WorkshopsTrainingHow-To

Run a Wall of Fame Ads Workshop: Teach Small Businesses to Launch Their First Integrated Campaign

UUnknown

2026-02-18

9 min read

Half-day workshop plan to teach small businesses how to launch a Wall of Fame campaign using AI, Google Ads (total budgets & exclusions), and YouTube.

Launch your first integrated Wall of Fame campaign in a half-day workshop

Hook: If employee recognition at your small business feels manual, invisible, or one-off, this half-day workshop trains owners to launch an integrated Wall of Fame campaign using guided AI learning, modern Google Ads controls, and a YouTube content plan that actually drives nominations and engagement.

Why run this workshop now (2026 context)

In 2026 recognition programs are competing for attention in a crowded digital landscape. Brands now use short-form video, automated ad budgets, and account-level safety guardrails to amplify recognition programs without hiring a full marketing team. Two platform updates launched in early 2026 make short, focused campaigns simple and safe: total campaign budgets for Search and Shopping allow you to set a fixed spend over days or weeks (no constant daily tweaks), and account-level placement exclusions let you block unwanted inventory across all campaigns from one central setting. Combine those with guided AI learning tools (like Gemini-style workflows) and small businesses can run polished campaigns on day one.

Workshop outcomes — what owners will leave with

A live Google Ads campaign configured with a total campaign budget and account-level exclusions.
A simple YouTube content calendar and two produced short videos (announcement + nominee profile or testimonial).
AI-generated ad copy, video scripts, and thumbnail ideas produced in-session using guided AI prompts.
Measurement dashboard tracking nominations, cost-per-nomination, and engagement metrics.
Templates and checklists to run repeat campaigns and hand off to staff.

Audience and prerequisites

This workshop is built for small business owners, operations leads, or volunteer managers who want to launch or relaunch a Wall of Fame recognition program with paid and organic reach. Basic requirements:

A Google Ads account and billing info
A YouTube channel (can be private until ready)
One or two people who can record short videos on a phone
Access to your website to embed the Wall of Fame display (or a simple landing page)

Half-day schedule (4 hours)

Designed as a practical, hands-on session. Times are flexible for groups.

00:00–00:20 — Welcome & goals: Define success metrics (nominations, page visits, hires, donations) and share sample case metrics.
00:20–01:05 — Guided AI learning & creative sprint: Use a guided AI workflow to generate ad copy, video scripts, thumbnails, and A/B test ideas. Each owner customizes 3 ad headlines, 2 descriptions, and 2 60-second video scripts.
01:05–02:05 — Google Ads setup lab: Create the campaign, set a total campaign budget and start/end dates, choose campaign type (Search or Demand Gen for discovery), set audiences, and apply account-level placement exclusions.
02:05–02:35 — YouTube content planning & quick production: Plan 2 video formats (announcement + nominee spotlight). Use phone-recording checklists and AI teleprompter scripts from hybrid micro-studio workflows. Produce first takes.
02:35–03:20 — Launch test creatives & embed Wall of Fame: Upload videos, create a short landing page with nomination form, embed Wall-of-Fame widget, and launch the Google Ads campaign.
03:20–03:45 — Measurement and optimization basics: Link GA4 & Google Ads, set conversion events for nominations, and build a 1-page dashboard. Learn how to read cost-per-nomination and view-through metrics.
03:45–04:00 — Wrap, next steps, and templates: Provide post-workshop checklist, 30/60/90 day optimization playbook, and offer follow-up support.

Detailed module playbooks

1) Guided AI learning & creative sprint (45 minutes)

Goal: Generate ready-to-use creative assets in-session using AI, without needing a copywriter.

Why AI? Tools like Gemini-guided workflows (2025–26) stitch learning and creative generation into an interactive coach that suggests prompts, edits, and best-practice templates. Use the AI to craft concise video scripts, headlines, and call-to-action language tuned to your audience.
Hands-on prompts:
- “Write three 90-character headlines to promote nominations for a Wall of Fame at a local cafe, focusing on community recognition.”
- “Create a 60-second script for a nominee profile highlighting impact in three quick scenes.”
- “Suggest two thumbnail concepts for a 60-second nominee spotlight that drive clicks from YouTube Shorts.”
Deliverables: Three headlines, two ad descriptions, two scripts, and one thumbnail brief per team.

2) Google Ads setup lab (60 minutes)

Goal: Launch a live campaign with modern guardrails and minimal daily maintenance.

Choose campaign type: For nomination-driven programs use Search for high intent, Demand Gen for discovery, or a mix. Performance Max can drive broad reach but requires strong assets.
Set total campaign budget: Instead of setting a daily cap, enter a total budget with start and end dates so Google can optimize spend across the period. This feature rolled out to Search and Shopping in January 2026 and reduces micromanagement.
Apply account-level placement exclusions: Add brand-safety and context exclusions once at the account level so they apply across YouTube, Display, Performance Max, and Search campaigns. This saves time and prevents accidental placements (new in 2026).
Targeting & assets: Use local radius targeting and audience segments (past customers, newsletter subscribers). Upload the AI-generated headlines, descriptions, and thumbnails as assets for responsive ads.
Set conversions: Configure a nomination form submission as the primary conversion. Link GA4 and import the event into Google Ads for bidding.
Bidding strategy: For short timed campaigns try Maximize Conversions or a target CPA; for broader awareness use Maximize Clicks with a cost guardrail.

Practical tip: For a 7–14 day campaign, allocate a modest total budget (e.g., $500–$2,000) and let Google optimize daily spend to hit the end-date goals.

