Key Takeaways
- Google’s Auto Ads is a game changer for website owners looking to monetize their content. It uses machine learning to choose ads that will perform well and place them where they’ll have maximum effect, potentially increasing revenue by an average of 10%.
- Auto Ads is easy to set up, requiring only a code snippet addition to each page where ads are desired. Advertisers can adjust settings in their AdSense account to choose which ad formats are displayed, without needing to edit the code.
- Google’s Ad Sizes Optimization feature, added in 2019, automatically optimizes fixed-size ads on mobile, taking into account the screen size and orientation of the visitor’s device, further enhancing user experience and potentially increasing ad performance.
This article was created in partnership with Google AdSense. Thank you for supporting the partners who make SitePoint possible.
Effective websites build businesses. They raise your profile, strengthen your brand, and bring in new clients. They can also generate their own money, and the easiest way to get started is pay-per-click advertising. If that sounds like a lot of work, it doesn’t have to be. And it doesn’t have to turn your site into a flashy billboard, either. Once set up, your site will continue to generate supplementary income—even while you sleep. The sooner you get started, the quicker it will add up. So let’s get into it.Why AdSense?
Google AdSense is the easy way to start monetizing your content. After a simple setup process, you have access to the world’s largest network of online advertisers, and you get paid for every click, whether that visitor converts to a sale or not.“Let us grow your revenue while you focus on growing your business.” (The AdSense Team)Because the ads are relevant and unobtrusive, you keep faith with your visitors. Google is focused on good user experience, not confusing or misleading the user. When you win, they win.
One of the best things about AdSense ads is that they follow all of Google’s rules on user experience, which means that they tend to be more unobtrusive, less flashy and (hopefully) more targeted than other banner and display advertising – their contextuality is a big plus as relevance is the main game here—the more relevant the ad the more likely you are to get paid. (Adsense and AdWords – why use them?)How much will you make? That’s hard to say, and depends on the quality and uniqueness of your site’s content, the amount of traffic you get, and even the type of traffic. So keep working on your site and content. Serious money may take thousands of visitors a day. But you don’t need to wait till then—see it as a work in progress. Make a start now, learn as you go, and track your progress over time.
Why Auto ads?
Auto ads make AdSense even easier to set up by using machine learning. Google intelligence does the work for you, choosing ads that will perform well, and placing them where they’ll have maximum effect. This is a game changer, allowing you to add ads to your site in a simple way, and make incremental revenue from them without the cost of additional time and effort. It does requires handing control over to Google, who uses page crawling techniques to analyze and understand each page, so that the AI can adapt to improve ad performance. And it works. During the beta test, participating publishers made on average 10% more revenue using Auto ads than they had been making on their own. To get started, you just need to add a code snippet to each page you want ads on. After that you adjust the settings in your AdSense account by using the toggles to choose which ad formats are displayed, without ever having to edit the code. Additionally, make sure you take advantage of Ad sizes optimization, a feature Google added in 2019. It automatically optimizes your fixed-size ads on mobile, taking into account the screen size and orientation of your visitor’s device.Setting up your account
There’s an application process you’ll need to complete before you can use AdSense on your website. It’s simple, free, and only takes a minute or two. Approval may take a few days. Head over to www.google.com/adsense and click on the “Sign Up Now” button. You just need to provide the URL to your website, and your email address. You can choose to opt in to AdSense emails, or not. That’s about it. Simple.Setting up Auto ads on your site
Now that you have a new AdSense account, here’s how to get Auto ads up and running on your site. Choose ad types Log into your account and navigate to My Ads then Get Started. Select the ad formats you’d like to display, and click Save. You can adjust your choices at any time in the future. Insert the code On the next page you’ll see a code snippet. For a static site, copy it, then paste it between the<head>
and </head>
tags of each page. It may take 10-20 minutes before the ads appear.
On WordPress it’s better not to edit the code of your theme directly, or your changes will be overwritten every time the theme is updated. Instead, use a plugin to get your site working with Auto ads. There are a number available, including three that are endorsed by Google:
- Insert Headers and Footers, free
- Advanced Ads, free
- Ad Inserter Pro, from €20
- Long articles may look better if you display only in-article ads.
- You may decide to overlay an anchor or vignette ad on certain pages.
- And on other pages you may choose not to display any ads.
Get started!
If you’ve been thinking about monetizing your site for a while, I hope this article prompts you into action. Make a start, continue to add and improve your site’s content, and work at increasing traffic. Google can keep your ads relevant by automatically matching them to your content, and the more visitors you have, the more clicks too. The sooner start, the sooner you’ll start earning, and getting started isn’t hard. Signing up for Google AdWords is fast and painless, Auto ads make setup simple, and Ad Sizes Optimization makes your ads responsive with the click of a switch. Head over to https://www.google.com/adsense and sign up.Frequently Asked Questions about Google’s Auto Ads
What are Google’s Auto Ads and how do they work?
Google’s Auto Ads is an innovative service that uses machine learning to automatically manage ad placements and monetization for publishers. It works by analyzing your website and identifying potential ad placements. It then automatically places ads where they are likely to perform well and provide a good user experience. The system continually learns and adapts to changes in traffic and user behavior, optimizing ad placements for maximum revenue.
How can I enable Google’s Auto Ads on my website?
To enable Google’s Auto Ads, you need to sign in to your AdSense account, go to the “Ads” tab, and then click on “Auto ads”. From there, you can choose the ad formats you want to show on your site and then click on “Save”. You will then be provided with an ad code that you need to copy and paste into the HTML of your site.
Can I control where Auto Ads are placed on my website?
Yes, you can control where Auto Ads are placed on your website. Google provides an ad balance tool that allows you to remove specific ads or adjust the volume of ads shown on your site. You can also set specific site-level and page-level ad exclusions.
How does Google’s Auto Ads affect the user experience on my website?
Google’s Auto Ads are designed to provide a positive user experience. The system uses machine learning to place ads in locations where they are likely to perform well without disrupting the user experience. However, it’s important to monitor your site and provide feedback to Google if you notice any issues.
How can I track the performance of Auto Ads on my website?
You can track the performance of Auto Ads on your website through your AdSense account. Google provides detailed reports that show the number of impressions, clicks, and earnings for each ad unit. This data can help you understand how well your ads are performing and identify areas for improvement.
Can I use Auto Ads with other ad networks?
Yes, you can use Auto Ads with other ad networks. However, it’s important to ensure that the use of multiple ad networks does not violate any of their terms of service. It’s also important to monitor the performance and user experience of your site when using multiple ad networks.
What types of websites can benefit from Google’s Auto Ads?
Any website that relies on ad revenue can potentially benefit from Google’s Auto Ads. This includes blogs, news sites, forums, and other content-rich websites. The system is particularly beneficial for sites with large amounts of traffic and diverse content.
How does Google’s Auto Ads compare to manual ad placement?
Google’s Auto Ads uses machine learning to optimize ad placement, which can potentially lead to higher revenue than manual ad placement. However, it also requires less management and provides more flexibility, as the system automatically adapts to changes in traffic and user behavior.
Can I use Google’s Auto Ads on a mobile website?
Yes, Google’s Auto Ads is designed to work on both desktop and mobile websites. The system automatically adjusts the size and placement of ads to fit the screen size and layout of the device.
What if I have issues or concerns with Google’s Auto Ads?
If you have any issues or concerns with Google’s Auto Ads, you can contact Google’s support team for assistance. You can also provide feedback directly through your AdSense account.
Adrian Try is an Aussie writer, musician, cyclist, and tech geek.