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Since both AdSense and Blogger (Blogspot) are owned and operated by Google, integration between the two services is fairly tight. But there’s more to making money than just dropping in AdSense ads. What we’ll provide here is advice and tips on how to install and make AdSense perform best on your Blogger/Blogspot blog.
How to install and optimize AdSense on Blogger (Blogspot)
1. YieldBuild: You can install AdSense and optimize it automatically by using YieldBuild, the only service that performs sophisticated optimization tests on your AdSense ads to come up with the best-performing ad layouts and formats for your blog’s design and traffic. YieldBuild uses its smart machine-learning algorithms to find out the ideal background color, border color, border style, position, format and layout for each page to maximize revenue. [Sign up for YieldBuild»]
2. Manually: If you’re the type that likes to tinker with ads and wants to have a hands-on approach for optimization, start off by placing AdSense Page Elements in your Blogger blog. (Note that, unlike with YieldBuild, you will not be able to tweak ad formats at the per-post level—they will be the same across all your blog posts.)
On your Blogger Dashboard, click the Layout link. (Or, click the Layout tab when in Edit mode) Does yours say Template instead? Follow the directions below 8.
Click the Add a Page Element link in the WYSIWYG layout editor under the Page Elements sub-tab.
In the pop-up, click the Add to Blog button under AdSense.
Enable AdSense for your account, if you haven’t done so already.
Choose the Format and Color for the first ad you’d like to add to your blog. (You can position it later) Need advice? Consult our AdSense Formats post for our suggestions on ad sizes and colors. If you want to customize the colors and need the hex codes, take a look at Webmonkey’s chart.
Hit Save in the pop-up window. You’ll see a Page Element called AdSense inserted into your blog.
Drag-and-drop the AdSense Page Element to where you want it in your blog. If you need advice on where to position your ads, take a look at our AdSense placement tips and advice. Keep in mind that some of your positioning options are limited to the Theme (template) you’ve chosen.
Repeat this process for the number of ad units you want to place in your blog. Keep in mind that more isn’t always necessarily better, and you might consider running optimization tests to determine the optimum revenue-generating layouts.
Do you have the older “Template” version of Blogger? You have two options: upgrade your template (by clicking the Customize Design sub-tab), which will enable you to follow the steps above, or, if you’ve already made changes to your template HTML and don’t want to lose those changes by upgrading, you must follow these steps:
Log into AdSense.
Click the AdSense Setup tab.
Click the AdSense for Content link
Walk through the wizard to create each ad unit. At the final step, you’ll be given specific Javascript code to embed into your blog template HTML.
Carefully insert the AdSense Javascript code into your Template HTML. Click the Save Template Changes and check your live blog to make sure the ad units are showing up in the right place on your blog, and not breaking your page.
AdSense for Blogger (Blogspot) Tips and Tricks
AdSense allows you 3 ad units and 2 text-link units per pageview (either your full blog index, or individual post). If you try to serve up more, Google will simply limit the number displayed, and you lose some control over which. Keep in mind that serving the maximum number of ads won’t always earn you the maximum revenue. Often, fewer ads translate to higher revenue. (It’s impossible to know if that’s the case with your blog unless you test)
The general rule of thumb is to go with the three main ad sizes: 300 x 250 (”medium rectangle”); 160 x 600 (”wide skyscraper”); and 728 x 90 (”leaderboard”).
Place your ad units ”above the fold”, and abutting each other in the L-formation, whenever possible.
If you have a white or light-colored background, choose a background color that blends into your page background, or is just a shade darker. If your blog has a dark background, choose a bright, contrasting color, or one that is a just a touch lighter than your blog’s background.
Make the border color the same color as your background (the effect is called “invisible borders”) or a shade darker. Rounded borders typically outperform squared corners.
Just a reminder that if you “hot-swap” a new template, check your ad units and adjust your ad unit formats and placements as necessary (unless you’re using YieldBuild, which will adjust to the new environment automatically).