How to Get AdSense Approval

Google AdSense is one of the most trusted and widely used advertising platforms in the world. For website owners, bloggers, and content creators, getting approved for AdSense means unlocking a reliable source of passive income through contextual ads. However, the approval process is notoriously strict. Many applicants face rejection due to incomplete content, poor site structure, or failure to meet Google’s policies. This comprehensive guide walks you through every step required to secure AdSense approval—without guesswork, without fluff, and without violating Google’s terms. Whether you’re launching a new blog or optimizing an existing site, this tutorial gives you the exact blueprint used by successful publishers.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Choose a Niche with Monetization Potential

Your niche sets the foundation for everything that follows. Google AdSense favors websites that provide value to users and attract consistent organic traffic. Avoid overly saturated or low-value niches like “make money online” or “free download” sites. Instead, focus on niches with clear user intent and commercial relevance—such as home improvement, personal finance, tech reviews, education, health and wellness, or travel guides.

Use tools like Google Trends and Ubersuggest to validate demand. Look for topics with steady or growing search volume over the past 12 months. A good niche should have:

• High search volume (at least 1,000 monthly searches per keyword)
• Low to medium competition
• Clear monetization potential (products, services, or affiliate opportunities)

For example, “best budget laptops for students 2024” is a stronger niche than “how to earn money fast.” The former attracts users ready to make a purchase decision, making it more attractive to advertisers.

2. Register a Custom Domain Name

While Google technically allows AdSense applications from free platforms like Blogger or WordPress.com, approval is significantly harder. A custom domain (e.g., yoursite.com) signals professionalism and long-term commitment. Avoid free subdomains like yoursite.blogspot.com or yoursite.wordpress.com unless you plan to migrate later.

Choose a domain name that is:

• Short and memorable
• Relevant to your niche
• Easy to spell and pronounce
• Preferably a .com extension

Use registrars like Namecheap, Porkbun, or Google Domains. Ensure your domain is registered for at least one year. Google may flag domains registered for only a few months as temporary or spammy.

3. Select a Reliable Hosting Provider

Your hosting provider impacts site speed, uptime, and security—all critical factors in AdSense approval. Avoid free or ultra-cheap shared hosting services that overload servers and cause slow load times. Instead, choose reputable providers like SiteGround, Cloudways, A2 Hosting, or Hostinger.

Key hosting requirements:

• Uptime guarantee of 99.9% or higher
• Fast server response time (under 500ms)
• SSL certificate installed (HTTPS required)
• Regular backups and malware scanning

Use tools like GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights to test your site’s speed after setup. If your site loads slower than 3 seconds on mobile, you risk rejection.

4. Install WordPress (or Equivalent CMS)

While AdSense doesn’t require WordPress, it’s the most widely accepted platform due to its flexibility, SEO capabilities, and plugin ecosystem. Install WordPress manually via your hosting control panel (cPanel), or use a one-click installer.

After installation:

• Choose a clean, responsive theme (e.g., Astra, GeneratePress, or Kadence)
• Disable default comments or use a moderated system like Disqus
• Remove any pre-installed placeholder content
• Set up a static homepage and a dedicated blog page

Avoid themes with excessive ads, pop-ups, or heavy JavaScript. Google penalizes sites with intrusive user experiences.

5. Create High-Quality, Original Content

This is the single most important factor in AdSense approval. Google requires a minimum of 30–40 high-quality posts before reviewing your application. More importantly, the content must be:

• Original and not copied from other sources
• Comprehensive and in-depth (minimum 800 words per post)
• Well-researched with credible sources
• Free of spelling and grammar errors
• Structured with headings, bullet points, and images

Focus on solving user problems. For example:

• “How to fix a leaking faucet: Step-by-step guide with tools and video”
• “10 best protein powders for women over 40: Tested and reviewed”
• “How to start a garden in small apartments: Container gardening for beginners”

Avoid thin content, keyword stuffing, or auto-generated text. Use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor to improve readability. Include at least 2–3 original images per post (no stock photos from free sites without attribution).

6. Build Essential Pages

AdSense reviewers look for professionalism. Your site must include these core pages:

Homepage

A clean, organized homepage that clearly explains your site’s purpose. Include a brief introduction, featured posts, and a navigation menu.

About Page

Write a detailed “About” page that introduces yourself or your team. Explain your expertise, mission, and why you created the site. Include a professional photo. Example: “Hi, I’m Sarah. I’ve been a certified nutritionist for 8 years and created this site to help busy professionals eat well without spending hours in the kitchen.”

Privacy Policy

This is mandatory. Use a generator like Termly or PrivacyPolicies.com to create a compliant policy. Include information about data collection, cookies, third-party services (including Google AdSense), and user rights. Link it in your footer.

Contact Page

Provide a simple contact form or email address. Even if you don’t plan to respond to every message, having a contact option shows legitimacy.

Disclaimer

Especially important for health, finance, or legal topics. State clearly that your content is for informational purposes only and not professional advice.

7. Optimize for SEO

AdSense doesn’t require high traffic, but it does require SEO-friendly structure. Without proper optimization, your site appears amateurish.

