. It looks cute enough. Could be good for some.
AussieWebmaster
03-17-2005, 11:08 AM
I got the test done just before SES so have to wait a bit for banner... no big deal.
Yep, we got ours last month, but have you noticed that the logo has changed slightly now? It used to be Google Certified Advertising Professional, but now it's AdWords Qualified Professional. I prefer the old one!
AussieWebmaster
03-18-2005, 10:08 AM
Anyone know of any certification course for SEO?
I have a customer who would to have one of his people certified.... personally I think he needs to be certified but not for SEO.
I told him I would design a nice piece of paper and he could pay me $5,000 but he did not think it was the same thing... little does he know!!!
Black_Knight
03-19-2005, 12:49 AM
Aussie, the original, known for many years now is from ACWS (Acadamy of Web Specialists - www.academywebspecialists.com ) to which Robin Noble is connected. More recently has come Kalena Jordan's courses ( www.searchenginecollege.com ) which does include SEO modules, but also features copywriting, usability and more too.
Hope those are helpful to you for consideration.
AussieWebmaster
03-19-2005, 04:25 PM
Aussie, the original, known for many years now is from ACWS (Acadamy of Web Specialists - www.academywebspecialists.com (http://www.academywebspecialists.com) ) to which Robin Noble is connected. More recently has come Kalena Jordan's courses ( www.searchenginecollege.com (http://www.searchenginecollege.com) ) which does include SEO modules, but also features copywriting, usability and more too.
Hope those are helpful to you for consideration. Thanks BK... hadn't thought about Kal's stuff... and though I have heard of Robin did not know about the Academy. Appreciate the answer!
personally I think he needs to be certified but not for SEO. Some of my best students are certifiable! :p
oh and thanks for the plug Ammon!
AdWordsRep
03-24-2005, 02:00 PM
Congrats to all who acheived this qualification... before I found this thread I was noticing quite a few websites already wearing the badge and was clueless as to what it meant...Yes, congratulations are indeed in order! And for those of you on the Forum who are amongst the first 100 Google Advertising Professionals, well, watch your mailbox for a little token of appreciation for your pioneering spirit!
:) AWR
seobook
03-24-2005, 02:22 PM
Yes, congratulations are indeed in order! And for those of you on the Forum who are amongst the first 100 Google Advertising Professionals, well, watch your mailbox for a little token of appreciation for your pioneering spirit!
:) AWR
wonder what they are giving away... I do believe some people may get black hats from google themselves.
AdWordsRep
03-24-2005, 02:29 PM
wonder what they are giving away... I do believe some people may get black hats from google themselves. Too funny, seobook! Thanks for making me chuckle. :)
AWR
Chris_D
03-29-2005, 07:26 AM
AWR wrote:
And for those of you on the Forum who are amongst the first 100 Google Advertising Professionals, well, watch your mailbox for a little token of appreciation for your pioneering spirit!
Hey AWR - thanks very much. My little Google goodie box arrived today, complete with a nice new black Google hat!
:)
AdWordsRep
03-29-2005, 06:13 PM
...My little Google goodie box arrived today, complete with a nice new black Google hat! Cool, Chris_D!
I was pretty sure that a few folks on this Forum would be among the first 100 Google Advertising Professionals. :)
AWR
AussieWebmaster
03-29-2005, 07:24 PM
Cool, Chris_D!
I was pretty sure that a few folks on this Forum would be among the first 100 Google Advertising Professionals. :)
AWR
When were the 100 done... I had this completed in Feb.
Chris_D
03-29-2005, 08:17 PM
One of the other guys here just had his Adwords Professional Goodie box arrive at the office by Fedex - thats 2 hats here in Sydney!
AdWordsRep
03-29-2005, 08:19 PM
One of the other guys here just had his Adwords Professional Goodie box arrive at the office by Fedex - thats 2 hats here in Sydney! Go Sydney! :D
When were the 100 done... I had this completed in Feb.AussieWebmaster, I'm guessing that the zero to 100 timing will probably fall under the category of 'not yet publicly available info', but I'll see what I can find out. ;)
AWR
seobook
03-29-2005, 09:51 PM
thats 2 hats here in Sydney!
I think that meets the quota and AussieWebmaster is out of luck... ;)
AussieWebmaster
03-29-2005, 10:06 PM
I think that meets the quota and AussieWebmaster is out of luck... ;)
Hmm.... I am going to protest... or see what the ad rep can do!!!!
