How to create your Google Ads account (5 minutes)
If you don't have a Google Ads account yet, follow this short guide. We'll link it to Maporio right after.
Before you start
- You need a Google account (the same Gmail you use for your business is fine).
- You need a credit card. You won't be charged until your campaigns actually run.
- Set aside 5 minutes. It really takes that long.
Step 1
Open Google Ads and click 'Start now'
Go to ads.google.com. Click the big Start now button. Sign in with the Google account you want to use for your ads.
Step 2
Skip the campaign-creation wizard (the trap)
Google's default flow forces you to build a campaign before you can finish setup. Don't. At the bottom of any of those campaign-builder steps, look for a small link that says Switch to expert mode or Skip campaign setup. Click it.
Why this matters: the default wizard sets up a campaign you don't want, with targeting that's often too broad. Maporio will build your real campaigns the right way. Skip past the wizard so you end up on an empty Google Ads dashboard.
Step 3
Add your billing details
From the Google Ads dashboard, click the Tools and settings wrench (top right) → Billing → Settings. Add your business address and a credit card.
Heads up: Google will charge you directly for your ad spend. Maporio bills the 10% management fee through Stripe separately. Your card on Google Ads is just for the ad spend itself.
Step 4
Find your 10-digit customer ID
Look at the top right of any Google Ads page. You'll see a number that looks like 123-456-7890. That's your customer ID. Write it down.
Step 5
Come back to Maporio and paste it
Open your Maporio onboarding wizard in another tab. Paste the customer ID into step 1. We'll send a link request from our manager account; you accept it in Google Ads; you're done.
That's it. You're ready to link.
Total time: ~5 minutes. If you got stuck anywhere, emailchris@maporio.com - someone will walk you through it.
Back to onboardingLooking for the bigger picture? Google's own setup docs