Starting a blog can feel like standing at the edge of a swimming pool—exciting, but also terrifying. I know this because when I launched my first blog on Blogger.com, I spent hours tinkering with fonts that nobody but me cared about. But here’s the thing: Blogger turned out to be one of the simplest ways to kick off my blogging journey, and it eventually helped me get into Google AdSense.
If you’re new, broke (no shame—we’ve all been there), or just don’t want to wrestle with complicated hosting setups, Blogger.com is a great option. It’s free, beginner-friendly, and yes—if done right—you can get approved for AdSense and even Adsterra faster than you’d expect.
This guide will walk you through the steps, with a dash of humor and real-world proof that it actually works.
Why Blogger.com Is Perfect for Beginners
Think of Blogger as the training wheels of blogging. It’s not the fanciest bike, but it gets you moving.
Here’s why:
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Free to Use – No hosting fees, just a free blogspot.com domain.
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Google Integration – Seamless setup with AdSense and other Google tools.
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Beginner-Friendly – No coding knowledge required. If you can type, you can blog.
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SEO-Friendly – Google crawls and indexes Blogger sites quickly.
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Secure & Reliable – Hosted by Google, with less worry about hacks.
👉 Pro Tip: Even though you get a free domain, switching to a custom domain (like www.yoursite.com) improves credibility and boosts your AdSense approval chances.
Step 1: Set Up Your Blogger Blog
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Head to Blogger.com.
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Click Create Your Blog and sign in with your Google account.
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Pick a Title (example: Tech Hacks Daily).
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Choose a Blog Address (URL). Something short and memorable wins.
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Select a Theme. Keep it clean and fast (you can change it later).
⚡ Quick Tip: A simple theme beats a flashy one. Visitors want fast-loading pages, not fireworks.
Step 2: Pick a Profitable Niche
Here’s the hard truth: writing about “my cute dog” won’t pay your rent (unless your dog is an influencer). To get approved for AdSense and earn, pick a niche that advertisers love.
High-paying niches:
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Finance & Investing – Forex, crypto, side hustles.
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Health & Fitness – Diet, exercise, mental health.
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Make Money Online – Freelancing, affiliate marketing, blogging.
Niches to avoid (AdSense won’t approve):
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Adult or violent content.
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Piracy, hacking, or scam-related content.
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Hate speech or illegal topics.
👉 Case Study 1: A student blogger in Nigeria started a site about freelancing platforms. Within 8 months, he not only got AdSense approval but also attracted clients directly through his blog.
Step 3: Customize Your Blog
A professional look builds trust (and trust = faster approvals).
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Theme: Go to Dashboard → Theme → Pick or upload a responsive design.
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Layout: Add useful widgets:
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Search bar
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Popular posts
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Categories/labels
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Newsletter signup form
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Less is more. Keep it simple. Nobody wants to feel lost in a maze of blinking ads and widgets.
Step 4: Write Your First Blog Posts
Before applying for AdSense or Adsterra, you’ll need quality content.
Best practices:
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Use headings (H2, H3) for structure.
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Write in short paragraphs. Readers hate walls of text.
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Add bullet points and lists.
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Include internal links (to your other posts) and external links (to credible sources like Google Support).
👉 Aim for 20–30 posts with 1,000+ words each. That might sound like a lot, but it signals to ad networks that you’re serious.
Case Study 2: A health blogger from India wrote 25 posts on budget diet plans. She didn’t have a fancy site, but her clear, well-structured content got her AdSense approval within 2 weeks.
AdSense vs. Adsterra: What’s the Difference?
Both platforms help you make money with ads, but they work differently.
| Feature | AdSense | Adsterra |
|---|---|---|
| Approval Time | 1–2 weeks (strict) | 1–3 days (easy) |
| Content Rules | Very strict (high-quality only) | More flexible |
| Ad Formats | Display ads, matched content, in-feed | Banners, popunders, native, push ads |
| Best For | Long-term, quality blogs | New sites or those not AdSense-ready |
| Earnings | Higher (but harder to get approved) | Moderate, depends on ad types |
👉 Case Study 3: A beginner travel blogger applied for AdSense and got rejected twice for “insufficient content.” Instead of quitting, she joined Adsterra and began earning small amounts right away. Six months later, with more content added, she reapplied and got approved for AdSense.
Step 5: Apply for AdSense (The Right Way)
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Make sure your blog has:
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Essential pages – About, Contact, Privacy Policy, Terms of Service.
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20–30 original posts (no copy-paste).
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Clean design – Avoid clutter, broken links, and pop-ups.
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Visit Google AdSense.
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Sign up, enter your blog URL, and submit for review.
Approval usually takes 1–2 weeks. If rejected, don’t panic. Fix the issues mentioned and reapply.
Step 6: Try Adsterra for Faster Monetization
If AdSense feels like the strict parent, Adsterra is the cool uncle. It’s easier to get approved and offers flexible ad types.
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Sign up at Adsterra.
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Add your site.
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Get approval (usually in 24–72 hours).
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Start displaying ads immediately.
Final Tips for Success
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Be patient. AdSense is strict, but worth it long-term.
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Stay consistent. Post regularly, even if traffic is slow at first.
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Follow the rules. Don’t click your own ads or use copied content.
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Think user-first. If your blog helps readers, ad networks will reward you.
Final Thoughts
Blogging isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme—it’s more like planting seeds. Some grow fast (Adsterra), others take time but yield bigger harvests (AdSense).
If you’re serious, start today with Blogger.com. Write, publish, tweak, and grow. Approval will follow.
👉 Now it’s your turn: Which platform are you aiming for first—AdSense or Adsterra? Drop your answer in the comments, or sign up for my newsletter where I share weekly blogging tips and real approval stories.