Build a Complete Ad Plan for One Product
The capstone project for Paid Ads for Beginners — a free Marketing course. Pass it and you earn a certificate anyone can verify.
- Free
- 6 steps
- Pass mark 65%
- Graded within minutes
- Beginner-friendly
The project unlocks once you complete the lessons. The workbook is free to download now so you can see exactly what is expected.
What you will submit
A single shared document link containing: a product description with price/margin/order channel, the audience + offer + objective strategy, two ad creatives with hook/body/CTA and image idea, a naira budget and test plan, and the metrics with target/break-even plus a cut-and-scale and retargeting note.
What to do, step by step
- Choose one real product or service (yours or a sample Nigerian business — e.g. an Aba-made bag, a skincare cream, a JAMB prep class, or a food vendor). At the top of your document, write 3–4 sentences describing the product, its price in naira, its margin, and how customers currently order (WhatsApp, DM, online store, or in person).
- Using Lesson 3, write your strategy: a one-paragraph description of your ideal buyer (location, age, interests, the problem you solve), your specific offer (discount/bundle/pay-on-delivery/urgency), and your chosen objective (Messages, Sales/Conversions, or Leads) with one line explaining why that objective matches how you take orders.
- Using Lesson 4, create TWO different ad creatives for the SAME product. For each, write: the hook (first line), the body copy following problem-solution-proof-offer, and a direct CTA — and describe the image or video you would use (what it shows, why it stops the scroll). Keep all claims honest and policy-safe.
- Using Lesson 5, write a budget and test plan: your daily budget in naira (between ₦2,000 and ₦5,000), how many days you will run it, the campaign/ad set/ad structure you will use, and how you will respect the learning phase before judging results. State the total naira you expect to spend on the test.
- Using Lesson 6, list the exact metrics you will judge the ads by (e.g. CTR, CPC, CPM, CPA/cost per result, ROAS), and state your target or break-even figure for the key one (for example 'I need at least 1 WhatsApp order per ₦2,500 spent' or 'I need ROAS above 2.5 to profit'). Add 2–3 lines on how you would cut the loser and scale the winner, including one retargeting idea.
- Put everything into one clean, well-organised document (Google Doc, Word, or Notion), set sharing to 'anyone with the link can view', and submit the link.
Files to work with
Project workbook (fill in, then submit)The whole brief, an evidence checklist, the grading rubric as a self-check and the link-sharing steps in one file. Opens in Word, Google Docs or WPS.Word · 7 KBHow it is graded
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Clear product description and a sharp strategy: specific ideal-buyer paragraph, a compelling naira offer, and an objective that genuinely matches the order channel | 25% |
| Two distinct ad creatives for the same product, each with a strong hook, problem-solution-proof-offer body, a direct CTA, and a described scroll-stopping image/video — all honest and policy-safe | 25% |
| A realistic, affordable naira budget and test plan (₦2k–₦5k/day, days, campaign/ad set/ad structure) that respects the learning phase | 20% |
| The right metrics chosen with a sensible target/break-even figure, plus a clear cut-the-loser, scale-the-winner, and retargeting plan | 20% |
| One tidy, well-organised, shareable document with a working view link and warm, plain, professional writing throughout | 10% |
You need 65% overall to pass. A failed submission comes back with feedback and can be revised and resubmitted.
Before you submit: make your link public
If your work lives in Google Drive or Google Docs, open Share → General access and change “Restricted” to “Anyone with the link” (Viewer). Then paste the link into a private browser window: if it opens without sign-in, you are ready. A private link cannot be graded — it is the single most common reason a good project fails.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to finish Paid Ads for Beginners before submitting the project?
Yes. The submission screen opens once every lesson in Paid Ads for Beginners is marked complete. The lessons are where the methods, the Nigerian context and the worked examples the project depends on are taught.
How is the project graded?
An examiner scores each rubric criterion from 0 to 100 and weights them as shown on this page; you need 65% overall to pass. Most submissions are graded within minutes and you get written feedback on what was strong and what to improve.
Can I resubmit if I fail?
Yes. A failed project comes back with feedback; revise the weak parts and resubmit. A passed project is final — the certificate is issued and cannot be re-rolled.
What do I actually submit?
A write-up of what you did (under 5,000 characters) plus a public link to your work — a Google Drive folder, Google Doc, spreadsheet, GitHub repository or video. The link must open without sign-in; a private link cannot be graded. The free project workbook on this page walks you through all 6 steps.
Is the certificate real?
Yes. Passing this project issues a certificate with a unique verification code. Anyone — an employer, a client, a school — can open the verification page and see that the certificate is genuine and which project earned it.
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Ready to earn this certificate?
Paid Ads for Beginners is free and self-paced. Finish the lessons, complete this project, and the certificate is yours to share.
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