Once you know how to work with AdSense, you can start making money from your websites by placing Google’s ad code in your web pages and displaying ads. This chapter explains the details of how to work with the Google AdSense program, from signup through obtaining your AdSense code and pasting it into your web pages. I’ll explain what the different options are and how you can tweak your AdSense settings to be most successful.
From Google’s viewpoint, the AdSense program represents a way to extend the pages that host its ads from its own search results pages across the entire Web. The result of this extension has been the creation of an excellent mechanism for monetizing content and traffic.
Google makes its living from advertising, and the Google AdSense program in particular earns its keep by placing ads in web content. It’s therefore not surprising to see AdSense promoting itself as the way to reap “the reward of great content.” However, reaping the reward requires not only content (as explained in Chapter 1) and traffic (as covered in Chapter 3) but also understanding how to adjust the “dials” on AdSense itself. The job of this chapter is to make sure you become an effective and efficient user of AdSense.
Note
It’s worth having a quick look at the web content scenarios that Google presents as AdSense successes for both new and current AdSense publishers. You can view these case studies at https://www.google.com/adsense/success.
To apply for a Google AdSense account, visit the Google AdSense home page, shown in Figure 8-1.
Next, click the “Sign up now” button. The form partially shown in Figure 8-2 will open.
There are a few issues you’ll need to bear in mind as you complete this form:
- Website address
You need to provide Google with the URL for your primary website (see the upcoming sidebar ).
- Agreements
You need to agree not to place AdSense ads on sites that incentivize visitors to click on the ads or that include pornographic content.
Note
Besides pornography, AdSense policies prohibit a fairly wide variety of content including content that is drug- or violence-related, content that explains hacking, and gambling sites. You can see the full list of prohibitions on the AdSense Program Policies page.
If the content on your site is prohibited, you should avoid AdSense and consider the alternative CPC programs described in Chapter 6.
- Account type
You can have an individual or business account. For business accounts, you’ll need to have a checking account in the business name.
- Contact information
You need to tell Google what name to put on the checks and where to mail those checks, and provide phone and email contact information.
- Policies
You need to agree not to click on the ads you are hosting and certify that you have read the AdSense policies (also referred to as the Terms of Service, or TOS). You can open the AdSense Program Policies page using a link on the signup page or at https://www.google.com/adsense/policies. You also need to check a box stating that you don’t already have an AdSense account.
It’s pretty simple, really, to fill out the AdSense form; as these things go, it is not a lot of red tape. Once you’ve entered the information required to sign up with AdSense, you must associate it with a Google account. There are two ways to do this:
You can associate your AdSense application with an existing Google account, such as one you use with Gmail or AdWords.
You can create a new Google account, as shown in Figure 8-3, for use with the AdSense program.
The next step is to wait for Google to review your application, which usually takes one or two days. You’ll be notified of program acceptance in an email sent to the address you provided.