The most effective and simplest way to monetize your website or app with display ads is Google Adsense. However, to be successful with this you have to understand some specifics.
What is Google Adsense?
Google Adsense released June 18, 2003, is a program run by Google through which website publishers in the Google Network of content sites serve text, images, video, or interactive media advertisements that are targeted to the site content and audience. These advertisements are administered, sorted, and maintained by Google.
In short, Google AdSense is an ad network, it connects publishers and advertisers.
How does Google Adsense work?
Advertisers bid for displaying their ads on publishers’ websites that are connected to this ad network, in other words, publishers whose websites are connected to AdSense. Traffic on the views or clicks of the website on these ads, publishers get paid a specified portion from the advertiser’s bid for the ad.
Please watch this Google AdSense video.
How to create a Google Adsense account?
Google allows only high-quality websites to maintain the integrity of their ad network.
You have to cohere to some basic requirements if you want to be approved.
You should be 18 years old.
Have a Gmail account that is not linked to an Adsense account.
Your website should meet all of Google’s terms of service.
You should comply with Google program policies.
Your website should have more than 15 posts of unique content, at least 2 months old, and generating some traffic.
How much time does Adsense take to approve?
Normally you get approved within 24 to 48 hours but it may take 1 to 2 weeks also.
How many types of Adsense ads?
There are 5 types of Adsense ad units:
- Display ads
- In-feed ads
- In-article ads
- Matched content ads
- Link ads
Display ads: Display ads work well everywhere, they are responsive and fit in all screen sizes, they can be configured to have fixed sizes, and are compatible with Accelerated Mobile Pages.
In-feed ads: These are native ads fitting in a feed, sidebar, or list. They provide a better user experience to users.
In-article ads: These are native ads fitting within the content of an article not disturbing the reading experience.
Matched content ads: This ad helps increase page views by recommending to users your website content increasing user time on the page and their potential to click on your ads.
Link ads: These are text link type ads that can be displayed in a fixed size or responsive. These display topics related to your page content.
Create your first ad unit
Ad unit is the advertisement space within a specific web page or mobile app where ads are displayed. First, create an ad unit then add the code wherever you want that ad displayed within your website.
Creating an ad unit is easy and I’d recommend you start with display ads.
How to be successful?
Slow and steady wins the race. It’s going to take a few weeks for numbers to go high, the system takes time to adapt to your potential. And that too if you are doing it the right way.
The right way means.
Your ads are highly viewable (IAB recommends at least 70% viewability)
Publishing high-quality, engaging content that sticks the users to your site for a longer duration.
Not flooding your site with too many ads
Editing one at a time and keeping an eye on the impact on performance.
After launching wait for at least two weeks. Once you have the numbers start experimenting with your ad optimization strategies.
During the initial launch, give it time – at least two weeks. Once the numbers are fully adjusted, go ahead, and experiment with your ad optimization strategies.
Consider a few things to optimize or experiment with:
- Ad placements.
- Ad sizes
- Ad format or colors
- Number of ads per page
- Auto ads (on versus off)
- Running AdSense as backfill on Google Ad Manager to compete in real-time with other demand partners you have in your stack
- Running AdSense hardcoded (not using an ad server)
