Piggy Backing and Piggy Banking

The Journey of Monetizing My Blog: Challenges and Updates

Introduction:
Earning while sharing my thoughts and experiences through blogging seemed like a great idea. However, my plans to monetize my blog hit a roadblock when I discovered that Google AdSense required the site to be active for at least six months. Undeterred, I decided to revive my old blog site and embark on a journey to earn through blogging once again.

The Rejection:
Unfortunately, my application for Google AdSense was initially rejected. The reason provided was "insufficient content." To address this issue, I received a set of suggestions from AdSense:

1. Ensuring sufficient text content: Websites primarily consisting of images, videos, or Flash animations may not be approved. Complete sentences and paragraphs are essential.
2. Launching a fully developed website: Applying for AdSense should be done after the site is fully built and launched, avoiding beta or "under construction" phases or mere website templates.
3. Placing the ad code on live pages: Test pages with only the AdSense code will not be approved. The ad code should be integrated into a live page of the website.
4. Providing clear navigation: A user-friendly navigation system should be implemented so that visitors can easily explore all sections and pages of the website.
5. Monetizing YouTube videos separately: Applying for the YouTube monetization program is necessary for video monetization. Blogs or websites solely consisting of videos will not be approved.

Progress and Challenges:
While these requirements clarified the necessary steps, challenges remained. Attracting traffic and publishing content that resonates with my target audience became key objectives. Although the blog site was created in 2009, I failed to utilize it effectively due to my full-time job at the time. Only recently did I discover a few comments on some of my articles, prompting me to take better care of my virtual assets.

Updates:
I provide updates on the progress of my AdSense application:

- September 30: Rejected once again due to insufficient content.
- October 2: No rejection email received, but ads are not yet showing on the website.
- October 3: Ads are not visible on the live site, although they appear in the widget preview.
- October 4: Active Ad units can be seen on the AdSense portal, but ads are not yet displayed on the website.
- Final update [October 10]: AdSense is finally active and working. For those using their own registered domains instead of Blogger, Google requires inserting a code in the HTML for evaluation and site approval.

Conclusion:
The journey to monetize my blog through Google AdSense has been a rollercoaster ride. Overcoming rejection, meeting the content requirements, and resolving technical issues have been significant hurdles. As I move forward, I remain determined to rectify past mistakes and cultivate a successful blog that not only resonates with readers but also generates earnings. This article serves as a reminder to care for our virtual assets, as we never know when they may prove valuable in the future.

Hashtags:
#MonetizingMyBlog #BloggingJourney #AdSenseChallenges #BlogMonetization #BloggingUpdates #ContentCreation #WebsiteDevelopment #OnlineEarnings