How to Get Google AdSense Approval on WordPress: Complete Beginner's Guide

I thought that traffic was the key for AdSense approval at first. Then I believed I had to write hundreds of articles. None of those beliefs turned out to be true.

I've done some changes, corrected many mistakes, and understood what Google expects from me. And, I got my approval email. This guide contains all that I wish I knew when trying to get my approval.

What Is Google AdSense?

Google AdSense is the advertising product of Google through which one earns money via advertisements that he places on his website. He gets paid when any person views or clicks on those ads.

It is great news that one does not need to personally get in touch with the advertisers in order to make advertisements on their websites. Google finds the right ads for your website.

Before placing any ads on the website, Google reviews and then approves the website.

Can WordPress Help in Getting Adsense Approved?

Yes and that too only when the website is a good one.

It is not the fact that if your website is built using WordPress, it will automatically be approved by Google for Adsense. It looks at the overall quality of the website and its compliance with its policies.

Biggest mistake I have made before applying

When I applied for the first time, I had just eight articles.

They were short articles, there was no source for some of the images, and I did not have a Privacy Policy and Contact page.

I thought that the site looked great, but Google considers a lot of other aspects besides appearance.

After correcting all these mistakes, providing high-quality content, and improving navigation, I got approved in my second application attempt.

This experience showed me that quality is always more important than speed.

Step 1. Get a Nice Domain Name

While AdSense is also available for some free domain names, a custom domain will look way more professional.

For example:

yourwebsite.com

yourblog.net

yourguide.org

A custom domain name creates a professional impression both to Google and your visitors.

Step 2. Reliable Hosting

Your site should be fast and available.

Good hosting service providers include:

Hostinger

Bluehost

SiteGround

Namecheap Hosting

Step 3: Installing WordPress Correctly

After you have set up your hosting, install WordPress and always make sure it stays up to date.

Don't forget about:

Installing SSL (HTTPS)

Deleting unused plugins

Updating WordPress regularly

Updating your theme

Security is one of these little things that will leave a professional impression.

Step 4: Using a Clean and Responsive Theme

Another common mistake is picking overly decorated themes with all kinds of effects and pop-ups.

It's best to use simple designs according to Google preferences.

Some popular WordPress themes are:

Astra

GeneratePress

Kadence

Blocksy

Neve

Themes listed above are clean, mobile-friendly, and optimized.

Step 5: Publishing Quality Content

This step is probably what is making most of the AdSense applications pass or fail.

Don't post several short articles every day, instead, publish quality content.

An article needs to:

Answer a question people have

Be original

Have headings

Have simple language

Have useful examples

Be readable

I personally got better results after writing articles from 1,000 to 2,000 words.

Step 6: Have Enough Content Before Applying

Common question:

"How many articles should I write?"

There is no exact number.

In my experience, it would be better to write:

20-30 articles

Each of them at least 800-1500 words long

Unique text

Different but related to each other themes

Quality is more important than quantity here.

Step 7: Build Important Pages

According to Google, any professional website should contain certain standard pages.

Make sure you have the following:

About Us

Describe yourself and your website.

Contact Us

Give your visitors a possibility to contact you through:

Contact form

E-mail

Privacy Policy

Describe:

Analytics

Advertise

Users' data

Disclaimer

Also note that your content is informative in those cases when needed.

Terms and Conditions

It describes how to use your website.

Step 8: Organize Your Website

Website confusion may negatively affect your chances of getting approved.

It is advised to use:

Step 9: Optimize Website Load Speed

Website slowness annoys visitors and is not a good sign.

Some useful WordPress plugins:

LiteSpeed Cache

WP Super Cache

WP Rocket

Smush Image Optimization

Upload compressed images.

High load speed results in better user experience.

Step 10: Avoid Using Copyrighted Content

The most common reason for rejection of website applications is using copyrighted content.

Avoid copying:

Articles

Images

Video

Reviews

Product descriptions

All content should be written by yourself.

Use the following sources for images:

Your own photographs

Royalty-free images

Licensed graphics

Step 11: Check Whether Website is Mobile-friendly

Almost all users check their websites using smartphones.

Test your website in the following devices:

Android phone

iPhone

Tablet

Desktop

All contents should be displayed properly.

Step 12: Connect Google Search Console

Google Search Console helps Google to find and index your pages faster.

Upload your sitemap after posting your articles.

This will help you identify any indexing problems even before applying for AdSense.

Step 13: Add Google Analytics

It helps you know:

Number of visitors

Favorite articles

Website activities

Sources of traffic

It is not a necessity for the AdSense application process, but it's quite a good tool.

Step 14: Get Rid Of Poor Quality Articles

Check all your articles before you apply.

Remove articles that:

Have very few details

Duplicate content

Grammar errors

No longer add value

It's better to have a small website with quality articles than a big website full of poor articles.

Frequent Causes for Rejection of Adsense in WordPress Sites

The following are the issues I come across very frequently.

Thinning Content

Too little information is never good.

Copied Content

Google can easily find out copied content.

Already Too Much Advertising

Do not flood your website with ads of other networks before getting approved by Google.

Broken Links

Ensure that the links do not display any 404 error.

Poor Structure

Users must never be confused about anything on your website.

Missing Important Pages

Slower Site

Performance of website impacts the user experience and even Google too.

Use of AI without Editing Content

Using AI does not mean creating bad content. Make sure you edit content created using AI so that it represents your knowledge and skills.

How Much Time Do You Need to Get Approved for AdSense?

Usually, application approval takes several days, but there are exceptions when the process can be stretched for one up to four weeks.

Providing that your website meets Google requirements, the only thing left is being patient.

It’s better not to change something during this period, except for solving problems.

A Checklist for Website before Submitting Application

Before submitting the application form, check if your website meets the following requirements:

Custom domain

HTTPS

Fast loading

Responsive design

20-30 useful articles

Unique content

About section

Contacts

Disclaimer

Terms and Conditions

User-friendly interface

No copyright infringement

No broken links

Search Console

If everything is okay with your website, your chances to get approved become much higher.

Real Case Study

Think about two WordPress websites.

One has ten plagiarized articles, many popups, slow loading pages, and lacks a Privacy Policy.

The other has twenty-five unique articles, quick loading pages, easy navigation, and useful content for real users.

Which one would you prefer?

Google has the same opinion.

The key is not to fool the approval process but to create a website worth being approved.

Is Google AdSense for WordPress Worthwhile?

In my opinion, it's definitely worth it provided you are prepared to treat your website as a project and not an immediate source of money.

Initially, I expected that AdSense would start earning me money right after my website was approved. However, that wasn't the case. My earnings weren't high initially because of the low amount of traffic I had. Rather than abandoning the whole thing, I concentrated on writing more useful articles, optimizing the website from an SEO point of view and making it even more useful for its visitors.

Conclusion

Obtaining AdSense approval in WordPress does not mean finding that magical formula to assist in obtaining the badge of approval. It means creating a nice place for your visitors to visit.

As soon as I switched from trying to obtain AdSense approval quickly to writing useful content, speeding up the website and making the blog more credible, I got approved instantly.

When applying for AdSense for the first time, don’t try to approve your application immediately. Spend some extra time improving your website. It will not only improve your chances to get AdSense approval from Google; it will also greatly increase your chances to earn money in the future.

How to Get Google AdSense Approval on WordPress: Complete Beginner's Guide