3) YouTube content plan & rapid production (45 minutes)

Goal: Create two short videos that feed ad creatives and organic promotion.

Types of videos to produce:
- Announcement (20–45s): Invite nominations, show the Wall of Fame concept, CTA to nominate.
- Nominee profile (45–90s): One nominee story or staff spotlight; emotional hook + CTA.
- Optional: Winner reveal (90–180s) for later sequencing.
Production checklist:
- Phone, tripod, good light (natural or ring light)
- Quiet location, three quick takes per shot
- Use AI teleprompter scripts from the creative sprint
- Create 3 thumbnails in 1080x1920 and 1280x720
Distribution: Upload to YouTube as Public or Unlisted, and create a 15–30 second Short for discovery. Use YouTube ads in your Google Ads campaign and organic posts to your social channels. For cross-platform content and distribution strategy, see guides on cross-platform content workflows.

4) Launch, measurement & quick optimization (40 minutes)

Goal: Make the campaign measurable and build a cadence for quick improvements.

Primary KPIs: nominations, nomination conversion rate, cost-per-nomination, video views, view-through rate, landing page visits, and engagement on the Wall of Fame page.
Set dashboards: Create a one-page dashboard combining Google Ads, GA4, and YouTube Analytics. If possible, embed it in a shared Google Sheet for daily checks.
Optimization checklist (first 72 hours):
- Pause low-performing assets/ads
- Shift budget between Search and YouTube based on conversion rate
- Refine ad copy using AI variations
- Use placement reports to add specific exclusions if any unsafe inventory appears

Templates & quick references to use in the workshop

These are the plug-and-play assets you should provide to attendees:

Workshop agenda (editable)
AI prompt pack for headlines, scripts, and thumbnails
Google Ads checklist with steps: account-level exclusions, total campaign budget, conversion import
Video shoot checklist & 60s script template
Landing page template with nomination form fields and embed code for a Wall of Fame widget
30/60/90 day optimization playbook and a 72-hour launch checklist

Sample small business case — local bakery (compact case study)

Scenario: A neighborhood bakery wants more community engagement and walk-ins. They run a 10-day Wall of Fame nomination push with a $1,000 total campaign budget across Search and YouTube.

Assets: announcement Short (30s), nominee profile (60s), 3 search headlines, 2 responsive descriptions
Setup: Total budget $1,000, start/end dates, local radius targeting, account-level exclusions for unsafe placements
Results (hypothetical but realistic): 150 nominations, nomination conversion rate 4.5%, cost-per-nomination ≈ $6.66. Foot traffic rose 8% during the campaign, new customer ratio 22%.

Lessons: Short, local campaigns with a focused nomination conversion are measurable and affordable for most small businesses. Using a total campaign budget and account-level exclusions prevented overspend and unwanted placements while freeing the owner to focus on storytelling.

Advanced tactics for longer-term programs

Sequenced ads: Show announcement → nominee → winner to progressively warm audiences.
Retargeting: Retarget site visitors who viewed nominee videos but didn't nominate within 7 days. Consider automations and tooling from tools that automate nomination triage to reduce manual workload.
User-generated content amplification: Encourage nominators to share submissions for organic reach, then boost top-performing posts with small ad spends.
Attribution & ROI: Use GA4’s event-based model and track assisted conversions from YouTube views to nomination conversions. Calculate ROI by attributing lifetime customer value or donation lift resulting from the campaign.

Workshop facilitation tips (for trainers)

Keep groups small (4–8 businesses) to ensure hands-on time.
Bring sample assets and a template Google Ads account to demo advanced settings without risking client budgets.
Use live AI prompts and let participants iterate. Guided AI coaching is faster than lecturing copy rules — see implementation guidance for Gemini-guided learning.
Record the session and provide a 1-page action plan per attendee within 48 hours.

Trends and predictions for recognition campaigns in 2026

Recognition programs will increasingly look like short-form media campaigns. Broad publishers and broadcasters (including major deals to produce exclusive YouTube content) are shifting attention to the platform — meaning small businesses can piggyback on audience behavior rather than building from scratch. Automation and safety features introduced in 2026 (total campaign budgets and account-level placement exclusions) make it cheaper and safer for small businesses to test paid media. At the same time, AI-guided learning will continue to lower the bar for high-quality creative and measurement.

Actionable takeaway checklist (start the workshop with this)

Create Google Ads account and link to billing.
Set a realistic total campaign budget and campaign dates.
Upload AI-generated headlines, descriptions, and video thumbnails.
Apply account-level placement exclusions for brand safety.
Publish two short YouTube videos and set them as creative assets.
Embed a nomination form and Wall of Fame widget on your site.
Link GA4 and configure nomination submission as a conversion.
Review performance daily for the first 72 hours and adjust.

Final notes on measurement and proving ROI

Cost-per-nomination is your primary short-term metric. Long-term, map nominations to retention, repeat visits, or donations. Use simple attribution windows (e.g., 7-day click + 14-day view) and report on both direct conversions and assisted outcomes. Small businesses should aim to test one hypothesis per campaign (e.g., “Short nominee videos increase nominations vs. search ads alone”) to learn quickly.

Call to action

Ready to train your team and launch a recognition campaign that drives nominations, engagement, and measurable results? Request the Wall of Fame Workshop Kit — including editable agendas, AI prompt packs, Google Ads checklists, video script templates, and a 30-day follow-up playbook — or schedule a live half-day workshop with our trainers. Start your campaign launch today and turn recognition into a measurable business advantage.

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