How to Make Money with Google AdSense

How does Google AdSense work? In short, AdSense works by paying you to include advertisements next to your content. This is a simply, easy, and great opportunity to monetize your web traffic.

Today, almost all websites can apply to Google in order to create an AdSense account. Google reviews the website and determines if it meets all the necessary criteria, upon which it is accepted and allowed to display ads on behalf of Google. The important part is that you can choose advertisements that are relevant to the rest of your content, that your site viewers would likely engage in based on their online activity, and even, customize the appearance and fit of the ad.  An experienced Google Adsense agency will help you to create the best placements and optimize for more earnings.

In this article, we’ll be talking about how to apply for AdSense, how AdSense works<span style=”font-weight: 400;”>, how much money you can make, and the best strategy to use. 

Getting Started: How Does AdSense Work?

Getting Approved by AdSense

To begin working on AdSense, you have to be eligible to apply and receive approval. Firstly, you must have a gmail or other Google Service account. If not, you can create one while signing up. Second, you need your own high-quality original content on a blog or site – all that matters is you are the owner and you adhere to the you adhere to the Google AdSense program policies. Lastly, you must be at least 18 years old or older. The approval time might take up to two weeks. 

It’s important to note Google does not fully share its metrics for approval. As long as you follow these requirements above properly, you’re good to apply (and most will likely get approved.) 

How to Sign Up for AdSense

Once you’re ready, you can visit the Google AdSense homepage and click sign up now. Next, put in the URL of the website you want to display ads on. For details on valid and invalid URLs and what to do if you have a Blogger blog or YouTube channel, there is a how-to page created by the Google AdSense help center. After that, you will enter your email address and be asked if you would like to receive recommendations and performance suggestions. These are useful so we recommend you input yes (and if needed, you can change it in the contact settings later). 

After pressing save and continue, you will need to sign into your Google account, enter your territory information, and review the terms and conditions. From here, you want to create AdSense codes and put them in your blog sidebar. These spaces will appear blank until your account is fully activated based on Google’s approval. 

In case you do not get approved or AdSense does not work, there are a few alternatives to Google AdSense you can try instead.

After Approval: How Does Google AdSense Work?

Congratulations! You can now arrange which ads you want to appear on your site and where. This process allows advertisers to connect with the right website owners and publishers for their adverts. In fact, companies bid in real-time for their ad on your site. The highest paying ad will be the one to appear on your site. 

Advertisers make their choice for which website to appear based on your content and how likely they are to get clicks from your website visitors – known as “quality score.” You can check the quality score for your ad. This score is measured on a ten-point scale (1 being the worst and 10 being the best) and is based on:

• Click-Through Rate (CTR): This percentage illustrates how many users Google estimates will click on the ad. CTR is highly impacted by keywords in the search inquiry. 
• Ad relevance and landing page experience: This considers Ad relevance in relation to the search inquiry as well as landing page experience (what happens after the user clicks on the ad).   

Quality score is important because Google depends on advertising as a source of revenue. So, they want to ensure that high-quality, interesting Ads are used over low quality, irrelevant ones. This in turn will make them more money and engage more users in the long term. Advertisers care a lot about quality score because it dictates eligibility – whether they can enter the auction, how they are ranked, and how much it will ‘cost-per-click’ (CPC.)

Make Money with AdSense

It’s now time advertisers pay you – so, how much money can you make using Google AdSense? Well, as mentioned above, advertisers estimate a ‘cost-per-click’ (CPC) based on the quality score received. CPC is how much advertisers must pay every time a user clicks on their ad from your website. The total CPC cost is split: Publishers make 68% of this while Google takes the rest. Exactly how much revenue you make depends on the level of competition and CPC niche. This can range anywhere from $0.20 to $15 per click. On average, for most niches it is less than $3 per click for publishers. So you might be thinking – what determines how much money I can make with AdSense? 

There are two ways to determine if your niche is highly profitable: 

1. CPC Map

Use the CPC Map to identify the most profitable niche according to country, region, and industry. In the United States for example, Insurance is the highest paying niche with an average CPC over $16. Following that is online education at $12.27 then marketing and advertising at $6.61.   If you are just starting a blog, this is extremely useful information. In addition, using the CPC map will allow you to make the most out of every dollar you spend. 

Although uncommon, sometimes Advertisers pay per view (known as a CPM rate). The average amount a CPM advert will pay truly differs – it can be anywhere from $0.5 per 1000 views up to $5.00 per 1000 views. 

2. Keyword Magic Tool

With over 20 billion keywords and counting (yes, billion), the keyword magic tool provides you with important statistics and information on any keyword. This database will give you tons of related keywords and their search volume, CPC, and competition level. For example, if you search the word “buy books”, the first two related key terms are “buy books online” and “how to buy books on Kindle.” The search volume for all three of these terms are equal at 5,400 – however, the CPC for “how to buy books on Kindle” (3.50) is much higher than “buy books online” (0.71).

How to Make Money with AdSense Using the Right Strategy

How much money you make with AdSense does not only depend on CPC in your niche. Here are a few things to keep in mind when coming up with the right strategy: 

Pay Attention to Your Content

Keep your site organized. If you are posting about fashion trends and also doing personal journaling, split the site up and monetize the more focused content. This will also help with SEO rankings. Let’s say someone searches “best fashion trends 2020”, he/she will much more likely press on a headline stating “Fashion Trends Fall 2020” than “Ashley’s Favorite Fashion Trends for the Fall.” Remember to be straightforward and clear. 

