Quick Start Guide

This guide gets you from zero to managing your first client in about 5 minutes. You'll connect your Google account, add a client, and run your first data sync. No complicated setup - just the essentials to get started.

What You'll Accomplish

By the end of this guide, you'll have:

Time needed: 5 minutes

Before You Start

Make sure you have:

[Screenshot: Login screen showing "Connect with Google" button] You'll start by logging in with your Google account

Step 1: Log In with Google

The first time you access PerfoAds, you'll see the login screen.

  1. Click Connect with Google
  2. Choose your Google account (the one with Google Ads access)
  3. Click Allow when Google asks for permissions

What permissions are needed?

Important: PerfoAds only reads your data. It never makes changes to campaigns, bids, or budgets.

[Screenshot: Google OAuth permission screen] Google will ask you to approve access - this is normal and secure

Result: You're logged in and see the empty client dashboard.

Step 2: Add Your First Client

Now let's add a client account to manage.

  1. Click Add Client in the top right corner

  2. You'll see a list of all Google Ads accounts you have access to

  3. Select the account you want to manage

  4. Fill in the client details:

    • Client Name: A friendly name (e.g., "ACME Corp")
    • Website URL: Their website (optional but helpful)
    • Monthly Budget: Approximate monthly ad spend
    • Business Goals: What they're trying to achieve (optional)

  5. Click Create Client

[Screenshot: Add Client form with fields filled in] Fill in basic info about the client - you can always edit this later

Pro Tip: If you manage accounts through an MCC (Manager account), all your client accounts will show up in the list automatically.

Result: Your new client appears in the client list with a "Never synced" status.

Step 3: Run Your First Sync

Now let's pull in the client's Google Ads data.

  1. Find your client in the list
  2. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) next to their name
  3. Select Smart Sync
  4. Wait 2-4 minutes while data syncs

[Screenshot: Client list with Actions menu open, Smart Sync highlighted] Smart Sync is the fastest way to get fresh data

What's happening during sync? The system is pulling:

Progress indicator: You'll see a progress bar showing sync status. Feel free to navigate away - it runs in the background.

[Screenshot: Sync progress bar showing "Syncing: 45% complete"] The sync runs automatically - you don't need to stay on the page

Result: When sync completes, you'll see a green checkmark and "Last synced: Just now" next to the client.

Step 4: Explore Your Client's Data

Click on the client name to open their detail page.

Here's what you'll see:

Overview Section

[Screenshot: Client dashboard overview with key metrics] The dashboard gives you a quick snapshot of account health

Campaigns Tab

View all active campaigns with:

Performance Charts

Visual graphs showing:

[Screenshot: Performance charts showing 30-day trends] Charts help you spot trends and issues quickly

Pro Tip: Click any campaign to drill down into ad groups and keywords.

What Happens Next?

Now that your first client is set up, the system starts working automatically:

Daily Auto-Sync

AI Analysis

Fresh Insights

Tips for Success

Sync Regularly: Set up auto-sync to run daily (morning works well). This keeps your data fresh and AI insights accurate.

Add All Clients: Don't stop at one! Add all your Google Ads accounts now while you're in setup mode. Bulk sync saves time.

Check Alerts: After your first sync completes, visit the AI Alerts page. You might already have optimization opportunities waiting.

Explore AI Chat: Try asking "What campaigns need attention?" or "Why did my CTR drop?" to see AI insights in action.

Set Business Context: Go to Settings → Business Profile and add details about your client's industry, goals, and constraints. This helps the AI give better recommendations.

Common Questions

Q: How often should I sync? A: Once per day is perfect for most agencies. You can also run manual syncs anytime you need fresh data (like before client calls).

Q: Can I sync multiple clients at once? A: Yes! Select multiple clients from the list, then use the Bulk Actions menu to sync them all together.

Q: What if sync fails? A: First, check that you're still logged into Google. Then try syncing again. If it keeps failing, check the Sync Logs page for error details.

Q: Does syncing use my Google Ads API quota? A: Yes, but Smart Sync is designed to stay well within Google's limits. It only pulls new data since the last sync, which is much faster and uses fewer API calls.

Q: Can I change client details later? A: Absolutely. Click the client, then click the Edit button to update name, website, budget, or goals anytime.

Q: Will this affect my live campaigns? A: No. PerfoAds only reads data - it never makes changes to your campaigns, bids, keywords, or budgets. You stay in full control.

Troubleshooting

Problem: "No Google Ads accounts found"

Symptom: After logging in, the Add Client screen shows no accounts

Solution:

  1. Make sure you're logged into the correct Google account
  2. Verify that account has access to Google Ads accounts (direct or via MCC)
  3. Try logging out and back in
  4. Contact support if the issue persists

Problem: Sync takes longer than 5 minutes

Symptom: Sync progress stays at same percentage for a long time

Solution:

  1. Large accounts (100+ campaigns) can take 5-10 minutes - this is normal
  2. Check your internet connection
  3. Don't close the browser tab (it won't cancel sync, but you won't see updates)
  4. If stuck for 15+ minutes, contact support

Problem: "Permission denied" error

Symptom: Sync fails with permission error

Solution:

  1. Go to Settings → Connected Accounts
  2. Click Reconnect Google Ads
  3. Make sure you grant all requested permissions
  4. Try syncing again

Next Steps

You're all set! Here's what to explore next:

Ready to add more clients? Click Add Client and repeat Step 2-3 for each account.

Want to set up auto-sync? Go to Settings → Sync Schedule to configure daily automatic syncing.

Need help? Contact support at contact@perfoads.com

Last Updated: October 4, 2025