Google AdSense Quick Start Guide

Find out all there is to know about Google AdSense in this short instructional video. In just under 7 minutes, you will find out how to monetize your website or blog using GoogleAdSense in this easy, informative quick start guide.

What is Google AdSense?

Google AdSense is a sophisticated advertising program that incorporates topic-relevant ads on a website. When an ad is clicked, AdSense pays you. So, each click results in money in your pocket. The best part is that it’s free to sign up for Google AdSense.

How to Identify a Google AdSense Ad

Experienced web surfers can likely identify Google AdSense content on a website. However, less savvy internet users who do not frequent a large variety of websites may not be able to recognize the AdSense ads. It’s easy to identify Google Ads within the context of a webpage, even for the less-than-savvy web surfer. Here’s how.

Google Ads are:

1. Often underneath the heading of “Ads by Google”. Ads can be featured anywhere on the page.
2. Incorporated within the content of a website using link units. This type of AdSense ad may appear as if it belongs to the original content of the website (i.e. link units are commonly found within the text of website content).
3. Found within the “Custom Search” function of a website. AdSense ads are often found on the top, bottom, and to the right of the page.

How Google AdSense Optimizes the Right Ads for your Website

Google ads are referred to as contextual ads. Contextual ads are a way of describing ad codes that customize ad topics according to content on the web page. In other words, contextual Google AdSense Ads will determine what topic-related ads are featured on your website. This is a strategic way of making sure the right kind of ad is presented on the right kind of webpage.

The process of determining which ad is presented on which website is fairly sophisticated. Google AdSense technology has the ability to scan keywords and the corresponding ad codes on your website. Through this keyword scanning process, AdSense will determine what topics are presented on your website including the individual web pages within the website, and it will display only relevant advertising related to that content.

Take for instance a web surfer visiting a health blog that features Google AdSense. That visitor will much more likely click on an ad featuring a nutrition bar, for example, rather than something irrelevant to health, such as a cell phone ad. That’s why Google AdSense works to your advantage—as a web host it is good to know that only relevant ads speaking to your specific audience will appear on your website.

Because Google AdSense ads are related to the content of the website, the chances of your unique visitor clicking on the ad itself is very likely compared to an ad that has no relevance to your site. Visitors that go to specific websites are generally interested in that particular topic. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that ads presented on the website should reflect the interest of the visitor. By doing so, AdSense optimizes the right kinds of ads for your website. In turn, the ads receive more clicks, and you receive more money. It’s a win-win situation.

How to Set Up your Google AdSense Account

By now, you should be excited about the prospects of what Google AdSense can do to monetize your website. Now, it’s time to get set up your Google AdSense account. It’s easy to do by following the outlined steps below. We will go into greater detail in the next section.

1. Go to www.google.com/adsense. Alternatively, you can perform a Google search for AdSense and click on the corresponding link.
2. Click on the “Sign Up Now” link.
3. Access the AdSense application form.
4. Enter your URL.
5. Select the language preference.
6. Verify restrictions and agree to terms by checking the appropriate boxes.
7. Choose an account type.
8. Select your country.
9. Enter your full legal name.
10. Fill in your street, address, city, state and zip.
11. Enter your phone number.
12. Finalize any remaining steps such as email preferences.
13. Read and agree to the Program Policies.
14. Click on “Submit Information.”

You have just set up your Google AdSense account. However, there are some important tips to remember when signing up for and using Google AdSense. Please remember the following pointers:

1. In choosing your account type, you will most likely choose individual. Most websites fall into this category.
2. Make sure to use only your real, full legal name. Use the name that is on your birth certificate, driver’s license, social security number, et cetera. Google AdSense will issue a check to the name you list on the sign up, so be sure to use the correct name. You would never want to get a check that is written out to the wrong name.
3. You must agree to not click on your own Google ads. Google AdSense will only pay you for clicks that originate from unique website visitors.
4. Read the AdSense program policies in full. Be sure you are aware of the terms and conditions. Only after reading and agreeing to the terms and conditions should you click “I certify that I have read the AdSense program policies”.
5. You cannot open a new AdSense account if you have had a previous AdSense account that is active, disabled, or banned.
6. After your information is submitted, it gets approved by Google AdSense administrators. After approval, you will receive an email notification with additional steps to follow in order to get your new ads up and running. Be sure to look for the next steps to follow.
7. An email notification will include your login information and password. Be sure to check your span folders for the notification, and add the email address to your email contacts if necessary. Once you receive this information, you can log into your new AdSense account to begin the first-time new ad set up.

Congratulations! You are on your way to monetizing your website by using Google AdSense.