Google Ads onboarding

Live by day 7, onboarding closed by day 14. The audit phase only runs for existing accounts with 30+ days of history. Build stays locked until tracking is verified, and launch stays locked until pre-launch QA is signed off.

Tools used in Google Ads onboarding

Tracking is provisioned in the Client Tracking Setup workflow. Everything here assumes that is done.

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Glossary, plain-language definitions

The terms and acronyms used in this workflow, in plain English. Expand if anything is unfamiliar.

MCC
Manager account. Linking the client account to ours so we can work in it without sharing logins.
Enhanced Conversions
Sends hashed first-party data with a conversion so Google can match more of them. Needs the Customer Data Terms accepted.
Consent Mode
Adjusts tag behaviour based on the visitor’s consent choice. Required in some regions.
Search Partners
Third-party sites that show Search ads. On by default and usually waste. Turned off deliberately.
Display Network on Search
Extends a Search campaign onto Display. On by default and usually waste.
PMax
Performance Max. Runs across every Google surface from one campaign. Needs audience signals and brand exclusions or it eats branded traffic.
Brand exclusions
Stops PMax bidding on the client’s own brand terms, which would otherwise look like cheap conversions.
RSA
Responsive Search Ad. Google assembles headlines and descriptions. 15 headlines and 4 descriptions minimum.
Smart Bidding
Automated bidding. Needs roughly 30 conversions a month before it has enough data.
Presence vs Interest
Presence targets people in the location. Interest also targets people merely interested in it, which usually wastes budget.
Quality Score
Google’s 1-10 rating of keyword, ad and landing page relevance. Low scores raise costs.
Attribution window
How long after a click a conversion still counts.