How to create a test account: UI or API?

[Peter Koning]

I'm trying to learn to use the Ads API and according to the quickstart for the API I need a test manager account and a test client account to try out my sample code and eventually test my app.

When I read the quickstart documentation at https://developers.google.com/google-ads/api/docs/first-call/overview?hl=en_US it gives very vague instructions on how to make the test accounts. 

This page says:

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Production accounts serve ads that are rendered to users, and billing is involved. Test accounts won't affect your live ads or charge your account, hence, they're a useful way to experiment with the API. Because test accounts don't serve any actual ads, impressions or cost data associated with them will be empty.

Follow the instructions below to create a test manager account, a test client account, and a few campaigns to populate the test client account. Note that "client" here refers to a Google Ads client account, not your client app.

1. Go to the Google Ads manager accounts page and create a test manager account.

2. Use the Google Ads UI to create a test client account under the test manager account you created above. While logged in to Google Ads as your test manager account, any client accounts you create will automatically be test accounts.

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I feel that these instructions are so vague - they really don't tell you step by step what to do.

This page raises 2 questions for me:

1) In step 1 how do I actually create a test manager account? Do I simply create a normal manager account and name it "test"? So then it's not really a test account just a new normal account w/ "test" in the name, right?

2) In step 2 it talks about using the UI. Doesn't it really mean use the API? From what I've read the API will create a test account if you use your test token and credentials. If I do need to use the UI, what are the exact steps to create a test client account w/ no billing etc.??? People talk about red flags marking their test accounts but I don't know how to get these test accounts. I've also read in the ad help forum that you can be suspended for making multiple client accounts, and it appears other devs have fallen into this trap.

I'd love to hear the answers to 1 and 2 so I can at least get to the point of running some sample php code.

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor Prod]

Hi Peter,

Thank you for your questions. 

For item #1, this section provides the specific link you can use to create your test MCC account. The link for creating production accounts is a separate link as well. Now, after clicking on the link and when redirected, you can click on the + NEW GOOGLE ADS ACCOUNT. This should then allow you to create the test MCC account. Certain details maybe required for you to supply to complete the process.

For the item #2, the information provided was for the UI direction to create the test client accounts as it was also considered that at this point in the documentation, the API setup may not be complete yet and creating client accounts via the API may still not be possible. For the steps to create accounts using the UI, you can refer to this guide. Accounts created under a test MCC account is automatically a test client account.

As for creating test client accounts under a test MCC using the Google Ads API, you can refer to this guide instead. You will need to specify a test MCC account as the customer-id. Also, when creating test accounts, billing information is not required.

Moving forward to the suspension about creating multiple accounts, could you provide more information regarding this?

Best regards,

Peter Laurence Napa Oliquino Google Ads API Team

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[Peter Koning]

Hi Peter - thanks for the thorough answer. This helps. 

Re the multiple account warning I'm referring to answers to "how to create a test account" questions and answers in the adwords help from API users such as this one:  https://www.google.com/tools/feedback/content_frame?type=IN_APP&locale=en&authuser=0&msgid=46366139  

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor Prod]

Hi Peter,

Thank you for reaching out. The link you shared could not be opened. Could you please provide a working link or share details of the issue you are referring to?

Thanks and regards,
Xiaoming, Google Ads API Team
 

Xiaoming Google Ads API Team

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[Peter Koning]

Hi Xiaoming - This is a side issue I noticed and commented on in at the end of my original post. I tried to post a link for Peter as he asked for one. The link worked for me so I assumed that Google team members can get to the same post - it was copied from the 3 vertical dots ... to the right of the post itself, in the adwords help.   I noticed several Q&A posts in the adwords help that are from API devs that seem to be confused (as I was) and some of the answers appear to be from the pov of the adwords UI and not the API. If you enter the search as I show here, you will find these posts and answers.   

I mentioned it because it seems that some people are saying that you can risk suspension of your account if you create too many of these accounts. Here's an example of a warning but Recommended answer (to the same question posted in above screenshot) that I was referring to re suspension risk:

 

I think much of the confusion is caused by the page link I posted in my OP where the API Quickstart instructions are just not detailed enough.   So my suggestion is to clean up that API Quickstart documentation (maybe using Peter's detailed answer above) and that should reduce the multiple questions and answers on this test account topic.

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor Prod]

Hi Peter,

Thank you for reaching out. Any link you copied from your account wouldn’t work for others. In most cases, if you don’t abuse the power to create too many unmaintained production accounts then these accounts would not be suspended by Google. 

Thanks and regards,
Xiaoming, Google Ads API Team
 

[Peter Koning]

Thanks guys I got my test MCC account + a test client ad account created now. I think I must have created the MCC a different way instead of that special link. When I used the special link it worked. It truly is special :)

-Peter

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor Prod]

Hi Peter, 

Glad to know that you have now created your test account hierarchy. Would there be anything else or other concerns that our team can assist with?

Best regards,

Peter Laurence Napa Oliquino Google Ads API Team

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[keky technologies]

I've the same problem.

Can you please explain how to create the test manager account MCC ?

Must i logging first to Google Ads manager account where the developer token generated?

I got test account created but i can't link it to to the manager account where the developer token has been generated.

Thanks you!

Best reguards.

[Google Ads API Forum Advisor Prod]

Hello,

The test manager account will be separate from production manager account (where you developer token is located). Here is the form to create a test manager account.

Regards,
Anthony

Anthony Google Ads API Team

 

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