Getting started

Create an account
It's easy to create an AdWords account and begin advertising on Google. Get started by visiting the AdWords homepage at https://adwords.google.com then click Start now.


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Choose a username
Now you'll need to choose the username and password for your AdWords account. For this, you'll use a Google Account (a master login for all Google products) which sets the email address and password that you'll use to sign in to AdWords.

More about Google Accounts

When you create an AdWords account, you'll be asked if you'd like to use your existing Google account login for AdWords. How do you know if you already have a Google Account?

A Google Account is a single email and password used to access multiple Google services, including Gmail, Google Groups, Google Alerts, Google Product Search, Personalized Search, and Personalized Homepage. If you currently use one of these services, you probably already have a Google Account that you can use for AdWords.

The sure-fire way to tell if you have a Google Account is to visit the Google Accounts Assistance page. Enter an email you use often, and complete the steps. If we recognize that your email address is tied to a Google Account, we'll send you an email with a link to reset the Google Account's password. If we don't recognize your email address, we'll let you know.

If you don't have a Google Account or still aren't sure, no worries. You can create a new Google Account when creating your AdWords account.

Keep a record somewhere of the email address and password you choose. To ensure your account's security, please do not share these details with anyone.



Choose a currency
Select which currency you'll use to pay Google for your advertising costs. Payments will be requested and accepted only in the currency you choose. Before you do this, make sure to review available payment options ; the availability of payment options may influence which currency you choose.


You won't be able to change your billing currency after you've selected one for your AdWords account. Therefore, please choose carefully.



Verify your account
If you used an existing Google Account to create your AdWords account, you can now sign in to your AdWords account at https://adwords.google.com

If you created a new Google Account to use for AdWords, you'll receive an email asking you to verify your email address. Click the link provided in that email and then sign in to your AdWords account with the email address and password you recently chose.



Submit billing information
You can explore your AdWords account without submitting billing information. However, your account will not be active and your ads won't run until after you provide billing details. See the activate your ads section to learn how to enter billing information and get your ad running.



Next: Create a campaign


Learn more about creating an account in our Help Center

Create a campaign
Now for the fun part! Create a campaign and ad to promote your business. In your account, click the "Create your first campaign" button. Here are some choices you'll have for your ad campaign:


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Campaign settings

Audience: Select the language your ad will be written in and the locations of your potential customers. These settings determine the languages and geographical locations of the people who see your ads. Learn more in the ad targeting section of this guide.

Networks and devices:
Select where you want your ad to appear, be it just on Google's search results or on Google's partner sites too. The setting by default will show your ad to the widest relevant audience across Google and the Google Network.

Daily budget
Enter the amount you're willing to spend on average each day for this ad campaign. Your budget will help determine how many times your ad can be shown each day. Learn more in the daily budget section.

CPC bid
Enter the maximum amount you're willing to pay each time a user clicks your ad. Your bid will help determine how often your ad can show and in what position on the page it will appear. Learn more in the bidding section.
Ads
Your text ad will include a headline, two lines of descriptive text, a display URL that shows your website address, and a destination URL that determines which page of your website a user will see after clicking your ad. Learn more in the ad basics section.
Keywords
Your keywords are the words or phrases a potential customer would use to search for your service or product on Google. Keywords determine which searches can trigger your ad, so enter keywords that specifically describe your product or service. Learn more in the keyword basics section.

Activate your account
Now that your first campaign has been created, let's make sure that your ads can begin appearing to potential customers. To start running your ads, you'll need to enter valid billing information and set campaign details like a daily budget.


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Choose a payment option

Available payment options depend on the country of your billing address and the currency with which you make payments. Select your country and currency on our Payment Options page to see what's available to you.
Google payment options are divided into two types: postpay and prepay. One or both will be available to you depending on your country and currency. Note that you won't be able to switch from a postpay option to a prepay option or vice versa, so be careful when you select a payment method as you set up your account.

Click the links below for more information on postpay and prepay:

Postpay

Postpay

If you select a postpay option, you'll make payments only after you accrue advertising costs. You'll be billed 30 days after your last payment or when your account costs reach your billing threshold, whichever comes first. Learn more about when you're billed.

Google currently offers two types of postpay. If both are available to you, you can switch between them at any time.

I. Credit and debit card: If you choose this option, your ads will begin running almost immediately after you enter valid credit or debit card information. All AdWords charges will be made to this card. See a list of frequently asked questions about postpay by credit or debit card.

II. Direct debit: If you choose this option, Google will deduct AdWords payments from your bank account. You may be required to submit a debit authorization or verify a test deposit before your ads can run. See a list of frequently asked questions about direct debit.

