Google AdSense is like the golden ticket to monetizing your website. Once your request sails through, you unlock a wealth of potential revenue that can help take your content to the next level.
But, this golden ticket isn’t always as easy to get a hold of as it should be. Google’s strict policy for approving AdSense accounts often leaves hopeful website owners scratching their heads in confusion.
The internet is fraught with horror stories of being denied an AdSense account. You pour work hours into your blog or website, only to be shot down in the 11th hour. Nothing can be more disheartening.
But don’t despair! With the right approach and a little bit of luck, you can get your AdSense approval in record time.
Google changed its AdSense approval procedure in 2015, making it easier for new publishers to take advantage of the program.
They simplified their rules and regulations, giving aspiring website owners a fighting chance to break into the world of AdSense.
Here’s what a typical Google AdSense approval procedure looks like in 2023:
- First, you have to ensure your website is compatible with AdSense. That means having a secure domain and ensuring all of your content meets the program’s guidelines.
- Sign up for an AdSense account and provide all of the necessary information.
- You’ll be provided with an AdSense code to paste onto your website.
- The Google AdSense team will review your website and make sure it complies with its rules and guidelines. You’ll receive an email confirming your approval if they find that it meets the standards.
- The AdSense team will ask you to verify your identity by providing a valid ID and other details. Once they’ve checked your information, they will grant you access to the AdSense program.
- You’ll be asked to enter your payment details to receive your earnings. And voila! You’re all set and ready to start earning revenue from AdSense.
Side Note: Google AdSense’s payment threshold is $100, so you won’t receive any earnings until you reach that amount.
How Long Does it Take Google to Approve Your AdSense Account?
Typically, it takes two business days for Google to review your website and grant you access to its AdSense program. In rare cases, it can take two to four weeks, so be patient and don’t lose hope.
If your account is rejected, you will receive an email with the reason for the rejection. It could be a violation of its terms and conditions or simply that your website doesn’t meet AdSense standards. In either case, take some time to fix any issues and re-apply for the program.
10 Things You Must Do Before Applying for an AdSense Account
#1. Write In-depth, High-Quality Blog Posts
Google will only approve your website if it has valuable, original content. You want to ensure your blog posts are at least 500 words in length and free from plagiarism before proceeding with the application.
Google will never approve your account if your website or blog is filled with prohibited content, such as adult material or copyrighted works.
So, how many posts must you have before applying for an AdSense account? There’s no hard and fast rule, but it’s a good idea to have at least ten blog posts before you apply.
#2. Make Sure Your Website is Secure
Google will only approve your website if it’s secure and running on a valid domain. That means having an SSL certificate, a privacy policy page, and a contact page.
Additionally, ensure your website is free from malware and has no broken links. A Google Search Console account can help you identify any potential issues.
The most important factor here is to have a secure connection. You don’t want your visitors’ information intercepted or stolen, right?
#3. Have a Clean Layout
Google cares about users’ experience and wants to ensure your website looks and feels the part. Aesthetics aside, if users can’t find what they’re looking for on your website, they won’t stick around — and Google won’t be the happiest.
So, make sure your website has a clean layout and that the navigation is easy to find. Put important pages such as about us and contact in the header, and make sure users can easily find what they’re looking for on your website.
At the same time, avoid having too many ads or pop-ups, as this could negatively impact your user experience.
If your website already has a lot of ads, consider removing them before applying for an AdSense account.
#4. Make Sure Your Website or Blog is SEO-friendly
Search engine optimization (SEO) is critical to the success of any website, and Google AdSense will only approve your website if it meets its SEO standards.
You can begin by installing Yoast SEO plugin if you have a WordPress blog. With every new blog post or page, you’ll be guided through the optimization process and given tips on how to improve your SEO.
Next, run the blog through an SEO audit tool such as SEMRush to identify any potential issues. You also want to check its loading speed to ensure it’s as fast as possible.
#5. Write Sufficient Blog Posts
While there’s no hard and fast rule on the number of blog posts you must have, it’s good to have at least 15 blog posts before applying for AdSense.
You also want to ensure the blog posts are at least 500 words long and are SEO-friendly. If they’re not, consider rewriting them or adding more content.
Finally, make sure your blog posts are fresh and up-to-date. Google will only approve your website if it has high-quality, original content that meets its standards.
#7. Must-have pages
Google will only approve your website if it has certain pages, particularly a privacy page, about us page, contact page, and terms & conditions page.
Here’s what each of these pages does:
- Privacy Page: Describes what data your website or blog collects, how it’s used, and who it is shared with.
- About Us Page: Explains who you are and what your mission is.
- Contact Page: A contact page lets users contact you with any questions or feedback they may have.
- Terms and Conditions Page: Outlines the rules by which your website or blog operates.
#8. Do Not Use Copyrighted Images
A common mistake beginning website owners make is using copyrighted images on their websites. Not only is this illegal, but it could also get your AdSense account banned or suspended.
By copyright we mean the images you pulled off someone else’s website or blog.
To avoid this, you should use royalty-free images or create your own custom graphics.
You can get royalty-free images from sites like Unsplash and Pixabay for free.
