The Journey to AdSense Approval
Starting my blog and trying to get AdSense approval took a lot of time. Over half a year, I faced rejection after rejection.
The process was discouraging. Initially, I had a casual mindset: "It’ll work out somehow." In hindsight, this mindset contributed to many setbacks.
I followed countless online guides and tutorials. Some helped, many didn’t.
I experimented with multiple domains purchased from domain providers, almost like an A/B test. After seven months, three domains got approved simultaneously.
Google doesn’t provide precise instructions, so what I did isn’t a guaranteed formula. But I’d like to share my experiences from failures and successes.
Commonly Claimed "Guaranteed" AdSense Tips
Online articles and YouTube videos suggest many “must-do” steps. I tested most of them myself. Here’s what actually mattered.
| Aspect | Commonly Mentioned Rule |
|---|---|
| Number of Posts | At least 15–20 posts recommended |
| Content Quality | No short, duplicate, or low-value posts; content should be genuinely useful |
| Post Length | 800+ characters; 1,500–2,000 characters often suggested |
| Domain | Custom domain is often preferred over Blogspot subdomain |
| Theme & Readability | Mobile-friendly, SEO-optimized themes recommended |
| Policy & About Pages | Privacy, policy, and contact pages may help approval |
| Images | Too many images supposedly disadvantageous |
| Internal & External Links | Excessive links considered negative |
| Topic Consistency | Stick to one theme for better approval odds |
| Categories & Labels | Too many labels may reduce approval chances |
| Unpublished Posts | Draft posts may negatively affect approval |
| Traffic & Indexing | High indexed posts and traffic believed to help |
| AI-written Posts | Supposedly not accepted |
| Approval Time | Typically 3–4 weeks |
Content Quantity & Quality
Some blogs claim approval with 1–5 posts. I was not that lucky. Short posts rarely suffice. I got approval only after publishing 29 posts.
The key: each post should deliver tangible value. Mere reflections or 1–2 line posts, even in high quantity, won’t help.
Thorough, substantial content is essential. This is one of my main takeaways.
Post Length & Structure
Short posts can be a reason for rejection. While 1,500–2,000 characters is commonly suggested, longer posts didn’t hinder my approval. I often wrote even longer articles to ensure completeness.
Posts exceeding 2,000 characters were approved. Length isn’t the limiting factor—it’s clarity and value.
Focus on readability, logical flow, and meaningful information. That matters more than hitting an exact character count.
Reader Experience Consideration
Most bloggers seek monetization, not just AdSense approval. So consider this: how long does it take to read a 1,500-character post?
The average reading speed in Korea: 250–300 words per minute. 1,500 characters ≈ 600 words. Fast readers: ~2 minutes, average: ~2.4 minutes. One or two scrolls can cover it. Many readers skim; a post should retain attention quickly.
Prioritize rich, engaging content over obsessing about 1,500–2,000 character rules. Long-term, this is more effective.
Domain Connection
After experiencing repeated rejections when using Blogspot subdomains, I switched to a custom domain and noticed a significant difference. Not only did Google AdSense approve my application, but my blog's indexing on Google Search improved dramatically as well. Custom domains tend to look more professional and trustworthy, which may influence the initial review. For bloggers planning long-term content growth or serious monetization, investing in a custom domain is highly recommended. Additionally, a custom domain can help with brand identity and makes it easier for readers to remember your site.
Theme & User Experience
I experimented with both default and free themes and discovered that AdSense approval does not require Google-provided themes. The key factor is user experience: clean layouts, fast loading times, and readability on both mobile and desktop. Themes that are visually cluttered or hard to navigate can hurt your blog's credibility. Even simple themes work fine as long as they provide clear headings, properly sized images, and readable font sizes. SEO-friendly themes, with proper HTML tags for headings and meta descriptions, also improve discoverability.
Essential Pages (About, Policy, Contact)
Many guides insist that an About, Privacy Policy, and Contact page are essential. In reality, while these pages can strengthen trustworthiness and are particularly useful for personal branding or professional blogs, they are not strictly required for approval. Casual bloggers or hobby sites often get approved without them. That said, including these pages can help if you plan to scale your site or attract partnerships, as they signal transparency and accountability.
Images
Images greatly enhance comprehension and visual appeal. During my application, I included numerous images without any issues. The critical factor is legality: always use royalty-free, licensed, or self-created images. Excessive images did not negatively affect approval, but they should serve a purpose. Captions, alt text for accessibility, and optimization for page speed also improve the user experience and SEO.
Links
Inserting relevant links within your posts does not hinder AdSense approval. Internal links help readers navigate your site, while external links to authoritative sources enhance credibility. Avoid linking to spammy or low-quality sites, as this can harm trust. A balanced mix of internal and external links can also improve SEO and user engagement.
Topic Consistency vs Diversity
I maintained a variety of topics—travel, IT tutorials, lifestyle tips—and still received approval. Google values quality and coherence over narrow topic focus. As long as each post provides real value and is well-written, covering multiple subjects is acceptable. That said, if your content spans highly unrelated areas, maintaining a clear structure and logical categorization helps users navigate your blog effectively.
Categories & Labels
Using multiple labels or tags in posts is acceptable and can improve navigation. However, empty categories negatively affect user experience and can give the impression of an incomplete blog. Organize your posts into meaningful categories and ensure labels accurately describe the content. This helps both readers and search engines understand your site structure.
Draft Posts
Having drafts in your dashboard does not affect AdSense approval. However, keeping a cluttered dashboard with many incomplete drafts can slow down your workflow and make management harder. It’s good practice to clean up or finalize old drafts periodically, ensuring that published content is prioritized.
Search Engine Indexing & Traffic
Even blogs with minimal traffic or few indexed posts were approved. Google focuses on content quality rather than quantity or current traffic numbers. While organic traffic is beneficial for monetization, initial AdSense approval relies primarily on well-written, valuable content that adheres to guidelines. Patience is key: indexing and traffic naturally grow over time.
AI-written Posts
Posts generated by AI were approved, but engagement and reader retention were lower compared to personal, experience-based posts. Original writing that incorporates your own insights, anecdotes, or photos tends to attract more attention and builds credibility. A hybrid approach—editing AI drafts to add personal touch and depth—can be an effective strategy.
Approval Time
My approval process took about 3–4 weeks, which seems typical. Some users may receive faster responses, but this timeline is standard. If your application is rejected, reapplying usually follows the same review period. During this time, it's helpful to focus on improving content, SEO, and user experience to increase the likelihood of success on the next attempt.
Summary Table
Key Approval Factors
| Aspect | Practical Importance | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Posts | High | 25–30 valuable posts typically overcome “insufficient content” rejections. (I succeeded at 29 posts.) |
| Content Quality & Length | High | Short, duplicate, or trivial posts are rejected. Minimum 800–1,000 characters recommended; 1,500–2,000 characters is standard. Longer posts are fine. |
| Domain Connection | Moderate | Custom domains generally improve approval odds. Blogspot subdomains are acceptable but less favorable. |
| Theme & Design | High | Readable, mobile-optimized, SEO-friendly themes are advantageous. |
| Policy & About Pages | Optional | Boosts credibility but not mandatory for approval. |
FAQ
Q. How many posts are enough?
A. 20–30 valuable posts is a safe benchmark.
Q. Will many images hurt approval?
A. No, as long as copyright is respected.
Q. Do I need to organize categories?
A. Only avoid empty categories; otherwise flexible.
Q. Can I post only AI-generated content?
A. Approval is possible, but engagement may suffer.
Q. Is connecting a custom domain required?
A. Not mandatory, but improves approval chances.
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