#AdsenseWednesdays: How to make your site Google AdSense-Ready

AdSense Ad Optimization

Last updated: September 12, 2021 | by Kean Graham

This post was most recently updated on September 12th, 2021

Here are at MonetizeMore, we employ a strict screening process to make sure every potential network-partner (publisher) is Google Adsense and Ad Exchange-compliant. We do this not just to protect our Ad Exchange accounts, but also to ensure all our partners will be able to maximize their full ad revenue potential.

Our website screening process guarantees every publisher who signs up to Doubleclick Ad Exchange via MonetizeMore will not be banned from the program – unless he or she will not act on a violation notification sent by Google (happens very, very, rarely!)

We’re listing down a summary of rules and guidelines to get you started in the right direction with Adsense fast:

Quick steps to stay Adsense compliant

Here’s a handy checklist you can use before applying for an Adsense or Ad Exchange account:

Don’t click on your own ads.
Don’t ask others to click on your ads.
Don’t include any prohibited site content, including adult content, violence or excessive profanity, drugs (including alcohol and tobacco), or copyrighted material.
Don’t modify the AdSense code.
Do follow the Webmaster Quality Guidelines.
Do provide a good user experience.
Don’t place more than 3 ad units, 3 link units, and 2 search boxes on any page. Related Read: Ad Exchange New Policy: 5 Ad Units per Page for Desktop Sites
Don’t place images near ads in a way that may mislead users into thinking that the images are associated with the ads.

Source: https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/1261929?hl=en&ref_topic=1261918

Now, let me share with you the Top 3 Key Pointers to make sure your site is Adsense or Ad Exchange-ready:

3 Key points on Adsense policy

1) Invalid Activity: Traffic, clicks, impressions

Google is leading the way to fight advertising fraud including invalid traffic, impressions, and click activity. One way to find out if you’re getting fraudulent traffic is to look at your traffic sources. Evaluate if you’re having real human readers or just bots. Check the domains that link to your site via Google Search Console, for example. This will give you some idea where your visitors are coming from, as well.

Most of the time (if not always), traffic fraud leads to invalid ad impressions and clicks. Any drastic upshoot of ad impressions and ad clicks should alert you to check your analytics and see the sources of such actions on your site.

2) Ad implementation

Ad Implementation plays a big role in preventing invalid click activity. Google is explicit in citing which types of implementations are not allowed for all Google ads, search boxes, and search results:

Integrated into a software application (does not apply to AdMob) of any kind, including toolbars.
Displayed in pop-ups or pop-unders.
Placed in emails, email programs, including webmail, or on pages where dynamic content (such as live chat, instant messaging, or auto-refreshing comments) is the primary focus. (Does not apply to AdMob.)
Placed in emails, email programs, or chat programs. (Does not apply to AdMob.)
Obscured by elements on a page (i.e. dropdown menu links).
Placed on any non-content-based page. (Does not apply to AdSense for search, mobile AdSense for search, or AdMob.)
Placed on pages published specifically for the purpose of showing ads.

Updated: Doubleclick Ad Exchange Now Allows Sticky Ads for Improved Ad Viewability

Placed on pages whose content or URL could confuse users into thinking it is associated with Google due to the misuse of logos, trademarks or other brand features.
Placed on, within or alongside other Google products or services in a manner that violates the policies of that product or service.

Source: https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/48182?hl=en

3) Content guidelines

Usually, the sites we screen fail in this particular area. Publishers are normally not aware of what’s considered prohibited content by Adsense. Remember that Google ads cannot be placed alongside content that’s not generally family-safe. Some of these examples are:

Pornography, adult or mature content
Violent content
Hate speech (including content that incites hatred or promotes violence against individuals or groups based on race or ethnic origin, religion, disability, gender, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation/gender identity), harassment, bullying, or similar content that advocates harm against an individual or group.
Excessive profanity
Hacking/cracking content
Software or other content that violates the Unwanted Software Policy
Malware or adware
Illicit drugs and drug paraphernalia content
Content that promotes, sells or advertises products obtained from endangered or threatened species.
Sales of beer or hard alcohol
Sales of tobacco or tobacco-related products
Sales of prescription drugs
Sales of weapons or ammunition (e.g., firearms, firearm components, fighting knives, stun guns)
Sales or distribution of coursework or student essays
Content regarding programs which compensate users for clicking ads or offers, performing searches, surfing websites or reading emails
Any other content that is illegal, promotes illegal activity or infringes on the legal rights of others
Publishers are also not permitted to place AdSense code on pages with content primarily in an unsupported language.
Copyrighted Content – publishers should not place Google ads alongside materials that are not meant for public distribution unless they have the license to do so. This includes displaying, hosting, and driving traffic to sites containing copyrighted materials. If your site offers downloads, make sure you have the rights to do so.
Gambling Content – AdSense restricts the placement of ads on gambling sites and gambling-related content. There are different policies for gambling content based on the country in which a publisher is located.
User-generated Content – Be sure to monitor or moderate any user-submitted content including texts, videos, and images. Remember that the Adsense ad code should not be placed on pages that contain profanity or are not family-safe.

Source: https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/48182?hl=en

Create better websites using webmaster quality guidelines

Ultimately, the goal of following Google’s Webmaster Quality Guidelines is to help publishers create a better user experience for their site readers. Aside from being a requirement for Adsense participation, this ensures you’ll be generating visitor-loyalty all throughout.

The most important pointers to consider when creating a website are:

1) Value-Add

Make sure your site adds value. Publishers are not allowed to create multiple pages, sub-domains, or domains with substantially duplicate content.

2) Unique and Relevant Content

Publishers must provide unique and relevant content that gives users a reason to visit their site first.

3) Cookie-Cutter Approach

Avoid “doorway” pages created just for search engines, or other “cookie-cutter” approaches such as affiliate programs with little or no original content.

Your search ranking performance

It helps to know that a site’s level of user-experience is a ranking factor on search. Therefore, it’s important to create a website that delivers pleasant user-experience, as well as quality and relevant content that is meant for real human readers, not bots.

Source: https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/1348737?hl=en&ref_topic=1261918

Are you ready?

So do you think you’re ready for Adsense or Ad Exchange? Let MonetizeMore optimize your ad revenue starting today! Sign up for a Starter account at MonetizeMore today!

FAQ

How do I know if my website is ready for AdSense?

If your site is more than three months old, has more than 30 articles of unique content, and is already generating traffic, you should be ready to apply for an AdSense account.

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Kean Graham

Kean Graham is the CEO and founder of MonetizeMore & a pioneer in the Adtech Industry. He is the resident expert in Ad Optimization, covering areas like Adsense Optimization,GAM Management, and third-party ad network partnerships. Kean believes in the supremacy of direct publisher deals and holistic optimization as keys to effective and consistent ad revenue increases.