How to Add Google Adsense to WordPress to Make Money

Last Updated on May 16, 2023 by Michael Brockbank

One of the most common ways to make money from a blog is to add Google Adsense. For one thing, it’s super easy and works as a set-it-and-forget-it type of format. So, what are some of the best ways to use Adsense in WordPress?

In reality, Adsense and WordPress work amazingly well together. In fact, you really don’t need a plugin or any extra tool to get ads on your website. However, some plugins add quite a bit of functionality.

Today, I’ll show you several ways to add Adsense to WordPress and ways to improve how much you make.

Table of Contents

4 Easy Ways to Add Google Adsense to WordPress

These methods are in no particular order. They are also not the only methods you can use to add Google Adsense. However, they are among some of the most common for WordPress users.

If you have a great method for adding the system to your site, leave a comment down below. I’d love to hear from you.

OK, so what methods do we have available for adding Adsense?

1. Pasting the Code into WordPress

If you don’t want to use a plugin and just want a quick way to include ads in your content, you can simply copy-and-paste the code directly from Google into WordPress posts and pages.

The best way to do this is through the Text editor, whether you’re using the Classic Editor or Gutenberg.

All you do is simply switch to the Text view and past the code.

It Takes More Effort

Now, this is perhaps one of the easiest methods to include ads. However, it does come with a bit of a caveat. Every time you want to add Adsense, you need to copy and paste the code from either Google or if you saved it in a text file.

This means it’s creating a few extra steps every time you want to monetize your content.

Personally, I prefer the following methods as it makes maintaining the site so much easier. For instance, I only have to paste the ad code once into a plugin. From there, I simply click the button in WordPress to include the advertisement.

Let me show you what I mean.

2. Using Advanced Ads – Ad Manager & Adsense

Installing Advanced Ads is a great way to help you manage more than just Adsense. With this tool, you can also manage affiliate links and other advertisements you want to show on the website.

Now, the free version is a bit limited. However, when it comes to Adsense and WordPress, it has a feature that will track how much money you’ve made.

It pulls this information directly from Google. This means you’ll have to authorize the plugin to use your Google account. It’s a nice feature as I can track how much money my site has made without opening a new tab to go to the Adsense homepage.

The premium version comes with a slew of features, though. For instance, you can sell ad space directly, target ads by geographic location, or even track and limit clicks on the ads you show.

Which is a great feature if you want to sell ad space from your website. It happens more often than you think and removes the middle man so you make more money.

Perhaps the best part, though, is how easy it is to set up a new unit in Advanced Ads. After choosing how you want the advertisement to show, you just paste the code from Google and you’re good to go.

In fact, the tool works so well that I’m seriously debating on buying the premium version of the plugin for the gaming blog.

If you want more from the experience, you can then install In-feed Placement for Advanced Ads. This is an add-on that is specifically for adding Adsense to WordPress.

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One of my favorite features is how I can use the Add Ad button in the visual editor of WordPress and place the shortcode for Adsense anywhere I want.

3. Using AdRotate with Google Adsense

Another great tool that I’ve added to other blogs is the AdRotate plugin. This one does a similar job to the plugin above except the free version will track impressions and clicks.

It also gives a report to show your impressions, clicks, and click-through-rates. This way, you can see what ads perform the best and what location is more ideal for your visitors.

The only downside to AdRotate is that it doesn’t have an easy-to-use button in the Classic visual editor.

However, it’s as easy to set up as the earlier plugin when adding Adsense to WordPress. I just have to copy that shortcode form the plugin so I can paste it into the article.

I haven’t had a chance to test this plugin using the Gutenberg editor, though. So, there’s a likely possibility that AdRotate has a block you can simply add to the content.

At any rate, this is definitely among my favorite methods for managing ads on the site simply because of the statistics and tracking ability. And it’s free, so you can’t go wrong with that aspect.

You can buy a premium version of the tool, which I am also considering.

4. Using AdSense In-Page Auto Ads

Google also has a new feature called “In-Page Ads.” This is when you give Adsense the ability to place advertisements within your content without having to add it yourself.

In-Page Auto Ads is incredibly useful, especially if you don’t want to copy and paste code or use shortcodes. You can control where the ads will appear on your site and are guaranteed to be user-friendly.

Well, guaranteed as much as Google can, anyway. For instance, I have ads set to be “mobile-friendly” only and Google will still serve ads that stretch too far off screen. This results in an error from Google saying I am going beyond the visible width.

You’re the one who served the ad!

