Google Adsense is one of the most popular advertising programs for beginners. When I created Thrifty Hustler, this is the first monetization program that I signed up with. I will be sharing with you guys some tips on how to make money with Google Adsense. Bear in mind though that income from Google Adsense will vary depending on a variety of factors which we will discuss later on.
Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash
What is Google Adsense?
Google Adsense is an advertising platform by Google where content creators like us (bloggers) can display ads in the form of images, videos, or interactive media advertisements.
It was launched in 2003 and has grown to be one of the biggest (if not the biggest) online advertising platforms with millions of users around the world.
How does Google Adsense Work?
From my perspective as (a former) Google Adsense user, here’s how it works:
- We create websites or blogs where we can put the Google Adsense code/s
- We drive traffic (readers) to our blogs through a variety of ways that complies with Google Program Policies
- Ads are displayed on our blog pages that our readers are looking at and…
- Bam! We earn money when they click on the ads (sometimes we also earn money just by displaying the ads).
It sounds simple right?
Setting it up is actually really simple.
But earning REAL money in Adsense is very difficult, but it’s possible of course.
Advantages of Google Adsense
No Specific Traffic Requirement
This is probably one of the best advantages of Google Adsense. They don’t require any specific traffic requirement, unlike other online advertising programs. Here are some of the other popular advertising programs that require a particular amount of traffic/month:
- Ezoic: At least 10,000 Monthly Sessions
- Monumetric: At least 10,000 Monthly Pageviews
- Mediavine: At least 50,000 Sessions in the last 30 days
- AdThrive: At least 100,000 Monthly Pageviews
- Media.net: Also no specific amount of traffic required
On top of the sessions and pageviews requirement, some of the advertising programs that I have mentioned above also require that the majority of your traffic sources should come from the US/UK/Canada.
This is why Google Adsense is huge in a lot of countries because they accept a lot of content creators whose main blog traffic is from other geographic locations.
You Have Certain Control Over the Ads
If you don’t opt for Auto-Ads, then you can have a certain level of control over the range of ad types and ad sizes and the location of your ads. You can also block certain ads that you don’t want on your blog pages.
It’s Free to Sign-Up
There are no setup fees that you need to pay. Signing up with Google Adsense is free.
Easy Approval
As long as you have a blog that is rich with helpful and non-spammy content, and as long as you comply with Google Adsense Policies and Terms of Conditions, then your blog will definitely be approved.
Easy to Use
Using Google Adsense is easy to use even for beginners. It’s also easy to plugin the ads manually on your WordPress blog with the help of available plugins.
Disadvantages of Google Adsense
Payment Threshold
You need to earn $100 (US) before you get paid. And for new bloggers, this will take some time, even years. But of course, it will all depend on your blog traffic and how much of that traffic will click on the ads that you display on your blog.
Limited Payment Options
This of course will depend on which country you are located in. In the Philippines, Adsense payment can be received via Check (Mail) or Wire Transfer. To be honest, I’m quite not sure about the security of the first option (check) and wire transfer is usually costly. I hope that they provide more cost-effective options in the future.
Lifetime Ban
If you break Google Policies and TOS, you can be banned for life regardless if you are aware of your mistake or not. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse (I used to see this sign on some of the streets in Manila LOL!)
So, be sure to familiarize yourself with the Google Policies and TOS to avoid being banned.
How to Make Money with Google Adsense
Having a blog and an approved account with Adsense will not automatically generate you money. But, it’s the first step toward your online money-making journey. 🙂
However, if you continuously put an effort into producing high-quality content then you will surely see the growth of your Adsense income as months go by.
Photo by lynying Ju on Unsplash
Here are some helpful tips on how to make money with Google Adsense:
Create a Blog with SEO-Optimized and Highly-Valuable Content
You have to build a blog and you have to consistently write content that your target readers will find useful.
Your website and your content should always be SEO-Optimized. Also bear in mind that (as of the time of writing) long-form content often (but not always) ranks higher in Google. Long-form content is an article with at least 2000 – 3000 words in it.
I know that for beginners this will sound sooooo confusing!
But, to simplify this, just think of writing the most helpful article ever that answers a Google search user’s question.
If you consistently write SEO-Optimized and highly valuable content, then your blog will generate traffic sooner than later.
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You Need to Know and Understand Your Niche/Market
In order to earn money from your blog using Adsense or any other advertising platform, you need to know and understand your target market/niche and you need to choose your blog niche carefully.
