There are all sorts of gurus, experts, superstars and the likes these days all professing to possess extraordinary skills in some sort of online field be it social media, the latest trend, or good old fashioned search engines. The problem is that most of these are self-proclaimed experts and there aren't easy ways of discerning the ones who really know what they're doing from the ones that only claim to. Part of the problem should soon be solved as Google has quietly rolled out Google Advertising Professional Search.

The tool, as the name implies, enables users to locate AdWords professionals in their region, qualified in the area they need assistance in. The boon here is that these professionals are all certified by Google and have to undergo a rather rigorous program to qualify for the title. Individuals or marketing consulting companies have to pass several exams and also prove practically that they can do a good job at managing and helping Google's AdWords customers.

"Google Advertising Professionals are not Google employees, but rather are online marketing professionals, agencies, and other individuals such as search engine marketers (SEMs), search engine optimizers (SEOs), and marketing consultants. They have been certified by Google to manage AdWords accounts. To become qualified, professionals must demonstrate an in-depth understanding of AdWords by passing exams, and they must meet all our qualification guidelines," Google explains.

The search tool enables users to search for a professional based on location and their advertising budget. The search engine is in beta for now and is restricted to the US during this period, though it will likely open up internationally once it gets the official seal of approval. After the initial query, you can further refine the search by checking off the areas which are of interest to you, with options like "traditional advertising (print & TV)," "search engine optimization," "marketing consultancy," "affiliate programs," "new media (mobile & social networks)" and others.