Google Adsense (Part 1): How To Set-Up a Google Adsense Account

Karl Kasca

Here's the low-down on what Google Adsense is and how to register for an Adsense account quickly and easily so you can make additional revenue from your website or blog.

This is more of an Action Steps article, so you can just skip to the Action Steps below and/or watch the video.

Skip to Video
- Note: Since there may be more info of interest/use on the page below, you should at least skim it quickly in addition to viewing the Video below.

What's Google Adsense and why do I need/want it?

Adsense is HTML (web) code that you place on your webpage(s) which will attract others' advertisements (ads) to your site/pages. When visitors to your site/pages click on the Adsense ads on your site/pages then you will be paid-per-click (PPC).*

* Technically Google calls this "cost-per-click" (CPC) and "cost-per-1000-impressions" (CPM), so you may be paid by the number of clicks or the number of 1,000's of views of an ad on your site.

- Important note: Be sure to review Google's Adsense program policies very carefully and adhere to them, e.g., do *NOT* click on the Adsense ads on your site yourself as this violates Google's policies.

- Note: It may take considerable traffic to your site and click-throughs (people clicking on the Adsense ads on your site).

In fact, Marketing Over Coffee (MarketingOverCoffee.com) said in one of their podcasts that many websites with Adsense might be lucky to earn their web hosting fees, which according to the current Top Ten Reviews of Web Hosting Comparisons is less than $10/month (with several under $5/month).

Of course, the Marketing Over Coffee guys may have been exaggerating or joking, but even Google says re: How much will I earn through this program?: "The best way to find out how much you'll earn is to sign up and start showing ads on your webpages."

More importantly however, you'll need to ask yourself these questions:

1) Do I want to take the risk of having people click away from my website?

The answer is: "It depends", based on the purpose of your site and your business model:

If you're mainly just putting up valuable information with great SEO and hoping you site will be found and people will also find related ads to click-away with, then this is fine.

But if you want people to mainly stay on your website and hopefully buy something from your website or company, then perhaps having Adsense on your site isn't a good idea for your overall online business-purpose/model.

2) Do I want to risk people perhaps thinking less of my website?

Have you ever noticed that some websites with Adsense ads placed prominently above or within their content make you feel that you're somewhat suspect of the content being delivered (and its value to you as the visitor)?

This may not be the case, but since some visitors may feel this way about the content and the website, is having your website thought of as somewhat "devalued" a chance you wish to take?

Of course if your business model is simply to provide some valuable in-demand content mainly to attract visitors who may be intrigued and click-away on Adsense ads on your site then this is fine.

We just want you to understand the business-model and/or the risk (depending how you look at it).

Action Steps

Once in your Google account look for "Adsense" (probably at bottom of page if you haven't signed-up for Adsense before).

Click Adsense icon to go to the Google Adsense sign-up/registration page, or go here: https://www.google.com/adsense/login/.

Note: If you don't have a Google Account, you'll be prompted to set one up.

Fill-in the form, making very sure that you review Google's Adsense Program Policies and check all of the boxes agreeing to Google's terms/policies.

Note: The Payee Name (which matches your business bank account name) is probably the most critical info you enter, other than a correct address so you can be paid.

After registering you'll receive this message: "Thank you for your interest in Google AdSense. Your application has now been submitted for review and we will follow up with you by email in 1-2 days."

When you receive the confirmation email in 1-2 days, then go on to Part II of this article/video.

Video of Setting-up your Google Adsense account

Resources

Google AdSense Help

ARTICLE DATE: 2009-09-01
REVISED DATE:

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· Google Adsense (Part 2): How To Get Google Adsense On Your Web Page
· How to Create your First Google AdWords Campaign

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