Why this matters
Smart Mode removes keyword, placement and bidding control, breaks agency linking, and hides negative keyword management. Expert Mode is mandatory for real lead generation.
Step-by-step instructions
1
Visit ads.google.com and click "Start Now"
Do not fill in the "What is your advertising goal?" form yet.
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2
Scroll to the bottom of the page
Find the small grey link labelled "Switch to Expert Mode".
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3
Click "Switch to Expert Mode"
Confirm the popup - this cannot be undone for this account.
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4
Choose "Create an account without a campaign"
Skip the forced first campaign.
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5
Proceed with billing and structure
You are now in the professional interface.
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Pro tips
- If you already created a Smart account, close it and start fresh - you cannot convert.
- Bookmark the Expert Mode link for future account creations.
- Train the whole team - anyone can fall into the Smart Mode trap.
Common mistakes
- Clicking through the goal wizard and auto-creating a Smart campaign.
- Assuming Smart and Expert are interchangeable.
- Running budget in Smart Mode before realising the limitation.
What happens next
Your Expert Mode account can accept MCC linking, Google Analytics imports and full conversion tracking.