How to Add Google AdSense to WordPress?

Are you a WordPress user in pursuit of a passive income stream that allows you to earn while you sleep while revelling in the perks of the digital age? If so, the path to your financial goals might just lead you to the domain of website monetisation through Google AdSense. But an important question arises: How to Add Google AdSense to WordPress?

Google AdSense, a global advertising juggernaut, is the foremost advertising network. It offers a golden opportunity for publishers, content creators, and website owners to capitalise on their online presence by showcasing pertinent advertisements to their site's visitors. In this blog, we will discuss How to Add Google AdSense to WordPress and the benefits of Adding Google AdSense to WordPress.

Table of Contents

1) What is Google AdSense?

2) How to Add Google AdSense to WordPress?

3) Benefits of Adding Google AdSense to WordPress

4) AdSense Best Practices

5) Conclusion

What is Google AdSense?

Google AdSense is an advertising network operated by Google, providing bloggers and website owners the chance to earn money by displaying text, images, videos, and other interactive ads on their sites. These ads are highly relevant as they are targeted based on your site's content and audience.

AdSense is user-friendly because it eliminates the need to manage advertisers or handle payments. Google takes care of these aspects, maintaining relationships with advertisers, collecting payments, deducting their management fee, and sending the remaining earnings to you. In comparison with Google Ads vs AdSense, Google Ads allows advertisers to directly control where and when their ads appear, while AdSense provides a more passive income stream for publishers by automating the ad placement process.

AdSense primarily offers cost-per-click (CPC) ads, meaning you earn money each time a user clicks on an ad on your site. The earnings per click can vary depending on several factors, including the ad's relevance and the competition among advertisers.

How to Add Google AdSense to WordPress?

In the upcoming steps, we will delve into the process of configuring ads on your website. Let's explore this in detail:

Step 1: Create Your AdSense Account and Link to Your Website

Begin by registering for a Google AdSense account. Click 'Get Started' and complete the required information. To connect AdSense to your WordPress site, follow these steps:

a) On the 'Connect your site to AdSense' page, you'll find a code snippet that needs to be added to your site's header. Copy the code without clicking 'Done' and ensure you do not close the page.

b) Access your WordPress admin dashboard.

c) Navigate to 'Appearance' → 'Theme Editor,' then select 'Theme Header' in the 'Theme Files' section.

d) Paste the code just above the '' tag.

e) Save the file by clicking 'Update File.'

f) Return to the AdSense page, check the 'I've pasted the code into my site' box, and click 'Done.'

g) A dialogue box will inform you that your account approval is in progress. Click 'Got it.'

Step 2: Insert Ad Units

Wait for your account to be activated. You will receive an email once your site has been reviewed and approved. Once your account is active, you can proceed to create ad units:

1) Access the AdSense dashboard and click 'My Ads' in the left sidebar.

2) Go to 'Content' → 'Ad units' and click 'New ad unit.'

3) Choose the type of ad you want. For instance, select 'Text & Display ads.'

4) Customise the settings to match your website's design:

a) Name: Provide a unique name for the ad to facilitate future management.

b) Ad size: Opt for 'Responsive' for flexibility across various screen sizes.

c) Ad type: You can explore different ad types, such as in-feed or in-article ads.

5) Click 'Save and get code.' A new window will display your AdSense code.

6) Select and copy the code, as it will be needed in the next step.

Step 3: Embed the Ad Code in WordPress

After obtaining the ad code, you can insert it on your site using one of two methods - manually or with the assistance of WordPress Plugins.

1) Manual ad insertion

To insert ads manually, follow these steps using a widget:

a) Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to 'Appearance' → 'Widgets.'

b) Select the 'Text' widget to specify where you'd like to display your ads, such as in the footer, and click 'Add Widget.'

c) Fill in the Title field (or leave it blank) and paste the Google AdSense code into the Content field.

d) Save your changes when you're finished.

