Looking for ways to monetize your WordPress site? For most site owners, using services like Google AdSense is a popular way to earn passive income. It is an advertising network that can easily integrate into any site – be it a personal blog or an eCommerce store.
How Google AdSense Works?
Google AdSense uses the Cost-Per-Click model, which means you get paid a flat amount whenever users click on ads from your site. The total cost of clicks depends on various factors such as Quality Score and Ad Rank.
When implemented, Google AdSense works by displaying advertisements in three key areas: the top banner, sidebar, and within your content. As the site owner, you have the option to adjust which ads would show and where.
Getting Started
To add Google AdSense to your WordPress site, the first thing you need to do is to register for a new account. You can also use your existing Google account to get started.
Proceed with the registration by entering your website’s URL. Also, don't forget to pick a language that your target audience use primarily. Continue with the rest of the registration process by following the on-screen instructions.
Keep in mind that Google needs to review your AdSense application first before you can start showing ads on your site. Wait for their confirmation email to proceed. This may take anywhere from 6-8 hours. Once your application is approved, you can now log in to your AdSense account and begin creating ads.
Creating Ads with AdSense
To create ads, login to your AdSense dashboard and go to My Ads > New ad unit.
In the new ad page, you can customize the appearance of the ad by specifying the size, type, and style. Pay attention to the existing layout and color scheme of your site. Although you want to increase the visibility of these ads, you can’t afford to have them disrupt the experience of your visitors. You can refer to example display ads to see how each ad size looks in an actual page.
Take note that you can also specify backup ads, which only show if Google cannot find any appropriate advertisement to serve. Custom channels, on the other hand, allows you to track specific ad units in groups. For example, you can create separate custom channels for your right sidebar ads and banner ads to determine which placement performs better.
After creating an ad for the first time, go ahead and click “Save and get code” at the bottom of the page. After which, you can now copy your ad code and save it in a text editor such as Notepad. Doing so makes it easier for you to use the ad code in the future.
Placing an Ad on WordPress
To start showing ads on your WordPress website, go to Appearance > Widgets. Under “Available Widgets,” look for the option “Text” (Arbitrary text or HTML) and drag it into a widget section.
Take note that the page sections where you can include widgets depend on the current theme of your site. After dragging the text widget, insert a title and paste the ad code in the field labeled as “Content”. Click “Save” and you're ready to go.
If you need a quick way to manage your AdSense on WordPress, you can make use of Aparg SmartAd:
What is Aparg SmartAd? It is a WordPress ad management plugin. It's also the only one of a kind that has smart ad controlling which let you reach your target audience. You can have total control over the ads appear on your website. You can choose code and place your Google AdSense shortcode through campaign settings. Then the ad will display in that part of the webpage where you place it.
Additional Tips
- Learn to A/B test different ad strategies. Not only does split testing save time, it also makes it easier to optimize your ads for maximum profits. You can also A/B test your entire WordPress site to determine the layout that leads to most conversions.
- You can use a plugin like AdSanity to better manage your ads. It’s an external ad “rotator” tool that allows you to create, schedule, and track ads or ad groups for maximum conversions.
- According to statistics, the ad sizes 336×280, 728×90, and 300×260 comfortably fit most screen layouts. For mobiles, the size 320×100 was found to be the most effective. All these are confirmed to be the most successful ad sizes based on Google’s own findings.
Conclusion
Google AdSense is an excellent way to start earning from all your site-building efforts. The next step is to implement strategies that can help you boost traffic and make the most out of your ad placements.
Also read: You can learn more on other blog monetization strategies in this article.
