I've been an AdSense publisher for more than 18 years, and in this post, I'll explain what Google AdSense is and how it works. I will also give you an overview of what it takes to make money using the AdSense platform.
What Is Google AdSense?
Google AdSense is an advertising platform that helps website owners earn money from their online content. It works by displaying ads relevant to the website's content and visitors. Businesses pay to advertise their products through Google Ads, and site owners get 68% of revenue based on clicks or ad impressions.
Here is an example of a Google AdSense ad on a website:
How Does Google AdSense Work?
- Create a Google AdSense Account
- Set Up Your Payment Information
- Add Adsense Ads To Your Website
- Choose Ad Placements
- You Get Paid
1. Create a Google AdSense Account
The first step is to go to the Google AdSense website and create an account. To finish this process, you'll need three things:
- A Google account: Your AdSense account is associated with a Google Account like the one you use to log in to Gmail, YouTube, etc.
- A phone number and mailing address: AdSense will verify your address to ensure it's the same as your bank account address.
- A website to add the AdSense code: A live website is a prerequisite to joining the AdSense program. You should be the owner of the website.
2. Set Up Your Payment Information
The next step in the application process is to add your payment information. Google will verify your postal address by sending you an envelope with a confirmation code, so make sure that the details you provide for your postal address are correct.
You can create an account as an individual or a business. In both cases, the details should match your bank account information.
You may also have to provide a phone number, depending on your location. Google will use this to verify your account.
3. Add Adsense Ads To Your Website
Once you apply for an AdSense account and before being accepted to the program, Google needs to check that your website adheres to the AdSense guidelines.
To pass this step, add the AdSense code to your site so the Google crawler can access your website’s content.
Follow these steps:
- Click Sites from the left menu.
- Click New Site.
- Enter the URL of your website (without http - domain only).
- Click Save.
- Copy the AdSense code snippet.
- Paste the code into the HTML of your page between the <head> and </head> tags.
- Check the "I've placed the code" box.
- Click the Verify button.
This is a very important step because there are cases in which your application may not be accepted.
During this step and until you are fully approved, AdSense ads are not shown to your website; they are hidden by default. If your application is accepted, ads will show, and you will get paid for the clicks.
This process may take a few days, but in some cases, it can take 2 to 4 weeks.
Remember that this is a once-off process since after being accepted as an AdSense publisher, you can run AdSense on any website you want (provided it does not violate AdSense rules).
For more information, read the How to Get Accepted to AdSense guide.
4. Choose Ad Placements
Once accepted into the program, the next step is to configure how you want your ads to appear on your website.
You have two options: Let Google decide when and where to show ads or choose the exact places to display the ads.
Let Google Place Ads for You (Auto Ads)
If you go with this option, you must add the AdSense code to your website (once), and Google will automatically show ads in the best possible places. This is currently the recommended method to add ads to your website.
- Go to Sites and click the Edit Button next to your site's name.
- Check the Auto Ads checkbox.
- Go through the rest of the options (Overlay formats, In-Page Formats, Excluded areas, Excluded Pages) to define where ads should be shown.
Create Custom Ad Units
If you don't want to go with Auto Ads, the other option is to create custom ad units and add the code in the exact places you want the ads to appear on your site.
Click by ad unit, and select what ad units to create.
When creating an ad unit, you can select the type (Display ads, in-article ads, multiplex ads, etc.) and define the style (text and border colors) of the ads. You will be given a code (Javascript) to add to your website where you want the particular ad to appear.
In the space provided, Google may show 1 or more ads.
Pro Tip: You can use auto ads to let AdSense show ads AND custom ad units to show ads in specific areas.
5. You Get Paid
When everything is set up correctly, AdSense will start showing ads on your website, and you get paid for clicks and impressions of your ads.
Adsense works with EPC (earnings per click), and EPM (earning per 1000 impressions). Publishers will get paid for clicks or views of ads appearing on their websites.
Currently, AdSense publishers receive 68% of the click cost and Google 32%. This means that if an advertiser pays $1 for each click on his ads, the AdSense publisher will get $0.68 and Google $0.32. The amount of money you can make varies per ad type and format.
You can use the Reports option to view details on how your ads perform and how much money you will get each month.
How Much Money Can You Make With Google Adsense?
How much money you will make from AdSense depends on the following:
- The amount of traffic your website receives.
- The type of traffic.
- The number of advertisers in your niche.
- The type of content you have on your website.
- The position of your AdSense ads.
You can get a rough estimation using the AdSense earnings calculator available on the AdSense homepage, but this is only an estimation.
From experience, it's very difficult to calculate exactly the amount you can from ads. You'll have to run AdSense on your website for a few months to determine your average monthly revenue.
