I recently obtained my Google Analytics certification and I am now on the path to an AdWords certification. I’ve taken courses in college on these topics and I work with these platforms daily at Site-Seeker. That said, you might ask me why I would want to become certified.

There are a slew of benefits, but as a part of the team at an Internet marketing agency and PPC advertising company, I am excited to be able to help my teammates out. Not sure what I’m talking about? Here are five reasons you, as a marketing professional, should become certified:

You’ll earn endorsement from Google

Whether you’re an individual or part of a team, this is definitely a good thing to have. The Google Partners platform helps people find you. This may lead to networking opportunities or even new leads through its unique search engine, Google Partner Search.

Google Partner membership also entitles you to a myriad of added benefits, such as training events, support, promotions, and beta testing opportunities. Those are some great perks!

You might learn something new

Let’s be honest, experts don’t really exist, especially those who fall under the self-proclaimed category. However, you’ll at least improve your craft. I’m sure there are some features on these platforms you’re either not using correctly or not at all. If you know the material, why not broaden your knowledge?

On the other end, what you learn may be entirely new to you. Consider it as the first step on your journey. Once you’re certified, you’ve got the basics down, so keep on keepin’ on and learn as much as you can. You’ll be able to apply your new knowledge and skills to your job and people will be coming to you for help! It’s always nice to feel needed.

Improve your company’s performance

When you’ve learned how to properly set up and navigate Analytics, you’ll be well on your way to making better recommendations and decisions on strategy implementation.

Additionally, it’s in Google’s best interest for any organization to get great results from their AdWords campaign. Through the certification process, you’ll have learned how to create successful campaigns and get the conversions you’re looking for.

Learn about your brand and your customers

Specifically, Google Analytics is a great tool to use when performing any sort of analysis on your brand. With your knowledge, you’ll be able to navigate and dig deep into the captured data and learn about your customers’ habits and how they interact with your brand and your website. You’ll know what’s working and what’s not, and based on that information, you can make better decisions.

It looks good in your agency’s portfolio and on your own résumé

It’s simple: certification proves you know what you’re talking about. This looks good to both potential clients and potential employers. Even if a client doesn’t really know anything about what the certification process entails, they’ll still be confident that you know your stuff. Would you rather work with a certified PPC advertising company, or a group of people who promise they’ll do the best for you?

Similarly, if you’re looking for a job in Internet marketing, you may find that Google certifications are often required or at least a preference for many employers. It also shows that you’re willing to learn and keep up with trends and changes in the industry. Time to bulk up that résumé!

BONUS: You can get AdWords certified for free!

That’s right, joining Google Partners gives you access to training and study guides and you’ll be able to get certified free of charge. If you haven’t already, you’ll need to sign up for Google Partners.

Keep in mind that there are multiple certifications you can earn from Google and there are constantly courses opening up that you can register for. If you’re looking to get certified individually, I recommend going with the platform you are fairly well versed in so that you can experience the process before moving on to the topics that are more difficult. If your employer is recommending or requiring you to become certified, work with your superior(s) to help decide the best course of action for you.