Or, you can use a basic graphic design tool to create your own images.
The last thing you want is to get your AdSense account banned because of copyright infringement.
#9. Have a Dedicated Domain Name
Needless to say, you should have a dedicated domain name for your website or blog. It should preferably end with .com, .net, or .org.
Having a dedicated domain name gives your website more authority and helps it stand out from the crowd.
If you don’t have one yet, you can get one from a domain names registrar such as NameCheap or GoDaddy.
Google doesn’t approve websites or blogs hosted on a free blogging platform such as Blogger, WordPress.com, or Tumblr.
So if you’re still using one of these platforms for your website, it may be time to move to a paid hosting provider.
#10. Be Patient
While there are specific steps you can take to increase your chances of getting approved, the process still takes time.
Google manually reviews each website before giving it the green light, so patience is key.
In most cases, the review process usually takes around 4-6 weeks, so don’t be discouraged if you haven’t heard back after a few days.
Once your website is approved, Google will send an email notification to the address associated with your AdSense account.
Applying for Google AdSense
After following all the steps above, it’s time to submit your website or blog to Google AdSense.
The process isn’t complicated, but you should ensure everything is in order before submitting.
To apply, you can start by signing up for a Google AdSense account. Follow this link to get started.
You’ll be prompted to enter your website’s details, such as the URL, language, and contact information.
You’ll also be provided with a code to paste into your website’s HTML.
Once you’ve completed all the steps, submit your website or blog and wait for Google’s reply.
Be sure to use your actual address, name, and payee’s correct name when applying. Otherwise, you may encounter issues when you receive payments.
All you have to do now is sit back, relax, and wait for Google’s response.
Google AdSense Approval Process
Once you’ve submitted your website or blog and added the AdSense code to your website or blog, the next step is to wait.
The ads will show as blank until Google approves your website. That is when the review process begins.
Google will take a few weeks to manually review your application and check if it meets its criteria.
If everything looks good, they’ll send you an email or a notification in your AdSense account with their decision.
If it’s approved, congrats — you can now start monetizing your website or blog with Google AdSense.
If it’s not approved, don’t worry — you can always re-apply after fixing any issues that led to the rejection.
10 Google AdSense Alternatives
Google AdSense isn’t the only content monetization program out there.
If you’re not approved or just want to explore other options, here are 10 Google AdSense alternatives to try out:
#1. Ezoic
Ezoic is an end-to-end display ad platform for publishers. The ad platform uses proprietary artificial intelligence algorithms to analyze and optimize ad placements for maximum performance.
The AI ensures each visitor only gets targeted with the amount, location, and size of ads they’re likely to click on.
Note that Ezoic is a certified Google Publishing Partner. Meaning they have access to the coveted Google AdX portfolio of advertising partners.
You cannot access Adx through Google AdSense. It’s a premier-level network of advertisers that requires publishers to undergo a special application process.
#2. Media.net
Media.net is a popular contextual ad network owned by Yahoo and Bing. It’s designed for small and medium-sized websites, a direct competitor to Google AdSense.
The marketplace has millions of advertisers, so you can be sure to find relevant ads for your website or blog.
The platform was the first to develop a server-side header bidding technology. That helps you to maximize revenue from each ad impression by optimizing the ad bid process.
#3. AdThrive
AdThrive is a leading full-service ad management platform for publishers. The team consists of former Google employees and user experience experts, so you can be sure you’re in good hands.
The platform integrates with all the major ad networks, allowing you to maximize revenue from each ad impression.
It also offers advanced ad optimization features such as “smart tags” and AI-driven automation. That helps ensure your website delivers the most relevant ads for each visitor.
#4. Adsterra
Adsterra is an advertising network that works with both large and small publishers. The platform features a wide range of display, video, native, pop-under, and banner ads.
It offers competitive CPM rates and low minimum withdrawal limits ($5). It also has dedicated account managers to help you optimize your ad placements.
#5. Propeller Ads
Propeller Ads is an advertising network that features a wide range of display and video ads. It has some of the highest CPM rates in the industry, along with low minimum withdrawal limits ($20).
The platform also offers advanced targeting options to help you deliver the most relevant ads to each visitor.
#6. Infolinks
Infolinks is a leading in-text advertising network that delivers relevant ads based on the content of your web pages.
The platform offers four ad types—in-text, in-frame, in-tag, and in-screen. These allow you to create a unique, non-intrusive ad experience for your visitors.
The platform also has an excellent reporting interface, enabling you to keep track of your performance and make necessary changes.
#7. Skimlinks
Skimlinks is an affiliate marketing network that helps publishers generate revenue from their content. The network automatically converts product links in your content into affiliate links.
The platform also features an analytics dashboard and conversion tracking to help you optimize for maximum revenue.
#8. Adcash
Adcash is a global ad network that offers both display and mobile ads. The platform has a wide range of targeting options, including geographical, device-based, behavioural, and contextual.
The platform also has an excellent reporting interface to help you monitor your performance and optimize ad placements.
#9. BuySellAds
BuySellAds is a marketplace for publishers and advertisers to connect directly. The platform has over two million advertisers and enables you to set your own prices for display ads on your website or blog.
