How to become a Google Elite Partner in 5 steps

To be invited, you must have delivered ‘best-in-class’ results for clients; grown revenue across all product categories; and striven for the adoption of new technologies.

Agencies in this tier have access to a host of additional benefits to assist with account growth, including bespoke optimization and expert training sessions; in-depth competitor and market reviews; rand reviews and audience persona reports; being the first to be listed for new betas; prioritized support for GA4; and privacy-centricity.

Here are five key steps your business can take to drive account growth, build on team skills and get recognized by Google.

Step #1: get certified

The first step, and one of the simplest, is to get certified by passing Google exams.

There are several product-based exams offered by Google that can be found on Skillshop. Exams typically contain around 50 questions and last for up to 75 minutes. Once you’ve passed an exam, the certification lasts for 12 months.

Having all account strategists attached to your Google ads account certified is preferable, but only 50% need to be certified in at least one product area to meet Google’s requirements.

Step #2: strive for excellent results

Obvious, right? But there are a few key actions that will bring best-in-class results and get you on Google’s radar.

First, have a coherent and agile strategy.

The nature of the market means tweaks to strategy will be needed from time to time. Start out with everyone on the same page, but be open to altering your strategy swiftly; change your approach entirely when necessary. This includes adjusting based on seasonality, emerging trends and reviewing the best time and day to bid.

Second, have clear reporting and visibility. Ensure you have accurate goal-tracking in place. This way, you can keep a close eye on the success of campaigns and analyze results to determine any required changes to approach.

In order to monitor overall progress, create a centralized dashboard for visibility of month-on-month and year-on-year comparisons.

Third, be aware of competitors and market changes. Use tools such as Google Auction Insights to see where you sit in relation to your competitors. It also helps you identify new competitors entering the market. Tools including Google Trends give visibility on emerging market trends.

Always keep a close eye on Google’s best practices, and stick to using its recommended ad formats.

Step #3: diversify your products

Google holds diversification in very high regard. That’s why it’s vital to display diversity across your ad account by using different products and ad formats. These should include:

• Search: Great for driving sales, search ads allow you to reach your audience while they’re searching for your product or service on Google

• Display: This type of ad, often included in remarketing strategies, involves static images being displayed on sites that are part of the Google Display Network

• Video: Video ads give you the chance to show ads on YouTube at different points within videos. They’re a great option for increasing brand awareness

• Shopping: These are product listings that are shown in search results and on the Google Shopping tab, making them perfect for retailers wanting to push products

• App: App campaigns are used for promoting apps and driving installs. Your app can be shown on Search, Display, Play and YouTube in one campaign

Step #4: become an industry leader

One factor Google looks for when choosing agencies to join the ‘elite’ tier is whether they’re industry leaders.

Becoming an industry leader involves adopting new practices; when it comes to staying up to date with best practices, Google keeps us on our toes. However, to stay at the forefront of the industry, it’s important to adopt new practices sooner rather than later.

Google also often looks for agencies to try beta products. Although risky, being one of the first to try these can have notable benefits, giving you the chance to tap into techniques competitors aren’t already using. You help Google by trialing a potential product, while demonstrating that your agency is at the forefront of innovation.

Step #5: spend

The final step is ad spend. Obviously, increasing ad spend is beneficial for Google itself, but with returns set at $8 per $1 spent, it also amplifies the return on investment for your business.

However, don’t be deterred if inflating ad spend isn’t an option right now. If you follow steps one through four, your ad spend should increase organically.

Although it may seem like a challenge, it’s important to remember that being invited to join the ‘elite’ tier is more about growth than spend. The idea is to prove willingness, dedication and ability to Google.

Since joining the ‘elite’ tier, we’ve seen accelerated growth across all clients. We were lucky enough to be awarded end-of-year recognition, and have also already been granted a host of additional perks.