You've just launched your new website. Congratulations! The design is clean, the first few articles are published, and you're ready for the world to see it. But two big questions often come next: "How do I get my site to show up on Google?" and "How can I start making money with Google AdSense?"

The good news is that these two goals are deeply connected. You can't get AdSense approval without having a quality site that Google recognizes. This ultimate checklist will guide you through the essential steps to get your site indexed, apply basic SEO, and dramatically increase your chances of getting approved for Google AdSense.

Part 1: Getting Indexed by Google (Making Your Site Visible)

Before you can rank, Google needs to know your website exists. This process is called "indexing." If your site isn't indexed, it's invisible to Google Search. Here’s how to speed up the process.

Step 1: Set Up Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a free, essential tool from Google that helps you monitor your site's performance in search results. It's the most direct way to communicate with Google about your website. Signing up and verifying your ownership is the non-negotiable first step.

Step 2: Submit Your Sitemap

A sitemap is a file that lists all the pages on your website, acting as a roadmap for search engines. Your website already generates one automatically at sitemap.php. Once you're in Google Search Console, go to the "Sitemaps" section, enter the URL of your sitemap (e.g., https://yourdomain.com/sitemap.php), and submit it. This tells Google exactly where to find all your content.

Step 3: Request Indexing

For a brand new site or a new article, you can use the "URL Inspection" tool in Search Console. Simply paste your homepage URL and click "Request Indexing." This gives Google a direct nudge to come and crawl your page.

Part 2: Applying Basic SEO for AdSense Success

Google AdSense is a program that allows you to display ads on your site. However, Google will not approve just any website. They want to ensure their advertisers' ads appear on quality sites. This is where SEO comes in. A site built with good SEO practices is exactly what the AdSense team is looking for. They often refer to the principle of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness).

Focus on High-Quality, Unique Content

This is the single most important factor. Your content must be original (not copied from anywhere else) and provide real value to your readers. It should answer their questions, solve their problems, or offer a unique perspective. Aim for at least 15-20 substantial, well-written articles before you even think about applying.

Create Key Trust-Building Pages

To show Google and your users that you are a legitimate entity, every quality website needs these pages:

  • [cite_start]
  • About Us: A page that explains who you are and the mission of your website. [cite: 1803, 1807] [cite_start]You can link to your About page here. [cite: 1803]
  • [cite_start]
  • Contact Us: A way for users to get in touch with you. [cite: 2487, 2492] This builds immense trust. [cite_start]You can link to your Contact page. [cite: 2487]
  • [cite_start]
  • Privacy Policy: A page explaining how you handle user data. [cite: 2652, 2658] This is a requirement for AdSense.

Ensure a Clean, User-Friendly Design

Your website must be easy to navigate. A user should be able to find what they are looking for without confusion. This includes having a clear menu, a responsive design that works on mobile devices, and fast loading speeds. A confusing or broken site will be rejected immediately.

Part 3: The Google AdSense Application Checklist

Before you click that "Apply" button on the Google AdSense website, run through this final checklist. If you can tick every box, your chances of approval are very high.

  • ✔️ Site is Indexed: You can check this by searching site:yourdomain.com on Google. If your pages appear, you're indexed.
  • ✔️ You Have a Custom Domain: You are using a domain like www.startwithsite.com, not a subdomain from a free service.
  • ✔️ Sufficient High-Quality Content: You have at least 15-20 original, valuable articles published.
  • [cite_start]
  • ✔️ Essential Pages are Live: Your About, Contact, and Privacy Policy pages are complete and accessible from your menu. [cite: 2612, 2613, 2614]
  • [cite_start]
  • ✔️ Clear Navigation: Your website has a user-friendly menu that links to all important sections. [cite: 2598, 2599, 2600, 2601]
  • ✔️ Content is Unique: You have not copied content from other websites.
  • ✔️ You are Over 18: This is a strict AdSense policy.

Conclusion

Getting your site indexed on Google and approved for AdSense is a journey, not a race. By focusing on creating a high-quality, user-friendly website with valuable content, you are simultaneously doing what's best for SEO and fulfilling all the requirements for AdSense. Follow this checklist, be patient, and you'll be on the right path to building a visible and profitable website.