How to go about finding an ad professional?

I am the cofounder of a search marketing company, have hired several specialists, so I might have some tips. (By the way, a freelancer is going to be a better fit for you than an agency...don't hire a company when you're starting out unless you're filthy rich!)

First, some things to vet your freelancer.

• Are they data-driven? By this I mean, do they love diving into analytics and really analyzing engagement and performance? Do they make emotional decisions or pick channels and strategies based on what actually works?
• Do they use jargon? Be careful about folks who just spew fancy words. Paid ads is not a field where you want to use hacks, tricks, automated tools, etc. You just want a simple, solid campaign.
• If they say you can run Google Ads for less than $1000/mo, run away. It is rarely possible, especially with ecommerce.
• If you want, skim through our Beginner's Guide To PPC (https://www.discosloth.com/beginners-guide-to-ppc) and get a decent grasp of what goes into a Google/Bing campaign before you talk to people to help you wade through the crap.
• Are they charging less than $50-150 an hour or at least a setup fee + $500/mo retainer? You might avoid them, they're too cheap.

I know there are a lot of "gurus" out there - unfortunately they make a bad name for all of us.

Best of luck!