How does AdSense calculate earnings?
AdSense uses two models to calculate how much money you'll receive per click and per impression.
- Per Click - you get paid when someone clicks on your ads. The amount depends on how much the advertisers are willing to pay for an ad click.
- Per Impression - that's the average earnings per 1000 views or impressions of an ad.
Earnings also vary per product. AdSense for content pays 68% of the revenue share. AdSense for Search and Auto Ads 51%.
You can check the revenue share per active product from your AdSense account (go to Account Information under Settings) to see exactly how much you'll make per ad type.
For examples and real case studies, read our guide on Can You Still Make Money With AdSense.
How To Make Money With AdSense
Here are some best practices to increase your AdSense earnings.
- Adhere To AdSense Policies - It is crucial to comply with AdSense rules to avoid account suspension. Regularly review Google's policy updates for safe monetization.
- Create a Content-Rich Website - Focus on developing high-quality, original content that provides value to your audience. This approach not only drives traffic but also enhances ad performance.
- Target Keywords With a High CPC - Utilize SEO tools to identify and integrate keywords with high Cost Per Click (CPC), ensuring your content aligns with lucrative advertising markets.
- Position Your Ads Above The Fold - Place ads strategically above the fold (visible area without scrolling), as it typically results in higher visibility and click-through rates.
- Use AdSense Optimization Features - Regularly check the Optimization option in your AdSense account. It provides opportunities, experiments, and labs you can use to increase your AdSense revenue.
Read our guide on How To Maximize Your AdSense Earnings for more best practices.
Google Ads vs. Google AdSense
Many people confuse Google Ads and AdSense, but they are two different platforms.
Google Ads is the platform that advertisers use to set up campaigns and run ads on Google Search, Google Display Network, Google Discover, YouTube, and other Google products.
Google AdSense is the platform publishers use to show Google Ads on their websites and make money.
When a publisher chooses to show ads on the Google Display Network, these ads are shown to websites participating in the AdSense program.
Read the differences between Google Ads and Google AdSense guide for more details.
Learn More About AdSense
Adsense is a great way to make money online. It’s easy to use, reliable and works better than any other platform. Adsense allows you to create ad units of different types and sizes and add those to your website. Using a complex algorithm, Google fills that space with ads related to your content and audience.
If you don’t have an AdSense account, the first step is to apply and get accepted to the program. Read the AdSense success stories to get inspiration.
ronit says
How to use ad mob for mobile apps?
Alex says
Hi Ronit
You need to use Admob. You can create an account here: https://www.google.com/admob/. Admob is a google product and the procedure is similar to adsense with the difference that the ads are shown in mobile applications (for example android or iPhone apps) and not mobile websites. If you want to show yours ads on the mobile friendly version of your website, you should use Adsense instead.
Hope this helps
Alex
abdul rahman says
Hi,
Your article is very informative for everyone who is beginner in this field. I have read your article from its first line to last line. It is remarkable.
I have one question that is raised in my mind.
“What is current ranking algorithm of google”
Best regards,
Alex says
Hi
Thank you for you nice comments.
Google is using an algorithm (a set of rules) to determine which web sites to show in their search results and in what position to show each website. This the known as the “Google ranking algorithm”.
To make money from Adsense you need Google organic traffic i.e. traffic coming to your website from the Google search results. Assume that your website has a good ranking position now on Google and you get traffic and make money from adsense since some of your visitors click on your ads. If Google changes their algorithm and you no longer rank in the fist positions of Google, your adsense income will also be negatively affected.
Hope this makes sense,
Alex
Romjan Dhayan says
Your article always good for the readers, Specially this article will help the newbies who are interested in Google AdSense.
Alex says
Hi
Thank you Romjan for your comment.
All the best with your Adsense efforts
Alex
Idris says
Nice , simple and informative piece, you have always been doing well across your published work.
Alex says
Thank you Idris. Hope it helped you understand more about Adsense and how it works.
All the best
Alex
Emma says
I found this article very useful particularly for the beginners like me., Thanks
Abhinav says
Hi Alex,
Thanks for your valuable article which made me clear on Adsense earnings. I had no picture about this process neither google explained so very well. After reading your article I finally realized that whatever website we make should attract the traffic only then we’ll be able to make money from Adsense which means our website should be popular and have attractive material for users. So thanks once again to make it very clear.
Harsh says
Very nicely explained!
Bill Kasman says
I just want to clear up a point which is causing me some confusion since I have heard conflicting stories elsewhere. Does Adsense pay ONLY when an ad is clicked on or does it pay for simply displaying ads on a blog?
Paula says
As the others I’ve been reading from you clear, simple and easy to read. Besides so informative! Thank you! Things I never understood before are now coming to be very useful!
