My Google Ads Journey: From Beginner to Hands-On Campaign Creator
- Joneil Dula
- May 15, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 12, 2025
In June 2024, I began my digital marketing journey as an intern under the guidance of Coach Ian, a seasoned marketing mentor who opened the doors for me to explore the world of Google Ads. What started as a curiosity about online advertising soon turned into a solid foundation of skills, from writing search ads to creating video campaigns that reached thousands of viewers.
Learning the Basics
When I started, I had no experience in Google Ads. I didn’t even know the difference between Search and Display networks. But Coach Ian made sure I understood the core principles first:
How keyword match types work
How to structure a search campaign (ads, ad groups, keywords)
The importance of a strong call-to-action (CTA)
Understanding ad rank and quality score
I spent weeks learning how to navigate Google Ads Manager — building small campaigns, doing A/B testing, and getting used to analyzing performance reports.
My First Search Ads Campaigns
During the internship, I helped set up multiple search ad campaigns for real businesses. From writing headlines and descriptions to choosing the right keywords and setting budgets — I got involved in the full process.
Campaigns I Worked On
Construction Services Campaign – Focused on roofing and other general construction services.
Real Estate Campaign – Targeted high-intent leads searching for property opportunities.
Legal Consultation Campaign – Promoted legal services to drive consultations and inquiries.
E-commerce Product Ads (Volunteer Project) – Created ads for a local online store as part of a volunteer initiative.
I was genuinely surprised by how powerful just a few well-written words in a Google ad could be. Throughout these campaigns, we experimented with different messaging, fine-tuned our keyword targeting, and used ad extensions to improve visibility and engagement.
Launching My First Video Ads
One of the most exciting parts of my internship was working on YouTube Video Ads.
Coach Ian encouraged me to create and run video ad campaigns — even helping me edit short video creatives and upload them to Google Ads. These ads ran on YouTube, targeting specific interests and demographics.
Highlights:
Built bumper ads (6-second brand messages)
Ran skippable in-stream ads with calls to action
Targeted by topics, keywords, and custom audiences
It was eye-opening to see how video performance was tracked, with metrics like view rate, cost-per-view (CPV), and engagement.
What I Learned Along the Way
Here are my biggest takeaways from my internship experience:
Search ads work best with high-intent keywords and a clear message. Simplicity wins.
Video ads are great for brand awareness and work well when paired with smart targeting.
Optimization is never one-time, I learned to analyze data and make small improvements regularly.
Google Ads isn't just about spending money, it’s about spending smart.
Final Thoughts
From June to December 2024, I went from zero knowledge to managing real ad campaigns with real results. Under Coach Ian’s mentorship, I gained confidence in running ads, analyzing performance, and making data-driven decisions.
Now, I’m excited to bring these skills to new opportunities — whether it’s for clients, companies, or personal projects. Google Ads is a powerful tool, and I’m just getting started.
Interested in working with me or asking about my journey? Let’s connect!
Comments