🎯 A Saturday with Google Display Ads: The Glamorous Life of a PPC Pro

There’s a certain poetry in spending your Saturday afternoon buried in Google Ads certification questions. While most people in Orpington are out enjoying a walk around Priory Gardens or braving the Bromley shopping crowds, I’ve been deep in Google Skillshop, pondering the finer points of automated bidding strategies and responsive display ads. Glamorous? Perhaps not. Essential? Absolutely.

As the founder of Gregory Marketing Ltd, I believe in leading by example — which is why you’ll often find me knee-deep in Google’s latest certification modules. If I’m going to advise clients on how to make their ads work smarter, not harder, I’d better be fluent in the language of algorithms, audiences, and ad performance.

From Skillshop to Sanity Check

This weekend’s study session was all about the Google Display Ads Certification, one of the four recertifications I complete every year to maintain my Google Partner status. It’s a bit like an annual MOT for PPC specialists — making sure everything’s still running smoothly under the bonnet (and occasionally discovering a warning light you’d been politely ignoring).

The exam covers every imaginable marketing scenario: small business owners stretching a modest budget, e-commerce brands fighting for attention, and agencies fine-tuning campaigns for maximum ROI. Each question tests not just your technical knowledge, but your strategic thinking — and occasionally, your patience.

Joanne Gregory, during her Google Ads recertification — proof that even on a Saturday, marketing never truly clocks off.

The Real Value of Google Display Ads

One message stands out: Display Ads are about more than clicks. They’re the visual storytellers of the PPC world — helping brands be seen, remembered, and considered, even when customers aren’t actively searching.

Display campaigns quietly keep your brand in front of potential customers, ready to resurface at just the right moment. It’s the digital equivalent of a friendly British wave — subtle, consistent, and surprisingly effective.

For local businesses in Kent and across the UK, Display Ads can be a powerful way to build awareness, especially when paired with smart audience targeting and creative that truly reflects your brand.

Automation: Friend or Foe?

Another hot topic in the certification is automation — Performance Planner, Smart Display Campaigns, and automated bidding. Some marketers still treat automation like a suspiciously clever intern: useful, but not to be left unsupervised.

In truth, automation done right doesn’t replace the strategist — it enhances them. It takes care of the data-crunching and optimisation, so humans can focus on the creative, the strategy, and the insight. Think of it as your tireless digital assistant — the one who never takes a lunch break or gets distracted by TikTok.

Why Staying Certified Matters

The world of digital advertising evolves faster than a London commuter on a Friday evening. Staying certified isn’t just about collecting shiny badges; it’s about keeping up with the latest tools, trends, and techniques that help clients get the most from their ad spend.

Passing the Google Display Ads Certification ensures that Gregory Marketing Ltd continue to meet Google’s high standards as a Google Partner agency — and, more importantly, that our clients in Orpington, Kent, and beyond benefit from cutting-edge PPC strategies that actually work.

Final Thoughts: Lessons from a Saturday Search Bar

So, what did I learn this weekend (apart from the fact that Google seems oddly obsessed with hypothetical marketers named Karen and Brian)?

That expertise isn’t something you achieve once — it’s something you maintain. Completing these recertifications four times a year might not sound thrilling, but it’s one of the ways I ensure we stay sharp, current, and ahead of the curve.

At ExpertPPC.co.uk, we practise what we preach — combining human creativity with Google’s ever-evolving technology to deliver campaigns that convert, whether you’re based in Orpington, Kent, or beyond.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a shiny new badge to upload to LinkedIn and a well-earned cuppa with my name on it.