Is the Google Adwords Certification worth doing?

Was thinking about doing the same thing. Would like to hear what people have to say about this and whether it's worth it.

Google Engage - I think i did look into that but from what I can remember, you had to already be working with small businesses.

I currently don't have any clients whatsoever, and wanted to get the Google Certification first before I started.

I bet the Certification would be good to have on your C.V/Resume also, surely?

Google Engage is a great program. I actually talk about it in my up coming ppc offline training program. Getting certified by Google does help build credibility. Especially for newer guys/gals in the biz. You do have to renew it yearly and it's a pretty big test. Engage is great because they give you a free voucher to take it. It's a really nice trust indicator to have on your website.

Think of it this way, if somebody approached you to manage you PPC campaign (a risk for most businesses), would you rather pay a random to do it or somebody who has a qualification from the people who run the PPC?

Makes your selling much much easier, you can say you're associated with Google as well as it means you at least know the basics.

If youre doing things for yourself defo get certified.

95% of people don't care. However, if you don't know how to run a PPC campaign then you maybe shouldn't offer it.

The catch?

Google makes the vast majority of their revenue from PPC. In fact when there are more people compeating for keywords they make more money.

Becoming "certified" means you will likely use it for your business or even better use your skills to create a business where you will run PPC campaigns for others. And you know what those guys running PPC campaigns normally get clients that have never used PPC before.

So by training people google insures more people use Adwords. And that is more money for google.

Iamnameless and Aaron are both correct. You have to look at it from the standpoint of Google making money. It's huge revenue for them. And most people really don't care because you can be certified and still not be able to deliver results. And to further clarify I was just pointing to the fact that it's just an extra way to build trust with a client. You'll likely not going to get clients JUST because you are certified. There is nothing more important to getting new clients than building up trust with businesses. It's a relationship you are building. When you are starting out focus on over-delivering great results to get your name out there.

And to Iamnameless's point also about running campaigns. As blunt as that may sound he is 100% correct. I always tell people if you don't know how to run a campaign grab a couple of vouchers and run some campaigns to see the mechanics of it. Adwords (PPC in general) is a very easy way to spend a lot of money. (It's a huge source of income for Google so they make it easy for you to spend fast.) That's why it's best to get some experience with it. Learn some of the more advanced techniques to save money and get better performance out of it. It's a science all on it's own. But, it's an incredibly profitable tool at your disposal.

People don't care?

I don't prospect much for ppc but people know about the certifications, I'm talking in England here at least 1 in every 5 people who contact me for ppc ask me if I'm certified, which they could tell that 3 of my staff are if they clicked the certification badge on my website. But people DO CARE.

Also just having the badge on my site gets me more clients than being number 1 for ppc management (area) does by a long shot. People come to me for web design or SEO and see the badge and ask me if I can take over their campaigns on an almost weekly basis, getting me and 2 of my staff certified was some of the best money I've ever spent.

Also if you're from Essex, we can't get engage over here.

Yes , ofcourse it would be helpful toward your business and services.
Google Certified prove your abilities and quality in your services. It would be great that you get some of your employee get Google Certification as well so your business able to list on Google Accredited Partner which become one USP of your business and service.

Wow! Google Engage Sounds cool! It is in India too.. Anybody have gone through this one..

It depends on where you are.
In US people are more results oriented so the luck of a certification wouldn’t be a problem (if you can deliver of course!).
In Europe, on the other hand, having a certification is a great plus.
Especially in Greece, where I am, there are people who think you have to be certified to ride a bicycle..

Some care, some don't even know it exist.

I sell PPC all the time.

If you can talk a good game,
Share good stories
Have pass results
References
Some closing skills

You'll get the gig all day long. Having a certification certainly won't harm your chances of gaining business.