How to Set Up a Google Ads Search Campaign: Guide (2026)

A Google Ads Search Campaign is a type of online ad where your text ads appear on Google when people search for products or services. You only pay when someone clicks on your ad.

Example: If someone searches “buy shoes online”, your ad can appear at the top.

Why Use Google Search Ads?

• Reach people actively searching
• Get fast traffic
• Control budget easily
• Track results clearly

This makes it one of the best marketing channels for beginners in 2026.

Basic Terms You Should Know

• Keywords → Words people search
• CPC (Cost Per Click) → Money you pay per click
• CTR (Click Through Rate) → Click percentage
• Quality Score → Google’s rating of your ad
• Conversion → A sale, lead, or action

How to Set Up Google Ads Search Campaign

Here is a step-by-step guide to setting up a Google Ads Search Campaign.

1. Create Your Google Ads Account

To start using Google Ads, you first need to create your account. Go to ads.google.com  and sign in using your Gmail account. After signing in, Google may guide you through a simple setup, but it’s better to click on “Switch to Expert Mode” at the bottom of the screen.

Expert Mode gives you full control over your campaign settings, such as keywords, budget, bidding, and targeting. 

This is important because it helps you avoid automatic settings that can waste your budget. For beginners, using Expert Mode is the best way to learn and build effective campaigns from the start.

2. Choose Your Campaign Goal

After creating your account, the next step is to choose your campaign goal. This tells Google what you want to achieve with your ads.

You will see options like:

• Sales → Get direct purchases from your website
• Leads → Get calls, form submissions, or inquiries
• Website Traffic → Bring more visitors to your site

For most beginners, the best choice is Leads or Sales because these goals focus on real results like customers and revenue, not just clicks.

When you select a goal, Google uses it to optimize your campaign settings, bidding, and ad delivery to help you achieve better outcomes. 

3. Select Campaign Type: Search

• Click New Campaign
• Choose Search

Turn OFF Display Network to avoid wasted budget.

4. Set Campaign Settings

Set:

• Location (your target area)
• Language
• Budget (daily)
• Bidding strategy

Start small and scale later.

5. Do Keyword Research

Use:

• Google Keyword Planner
• Google search suggestions

Choose high-intent keywords:

• “buy laptop online.” 
• “best laptop 2026” 
• “What is laptop?” 

Focus on buyer intent keywords.

6. Create Ad Groups

Structure example:

• Campaign: Shoes
  • Ad Group 1: Running Shoes
  • Ad Group 2: Formal Shoes

Keep keywords in each group closely related.

7. Choose Keyword Match Types

• Exact Match → [best shoes]
• Phrase Match → “best shoes.”
• Broad Match → best shoes

Beginners should use:

• Exact + Phrase (more control)

8. Write Your Ads