Onboarding Guide: Google Business Setup

Before you start

This guide walks you through five Google tasks, in order. Do them top to bottom, because later steps depend on earlier ones. 

You will need:

• A Google account (a Gmail or Google Workspace email). Use the business email you want to own these accounts long-term, not a personal one you might lose.

• Your business name, website address, and business address.

• A credit or debit card for billing (Google Ads only).

• Access to your website's backend or domain settings (Merchant Center only, to verify your site).

• OPTYO’s team email addresses because you will add them as Admins in steps 3, 4 and 5.

Tip: Open one browser (Chrome works best) and make sure you are signed in to the correct Google account before you click any link below. Check the circle in the top-right corner of any Google page to see which account you are using.

Step 1: Create your Google Ads account

This creates the ad account that you own and we manage. Do not create any ads or campaigns yourself; we build those.

1. Go to ads.google.com.

2. Click the blue Start now button.

3. Sign in with your business Google account. If you are already signed in, check the top-right circle to confirm it is the right account.

4. Google will ask about your business. Enter your business name and website address when asked.

5. Google will try to make you build an ad right away. Do not do this. Look for a small link that says Skip campaign creation, Switch to Expert Mode, or Create an account without a campaign. It is usually small text near the bottom of the page. Click it.

   • Can't find it? Stop here and message us. Do not create a campaign to get past the screen, because it may start spending money.

6. On the Confirm your business information screen, check these three settings carefully. They cannot be changed later:

   • Billing country: where your business is located.

   • Time zone: your business's local time zone.

   • Currency: the currency you want to be billed in (for example USD).

7. Click Submit or Create account.

8. Add billing when prompted: go to Admin (gear icon) → Billing → Settings, then enter your card details. Payments go straight from your card to Google; we never see your card number.

Done when: you can see your Google Ads dashboard with no campaigns running.

Step 2: Find and send us your Google Ads Account ID

Your Account ID (also called Customer ID) is a 10-digit number that looks like 123-456-7890. We need it to send you an access request.

1. Go to ads.google.com and sign in.

2. Look at the top-right corner of the screen, next to your profile circle.

3. You will see a number in the format xxx-xxx-xxxx beside your account name. That is your Account ID.

   • Don't see it? Click your profile circle; the number is listed under your account name.

4. Copy the number and send it to us by email or in our project board, next to the task Google Ads Account ID.

Step 3: Approve our Google Ads access request

After you send your Account ID, we send a "link request" from our agency manager account. You just click Accept. You stay the owner and can remove us at any time.

Option A: from the email (fastest)

1. Check the inbox of the email you used for Google Ads. Look for an email from Google Ads about a manager account link request. Check spam if you don't see it.

2. Click Accept request in the email.

Option B: inside Google Ads

1. Go to ads.google.com and sign in.

2. Click Admin (gear icon) in the left-hand menu.

3. Click Access and security.

4. Click the Managers tab at the top.

5. Under Link request, find our agency's name.

6. In the Actions column, click Accept, then confirm on the next screen.

Then: add our email as an Admin user

This gives our team direct Admin access alongside the manager link.

1. In Google Ads, click Admin (gear icon) → Access and security.

2. Click the Users tab, then the blue + button.

3. Type in your OPTYO’s team email addresses.

4. Under access level, choose Admin.

5. Click Send invitation. We'll accept it on our side.

Step 4: Set up Google Merchant Center

Merchant Center is where Google stores your product list so your products can show in Google Shopping ads. Skip this step only if you don't sell physical products online, and tell us.

Part A: Create the account

1. Go to merchants.google.com.

2. Sign in with the same Google account you used for Google Ads.

3. Click Get started (or Sign up for free).

4. Enter your business name, country, and website address when asked.

5. When asked where customers buy your products, choose On my website.

6. Accept the terms of service and click Continue.

Part B: Verify and claim your website

Google needs proof that you own your website.

1. Google will show a message asking you to verify your website. Click it.

2. Choose the easiest option for you:

   • Shopify, WooCommerce, or similar store? Choose the option for your platform and follow the on-screen prompts. This is usually one click.

   • Already have Google Analytics or Google Tag Manager on your site? Choose that option; Google checks it automatically.

   • None of the above? Send us a message. We can do this for you once we have website backend access.

3. After it says Verified, click Claim website.

Part C: Link Merchant Center to Google Ads

1. Click the gear icon (Settings) at the top right.

2. Click Apps and services (may also appear as Linked accounts).

3. Find Google Ads and click Link account.

4. Pick your Google Ads account (the xxx-xxx-xxxx number from Step 2) and click Link.

5. Go back to Google Ads, click Admin → Linked accounts → Google Merchant Center, and Approve the link.

Part D: Give us access

1. Click the gear icon (Settings) at the top right.

2. Click People and access.

3. Click Add person.

4. Type in your OPTYO’s team email addresses.

5. Choose Admin access so we can set up your product feed.

6. Click Add user. It will show as Pending until we accept.

Step 5: Google Analytics setup and access

Google Analytics tracks who visits your website and what they do there. First check if you already have it; many websites do.

Part A: Check if you already have Google Analytics

1. Go to analytics.google.com and sign in.

2. If you see a dashboard with charts and your website name, you already have it. Skip to Part C.

3. If you see a Start measuring button, you don't have it yet. Go to Part B.

   • Not sure, or someone else (a web designer) set it up? Ask them to add our email using Part C, or message us.

Part B: Create a new Google Analytics account

1. On analytics.google.com, click Start measuring.

2. Account name: type your business name. Click Next.

3. Property name: type your website name (for example "MyStore Website"). Pick your time zone and currency. Click Next.

4. Answer the business details questions (industry, size). Click Next.

5. Choose your business goals (any are fine). Click Create and accept the terms.

6. When asked to choose a platform, click Web.

7. Enter your website address and a stream name (your website name works). Click Create stream.

8. Google shows you a Measurement ID that starts with G-. Copy it and send it to us. We will install it on your website.

Part C: Give us access

1. Go to analytics.google.com.

2. Click Admin (gear icon) in the bottom-left corner.

3. Under Account, click Account access management.

4. Click the blue + button at the top right, then Add users.

5. Type in your OPTYO’s team email addresses. If it only takes one at a time, repeat these steps for each).

6. Tick Notify new users by email.

7. Under Direct roles and data restrictions, choose Administrator.

8. Click Add at the top right.

Common problems:

• "This email is not associated with a Google Account": double-check the spelling of our email address, then message us.

• I don't see the Admin, Access, or People options: you are signed in to the wrong Google account, or you are not an admin. Check the profile circle at the top right and switch accounts.

• Google keeps pushing me to create an ad: don't. Message us and we will jump on a quick screen-share.

• Stuck anywhere else: take a screenshot of the screen and send it to us.