If you’ve seen that “Low-value content” or “Site doesn’t comply with our policies” message, trust me — you’re not alone. I’ve been there. I even thought about giving up and trying other ad networks. But once I actually sat down, studied what Google looks for, and fixed my mistakes, the approval came faster than I expected.
Here’s everything I learned from my rejections and what finally worked for me.
1. Stop applying with unfinished sites
This was my biggest mistake. My homepage looked fine, but my inner pages were half-empty or had “Coming Soon” notes. I didn’t realize Google actually checks every part of your site, not just the homepage.
So I filled out all my pages, “About,” “Privacy Policy,” “Contact,” and even “Terms of Use.” Those pages might look boring, but AdSense treats them like your site’s ID card. Once I added them, I stopped getting those “insufficient content” emails.
Have you added all those pages to your site yet? Or do you think they don’t matter much?
2. Write real content — not keyword fluff
I was guilty of this too. I used to write short 300-word posts full of keywords, thinking that’s how SEO works. It doesn’t. Google wants to see actual value.
So, I started writing longer posts (around 1,000 to 1,500 words) on stuff that answered real questions. I didn’t force keywords; I just wrote like I was explaining things to a friend. I even shared a few personal stories, and that helped the articles feel more real.
Once I did that, my bounce rate dropped, and my approval came a week later. No joke.
Do you guys prefer short posts or full guides? I’m curious what works better for your sites.
3. Make your site look alive
Google hates “ghost towns.” If your site looks empty or inactive, they assume you’re not serious. I used to post once a month, sometimes less and then I wonder why I got rejected.
So I started posting every week, even small updates or community posts. After a while, it started to look like a real site with actual visitors. That’s when my approval came through.
How often do you post? Be honest — weekly, monthly, or whenever you feel like it?
4. Avoid copied or AI-spun content
This one’s huge. Back in 2023, I copied a paragraph from another blog (just a few lines) and thought, “eh, no big deal.” Guess what, AdSense flagged it. They can detect reused or low-quality text so fast now it’s crazy.
Even with AI tools around, Google can tell when content feels robotic. So now I use AI for ideas but write everything in my own messy voice like this post. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine. That’s what Google wants.
Do you rewrite your posts manually or use tools to polish them?
5. Focus on your design (it matters)
I didn’t believe this until it happened to me. I switched from a free theme to a clean, responsive one, boom, approval on my next try.
Google wants to see a site that’s easy to read, with clear navigation and no broken links. I used to have five categories and one post in each. Now I just have two main ones with real content under them. Cleaner, simpler, better.
Does anyone here still use a free theme? Did you ever get approved with it?
6. Don’t apply too early
I was too impatient. I applied right after launching my site with three posts, that’s it. I laugh about it now, but back then, I was frustrated.
Wait until you have at least 15–20 solid posts. Make sure your traffic is organic, not paid. AdSense checks your site’s activity and engagement, not just traffic numbers. I learned that the hard way.
When did you first apply — right away or after building up content?
7. Use your own domain and professional email
Another thing that made a difference was switching from a free subdomain to my own domain. When I moved from for instance “myblogsite.freehost.com” to “myblogsite.com,” my next application went through.
Google wants to see that you’re serious. Using a Gmail address is fine, but if you have a custom email (like “contact@mysite.com”), it looks more professional.
Do you think having your own domain helps, or is it just a myth?
8. Be patient after applying
This one’s underrated. I used to reapply every few days after rejection, but that just made things worse. On my last try, I waited three weeks, no changes, no panic and it got approved out of nowhere.
Sometimes Google just needs time to review everything. Don’t keep poking it. Focus on improving your site meanwhile.
How long did your approval take? A few days or weeks?
Final Thoughts
Getting approved isn’t luck. It’s a mix of clean layout, real content, and patience. Once I stopped chasing shortcuts and started treating my blog like a small business, everything clicked.
So if you’re still waiting on that green light from AdSense, don’t give up. Fix your content, make your site feel real, and keep posting. It’ll happen. Promise.
What was the weirdest rejection reason you’ve ever seen? I once got “site unreachable” even though it was perfectly online
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