How Do I Add AdSense to My Website?
Adding Google AdSense to your website is one of the most common ways to monetize online content. While the idea sounds simple—“paste some code and earn money”—doing it correctly makes a significant difference in approval success, earnings, site performance, and policy compliance.
This article provides a complete, beginner-to-advanced guide on how to add AdSense to your website, including setup steps, code placement, CMS-specific instructions (WordPress and others), and best practices to avoid common mistakes.
1. What You Need Before Adding AdSense
Before adding AdSense to your site, make sure you have:
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A Google account
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A website you own and control
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Original, high-quality content
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Basic navigation (About, Contact, Privacy Policy)
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Compliance with AdSense policies
AdSense should be added after approval, not before (unless Google specifically instructs you to add verification code during review).
2. AdSense Account Setup Overview
The overall process looks like this:
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Apply for Google AdSense
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Get approved
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Add AdSense code to your website
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Choose ad formats and placements
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Optimize and monitor performance
This article focuses on steps 3–5.
3. Getting Your AdSense Code
Once approved:
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Log in to your Google AdSense dashboard
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Go to Ads → Overview
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Choose between:
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Auto ads
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Manual ad units
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Google will generate a JavaScript ad code for you.
4. Two Ways to Add AdSense Ads
There are two primary approaches:
4.1 Auto Ads (Beginner-Friendly)
Auto ads:
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Are placed automatically by Google
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Adjust placement using AI
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Require minimal setup
Best for beginners and small sites.
4.2 Manual Ad Units (More Control)
Manual ads:
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Let you choose ad size and placement
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Require inserting code into specific areas
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Offer greater optimization potential
Best for experienced publishers.
5. Adding the AdSense Site-Wide Code
Before ads can appear, you must add the AdSense site-wide code.
5.1 Where the Code Goes
The site-wide code should be placed:
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Inside the
<head>section of your website
This allows Google to verify ownership and serve ads properly.
5.2 Example (Conceptual Explanation)
Google provides a script that loads ads across your site. You do not need to understand JavaScript—just place the code exactly as instructed.
6. Adding AdSense to WordPress (3 Methods)
WordPress is the most common CMS for AdSense users.
6.1 Method 1: Using a Plugin (Easiest)
Popular plugins:
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Site Kit by Google
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Advanced Ads
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Ad Inserter
Steps:
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Install the plugin
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Connect your AdSense account
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Enable auto ads or select placements
Best for non-technical users.
6.2 Method 2: Theme Header File
Steps:
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Go to Appearance → Theme Editor
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Open
header.php -
Paste AdSense site code inside
<head> -
Save changes
⚠️ Warning: Theme updates may remove code unless using a child theme.
6.3 Method 3: Custom Code Snippets
Using plugins like “Insert Headers and Footers”:
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Paste the site-wide code once
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Avoid editing theme files
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Safe and update-proof
Highly recommended for stability.
7. Adding Manual Ad Units to WordPress Content
For manual ads:
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Use block editor (Custom HTML block)
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Paste ad unit code where you want ads to appear
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Common locations:
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After first paragraph
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Middle of content
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End of article
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Never disguise ads as content or force clicks.
8. Adding AdSense to Non-WordPress Websites
For HTML or custom sites:
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Open your site’s HTML files
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Paste site-wide code in
<head> -
Insert ad unit code where ads should display
If using frameworks (React, Next.js, etc.), use proper script loading practices.
9. Adding AdSense to Other CMS Platforms
9.1 Blogger
Blogger is owned by Google and integrates easily:
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Go to Earnings
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Connect AdSense
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Enable ads
Simplest AdSense integration available.
9.2 Wix
Steps:
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Enable custom code
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Paste AdSense script in site header
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Add ad units using Wix’s HTML embed blocks
Requires premium plan for full control.
9.3 Squarespace
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Add AdSense code via Code Injection
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Insert manual ad blocks using HTML blocks
Works best on content-heavy templates.
10. How Long Until Ads Appear?
After adding code:
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Ads may appear within minutes or hours
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Sometimes up to 24–48 hours
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New sites may see “blank space” initially
This is normal while Google analyzes traffic and content.
11. Choosing the Right Ad Formats
Common formats include:
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Display ads
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In-article ads
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Anchor ads
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Multiplex ads
Start simple and expand later.
12. Best Ad Placement Practices
High-performing placements:
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Above the fold
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In-content (after 1–2 paragraphs)
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End of articles
Avoid:
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Too many ads
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Interrupting reading flow
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Deceptive placements
User experience comes first.
13. Mobile Optimization
Most traffic is mobile.
Ensure:
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Responsive ads enabled
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Ads don’t cover content
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Page speed remains fast
Google penalizes intrusive mobile ads.
14. Ad Balance and Density
AdSense allows controlling:
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Number of ads shown
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Low-value ad filtering
Reducing clutter often increases RPM.
15. AdSense and Page Speed
Ads can affect speed if misused.
Best practices:
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Enable lazy loading
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Limit ad units per page
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Use optimized themes
Fast sites earn more long-term.
16. Testing and Optimization
After ads are live:
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Test placements
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Monitor CTR and RPM
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Remove low-performing units
Optimization is ongoing, not one-time.
17. Policy Compliance During Setup
Never:
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Click your own ads
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Ask users to click ads
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Place ads near misleading buttons
Policy violations during setup can get you banned quickly.
18. Common Setup Mistakes
❌ Forgetting to add site-wide code
❌ Placing ads before approval
❌ Using too many ads
❌ Editing theme files incorrectly
❌ Ignoring mobile layout
Avoiding these saves time and revenue.
19. When NOT to Add AdSense Yet
Delay adding AdSense if:
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Your site has very little content
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Traffic is extremely low
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Pages are still under construction
Build value first, monetize second.
20. Scaling AdSense Setup
As your site grows:
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Add ads to top-performing pages
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Create category-specific placements
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Use custom channels for tracking
Scale strategically, not aggressively.
21. AdSense Setup Checklist
Before going live, confirm:
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Site-wide code installed
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Privacy Policy present
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Mobile-friendly design
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No policy violations
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Analytics connected
Checklists prevent costly mistakes.
22. AdSense + Analytics Integration
Link AdSense with Google Analytics to:
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Track revenue per page
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Understand user behavior
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Identify optimization opportunities
Data-driven monetization performs better.
23. Security and HTTPS
AdSense works best on:
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HTTPS-enabled websites
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Secure hosting environments
Security builds trust with users and advertisers.
24. Troubleshooting Common Issues
If ads don’t show:
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Check code placement
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Verify domain in AdSense
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Review policy notifications
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Wait 48 hours
Most issues are setup-related.
25. Final Takeaway
Adding AdSense to your website is not just a technical task —
it’s a monetization strategy decision.
Done correctly, AdSense:
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Integrates smoothly
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Preserves user experience
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Scales with traffic
Start simple, follow best practices, and optimize over time.
A clean setup today prevents revenue and policy problems tomorrow.
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