The platform also offers an extensive analytics dashboard, so you can keep track of your performance and make necessary changes to your ad placements.
#10. Adblade
AdBlade is a native ad network for publishers with a reach of over 120 million unique visitors per month. The platform offers both CPC and CPM pricing models and features real-time bidding to help you maximize revenue from each impression.
The platform also has a wide range of targeting options, helping ensure only the right people see your ads.
So now that you know what tools are available to help you monetize your website, it’s time to earn some extra cash. With so many great options out there, why wait? Start today and see how much earning potential your site has.
So, Which Google AdSense Alternative is the Best?
The most straightforward answer is — it depends.
It depends on your website’s content, the size of your audience, and what kind of ads you want to show.
However, if you’re looking for a comprehensive ad monetization platform that offers top-notch features and competitive rates, Mediavine is an excellent choice. With its integrated ad network partnerships and advanced optimization features, you can maximize your ad revenue with Mediavine.
AdSense alternatives like Infolinks and Skimlinks are the way to go for content-specific ads. But if you want to run direct advertising campaigns on your site, networks like BuySellAds or Propeller Ads may be worth exploring.
How to Get Your Google AdSense Account Approved Fast
You might have read articles or watched videos that claim to serve Google Ads on sites with only one post or without any post. Unfortunately, this is not true. Google AdSense has strict policies that you must follow to get your account approved and start serving ads.
They’ll never approve an account with zero content or without contact information, privacy policy, or terms of service.
We’ve mentioned the bare minimum requirements for getting your AdSense account approved. But you might have to do more to get your account approved faster.
Here are some tips to get your AdSense account approved quickly:
#1. Pages and Categories
One of the things Google looks for in an AdSense application is the type of content your site publishes. They expect you to set your pages and categories right.
In this case, they’ll never approve a website that appears to be empty or under construction.
To get approved, you must ensure your website has a contact us, privacy policy, and terms of service pages, as this is a must for AdSense.
You should also have multiple articles with at least 500 words each. If you don’t have enough pieces, create more to ensure your website looks active.
#2. How to Get Your Google AdSense Account Approved with Just a Few Articles
If you have a few articles that aren’t enough to get your account approved, try creating more content.
Google considers content that’s above 600 words and above to be quality content.
Before, they would approve accounts with 100 words articles. But that’s changed now, and they want more detailed content.
So, be sure to produce content that’s at least 500 words, but preferably aim for 1000 words and above.
Also, try to write at least 20 articles before submitting your application. That will show Google that you have a long-term plan for your website and that it’s not just another spammy site.
Of course, it’s possible to get your account approved even with a few articles. But the more content you have, the better your chances of getting accepted.
#3. Copyright/Plagiarism
Google doesn’t take copyright violations and plagiarism lightly. They will never approve your application if they find out you’re stealing content from other websites.
Be sure to create original content or use public domain images that don’t require any permission to use.
You want to start by writing original content and running it through Copyscape before publishing it on your website.
It’s also important not to copy content from other websites, even if it’s not duplicated.
Google has sophisticated algorithms to detect these, and they won’t approve your AdSense application.
#4. AI Content
Never heard of AI content?
AI content is a type of content generated by Artificial Intelligence. This type of content has been gaining popularity lately, but it usually doesn’t get approved by AdSense.
Google prefers to see legitimate human-generated content before approving an application.
So if you’re thinking about using AI-generated articles to get your AdSense application approved, think twice.
And if you must use it, be sure to use it sparingly and only with a paid AI tool such as Jasper AI.
#5. Number of Posts Per Category
Planning on running a multi-niche website?
First, you want to plan and organize your website’s structure.
Google AdSense only approves websites with at least 3 to 10 articles in each category.
So, if you’re planning on running a multi-niche website, ensure you have enough content for each niche.
Google won’t approve your website if some of your categories appear underdeveloped.
#6. How Much Traffic Does Google AdSense Require?
Google doesn’t specify any minimum traffic requirements for AdSense. But one thing’s for sure — they won’t approve your application if your website isn’t receiving any traffic.
That means you must ensure your website is live and has at least some people visiting it before submitting your application.
You also want to ensure that you’re not just using bots to generate fake traffic, as Google can easily detect these and will reject your AdSense application if they find out.
So, how do you get people to visit your website?
Start by creating and promoting the content on social media, forums, and other platforms. You want to promote the website on Quora, Reddit, and StumbleUpon.
Also, be sure to share every piece of content you publish in Facebook groups and join Twitter chats.
But before you do that, use a URL shortener such as bitly to track the number of clicks your website is receiving. It also prevents your website from being flagged as spam.
#7. Getting Approved without a Website
It’s impossible to get AdSense approved without a website or blog. Google only approves applications from websites and blogs that are live on the internet.
And not just blogs, but self-hosted ones.
Google doesn’t approve applications from free blogging platforms such as Blogger, WordPress.com, or Tumblr.
Some Final Words
Getting your AdSense application approved isn’t easy. Still, if you follow the steps outlined above and make sure your website meets all the eligibility criteria, then there’s a good chance you’ll be approved on the first attempt.