Key SEO tasks:

Use an SEO Plugin

Install Yoast SEO or Rank Math. Configure titles, meta descriptions, and focus keywords for each post. Avoid duplicate meta tags.

Internal Linking

Link related posts together. For example, if you write about “best running shoes,” link to your post on “how to choose running shoes for flat feet.” Internal links help Google understand your site’s structure.

URL Structure

Use clean, readable URLs: /best-budget-laptops-2024 instead of /post?id=123.

Image Optimization

Name image files descriptively (e.g., best-laptop-for-students.jpg) and add alt text describing the image. Use WebP format for faster loading.

Mobile Responsiveness

Test your site on mobile using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test. Ensure buttons are tappable, text is readable without zooming, and images scale properly.

8. Eliminate Policy Violations

Google rejects sites for policy violations—even if they’re unintentional. Audit your site for these common issues:

• Copyrighted content: Never copy articles, images, or videos from other sites. Use only original or properly licensed material.
• Adult content: Even implied references to adult themes can trigger rejection.
• Illegal or harmful content: Hate speech, violence, drug use, or misinformation.
• Low-value content: Pages with minimal text, auto-generated text, or copied product descriptions.
• Excessive ads: Don’t place ads above the fold or use pop-ups before content loads.
• Broken links: Use a tool like Screaming Frog to find and fix 404 errors.
• Placeholder text: Remove “lorem ipsum” or “coming soon” messages.

Run your site through Google’s AdSense Program Policies page and cross-check every item.

9. Wait for Content to Age

Google prefers sites that have been active for at least 6–8 weeks. Publishing 30–40 posts over 2–3 months signals sustainability. Don’t rush. Posting 40 articles in one day looks spammy.

Space out your content: Aim for 3–5 high-quality posts per week. Update older posts with new information. Google rewards sites that maintain and improve content over time.

10. Submit Your AdSense Application

Once your site meets all criteria:

1. Go to https://www.google.com/adsense
2. Sign in with your Google account (preferably one used for Google Search Console and Analytics)
3. Enter your site URL and click “Apply Now”
4. Fill in your payment details (name, address, tax info)
5. Accept the terms and submit

After submission, you’ll receive an email confirmation. The review process typically takes 24–72 hours but can extend to 2 weeks during high-volume periods.

11. Monitor Your Application Status

Log into your AdSense dashboard regularly. If approved, you’ll see a green “Approved” status and instructions to place ad code.

If rejected, Google will send an email with the reason. Common rejection messages:

• “Your site does not have enough content.”
• “Your site does not comply with our policies.”
• “Your site is under construction.”

Do not reapply immediately. Fix the issue, wait 2–4 weeks, then reapply with a new application. Reapplying too soon without changes leads to automatic rejection.

Best Practices

Focus on User Experience Over Ad Placement

Many applicants focus too much on where to place ads. That’s the wrong priority. Google prioritizes user experience. A site that loads fast, has clear navigation, readable fonts, and useful content will pass even with minimal traffic.

Follow these UX principles:

• Use white space effectively
• Limit ads to 3 per page (1 above content, 1 in-content, 1 at bottom)
• Avoid sticky ads, auto-play videos, or pop-ups
• Ensure text contrasts well with background (no light gray on white)

Build Organic Traffic Before Applying

While AdSense doesn’t require traffic, having 100–200 daily visitors significantly improves approval chances. Use free methods to drive traffic:

• Share posts on Pinterest (ideal for lifestyle, DIY, and food niches)
• Answer questions on Reddit and Quora with links to your content
• Submit to Google News if your niche qualifies (e.g., tech, finance, news)
• Engage with communities on Facebook Groups or LinkedIn

Use Google Search Console to monitor indexing. Ensure all your posts are crawled and indexed before applying.

Use Google Analytics and Search Console

Link both tools to your site before applying. They help you track performance and prove site activity. Google reviews these tools during the application process.

In Search Console:

• Submit your sitemap (usually sitemap_index.xml)
• Check for crawl errors
• Verify that your robots.txt allows indexing

In Analytics:

• Ensure tracking code is installed correctly
• Monitor bounce rate (aim for under 60%)
• Track average session duration (aim for over 2 minutes)

Update Content Regularly

Even after approval, your site must remain active. Google periodically audits approved sites. If your content becomes outdated or inactive, your account may be suspended.

Best practice: Schedule monthly content updates. Refresh old posts with new data, images, or links. Add a “Last Updated” date to each article.

Never Use Click Fraud or Manipulation

Clicking your own ads, asking friends to click, or using bots to generate traffic will result in permanent banning. AdSense uses advanced AI to detect fraudulent behavior. Even accidental clicks from family members can trigger a review.

Always follow the golden rule: Let users click ads naturally. Never encourage clicks.

