Search Ads 360 – Onboarding

Onboarding & Training to Kickstart Search Ads 360's Usage

To begin using Search Ads 360, a strategic and structured approach is essential for success. The initial setup and training phases are critical to ensure your team is equipped to operate the platform efficiently. This page explains how to master the Search Ads 360 onboarding process and confidently use its full potential from the very start.

Onboarding & Training to Kickstart Search Ads 360's Usage

Modules & Features

Onboarding introduces the core modules and functionalities within Search Ads 360 (SA360), including multi-engine campaign setup, keyword and ad management, bid strategies, inventory access across Google and other search engines, conversion tracking, and advanced reporting. The approach is hands-on and aligned to specific search use cases, ensuring platform features are not only understood but easily integrated into daily search campaign workflows.

Roadmap & Structure

A structured onboarding roadmap defines responsibilities, implementation phases, training milestones, and enablement timelines tailored to all teams involved in the onboarding process for SA360. This provides clarity for all stakeholders, supports learning goals for SA360, enables efficient platform activation, and accelerates the platform rollout through a phased, transparent onboarding plan and adoption roadmap for advanced features.

Standards & Best Practices

Onboarding ensures alignment with SA360-specific campaign standards, covering naming conventions, account structure, bid strategy set-up, tracking integration (Floodlight), labeling, budget management, and reporting guidelines. Adhering to these best practices promotes data accuracy, reduces complexity, and supports scalable, centralized search program management across teams and markets.

Market Knowledge

Onboarding includes contextual insights into the search advertising ecosystem – covering engine requirements (Google, Microsoft, Yahoo, Baidu, etc.), regional market dynamics, auction nuances, and user behavior trends. Where needed, onboarding supports integrations to align SA360 usage with unique local market environments and third-party platforms included and integrated into the tech stack of the respective client.

Review

Structured checkpoints are embedded throughout the onboarding process to validate setup, user access, role assignments, and effective use of SA360. Reviews occur at key milestones to track adoption, identify blockers, and assess usage alignment with search campaign and business goals. Feedback loops are used to adapt training focus where needed, ensuring full operational readiness before, during, and after campaign launch.

Cooperation

Cross-functional alignment is central to effective onboarding. Collaboration across media, analytics, data, and IT teams – both within the client organization and between client and Digitl – ensures SA360 is technically integrated and operationally embedded. A shared understanding of responsibilities and workflows enables efficient implementation and consistent platform usage. Ongoing cooperation throughout the onboarding process supports long-term stability beyond initial setup.

See how Digitl helps with the Onboarding of Search Ads 360:

Account Setup

During SA360 onboarding, the account setup starts with defining the hierarchy across manager, sub-manager, and client accounts. This structure enables centralized oversight while allowing flexible campaign execution and reporting. Some advertisers choose a consolidated setup with one advertiser covering multiple brands or regions, enabling unified management and shared bid strategies, though user access can become a constraint. Others use separate child advertisers under a parent structure to support distinct teams, budgets, or Google Analytics (GA) properties. Each child can be linked to its own GA property while receiving shared Floodlight data. User access is managed in SA360 by assigning permissions at the manager or sub-manager level.

General Training

Training is designed to ensure operational readiness and confidence across all key modules of Search Ads 360. Participants are introduced to the SA360 hierarchy and guided through platform navigation, account creation, and billing setup. The sessions include practical walkthroughs for campaign configuration, including structure, budgets, and scheduling. Training highlights campaign types and bid strategies, with a focus on Smart Bidding and optimization aligned to specific goals such as conversions or ROAS. Audience management and targeting capabilities are covered, including the integration of GA segments and predictive audiences. The training also introduces performance tracking and reporting features, including how to work with Floodlight conversions, use the report editor, and apply filters and custom dimensions. Additional modules can address advanced workflows such as automated rules, inventory management, cross-engine optimization, and the use of the Performance Center for forecasting and planning.

Technical Integration

A structured SA360 setup depends on the coordinated integration of tracking, analytics, and data platforms. Floodlight is implemented for consistent and deduplicated conversion tracking, while Google Analytics is connected to support data sharing, audience import, and performance insights. Campaign manager 360 (CM360) integration enables unified tracking across channels and centralized attribution. When relevant, Google Merchant Center and inventory feeds are connected to power dynamic ad generation and automated campaign updates. For app-focused use cases, Firebase or SDK-based integrations can support measurement of mobile engagement and conversions. These integrations are addressed during onboarding to ensure accurate measurement, optimized bidding, and platform interoperability from day one.

Product Information & Administration

A documentation is shared during the onboarding process to serve as a foundational guide for internal teams and partner agencies if applicable. It outlines account structures, naming convention, and permission levels along with insights into conversion tracking, audience options, and campaign components. Designed to support onboarding and long-term operations, it maps key features and possibilities, aligning teams on expectations and execution. As a central source of reference, this documentation is provided directly and uploaded to Digitl's knowledge hub Galaxy so client teams can freely access it while working with SA360 along with insights into product updates, announcements on alphas, betas, and product videos.

These companies use Search Ads 360 for search advertising and more:

Frequently Asked Questions

Can multiple brands or teams operate within one SA360 advertiser account?

Yes, but it depends on the use case. A consolidated setup enables shared bid strategies and more efficient management, while separate advertiser accounts are recommended when teams, budgets, or analytics setups differ.

What training is included during onboarding?

Onboarding covers account hierarchy, billing, setup, and activation steps. It also introduces the SA360 interface, core workflows, best practices, and includes Q&A sessions to clarify implementation details.

How long does onboarding typically take?

Timelines vary depending on organizational readiness and technical complexity. Most onboarding tracks are completed within a few weeks, aligned to structured checkpoints for setup validation, feature activation, and initial campaign readiness.

Is support available after onboarding is complete?

Yes, support continues beyond onboarding. Ongoing access to Digitl’s client services team, adtech consultants, and knowledge base ensures continuity across operational phases, updates, and scaling initiatives.