Google AdSense is one of the most popular ad networks to use to monetize your blog or site. It works on a pay per click or pay per impression system which requires no additional work after set up and is used by many sites online. Backed by Google for more than a decade, AdSense is a trustworthy and easy way to earn money from running a blog or site.
Before you apply for Google AdSense, review the tips below to see if your blog or site is ready and qualifies for Google Adsense.
For other tips to monetize your blog or site, visit this post: How To Make Money Blogging
1. Have Quality Content
The most important thing to have on your blog or site is high-quality original content. A real person reviews your application for approval so having original content that is informative or helpful or entertaining will help your application. Google emphasizes having original content that provides value to your blog or site visitors.
Easy things to check to improve your content quality are spelling and grammar but also the number of your posts and the content of your posts. There is no official word from Google on the amount and content of posts they require for approval, but those who have gone through the application process recommend having at least twenty posts or pages with each post or page having a page worth of content. No post or page should be left blank. Having a good number of posts and pages shows to Google that your blog is well cared for and regularly updated.
2. Check Your Design
Google cares about the design of your blog or site. One example we have is that Google adjusts search rankings of sites based on the site design. With official word from Google, we know sites that are mobile responsive rank higher in search rankings.
Since a real person will be reviewing your application, help prepare your blog or site by making your content easy to read and pleasing to the eye. Use colors that are easy on the eyes, readable fonts, and minimize distracting widgets or plugins. Make your blog or site appear as professional as possible by ensuring your emphasis is on your content and not cluttering distractions.
For more tips, visit this post: 12 Tips for Making Your Blog Easier to Read
Clear navigation is important. Google AdSense has officially stated in a rejected application that easy to find navigation is a factor in the application process. Have your navigation menu in an easy to spot place such as the top of your design and use large fonts to make the navigation easy to read.
If you need a design to impress, we can help with our Blogger templates and WordPress themes designed to allow your content to shine in an easy-to-read, mobile responsive design.
3. Have a Privacy Policy Page
Google AdSense requires you to have a privacy policy for your blog or site to get approved for AdSense.
A privacy policy page shows to Google that you have set terms for how you will protect the privacy of your blog or site visitors. It shows to Google that you will keep the information of your blog or site visitors safe.
A privacy page should include information on what information you will collect, how you will use the information from your blog or site visitors, and steps you will take to protect their information and experience on your blog or site.
4. Have an About Page
Google AdSense also requires your blog or site to have an about page to get approved for AdSense.
This important page is a necessary step to show that your blog or site is run by a real person instead of a bot. Your about page should have similar information to your application such as names and contact information.
One helpful tip people who have gone through the application process recommend is to have the same name and email on your application also on your about page to show Google you are who you say you are.
5. Have a Contact Page
The last page Google AdSense requires your blog or site to have is a contact page to get approved for AdSense.
A contact page adds another layer of transparency about who is running your blog or site because it allows your site visitors to contact you. It shows Google that you are serious about your blog or site and will ensure communication between you and your visitors is open.
6. Have Eligible Content
Google AdSense will not approve of your blog or site if you have prohibited content on your blog or site. Google provides a list of prohibited content that will lead to your blog or site not being eligible for the ad network on their support page of program policies here.
7. Use a Custom Domain
Purchasing and using a custom domain will help with your application. It shows to Google that you are serious about your blog or site and have taken steps to make your blog or site be as professional as possible.
One exception are blogs on Google’s Blogger platform using the blogspot subdomain. If you have a Blogger blog using the blogspot subdomain, your application will have an easier time getting approved as you are using Google’s blogging platform.
8. Check Your Other Ads
Google AdSense has strict criteria for how to use their ads. Check your other ad networks before applying to see if they are compatible with Google AdSense and do not violate Google’s guidelines for using AdSense with other ad networks.
Google has guidelines for how to use their ads on their program policies page here.
9. Check Your Traffic
Blogs or sites with unusual traffic or traffic from prohibited sites will not be approved. Using paid traffic or bots to falsify your blog or site traffic and having too much of your traffic coming from sites that have prohibited content will lead to your application getting rejected.
Check your traffic to see your traffic statistics and where your traffic is coming from. Google values organic traffic and will penalize your blog or site if you use paid traffic or receive an excessive amount of traffic from prohibited sources.
Google Analytics is a free analytics tool for tracking your site traffic. Read our posts on how to install and use Google Analytics.
How to Install Google Analytics to Blogger
How to Install Google Analytics to WordPress
How to Read Google Analytics Part 1: The Basics
How to Read Google Analytics Part 1: A Deeper Look
Check your traffic to also see if your blog or site traffic is sufficient to monetize your blog or site. AdSense is a pay per click or impression ad network and works best for blogs or sites with a regular volume of good traffic. Google has no requirement for the amount of traffic your blog or site must have to apply but it is wise to have a good sense of how much traffic your blog or site receives if you are serious about monetizing your blog or site.
10. Check Basic Requirements
Common basic requirements often overlooked before applying are checking to see if your blog or site uses one of Google’s supported languages, has been active for a good amount of time, and ensuring you are the owner of your blog or site.
Yes these things are really necessary for bloggers and newcomers