The AdSense Checklist: Part 12 — WordsByEkta🌿

The AdSense Checklist — Is Google Search Console Required for Approval?

Eleven parts in and we are at the part everyone actually wants to talk about — AdSense approval. The question I get asked most is whether Google Search Console is actually required. The short answer is no, it is not on Google's official list. The real answer is that applying without it is asking Google to trust a site it cannot verify owns itself.

A flat-lay desk illustration showing a golden checklist with green checkmarks, two labeled code envelopes in separate trays, a small hourglass, sticky notes reading Keep Posting and Almost There, and a red Under Review stamp on cream linen — WordsByEkta
Two codes, two places — the AdSense checklist that actually makes sense — WordsByEkta

1. The Big Question: Is GSC Required?

Technically, Google’s official requirements don't list Search Console as a "must-have." However, in my experience, applying without it is like applying for a job without a background check.

Why GSC is a "Secret Requirement":

  • Verification: GSC proves to Google that you actually own the site.
  • Indexing: AdSense bots need to crawl your site to see if your content is high-quality. If your pages aren't indexed (which we track in GSC), the AdSense bot might see a "Site Down" or "No Content" error and reject you instantly.
  • Trust: A site verified in GSC looks like a professional business, not a hobbyist spam site.

2. The "Before You Apply" Checklist

Don't hit apply until these 4 Settings are 100% ready in your Blogger dashboard:

  • Essential Pages: You MUST have an About, Contact, and Privacy Policy page.
  • Clean Navigation: Your menu should work perfectly (no "404 Not Found" links).
  • Content Volume: Aim for at least 15–20 high-quality posts (800+ words each).
  • Remove "Ghost Widgets": As we discussed in Article 6, remove all empty widgets.

3. The "After You Apply" Settings

Once you’ve submitted your application, your work isn't done. You need to prepare your site for the "Ads.txt" crawler.

  • Enable Custom Ads.txt: Go to Settings > Monetization and toggle on "Enable custom ads.txt."
  • The Snippet: Once AdSense gives you your Publisher ID, you must paste your specific code into that box.
  • Keep Posting: Do not stop writing while Google is reviewing! Show Google you are a consistent creator.

4. Adding the AdSense Verification Code to Blogger

Once you apply, AdSense gives you an ownership verification code — a meta tag that proves this site belongs to you. Without this step, Google cannot proceed with your review.

It looks like this:

<meta name="google-adsense-account" content="ca-pub-XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX">
  • Go to Blogger Dashboard → Theme → Edit HTML
  • Press Ctrl+F and search for <head>
  • Paste the code on the very next line after <head>
  • Save the theme
  • Return to AdSense and click Request review
  • Do not paste this in a blog post, a page, or the ads.txt box.
  • One code is enough — do not paste it multiple times.
  • Pasting in the wrong place means Google cannot verify ownership and review will not proceed.

5. Two Codes, Two Places — Don't Mix Them Up

This is where most bloggers get confused. AdSense gives you two different codes at two different stages. They go in two completely different places.

  • Code 1: Ownership Verification Meta Tag — Paste in Blogger Theme HTML just below <head>. Do this before requesting review.
  • Code 2: Ads.txt Publisher ID Line — Paste in Blogger Settings → Monetisation → Custom ads.txt box. Do this after applying.
Do not paste the ads.txt line in Theme HTML. Do not paste the verification code in the ads.txt box. These are two completely separate things and go in two completely separate places.

6. Fix the Ads.txt "Not Found" Warning

After applying, AdSense may show an "ads.txt not found" warning. Unresolved ads.txt issues can reduce your ad revenue significantly. Fix it like this:

  • Go to Blogger Dashboard → Settings → Monetisation
  • Toggle on Enable custom ads.txt
  • Paste this line (replace with your actual Publisher ID):
google.com, pub-XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0

AdSense takes 24-48 hours to crawl and update the status from "Not found" to "Found."

7. How Long Does AdSense Approval Take?

There is no fixed timeline. Based on general experience:

  • Minimum: 2-3 days for sites with strong content and clean setup
  • Typical: 1-2 weeks for most blogger sites
  • Maximum: Up to 4 weeks in some cases
  • If rejected: Fix the issue mentioned and reapply — there is no permanent ban for genuine sites

During this waiting period, keep publishing. An active blog signals to Google that you are a consistent creator, not someone who built a site just to monetise it.

8. The Final Trust Signal

If you have traffic coming from Bing or Yahoo (as we set up in Article 9), it shows Google that other search engines already trust you. This can actually speed up your AdSense review because you’ve proven you have a real audience.

WordsByEkta🌿 — The two codes go in two places. The checklist exists for a reason. AdSense approval is not a lottery — it is a review. If your technical setup is clean and your content is real, you are not waiting for luck. You are waiting for Google to catch up.

You’ve moved from "technical confusion" to "SEO ready." Whether you’re waiting for Google to index or waiting for that AdSense "Welcome" email, remember: Consistency is your greatest asset.

Everything I Learned — So You Don't Have To Figure It Out Alone

The technical mistakes I made in year one — the full HTML inside Blogger, the missing meta descriptions, the duplicate H1 tags, the links closing articles — I have written all of it down. Every fix. Every discovery. Every hour of confused trial and error turned into a clear guide.

🌿 The WordsByEkta Blogger Technical Series

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