A second tip to keep in mind is that the topic of your content should be something you love (or are at least interested in.) This will make it much easier to create high quality content – and fast. So ask yourself what you enjoy and believe in.

Promote Yourself

Traffic is extremely important. So you want users who visit your site, to stay and browse your site. This will encourage advertisers to choose your site (and allow you to make more money with AdSense.) A great way to increase this web traffic is through the help of social media platforms, like Facebook or Twitter. Make sure your pages are all up-to-date. If you have a mailing list or large following, consider sending out a newsletter. 

Make the Ads Visible (But Not Too Visible)

There are two things to consider here: on the one hand, you want viewers to see your content. On the other hand, advertisers want viewers to see their ads. It will take a few trials to get the placement right since it can be rather difficult to achieve both considerations with the right balance. Of course, placing an ad in the corner of the site page will not captivate the user’s attention. So, a good way to start off could be having one or two ads very obviously placed. 

Review the Rules

There are a few guidelines you must keep in mind when generating content. This includes not posting any hate speech, no fake advertising, and no displaying copyrighted information. These are usually done to increase traffic by people who are focused on getting as much money as possible with AdSense. However, it does not work in their favor once Google recognizes it. 

Moving forward, there are a number of pros and cons one must consider when choosing to use Google AdSense. You also need to avoid manipulating Google AdSense clicks to prevent fraud. If you still need more tips or are unsure of how to move forward, set up an appointment with SEO Design Chicago today and get the best possible results!

Frequently Asked Questions About Making Money with Google AdSense

1. How long does it take to start earning money after AdSense approval?

You can start earning money immediately after your AdSense account is approved and ads begin displaying on your site. However, meaningful earnings depend on your website traffic and user engagement. AdSense pays you when visitors click on ads (CPC) or view them (CPM). The approval process itself can take up to two weeks, but once approved, ads will start showing and generating revenue right away. Keep in mind that you need to reach a $100 threshold before Google pays out your earnings.

2. What’s the minimum traffic required to make decent money with AdSense?

There’s no official minimum traffic requirement, but realistically, you need substantial traffic to generate meaningful income. With average click-through rates of 1-2% and CPCs often under $3, you might need thousands of monthly visitors to earn significant revenue. For example, a site with 10,000 monthly page views might earn $20-100 per month, depending on niche and user engagement. Focus on building quality traffic in high-CPC niches like insurance, finance, or online education for better earning potential.

3. Can I use AdSense on multiple websites, and how does that affect earnings?

Yes, once approved, you can add multiple websites to your AdSense account. Each site must comply with AdSense policies and provide original, high-quality content. Having multiple sites can increase your overall earnings by diversifying your traffic sources and potentially targeting different high-paying niches. However, it’s better to have one well-performing site than several low-traffic sites. Focus on building quality content across all your properties rather than spreading yourself too thin.

4. What are the highest-paying AdSense niches, and should I switch my content focus?

The highest-paying niches include insurance (average CPC over $16), online education ($12.27), marketing and advertising ($6.61), finance, health, and legal services. However, don’t switch niches solely for higher CPCs unless you have genuine knowledge and interest in the topic. Success requires creating quality, engaging content consistently. It’s better to build authority in a lower-paying niche you’re passionate about than to struggle with content in a high-paying niche you don’t understand.

5. How can I increase my AdSense click-through rate (CTR) without violating policies?

Focus on improving ad placement by positioning ads where they’re visible but not intrusive, such as above the fold or within content. Ensure ads are relevant to your content by maintaining focused, well-organized topics on your site. Improve your content quality to attract engaged users who are more likely to click ads. Use responsive ad units that adapt to different devices. Never encourage clicks, use misleading placement, or manipulate clicks in any way, as this violates AdSense policies and can result in account suspension.

6. What happens if my AdSense account gets suspended or rejected?

If rejected initially, you can reapply after addressing the issues mentioned in Google’s feedback, such as improving content quality, fixing navigation, or ensuring policy compliance. If suspended, you can appeal through the AdSense appeals process, but approval isn’t guaranteed. Prevention is key: follow all policies, avoid click fraud, maintain original content, and ensure your site provides genuine value. If permanently banned, you cannot create another AdSense account, making it crucial to follow guidelines from the start.

7. How does the revenue split work, and when do I get paid?

Google keeps 32% of the revenue from ads displayed on your site, while you receive 68%. Payments are made monthly once you reach the $100 minimum threshold. If you don’t reach $100 in a month, your earnings roll over to the next month. Payments are typically processed between the 21st and 26th of each month for the previous month’s earnings. You can track your earnings in real-time through your AdSense dashboard and set up direct deposit or receive payments via check.

8. Can I use other ad networks alongside Google AdSense?

Yes, you can use other ad networks simultaneously with AdSense, but you must ensure they don’t violate AdSense policies. Avoid placing competing contextual advertising too close to Google ads, and never use ad networks that encourage users to click ads or use deceptive practices. Popular alternatives include Media.net, Amazon Associates, or direct advertising partnerships. However, be careful not to overcrowd your site with ads, as this can hurt user experience and potentially violate AdSense policies regarding ad density.