What I Prepared Before Applying for Google AdSense

Before applying to Google AdSense for this blog, I audited what’s actually required by Google — not just from the official help pages, but also from other people’s experience getting rejected. Here’s what I fixed.

Privacy Policy. This is the requirement small sites most often miss, even though it’s an absolute must — especially since AdSense uses third-party cookies to serve personalized ads. I added this page in both languages, explaining what data is actually collected (almost none — this is a static site, only using localStorage for a theme preference), and how to opt out of personalized ads through Google Ads Settings.

Content volume and quality. There’s no official number from Google, but the common consensus is at least a dozen-plus substantial articles, not ones that are just a few sentences. I re-checked the length of my older posts — most were under 300 words, so I started writing new posts with more depth.

Clear About and Contact pages. Not just a formality — this signals to a reviewer (human or algorithmic) that there’s an actual person behind this site, not an anonymous site or a content farm.

HTTPS and proper navigation structure. Already covered automatically thanks to the existing Nginx + Let’s Encrypt setup, plus a consistent nav structure across every page.

ads.txt I deliberately haven’t added yet, since that file is only needed after approval — it contains the publisher ID Google gives you once the account is approved.

The takeaway: most AdSense requirements really just boil down to “a site run in good faith” — a clear privacy policy, enough original content, transparent identity. No special trick, just homework that has to be done one item at a time.