AdSense Approval Tips: SEO & Performance That Actually Work

In my previous post, I shared my full AdSense approval timeline — every redesign, rejection, and small fix that eventually led to approval after a year and a half. This time, I wanted to take it a step further and put everything I learned into one place: the practical tips that actually worked and the questions people usually have about the AdSense approval process.

If you’re still waiting for approval or just getting ready to apply, I hope this helps you understand what really matters and what’s worth focusing on.

AdSense Approval Tips That Actually Help

Add the Essential Pages Early

Before you even apply, make sure your site has the basics: About, Contact, and Privacy Policy pages. They show Google that your website is legitimate and transparent, and they’re also what readers expect from a trustworthy site. If you’re using WordPress, many themes already include templates for these. If you’re building your own, just keep them simple — no fancy layout needed, just clear, readable information.

Focus on Structure and UX

A clean layout, readable fonts, and fast loading speed matter as much as the writing itself. When you build your own theme from scratch (like I did), these details take time to refine. But even if you’re using a pre-made theme, it’s worth checking how it performs. Make sure it’s responsive, loads efficiently, and doesn’t bury your content under heavy visuals or cluttered widgets. Google pays attention to how visitors interact with your site — if it’s hard to navigate or slow to load, it reflects poorly on user experience.

Be Personal, Not Generic

When I first started blogging, my posts were informative but too objective. They lacked my personal voice, which made them feel bland and distant. After getting multiple rejections for “low value content,” I realized readers — and Google — want authenticity. Don’t just repeat what others have written. Share your own perspective and experience: what worked, what didn’t, and why. Readers connect with honesty, and AdSense rewards that too.

Fix Technical Issues

Even small technical details can quietly affect your site’s credibility. Check your sitemap, robots.txt, and 404 pages regularly — broken links or missing files signal low maintenance.

When I first built my site, I used plugins to generate my sitemap and robots.txt. They worked fine at first, but I later realized they limited how much control I had over updates and language versions. Eventually, I removed them and built my own setup tailored to my site’s structure. Plugins are helpful, but convenience often comes with less control.

Don’t Rush the Process

Rejections aren’t failures — they’re feedback. Each one shows you something your site can still improve. AdSense approval takes time, especially if you’re doing everything manually. Focus on steady progress, not shortcuts. In my case, approval came after refining my structure and cleaning up performance — not by adding more posts. The process can feel slow, but every small improvement matters.

SEO & Performance Tips

Improve Accessibility and Internal Structure

Add alt text for all images, internal links between related posts, and use aria labels when possible. I’m not sure if AdSense directly evaluates accessibility, but Lighthouse (Google’s audit tool) does — and that affects your overall site score. Besides, it’s always good for users. Better structure, better readability, better impressions.

Use Lighthouse and PageSpeed Tools

If your site feels sluggish, use Google Lighthouse or PageSpeed Insights to measure real performance. These tools highlight what’s slowing your site down — unused CSS, large images, render-blocking scripts, and more. The most effective fix for me was lazy loading, which prevents all images from loading at once. I also switched images to WebP format, which is lighter than JPEG or PNG. If you’re using a pre-made theme, check whether it supports these optimizations. A beautiful site means little if it takes 10 seconds to load.

AdSense Approval Q&A

Timeline & Frequency

Q: How long did it take to get approved?
About a year and a half — from my first application in June 2024 to final approval in September 2025 (you can check my previous post for the full timeline and details).

Q: How long did it take after reapplying to get approved?
It varied each time. If I didn’t have major fixes, I reapplied right away. But during redesigns or code updates, I waited until everything was stable. There’s no penalty for multiple reapplications, but if you do it too often, Google may temporarily block reapplications for a few weeks.

Q: How often did you post?
I aimed for one post per week unless something came up. Consistency matters more than frequency — Google can tell if a site is actively maintained.

Content & Writing Style

Q: How many posts did you have when you got approved?
Around 80 in total — about 40 in English and 40 in Korean. Interestingly, I had the same number during my final “low value content” rejection. Approval came after improving structure and quality, not by adding more posts.

Q: How much content should each post have?
I never aimed for a number. My early posts were about 900 words, but over time they grew to around 1,200–1,300 naturally. Word count isn’t the key — clarity and structure are. Still, very short posts may appear “thin,” so aim for completeness.

Q: Did you use AI-generated content?
No, I wrote everything myself. I sometimes used AI tools to polish grammar or improve phrasing, but ideas and structure were entirely mine. AI is just a writing assistant — not the writer.

Design & Technical Aspects

Q: Does the design or layout affect approval?
Yes, absolutely. From a user’s perspective, your site should be comfortable to read and easy to navigate. I made sure tap areas were at least around 45×45px and text wasn’t too small on mobile. Small details like spacing and padding can change how professional your site feels.

Q: Did you use Google Search Console or Analytics during the process?
Yes, I used both. I’m not sure if they’re not required, but extremely helpful for understanding visibility, search traffic, and technical health.

Rejections & Site Niches

Q: What kind of rejection did you get most often?
Mostly “no reason provided.” The next most common was “low value content.” In my case, it meant Google wasn’t convinced the site offered enough original or structured value — not that the writing was bad.

Q: Do I need to have a single-niche blog?
Not necessarily. My site had three categories — Life Plan, Creativity, and Study. I didn’t stick to one niche, but kept each category active and regularly updated.

Q: Did traffic affect your approval?
It’s hard to say. One of my Hobonichi Layouts posts went slightly viral on Pinterest, but even then, daily views stayed under 50. Traffic alone doesn’t guarantee approval, though steady engagement helps.

SEO & Performance Q&A

Q: What else did you do for SEO or performance?
I added alt text, internal linking, and aria labels where possible. I’m not sure if AdSense directly measures accessibility, but since Lighthouse affects overall site performance, it’s worth improving. And honestly — it’s just better for users.

Q: How did you adjust heavy performance issues?
I relied heavily on Lighthouse and PageSpeed Insights. The biggest improvement came from lazy loading, followed by converting images to WebP. If you’re using a pre-made theme, check whether these optimizations are supported. Small technical tweaks can make a big difference in performance — and in how Google views your site.

Final Thoughts

Getting AdSense approval is a long process, but every rejection teaches you something valuable. Focus on building a solid foundation, optimizing what you can, and staying patient. You’ll get there — and when that approval email finally arrives, it’ll be worth every iteration.