Google AdSense is one of the numerous ways to monetize your website traffic in Nigeria. If you are new to blogging and to the different ways of making money online, you may have heard about Google AdSense or seen an AdSense ad on one of the websites you’ve visited recently.

What is Google AdSense?

Google AdSense (AdSense) is an advertising placement service by Google. The program is designed for website publishers who want to display targeted text, video or image advertisements on website pages and earn money when site visitors view or click the ads.

The advertisements are controlled and managed by Google and Web publishers simply need to create a free AdSense account and copy and paste provided code to display the ads. Revenue using AdSense is generated on a per-click or per-impression basis. It is free to become a verified website publisher in the Google AdSense program.

How does Google AdSense work?

Google Adsense works on a cost-per-click (CPC) and revenue sharing basis. It charges advertisers per ad click and publishers get roughly 68% of the amount an advertiser has set to pay for each click.

The publisher who wishes to participate in AdSense inserts a JavaScript code into a webpage. Each time this page is visited by an end user, the JavaScript code fetches ads in the form of text, images or both from Google’s servers and displays it on the webpage.

Google will display targeted ads on your page that’s relevant to the content on the webpages that the code has been inserted, and when your website visitors start clicking on those ads, you will be paid for it.

How to get your Google AdSense account approved

First of all, you have to be approved for Google AdSense, To be approved for Google AdSense you have to submit an application form and when your application gets reviewed and if you would be approved for the AdSense program, then you can earn money with Google Adsense.

In a nutshell, there are 4 steps to applying and getting approved to the Adsense affiliate program.

1. Create valuable content on your site

Google wants to know that you have a valuable resource. So, in order to increase your chances of approval, you need to create original, articulate, and useful content. Best advice is to have at least 10 well-written articles of 500 words or more each on your site before applying.

2. Setup a well-designed website theme or layout

In addition to the contents you have on your website, you are more likely to get an AdSense approval if the design of your website looks great. Make sure the site is easy to navigate and also include pages such as “About Page”, “Contact Us” and “Privacy Policy” to better enhance your approval.

3. Submit your application online

Click here to submit your Google AdSense application. You will be asked to provide your website URL, individual or business name, mailing address, phone number, email address, and perhaps one other basic bit of information. You are not required to submit your TIN or bank account information at this stage yet. This will happen after you get approved.

4. Get approved

It usually takes within 24 to 48 hours for Google to review and approve your application. If you follow the steps highlighted above, you should have no issues getting approved quickly. Once your account has been approved, you can start serving ads on your website. If it happens that your application was rejected, make recommended improvements and re-apply after 3 to 4 weeks.

How to increase Google AdSense earnings

Do you want to maximize your AdSense earnings? Monetizing your website with AdSense is one of the easiest ways to make money online.

Below you will read about tips and tricks that will help you 3x your AdSense revenue in no time.

1. Place Ad Units above the Fold

The closer your Ad Units to the top of the page, they more likely they are to be viewed and clicked. While it is good to have ads above the fold, don’t cram it with ad units. Users are turned off if they open a website and all they see is ads, making it hard for them to read the actual content.

2. Place ads within the post content

When we talk about AdSense and increasing, Adsense revenue, the best way to do it is by blending your ads in between the post. Even though this practice makes your content experience not so great, but it definitely increases your CTR & overall AdSense revenue.

3. Allow Text & Image Based Ads type

Enabling your ad units to display both text and image/rich media ad types, increases the number of ads competing to appear on your site. More advertisers in the ad auction drive higher bids and more revenue for you. On average, publishers see a 59% increase in eCPM earnings when they make these recommended changes.

4. Increase the size of your Ad Units

Forget all the other size options that Adsense gives you. Bigger is better. Forget trying to blend it into your content, just make them visible so people can’t miss it. Advertisers prefer wider ad units for their premium inventory, resulting in higher bids for ad placements.

5. Strategically place or position your Ads

Where you choose to place the ad on your site will make a big difference to the number of clicks that you get, because the more obvious the ad, the more likely someone will be to see it. It’s hard to judge on your own website because we look at our sites differently to how other people view them, so the best way to start seeing results, is to experiment with ad placement.

6. Review and optimize your ads

You shouldn’t get too comfortable with your ad layouts. It’s easy to get comfortable with a certain amount of revenue if you are making money online, but you should always be testing to ensure you can maximize your revenue streams.

Conclusion

Making your first $100 on Adsense could be really difficult, that’s why you need to make sure you set up your blog correctly from start. Also, make sure that your website category is advertising friendly because your AdSense income depends a lot upon the category of your website.

Most bloggers opt for Google Adsense initially to become their own boss. There are lots of examples of Nigeria bloggers that are earning well from Adsense. Professional bloggers like Linda Ikeji are now full-time blogger from part-time.