As businesses grow, LinkedIn’s robust advertising platform is essential for reaching a professional audience and driving B2B leads. Setting up a LinkedIn Ads Manager account and granting team members access can be a straightforward process, yet it’s crucial to ensure you complete each step properly to set your team up for success. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to create your LinkedIn Ads Manager account, activate billing, and add members from your agency or in-house team.
Why LinkedIn Ads Manager Matters
LinkedIn Ads Manager offers powerful tools to target specific job titles, industries, and companies, making it especially effective for B2B marketing. With Ads Manager, you can set up campaigns, track performance, optimize ad spend, and expand your reach on the LinkedIn platform. Let’s dive into the setup process and get your team collaborating effectively on LinkedIn.
Step 1: Create a LinkedIn Ads Manager Account
Before granting access, you’ll first need to create an Ads Manager account linked to your company’s LinkedIn page. This account will allow your team to create and manage campaigns, track analytics, and engage with your target audience. Here’s how to get started:
1. Log in to LinkedIn
Make sure you’re logged in to LinkedIn with the account that you want to associate with your Ads Manager. Ideally, this should be a primary account used by a marketing team member or company representative.
2. Access Campaign Manager
In the top navigation bar on LinkedIn, select the Work grid icon, located on the upper-right side of your screen. From here, click on Advertise to enter LinkedIn Campaign Manager. Campaign Manager is LinkedIn’s main hub for creating and managing ads, setting budgets, and tracking campaign performance.
3. Create a New Account
If you haven’t set up a Campaign Manager account before, LinkedIn will prompt you to create one:
- Click “Create Account”: This option appears once you enter Campaign Manager.
- Enter a Name for the Ad Account: Use a descriptive name, such as “[Your Company’s Name] Ads.”
- Select the LinkedIn Page: Link the ad account to your company’s LinkedIn Page.
- Choose the Currency: LinkedIn will use this currency for all billing associated with the account. Choose carefully since it cannot be changed later.
- Click “Create” to finalize the setup.
4. Set Up Billing
After setting up the account, you’ll need to activate billing to run ads. Here’s how:
- Navigate to the Billing Center within Campaign Manager.
- Add a Payment Method (credit card or other accepted payment methods).
- Follow the prompts to complete the billing setup.
With billing enabled, your LinkedIn Ads Manager account is now ready to launch ads! You’re now ready to invite team members and assign roles.
Step 2: Grant Access to Your Team Members
Once your ad account is created and billing is enabled, the next step is to give your team or agency members access to collaborate on campaigns. Here’s how to add users and manage their access levels.
1. Access Manage Access Settings
Log in to Campaign Manager and navigate to the ad account you just created. In the account’s top navigation bar, go to Settings and select Manage Access. Here, you can view a list of all users with access and add or remove team members.
2. Add New Users
To invite users, click on Edit or Add User:
- Enter Team Members’ Emails: Enter the email addresses of the team members you wish to add. Ensure these emails correspond to LinkedIn accounts, or the members won’t be able to access the account.
- Select Access Levels: LinkedIn offers several access levels, so you can tailor each member’s permissions based on their role and responsibilities.
3. Choose the Right Access Level
Selecting the appropriate access level for each team member ensures that everyone has the tools they need without overwhelming them with unnecessary access. Here’s a breakdown of the main access levels:
- Account Manager: This role has full access to manage all aspects of the ad account, including billing and settings. Assign this role only to trusted team members who need extensive control.
- Campaign Manager: Team members with this access can create, edit, and manage campaigns but don’t have control over billing. This role is ideal for marketers responsible for day-to-day campaign management.
- Creative Manager: This limited access role is ideal for individuals focused on designing and updating ad creatives. They can manage images, ad copy, and creative assets but cannot modify campaigns or billing settings.
4. Send Invitations
Once you’ve added email addresses and selected the appropriate access levels, click Send Invitation. LinkedIn will notify each invited user, either by email or within LinkedIn, to grant them access to the ad account.
Why Managing Access Matters
Managing access levels carefully helps keep your advertising workflow efficient and secure. Only team members who genuinely need billing access should have the Account Manager role, while those focusing on creative or campaign management should have a limited scope. This not only protects sensitive information but also streamlines the work process, keeping roles and responsibilities clear for everyone involved.
Best Practices for Setting Up LinkedIn Ads
Now that your Ads Manager account is set up and team members have access, here are a few tips to optimize your LinkedIn advertising efforts:
- Define Clear Objectives: Establish clear goals for your LinkedIn campaigns, such as increasing brand awareness, generating leads, or driving traffic to your website.
- Segment Your Audience: Use LinkedIn’s powerful targeting options to reach specific job titles, industries, company sizes, and more. Tailor your ads to speak directly to these demographics.
- Monitor and Optimize Regularly: Campaigns require regular adjustments to maximize effectiveness. Be prepared to monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) like click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, and cost-per-click (CPC).
- Test Different Creatives: Run A/B tests on ad copy, visuals, and calls to action to determine which performs best for your target audience.
Wrapping Up
LinkedIn Ads Manager is an invaluable tool for any business seeking to grow its B2B audience and reach key decision-makers. By carefully setting up your Ads Manager account and assigning the right team access levels, you’re establishing a solid foundation for a successful advertising campaign on LinkedIn. This step-by-step guide can help your team get up and running smoothly, ensuring that you maximize the platform’s potential while keeping workflows efficient and roles clearly defined.
Need Help with Your LinkedIn Ads Setup?
Don’t want to go through the hassle of setting up your LinkedIn Ads Manager account and granting access to your team? Let the experts at MINDSCAPE handle it for you! Our team can get your account up and running smoothly and ensure everything is optimized for your advertising goals.