If you use postpay, we recommend entering a backup credit card in your account. If your primary form of payment is ever declined, we'll attempt to charge your backup credit card to help ensure that your ads run continuously.

See a list of frequently asked questions about postpay.

Prepay

Prepay

If you select a prepay option, you'll pay for advertising in advance of receiving any clicks or impressions. You can add funds to your AdWords account whenever you like, and we'll deduct costs from that balance. We'll notify you when your balance is running low. If you do run out of funds, your ads will stop showing until you make another payment.

Google offers two widely available types of prepay:

I. Credit and debit card: If you choose this option, Google will charge your credit or debit card in the amount that you specify, and your account balance will update almost immediately. See a list of frequently asked questions about prepay by credit or debit card.

II. Bank transfer: If you choose this option, you'll make AdWords payments by transferring funds from your bank account to Google's bank account. Your ads will begin running as soon as we receive and process your payment. This typically takes 5 to 10 business days, depending on your country and what bank you use.

Be sure to include the correct reference number when making a transfer or we won't be able to match your payment to your AdWords account. See a list of frequently asked questions about bank transfer.

Google also offers a number of prepay options specific to a single country. Learn about these options and more in our frequently asked questions about prepay.

Note that you can switch between all the prepay options available to you at any time.




Submit billing information
The first step is to enter valid billing information into your AdWords account.

How to enter billing details

Your AdWords account won't be activated until you submit valid billing information. Once you do, you can edit this information at any time.

Note: Your payment options depend on the country of your billing address and your selected currency. Enter your country and currency on our Payment Options page to see what's available to you.

Enter billing information for the first time

Once you've created an AdWords account, follow the steps below to enter your billing information.

Sign in to your AdWords account at https://adwords.google.com .
Select the Billing tab.
Click Billing preferences.
Choose the country or territory of your billing address as well as your preferred time zone. Click Continue.
Choose your payment method and enter your billing information. Click Continue.
Agree to the AdWords terms and conditions.
Click Save and Activate.
Note: Once your account is activated and your billing information has been processed, any new ads and campaigns you create can begin running on Google. You will not be asked to submit your billing information every time you create a new ad or campaign.

Edit billing information

To edit your billing information:

Sign in to your AdWords account at https://adwords.google.com .
Select the Billing tab.
Click Billing preferences.
Click edit in the Primary Payment Details section.
Enter your updated billing information.
Click Save Changes.
If your payment has been declined and you'd like to resubmit the same credit card information, you may do so by clicking Retry card on your Billing Preferences page.

We also recommend that you provide a backup credit card to help ensure that your ads continue running if your primary payment method fails.

Have a promotional code? Learn how to use it . Most promotional codes have an expiration date, so you may need to apply it soon after creating your account.



Submit backup information
We highly recommend you enter a backup credit card in your account. That way, your ads won't stop running if one of your payments isn't successful. Learn more

A backup credit card is a credit card that we will keep on file to charge in case your primary payment method fails. If your primary payment method is ever declined when processing a payment, we'll attempt to charge your backup credit card to help ensure that your ads run continuously.

You can enter or edit your backup credit card by following these steps:

Log in to your account at https://adwords.google.com.
Select the Billing tab.
Click Billing preferences.
Under Backup Payment Details, click 'add' or 'edit' if you've entered a backup credit card previously.
Select your credit card type from the drop-down menu then enter the new card information and billing address.
Click Save changes.
Do it now.




Your AdWords account is now active!
For some accounts, your ads will be eligible to start appearing on Google immediately after entering billing information. Other accounts may take up to a week before ads can begin running. This depends on what type of billing method your account uses. Learn more

How long it takes for your ad to start running and accruing costs will depend on the payment option you choose.

Postpay accounts
Postpay by credit or debit card:
Your ads may start running on Google and accruing costs almost immediately after you submit valid credit or debit card information.
Postpay by direct debit:
For advertisers in certain locations, your ads may not begin running until after we receive and process your debit authorization or verify a test deposit. For other direct debit advertisers, your ads may start running as soon as you submit valid payment information. Learn more
Prepay accounts
Prepay by bank transfer:
Your ads will begin running as soon as we receive and process your payment. This typically takes 5 to 10 business days, depending on your country and what bank you use. Learn more
Prepay by credit card:
Your ads will being serving almost immediately after you make a prepayment.
Other prepay methods:
If you chose to use a different prepay billing method, your ads will start running after you submit your payment information and we successfully receive and process your first payment. Learn more