Vikas says
Great article for To be adsense account holders.
Everything you want to know about adsense and its here.
Really appreciate.
Thanks Alex
Atul Sinha says
Most of people don’t know how Google AdSense works and gave you lots of money. Your great article could help people a lot and after reading this article definitely everyone got good understanding about Google AdSense. Great Great
Alex Chris says
Thanks a lot Atul! Hope you are having a great success with Adsense.
Alex
Vtio says
Thank you very much, this article has been pretty usefull, and gives one a good view on how to start on adsense.
But i have a question.
In a previous answer you mentioned “Organic traffic”, could you explain a little bit more of that?
Is this the only kind od traffic?
Thank you very much
VALDELICE says
Excellent article, my congratulations Alex says, really to make money on adsense it is necessary that the blog has a lot of traffic and quality content otmizado for advertisement that pays high value
Prosperity Kenneth says
Honestly this is quite much of a wonderful Google adsense introduction.
Thanks for a well detailed piece
Marco says
Very informative article about google adsense. Thank you for sharing.
Rabina Prasad says
Hello you article was very helpful. I just wanted to know that if my blog is on any free website like wordpress can i add adsense to it also and also at the time of creation(not wait for 3-6 months).
Thank you very much..
Naseef says
One cannot depend on AdSense for a living. I was a little late to understand that.
Thank you for sharing this great article.
sachin says
Hi,
I have just started My blog. How much minimum Posts are required so that I can apply for Google Adsense.
Regards
Sachin
Aminul Islam says
Hi Alex,
Honestly, after searching a lot on the web post regarding Adsense, I found this valuable post. You made some bullet points to understand the starting to getting money from Adsense. I wish i could write like you.
I have a adsense running site with my local language. This article will help me writing about adsense in my blog.
Thanks again for the post. Keep sharing 🙂
Alex Chris says
Hi Aminul
Thanks for your comment. All the best with your AdSense efforts!
Alex
Faruk says
Thanks for sharing the information. i really enjoyed your blog article. and you’r writing a good point for adsense beginner.
Nikhil Singh says
Hii Thanks for giving your great knowledge. You have explained each and everything in details that I learned a lot from this post.
Tereka McCollum says
Thank you for sharing this! I started my blog and wanted to know when and how to adsense and how it worked. Definitely not quitting my job for this but as a single parent, I’ll use it as a great tool to have another stream of income. Now to focus on content!
Thanks!
ANSARI INSTITUTE says
Excellent and much useful post, especially for those who wants to apply for adsense. All these guidelines/tips are much useful to follow, to get adsense account approved. Well, good/quality content, good blog design, easy blog navigation and privacy policy page are the most important one’s. Thanks for sharing
dharmesh says
Detailed effective guide for newcomers who want to start earning through blogging using AdSense. I have been an AdSense publisher for the last five years but payments have never been received and the reason is simply inconsistency in blogging. I hope this time I will be regular and earn some money. Thanks a lot…
SWATEE NIGAM says
Thanks, it was very informative. Especially for the beginners.
looking forward for more such helpful posts. 🙂
Pet2301 says
hi, thanks for the article. I have been using adsense for a few weeks, but I really have a problem with the sort of ads that appear on my website. I used a VPN to see if it would make any difference if I were (presumably) in a different location, but it doesnt mae a difference. In the topbar (above the fold) as well as in the bottom bar i see these realy obnoxious looking txt ads with huge black letters, and then even two or three under each other, while I made space for just 1 ad. I tried to block many txt ads but that is very laborious work, removing one by one, which I think Google replaces again the next day with new ones. I am at my wits end. How do I get nice looking ads that fit my website?
Alex Chris says
Hi
Just give the AdSense system some time to ‘learn’ more about your website’s structure and content and soon you’ll see that the ads will be improved. After the learning phase, the system will deliver better ads for your users.
Hope this helps
Alex
Marija says
The article is great but I have one issue with Adsense that no one seems to address.
I have a blog on blogger that is also being owned by Google and in this case, I can’t do anything you are suggesting until I get a message in a special tab of the blog where it will be stated that my blog is acceptable for AdSense. Until then I can’t do anything and more importantly, don’t know what I am doing wrong or how to improve.
so basically just waiting in vain I think…
any advice?
Alex Chris says
Hi Marija
It’s better to create your own self-hosted blog so that you don’t have to depend on the provider and also have more flexibility. This guide will help: https://www.reliablesoft.net/wordpress-blogging/
Thanks a lot
Alex
Shamsher Khan says
This is a very useful and brief guide about google Adsense this can really help in better to understand the exact functionality of google Adsense.
Alex Chris says
Hi Shamsher
Thanks for your comment. Glad I could help you understand how Google AdSense works.
Alex