Many new bloggers assume that making money on Blogger begins and ends with Google AdSense. While AdSense is one of the easiest monetization methods available, it is far from the only option. Blogger supports multiple income streams, even if you're using the free BlogSpot subdomain.
The key is understanding what Google expects before approving your site and knowing how to diversify your revenue instead of depending entirely on display advertising.
This guide explains how to get your Blogger blog approved for Google AdSense, how to integrate ads correctly, and how to expand your income with affiliate marketing and third party advertising.
Can You Monetize a Free Blogger Blog?
Yes. Blogger allows users to monetize both free BlogSpot blogs and blogs connected to custom domains.
Google provides native AdSense integration directly inside the Blogger dashboard, making it one of the simplest blogging platforms for beginners who want to earn advertising revenue. Your blog, however, must comply with both Blogger's policies and Google AdSense Program Policies before monetization becomes available.
Even if your blog is not yet approved for AdSense, Blogger also supports affiliate links and custom HTML or JavaScript advertising code from other advertising services.
What Google AdSense Looks for Before Approval
Contrary to popular belief, Google does not publish a minimum traffic requirement for AdSense approval. Instead, reviewers focus on the quality of your website and whether it complies with program policies.
Before submitting your Blogger site, make sure you have:
- Original, high quality articles.
- A clear niche and consistent publishing style.
- Easy navigation.
- Working menus and internal links.
- Essential pages such as About, Contact, Privacy Policy, and Terms if applicable.
- No copyrighted or prohibited content.
- A mobile friendly design.
Google also requires applicants to be at least 18 years old. If you use Blogger, Google recommends creating your AdSense account directly through Blogger's Earnings section instead of signing up separately.
How to Apply for Google AdSense in Blogger
Blogger includes native AdSense integration, so you do not need to manually insert ad code during the application process.
The process is straightforward:
- Sign in to Blogger.
- Open the blog you want to monetize.
- Click Earnings.
- Select Create AdSense Account.
- Complete the application using the Google account linked to your blog.
- Wait while Google reviews your site.
If your blog qualifies, Blogger automatically connects your site with your AdSense account after approval.
Approval times vary depending on the review process.
Displaying AdSense Ads on Blogger
Once approved, Blogger offers multiple ways to display ads.
The simplest option is the built in AdSense Gadget.
Open Layout, choose Add a Gadget, select AdSense, configure the ad unit, then save your layout. This allows you to place advertisements in your sidebar or other widget areas without editing your template.
Depending on your template, you may also display advertisements between blog posts using Blogger's built in options.
If you manually add AdSense code outside Blogger's automatic integration, remember to configure your ads.txt file under Blogger Settings whenever required. Google documents this process for manually integrated advertising.
Common Reasons Blogger Sites Get Rejected
Receiving an AdSense rejection is common, especially for new blogs.
Some of the most frequent reasons include:
- Thin or repetitive content.
- Articles copied from other websites.
- Poor navigation.
- Large sections with little useful information.
- Content that violates AdSense policies.
- Incomplete website pages.
Many bloggers mistakenly believe they simply need more traffic. Google does not state any minimum visitor requirement for approval. Instead, site quality and policy compliance remain the primary evaluation criteria.
If your application is rejected, improve the site, publish additional original content where necessary, resolve any policy issues, and submit another review.
Don't Depend on AdSense Alone
AdSense can become a steady revenue source, but display advertising rarely produces significant earnings on small blogs.
Diversifying your income provides greater stability and often produces better long term results.
Affiliate marketing is usually the first alternative beginners should consider.
Adding Affiliate Links to Blogger
Affiliate marketing pays you a commission when someone purchases through your referral link.
Unlike display advertising, you earn based on conversions rather than clicks.
Blogger allows affiliate links inside blog posts without requiring special plugins.
Simply insert your affiliate links naturally within articles where they genuinely help readers.
Two of the largest affiliate platforms are:
- Amazon Associates
- ShareASale
Amazon Associates provides commissions on millions of physical products, making it suitable for product reviews, buying guides, and recommendation articles.
ShareASale connects bloggers with thousands of merchants across technology, fashion, finance, education, home improvement, software, and many other industries.
Choose affiliate products that match your blog's niche instead of promoting unrelated offers. Relevant recommendations generally perform much better than random advertisements.
Always include an affiliate disclosure where required by applicable laws and regulations.
Using Custom HTML Ad Scripts
Google AdSense is not the only advertising network supported by Blogger.
The platform includes an HTML/JavaScript Gadget that accepts advertising code from many third party networks.
To add custom advertisements:
- Open Layout.
- Click Add a Gadget.
- Select HTML/JavaScript.
- Paste the advertising code supplied by your advertising provider.
- Save your changes.
This feature allows Blogger users to integrate many external advertising services that provide JavaScript based ad units.
Always verify that any advertising network you use complies with Blogger policies and does not conflict with Google AdSense policies if both are displayed together.
Other Ways to Earn with Blogger
As your audience grows, your monetization options expand.
Many successful Blogger websites eventually add:
- Sponsored articles from brands.
- Digital products such as eBooks or templates.
- Online courses.
- Consulting services.
- Email newsletters with paid memberships.
- Direct advertising sold to businesses.
These methods often generate higher income than display advertising because they rely on audience trust instead of page views.
For niche blogs with loyal readers, affiliate marketing, digital products, and sponsored content frequently become larger revenue sources than AdSense itself.
Google AdSense remains one of the easiest ways to monetize a Blogger website, especially because Blogger includes built in integration that simplifies the approval and setup process.
However, successful blogging is rarely built on one income source.
Create original content, satisfy Google's quality standards, and use the native AdSense tools available inside Blogger. At the same time, build additional revenue streams through affiliate marketing, custom advertising, and products or services that provide genuine value to your audience.
A Blogger site, even one running on the free BlogSpot subdomain, can become a profitable online business when monetization is treated as a long term strategy instead of a single approval milestone.
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Psalm 8:4
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