AdWordsRep
03-30-2005, 08:22 PM
AussieWebmaster, I'm guessing that the zero to 100 timing will probably fall under the category of 'not yet publicly available info', but I'll see what I can find out. OK, I said I'd ask, and I did. :rolleyes:
Turns out that this is not something I can share, at least at present.
Anyway, I hope it turns out that you're in the original 100 AussieWebmaster, and your package is just delayed - like that semi-rare book I bought for a gift, on a Famous Aution Site, which then took more than three weeks to arrive from Alaska! :eek:
AWR
AussieWebmaster
03-31-2005, 01:15 AM
The quota I think is for Kangaroos... whereas I am more of a koala!!!
One of the other guys here just had his Adwords Professional Goodie box arrive at the office by Fedex - thats 2 hats here in Sydney!
Yep, make that another Aussie gift box received here last month. I am very excited to FINALLY own one of the infamous Google glow pens everyone talks about! :D
AussieWebmaster
05-01-2005, 10:58 PM
OK, I said I'd ask, and I did. :rolleyes:
Turns out that this is not something I can share, at least at present.
Anyway, I hope it turns out that you're in the original 100 AussieWebmaster, and your package is just delayed - like that semi-rare book I bought for a gift, on a Famous Aution Site, which then took more than three weeks to arrive from Alaska! :eek:
AWR
I have had the logo posted for some time now... but still no black hat.... will have to see who the first 100 where... I just wanted that black hat!!!
seobook
05-05-2005, 06:15 AM
I just wanted that black hat!!!
slow to close mate...
I think I was the only person at Coachella wearing one. made picking up clients a breeze. had you came I could have gave you the hat, though I am not sure if I would have been able to sneak you into the VIP area.
abc
Web Diversity
05-05-2005, 06:32 AM
Scares me to death that the fact that someone wearing a baseball cap can make picking up clients a breeze.
If any of my staff receive hats then they get locked in a safe.
I'd be interested in knowing how many of the 100 are sole traders managing their own account and a small handful of client accounts?
When we were beta testing the MCC we were told that the GAP was going to come and there was going to be a directory on Google and in that directory would be the number of accounts your company managed and the average size of the account in terms of number of keywords/value (low/medium/high/really high).
Since then we heard it was not going to happen now, and I understand fully the reasons why but baseball hats aside there is still big holes in the process and the fact that so many bigger agencies have not bothered to qualify, either because they can't or won't, must be cause for concern at Google HQ.
AussieWebmaster
05-05-2005, 10:16 AM
slow to close mate...
I think I was the only person at Coachella wearing one. made picking up clients a breeze. had you came I could have gave you the hat, though I am not sure if I would have been able to sneak you into the VIP area.
abc
So I take it you had a blast.... I am getting the hat tomorrow.... it was 2-dayed to me yesterday....
Seems it had been sent and then got lost somewhere... am going to have to start looking at what the mailroom guys are wearing!!!
AdWordsRep
05-05-2005, 09:41 PM
Glad a hat is coming your way, AussieWebmaster!
Very interesting post, Web Diversity, and I've just quoted you in the Advertiser Feedback Report. Thanks for a compelling statement.
AWR
AussieWebmaster
05-09-2005, 04:11 PM
Big smile on my face.... got the hat today!!!!!
And a pen and a letter....
The hat goes some place of honor.
AdWordsRep
05-09-2005, 05:54 PM
Big smile on my face.... got the hat today!!!!!Cool, AussieWebmaster!
The hat goes some place of honor.What more honored place than on your head! ;)
AWR
cline
05-09-2005, 06:54 PM
AussieWebmaster, you might ask around with your clients to see if they got your hat. In my case Adwords shipped my hat to one of my clients. The folks there in the mail room had no idea who I was, so the hat never made it to me.
Discovery
05-10-2005, 02:04 PM
OK great, free hats I like them too. But is this certification going to result in any additional business?
I can see Google wanting newbies to go through this course so they reduce calls to customer support and complaints about conversions.
However for most of us who do this for a living it's a needless exercise. We know the system inside and out.
In some ways I just see this as Google baiting the hook for us to stroke our own ego's and earn some money off of it.
Forget the hats how about some honorary degrees?
AussieWebmaster
05-10-2005, 03:32 PM
OK great, free hats I like them too. But is this certification going to result in any additional business?
I can see Google wanting newbies to go through this course so they reduce calls to customer support and complaints about conversions.
However for most of us who do this for a living it's a needless exercise. We know the system inside and out.
In some ways I just see this as Google baiting the hook for us to stroke our own ego's and earn some money off of it.
Forget the hats how about some honorary degrees?
I already have the doctoral degree in Persuasion Archecture....