If your target niche is too small then how can you continue writing about it once you have exhausted all the possible topics to talk about related to your chosen niche.
If your niche is too broad, then expect heavy competition with the big guys in the internet world.
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You Need to Offer Value to New and Existing Readers
What do I mean by value? What do the readers get when they visit your blog?
- Did your blog post answer the questions they typed in Google search?
- Was the overall experience pleasant for them?
- Will they think of visiting your blog again?
- Do you think they will subscribe to your blog?
These are just some of the questions that you need to answer every time you publish your content.
Explore Other Sources of Traffic
Search engines (Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc) are not the only source of internet traffic. Explore other sources of traffic so you can have more visitors to your blog. Remember that the key to earning money from Google users is clicks and pageviews from your readers. Some other sources of traffic include (but not limited to):
- Other websites including other blogs
Test Ad Types, Sizes, and Placements
To maximize your Google Adsense income, you should test which type and size of ads work best on your blog. You can also test various locations to find which one is the best location for your Adsense ads. If you are just a part-time blogger like me and if you don’t have time to do this, then you can opt for Auto ads.
Google Auto ads will automatically place ads where they’re likely to perform well which could mean a better Adsense income for you.
Read and Follow Google TOS and Policies
To ensure that you get paid once you reach the threshold, be sure to read and follow the TOS and Policies. Remember, once you’re banned, you’re banned for life. Do not be tempted to click on your own ads!
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How Much Money Can You Make with Google Adsense
This is the million-dollar question that every blogger wants to know. How much money can you make with Adsense?
There is no exact answer to this because it will all depend on a lot of factors such as:
- Geographic locations of your traffic (readers)
- Amount of Traffic that your blog gets
- Your type of content
Etc, etc, etc… There’s probably a long list of variables that could affect your Google Adsense income.
You also have to know that Google charges advertisers per ad click. Publishers (like bloggers) get 68% of the click amount for content ads and 51% when it comes to AdSense for search.
Tips to Help Increase your Google Adsense Earnings
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
Earn More by Generating as Much Traffic as You Can
Earning money from Google Adsense via your blog is like just any other business. In a regular brick-and-mortar store, the more foot traffic you get, the better chances of selling your merchandise. It’s basically the same with making money on Adsense.
The more readers you have, the more chances of increasing your click-through rate, thus increasing your Adsense income.
Earn More by Targeting US/UK/Canada Traffic
Traffic from countries with higher purchasing power such as the US/UK/Canada tends to be more valuable in the eyes of advertisers.
Again, just like the given example above, if you have a brick-and-mortar store located in the business district where most people with money are located, then you have more chances of selling your merchandise.
Imagine if you are an advertiser (Google’s customer), how much are you willing to pay to be seen by people who are willing, ready, and capable to buy your products? You’ll be paying more right? You’ll be paying more money to be seen by people who can be your potential customers.
Earn More by Building Loyal Followers
Getting found on Google search pages, especially on the first page, is difficult (but doable). Sometimes, it feels like jumping through a lot of hoops before you reach the first page of the search engine.
It takes time, skill, effort, resources (and probably some blood, sweat, and tears too LOL!) to consistently produce high-quality content. It also entails some sacrifices.
Once you build a blog, think of building a group of loyal followers as well who will read your blog even if they don’t find you on search engines.
Give your readers something to look forward to.
Give them a reason to continuously support your blog.
Help them so they can help you!
Final Thoughts
Earning from Google Adsense is really possible.
But earning a lot of money from Google Adsense is a different story mainly because we have varying definitions of “A Lot of Money.”
In some countries, $200/month from Google Adsense may mean a lot, but in richer countries, it won’t even suffice to help them live for a few days.
If you’re a new blogger, I highly suggest that you try this out, especially if you’re living in a low-cost country as the income from Adsense may help you earn a bit of side-money.
Once you’ve grown your traffic to at least 10,000 sessions or 10,000 pageviews, explore other advertising programs that may potentially increase your monthly earnings like Ezoic. I’ve been with Ezoic for less than a month and I can already see the huge difference compared to my Adsense earnings. Feel free to read my Ezoic review if you want to know more about it.
How to Make Money with Google Adsense in 2021 Click To TweetThank you for reading! I hope this gives you an idea regarding earning money on your blog with Adsense. If you have additional tips, suggestions, and recommendations, feel free to share them in the comment section below.
Great review of Google Adsense, TH! I started with Google Adsense as well. I remember how exciting it was to begin earning income from blogging. This is a really detailed overview of what it is and how to start making money online.
Thank you Graham!