Tools and Resources

Content Creation

• Grammarly – Grammar and spelling checker
• Hemingway Editor – Improves readability
• Canva – Create custom featured images
• Unsplash and Pexels – Free, high-quality images with no attribution required
• AnswerThePublic – Find real questions people ask about your niche

SEO and Technical Optimization

• Yoast SEO or Rank Math – WordPress SEO plugins
• Google Search Console – Monitor indexing and errors
• Google Analytics – Track user behavior
• Screaming Frog – Crawl your site for broken links and metadata
• GTmetrix – Test page speed and performance
• Mobile-Friendly Test – Google’s official mobile compatibility checker

Legal and Compliance

• Termly.io – Generate privacy policy, disclaimer, and terms of service
• PrivacyPolicies.com – Free policy generators with AdSense compliance
• CookieYes – GDPR and CCPA cookie consent banner

Analytics and Monitoring

• Ubersuggest – Keyword research and competitor analysis
• Google Trends – Track topic popularity over time
• SimilarWeb – Estimate traffic and audience demographics

Learning Resources

• Google AdSense Program Policies – Official guidelines
• Google Search Console Help
• Neil Patel’s YouTube Channel – SEO and content strategy
• Backlinko Blog – In-depth SEO tutorials

Real Examples

Example 1: Successful Approval – “HomeBrewedCoffee.com”

A blogger named Alex started a site about home coffee brewing in January. He:

• Registered a .com domain with Namecheap
• Used SiteGround for hosting with SSL enabled
• Installed WordPress with Astra theme
• Published 42 original articles over 10 weeks (e.g., “How to grind coffee beans for French press,” “Best coffee beans for espresso machines 2024”)
• Added an About page, Privacy Policy, Contact page, and Disclaimer
• Optimized all images and used internal linking
• Used Yoast SEO to set meta titles and descriptions
• Connected Google Analytics and Search Console
• Submitted application on March 15

Approved on March 20. Within 3 months, he earned $280 from ads and began monetizing with affiliate links from Amazon.

Example 2: Rejection and Redemption – “TechTipsZone.net”

A new applicant named Maria applied after publishing 15 posts. She received a rejection email: “Insufficient content and low-quality user experience.”

She reviewed her site and found:

• Two posts were under 300 words
• Her homepage had placeholder text
• Her Privacy Policy was copied from another site
• Images had no alt text

She:

• Expanded all posts to 800+ words
• Removed placeholder text
• Generated a new Privacy Policy with Termly
• Added alt text to 68 images
• Waited 6 weeks and published 20 more articles
• Submitted a new application

Approved on her second attempt. She now earns $400/month.

Example 3: Rejected for Policy Violation – “FreeMovieStream4U.com”

A site offering free movie streaming was rejected for “copyrighted content.” Even though the site didn’t host files directly, it linked to third-party streaming sites—a clear violation of Google’s policy.

The owner tried reapplying with the same site. Rejected again. Eventually, he shut down the site and started a new one reviewing streaming services legally. He got approved in 8 weeks.

FAQs

Can I get AdSense approval with a new website?

Yes, but only if your site meets all content, structure, and policy requirements. A new site with 40+ high-quality posts, essential pages, and proper SEO can be approved within 2–3 months.

Do I need traffic to get AdSense approved?

No, Google does not require a minimum traffic threshold. However, having organic traffic improves your chances because it proves your content is valuable and engaging.

How many posts do I need for AdSense approval?

There’s no official number, but 30–40 original, well-written posts are strongly recommended. Quality matters more than quantity.

Can I apply with a free domain or subdomain?

Technically yes, but approval is rare. Google views free subdomains as low-quality or temporary. Use a custom domain for the best chance.

How long does AdSense approval take?

Typically 24–72 hours. During peak times (e.g., year-end), it can take up to 2 weeks. If you haven’t heard back after 14 days, check your spam folder and ensure your site meets all criteria.

What if my application is rejected?

Read the rejection email carefully. Fix the issue, wait 2–4 weeks, then reapply with a new application. Do not submit multiple applications in quick succession.

Can I use AdSense on multiple websites?

Yes, but each site must be approved individually. You cannot use one approved account for multiple sites unless they’re all listed under the same AdSense account during the application process.

Do I need to be 18 to apply?

Yes. AdSense requires applicants to be at least 18 years old. Minors can use a parent or guardian’s account with proper documentation.

Can I apply if I have affiliate links on my site?

Yes. AdSense allows affiliate links as long as they don’t dominate the page. Ensure your content is the primary focus, and affiliate links are clearly disclosed.

Will my site be reviewed again after approval?

Yes. Google conducts periodic audits. If your site violates policies after approval, your account may be suspended or terminated.

Conclusion

Getting AdSense approval is not a matter of luck—it’s a process. It requires patience, attention to detail, and a commitment to quality. The most successful publishers don’t rush. They build sites that serve users first, and ads second. They understand that Google’s goal is to protect the user experience, not just distribute ads.

If you follow this guide step by step—choosing the right niche, creating original content, optimizing for SEO, eliminating policy violations, and waiting for your site to mature—you will get approved. It may take weeks, but the payoff is worth it: a sustainable, scalable source of income that grows as your audience does.

Remember: Rejection is not failure. It’s feedback. Use it to improve. Many of the world’s top publishers were rejected multiple times before succeeding. Stay consistent. Stay compliant. Stay focused on value.

Now that you have the blueprint, it’s time to act. Start today. Build your site. Publish your content. Optimize relentlessly. And when you click “Apply,” you’ll know you’ve done everything right.