Written by Brian Hulela
Published on 23 Jul 2025, 10:56
Getting approved for Google AdSense in South Africa isn’t as mysterious as many make it out to be.
While many get stuck in cycles of rejection, my process was surprisingly smooth, and I believe it’s because I approached the application with structure and intention.
Before applying, I asked a simple question: if someone stumbled on my site today, would it give them something useful? Not trendy, not clickbait, just genuinely helpful content.
Instead of rushing to publish dozens of short, recycled posts, I focused on quality. I published about 8 to 10 solid blog posts, each well-written, properly formatted, and targeting useful, relevant topics in finance, tech, and productivity, fields that actually aligned with what I wanted my site to represent.
Each article was original. No AI copy-paste. No keyword stuffing. No duplicate paragraphs. Just researched, well-structured writing with a clear headline, proper paragraphing, and relevant images.
A major mistake many people make is applying with a site that looks half-finished. That’s an instant red flag.
Before applying, I made sure my website had:
A clean "Homepage" with a clear description of what the site is about
An "About" page that explained the vision behind the blog
A "Contact" page with a working form or email
A “Privacy Policy” page, this one is not optional
I didn’t rely on flashy animations or unnecessary clutter. The focus was on structure and usability. The site loaded quickly, worked well on mobile, and didn’t have any broken links or placeholder pages.
These things send a strong signal that the site is trustworthy and ready for monetization.
AdSense takes domains seriously. I didn’t use a free domain like "yourname.wordpress.com" or "yourblog.blogspot.com". I bought a proper .co.za domain and connected it to my site. This alone signals that you’re serious about your content.
It doesn’t have to be expensive. A basic domain and simple hosting plan are enough to show Google that this isn’t just a side experiment. A custom domain also helps with SEO, branding, and long-term growth, all of which matter if you plan to build traffic over time.
I was strict about this. No popups. No aggressive email capture. Ngo sketchy outbound links. No "Buy Now" buttons all over the page.
Everything was clean. No affiliate links, no third-party ads, and nothing that would raise suspicion. I wanted AdSense to be the first monetization tool on the site, and I made that obvious.
Even the images I used were royalty-free and properly credited where necessary. Google wants to approve sites that respect intellectual property and user experience.
Timing matters. I didn’t apply right after launching. I gave the site about 3–4 weeks to settle. I let Google index the pages. I checked my Google Search Console to see that traffic was being picked up, even if it was just a few clicks.
Once I felt the structure, content, and user experience were solid, I applied through the AdSense dashboard.
Within a few days, I got the approval email. No rejections. No back and forth. Just a simple "You’re in."
Getting approved is one thing. Keeping the account in good standing is another.
After approval, I kept posting quality content at a steady pace. I didn’t flood the blog with ads. I made sure the ad placements didn’t ruin the user experience. I stayed away from any topics that violate AdSense policies like adult content, misleading health claims, or copyrighted material.
The goal was never to make money overnight. It was to build a sustainable income stream tied to content I was already proud to share.
Looking back, the key wasn’t a special trick or a behind-the-scenes contact. It was simply building a real site that works, serves readers, and meets AdSense’s published requirements.
If you're serious about monetizing your blog through Google AdSense in South Africa, take your time with the foundation. Write with intention. Structure your site properly. Show Google that your site adds value, and the approval will follow.