2) Utilising a plugin

Alternatively, installing a plugin is one of the most straightforward methods for integrating AdSense code into WordPress. Here are some popular options from the WordPress plugin directory:

a) Ad inserter: This plugin excels in ad placement, offering options to insert ads in various locations on your site, such as before and after posts or between blog page entries. Consider the Pro license for additional features like sticky sidebar ads and animated ad elements, starting at £18/year.

b) Advanced ads: Known for its robust ad management capabilities, Advanced Ads enables you to display an unlimited number of ads, save ads as drafts, and schedule ad placements. The Pro plan, starting at £35/year, provides additional benefits, including click fraud protection and alternative ads for ad-block users.

c) Woody code snippets: This plugin empowers you to create code snippets for inserting ads and offers flexibility in ad placement within posts, pages, or categories. While the base version is free, the pro plan, priced at £15/year, grants access to a rich library of pre-built snippets for enhanced functionality.

Selecting the method that best suits your needs and preferences is essential for seamless ad integration on your WordPress site.

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Adding Google AdSense to WordPress

Google AdSense boasts seven fundamental advantages that highlight its popularity as a premier advertising platform:

a) Seamless Onboarding: Starting your AdSense journey is a straightforward process. With a Google account, you can swiftly sign up for AdSense, implant the provided code onto your website, and begin your revenue generation once you receive the AdSense team's approval. This process typically concludes within 24-48 hours, barring non-compliance with Google's guidelines.

b) Strict Quality Control: AdSense's lasting appeal to advertisers and brands is rooted in its relentless commitment to quality control. Publishers must deliver original, accurate, and high-quality content to earn the AdSense badge. AdSense moderators promptly decline subpar websites and publishers operating within specific niches, like gambling and adult content.

c) Hyper-relevant Ads: AdSense's growth has moved it from content-based ad displays to an intelligent platform that tailor ads to individual visitor interests and search behaviour. Consequently, your audience is more inclined to interact with ads, bolstering your revenue potential.

d) Premier Advertisers: Google's reputation and stringent quality standards have attracted the world's leading brands and advertisers to leverage Google Ads for their marketing campaigns.

e) Versatile Niche Cupport: Google AdSense offers a monetisation opportunity to publishers across virtually all niches except for adult content and gambling. Its extensive pool of advertisers accommodates a broad spectrum of content creators.

f) Lucrative Pay Per Click: As an AdSense publisher, you stand to earn between £0.16 and $15 per click, with the majority of niches generating approximately £1-2 per click.

g) Scalability: Once integrated into your website, Google AdSense provides limitless earning potential. As you produce more content and draw more traffic to your site, the revenue generated from clicks on Google AdSense units becomes increasingly substantial, enabling scalability in your earnings.

AdSense Best Practices

To make the most out of Google AdSense on your WordPress site, here are some essential do's and don'ts:

Do’s

1) Follow Guidelines: Ensure your website adheres to webmaster quality guidelines and AdSense program policies for quick approval.

2) Use Heatmaps: Utilise AdSense heatmaps to optimise ad placement.

3) Choose Top-performing Ad Sizes: Select ad sizes that perform well and fit seamlessly with your website layout.

4) Create Engaging Content: Write compelling content to attract users, increasing the likelihood of ad clicks.

5) Conduct Experiments: Run Google experiments to determine which ads perform best.

6) Ensure Responsiveness: Make sure both your website and ads are responsive for a better user experience.

Don’ts

1) Avoid Ad Clutter: Don’t overload your site with ads, as this can drive visitors away.

2) No Self-Clicks: Never click on your own ads; fraudulent clicks can lead to account suspension.

3) Don’t Force Clicks: Avoid using call-to-action (CTA) texts like “Click on ads” to force clicks.

4) Monitor Ad Performance: Regularly track ad performance and avoid placing low-earning ads.

5) No Ads on Empty Pages: Don’t insert ads on pages without content.

6) Avoid Automated Traffic: Don’t use automated traffic to your site to prevent account closure.

7) Single Account: Maintain only one AdSense account per payee name to comply with policies.

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Conclusion

Now that you know how to add Google AdSense to WordPress, it's important to recognize that the key to unlocking making money with Google AdSense lies in the continuous optimisation process. By assessing the performance of individual ad units and experimenting with various ad types, placements, and even exploring Google AdSense alternatives, you can fine-tune your strategy for maximum results. Once you've identified the optimal ad location and type that resonates with your audience, implementing these changes consistently across all your site's pages while eliminating unnecessary ad units can significantly enhance your AdSense revenue.

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