One of the best features of Auto Ads is how you can determine how many to show based on the amount of content you have. So if you have an ultra-short blog post, you won’t have to worry about saturating the content with advertisements.

It’s a huge turn-off for visitors.

And if you use Google AMP, you can also use Auto Ads that are specific for that function. This is so that your website will continue to be optimized for mobile while keeping it fast.

Best Practices to Maximize Google Adsense in WordPress

So, those are probably some of the most common ways to place ads from Adsense in WordPress. But, where is the best place to put them? What can you do to improve how much money you make from the system?

Actually, there is quite a bit you can do to improve how it all works together. You may find that making the slightest adjustment to bring in more clicks on those ads.

Create Amazing Content

Perhaps the most important method for generating income of any kind is to create stellar content. This is true whether you’re using Adsense, affiliate marketing, eCommerce, or selling your own digital products.

Content is king! It’s how you drive an audience that really matters. The more engaging you are, the more traffic you generate. The more traffic you pull in, the more likely someone will click an ad.

It’s that simple.

It’s All About the Niche

Part of building a strong blog or website centers around your niche. Some topics and genres are just going to perform better than others. But that’s not to say that you won’t make money by putting Adsense in WordPress.

However, you do need to be aware of how certain industries are more pronounced. For instance, websites centering around health and fitness make far more money than a blog about freelance writing.

Even if both sites received the same amount of visitor traffic. The ads are simply worth more to certain advertisers.

Research What People Want to Read

Part of creating some amazing content is making sure you’re giving people what they want to read. Too many bloggers write only what they want to cover. But in reality, it’s the audience that should give you an idea about what performs best.

For example, my gaming blog gets far more traffic to the How-Tos than anything else on the site. I’ll experiment once in a while to see if I can get interest in anything else. But in this case, the audience wants tutorials for OBS.

Keeping an eye on Search Console and Google Analytics is a great way to see what people want to read on your blog.

Monitor Where Visitors are Going on the Website

Not all areas of your website are going to be ideal when adding Adsense to WordPress. Some sections may have an incredibly poor pattern of results. It’s always a good idea to discover where to place ads in content.

And, having an idea about how people are viewing your site is of great help.

Heatmap Tools

Heatmapping is when you use a plugin like Aurora Heatmap and install it onto WordPress. Then, it will record how visitors use your site, which includes clicks and where mouse pointers are stopping.

The purpose is to give you a color-coded layout of the most important areas of your site according to users. So, a deeper red means it’s a “hot” zone and cooler “blues” are less engaging.

Using heatmaps gives you an idea of where the best places are to put Adsense in WordPress. Do more people see the top banner? Perhaps in the middle of your article is more ideal.

Sidebar or Not to Sidebar?

One thing you need to keep in mind is how the sidebar works in WordPress. On a mobile device, the sidebar is often shifted below the article. Which means there is less of a chance it will be seen by someone using a smartphone.

Many people will leave the website once they finish reading the article without exploring the rest of your content. If the ads are placed too far down the line, people may not scroll far enough to see the placement.

Why not just add it anyway? Because every instance of Google Adsense will affect the speed and performance of your site. So, you want to keep ads to a minimum if you want the website to remain fast and efficient.

I use ads in the sidebar of WriterSanctuary because more than 75% of my visitors are using desktop computers. You can find out what most people are using to see your site by examining Google Analytics.

Don’t Put All Your Income in One Basket

Adsense is one of the easiest methods to make money from a website. But, it does take an awful lot of traffic to meet high-income goals. This is why I suggest expanding what you offer.

Instead of merely relying on Adsense, include additional elements like affiliate marketing. Perhaps you can link to a Teespring site to sell your designs. Maybe you could write an eBook and sell it from the site.

My point is that you should never put all of your financial eggs in one basket. Diversifying your income will help you create a residual flow that pays out a decent amount of money each month.

Adding Google Adsense in WordPress is Easy

Although it’s one of the easiest ways to make a bit of money from a website, it’s also one of the hardest to reach the $100 payout threshold within a month. Like I said, it takes a lot of visitor traffic.

So, for a newer website, it’s not a good idea to expect riches after adding Adsense to WordPress. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a decent system for beginners. But make sure you’re doing everything you can to monetize your site properly.

This depends greatly on content, ad placement, and overall website design.

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Michael Brockbank

Michael has been a freelance writer since January of 2012 and has contributed to a long list of blogs throughout his career. He is also a published author and continues to help other writers find their own paths. Maintaining both the WriterSanctuary blog and YouTube channel, he covers topics that relate to writing in all forms.