Getting your first website approved by AdSense is an outstanding achievement. It is proof that your content has a monetary value! It is definitely an occasion worth celebrating. But do not forget that AdSense approval is not your final destination. Now comes the most challenging part: generating actual income.
To do that, first, you must learn about AdSense policies. You do not want to violate them on your first day. After all, disobeying the rules can be fatal. AdSense might warn you, limit your account's monetization capability, or, even worse, permanent suspension!
Read also: 10 Things That You Should Know If You Want to Become a Professional Blogger
Therefore, I will tell you about three things that you must never do after getting AdSense approval!
#1 You must never click your own ads!
I understand that clicking your own ads is very tempting. However, this act is strictly forbidden. Artificially increasing your click goes against AdSense policy. This is an absolute rule, and you can not challenge it. And, of course, this type of foul play will not increase your revenue.
AdSense, and Google in general, has an intelligent algorithm that can discern fake clicks. So clicking your own ads and asking other people to click your ads will be counterproductive. Artificially-generated clicks would harm the advertiser's revenue, which is why Google hates this trickery.
Read also:
- How to Solve AdSense Policy Violation "Site Behavior: Navigation"
- How to Use follow.it - Free Feedburner Alternative
- Is It Possible to Monetize Poetry and Flash Fiction Using AdSense in Blogspot?
Of course, sometimes you might accidentally click your ad, which is understandable. Usually, when invalid clicks are detected, AdSense will null it or deduct your revenue at the end of the month. As long as it was accidental and nothing excessive is happening, there is nothing to worry about. However, if you do not heed this warning, then be ready to face a harsh penalty from AdSense.
Sometimes, it is not you but other people who misuse the system. If you suspect unusual activity of people abusing the ads displayed on your website, you can report it to AdSense via this form. But again, typically, unless the volume is large, nothing will happen other than revenue deduction.
The best way to avoid invalid clicks is to let things be organic. Just let the ads be. Turn them on and forget about it.
Of course, you can check your website but never intentionally touch the ads. You should also avoid reloading your page excessively because that might artificially inflate ad impressions, which is also against AdSense policy.
You also need to vigilantly monitor your AdSense account. Use Google Analytics to analyze your traffic pattern. Do not spam your link on sketchy places because it might invite irregular traffics.
As soon as you notice unusual spikes in clicks, you can manually disconnect your website from AdSense temporarily. And, of course, do not forget to report it via the form I've linked above.
If you are still worried about invalid clicks, you can read Google's tutorial on keeping your AdSense account in good standing. Your AdSense revenue should be safe from penalty if you act in good faith and follow the guidelines.
#2 Do not put ads on weird spaces!
You should never add ad codes on unusual spaces that might interfere with your visitors. Your ads should not be the focus of your web pages. Please remember that a user visits your website to view your helpful articles, not the ads.
If you decide to add ad banners manually, you should not go overboard. AdSense has created a guideline on the best practice for ad placement that you should follow!
One of the most essential points you must adhere to is adding ads above the fold. The first thing that a visitor should see is your content, not a giant ad.
The best way to put your ads is through AdSense Auto Ad features. The system will automatically determine the best places for the ad banners. Moreover, Auto Ad will also decide the optimum number of ads that will appear on your content.
However, auto ads can sometimes be weird, especially if your theme is broken. Display ads may get injected into the wrong spaces. If this scenario happens, you must block the incorrect ad placement through AdSense's preview feature.
#3 Do not Modify AdSense Ad Code
AdSense strictly forbids you from modifying their ad code. The safest way to input ads manually inside your content is to just copy the code generated from AdSense.
However, not all modifications are against AdSense policy. The platform provides you with some freedom to edit the ad code.
For instance, you are allowed to manipulate the size of the ads as long as the size follows AdSense's guidelines. You can also modify the ad code to make it loads more efficiently through Lazy AdSense modification.
While those modifications are legal, they are not recommended if you do not know what you are doing. If you have no prior coding knowledge, it is best to use AdSense ad code as the system provides.
This is why I strongly recommend beginners to just use the Auto Ad features. You do not have to worry about codes and ad placements.
Conclusion
AdSense is one of the best monetization programs that can be profitable. However, we must follow AdSense's guidelines closely to ensure that our account is in good standing.
Always pay close attention to AdSense's Policy Center, as any type of violation usually would appear in that section to warn you. You can check it by login into your AdSense account and selecting Policy Center from the sidebar.
You have nothing to worry about as long as you act in good faith, monitor your traffic, and do not deliberately violate AdSense policy. Now, focus on creating content and enjoy your revenue!