How to Get AdSense Approval on Your Site (Without Losing Your Mind)

Alright, so you’ve finally built your blog or website — and now you’re staring at your empty bank account thinking, “Uh, can I actually make some money from this thing?”

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Enter: Google AdSense. 🎯

Everyone talks about it like it’s the golden ticket. Just slap some ads on your blog, kick back, and watch the cash roll in, right?

Well… yes and no.

Getting AdSense approval isn’t exactly rocket science.
BUT — it’s also not as easy as it used to be back in 2009 when people were getting approved for sites about “My Cat’s Favorite Foods.”

Today, Google’s picky.
Like, really picky.

But don’t stress.
I’m gonna walk you through everything you gotta know to actually get that sweet, sweet “Congratulations! Your site’s been approved!” email without pulling all your hair out.

First Things First: What Even Is Google AdSense?

Real quick: AdSense is Google’s program that lets you display ads on your website.

You earn money when people:

View the ads (that’s called CPM)
Click on the ads (that’s called CPC)

Simple, right?

Basically, Google acts like the middleman.
They get the ads from companies and you rent out a little space on your blog for those ads to show up.

And yes — if you do it right, it can actually make decent money over time.
(But you need traffic. Like, actual humans visiting your site. We’ll get to that.)

Why Does Google Make It So Dang Hard to Get Approved?

Because they wanna keep things legit.

Think about it:
If Google started slapping ads on every sketchy site out there (like spam blogs, fake news, or “miracle cure” scams), advertisers would get mad.
Real mad.

So, to protect the quality of their ads — and their brand — Google needs to make sure that your site is:

Real
Valuable
Safe for everyone

Basically, they want to know you’re not some weirdo trying to game the system.

Alright, Here’s EXACTLY What You Need Before You Apply

I’m not kidding — if you skip this stuff, you’re setting yourself up for instant rejection.

Here’s your pre-approval checklist:

1. A Real, Working Website

Sounds obvious, but some people try applying with half-finished sites.
No.

You need a live, functioning site with:

Multiple working pages
Internal links (pages connecting to each other)
Zero “Under Construction” signs anywhere

It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it has to look like a real site people would actually use.

2. Enough High-Quality Content (At Least 15-20 Solid Posts)

Yup, content is king. 👑

Not 3 posts about “My Thoughts on Tuesday” either.
I mean real, useful, original posts.

Ideally:

Each post should be 800+ words
Well-formatted (headings, paragraphs, images if possible)
No obvious typos or grammar disasters

And definitely not copy-pasted from other sites.
Google’s not stupid — they will catch you.

Hot tip:
If your site looks EMPTY or rushed, they’ll think you’re just trying to make a quick buck. Fill it up properly.

3. Important Pages You MUST Have

These are non-negotiable. Seriously.

About Page (Who you are and what the site’s about)
Contact Page (How people can reach you — even a simple form or email address works)
Privacy Policy (You can Google free templates for this)
Terms & Conditions (Bonus points if you add this too)

These pages tell Google: “Hey, I’m running a legit site. I care about user trust.”

Without these?
Your application is toast.

4. A Custom Domain (No .blogspot.com or .wordpress.com, Please)

Listen, you could technically apply with a free domain.

But if you’re serious?
Buy your own domain (like www.moneyfromblogging.com).

Custom domains look way more professional.
Google loves seeing that you invested a little into your site.

Domains cost like $10/year.
You can skip one Starbucks trip and own your brand, seriously.

5. Decent Website Design

Your site doesn’t need to win an art award.

But it SHOULD:

Be easy to read
Be mobile-friendly (works well on phones)
Have a clean, not-crazy layout

If it looks like it was built in 1997, AdSense reviewers will nope out real fast.

Pro tip:
Use a free WordPress theme if you’re broke. Simple is better than messy.

Stuff That’ll Get You REJECTED Faster Than You Can Blink

Here’s what NOT to do if you want approval:

🚫 Thin content (only a few sentences per post)

🚫 Copyrighted stuff (don’t steal images, music, text)

🚫 Adult content or anything “sketchy” (gambling, violence, drugs)

🚫 Spammy ads already plastered everywhere (you look desperate)

🚫 No privacy policy (seriously, just add one)

Google wants clean, useful sites — not junk.

How Long Should You Wait Before Applying?

Give your site a little time to breathe.

At least 1-2 months old is a good target if you’re starting from scratch.

In some countries, Google wants your domain to be 6 months old — especially in Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc.).
Double-check the rules for your location.

What Happens After You Apply?

Once you hit submit, your job is basically:

Wait
Refresh your email like a crazy person
Wait some more

Usually, it takes a few days to two weeks to hear back.

If approved — awesome! 🥳
If rejected — don’t panic. They usually tell you WHY, so you can fix it and try again.

(People get rejected once or twice all the time before finally getting that sweet yes.)

Some Extra Little Pro Tips (From Someone Who’s Been There)

✨ Make sure your site gets some traffic first.
Like, even 10-20 visitors a day can help. Totally dead sites = bad look.

✨ Use copyright-free images.
Sites like Unsplash and Pexels have free pics that won’t get you in trouble.

✨ Write like a human, not a robot.
(LOL, kinda like this article.) Google loves natural writing.

✨ Don’t use affiliate links everywhere before approval.
Too many can make your site look spammy.

✨ Be patient.
Seriously, building a real blog that makes money takes time. You’re planting seeds now.

Final Thoughts: You Got This

Getting AdSense approval isn’t magic.

It’s really just about:

Having a real, useful site
Following a few basic rules
Being a little patient

No shady tricks. No “growth hacks.”

Just good ol’ fashioned blog-building.

And honestly? Once you get approved and start seeing those first pennies roll in (even if it’s like, $0.14 😂), it feels AMAZING.

You’ll be like, “Heck yeah, I made money on the internet today!”

And that’s just the beginning.

Quick Recap Cheat Sheet Before You Go

✅ Real working website
✅ 15-20 quality blog posts
✅ About, Contact, Privacy pages
✅ Custom domain
✅ Clean design
✅ No spammy junk

👊 Then hit apply and cross your fingers (and toes)!

You’re closer than you think. 🚀
Let’s get that AdSense money!