As a blogger, creating high-quality content that engages and resonates with your audience is key to success. However, the process of generating ideas, conducting research, and crafting a well-written article can be time-consuming and daunting. This is where ChatGPT comes in. 

ChatGPT is an innovative tool that uses deep learning algorithms to understand the context and generate text based on the input it receives. As an AI (Artificial Intelligence) language model, it has been trained on massive amounts of data, allowing it to generate high-quality content that is both accurate and relevant. Whether I need help brainstorming ideas or writing a blog post from scratch, ChatGPT has become an invaluable asset in my content creation process.

However, like any tool, ChatGPT has limitations and drawbacks that bloggers should consider before using it in their writing process. 

In this article, we will explore creative ways of using ChatGPT to create blog articles and the AI's drawbacks!

15 Ways to Create High-Quality Blog Articles Using ChatGPT

1. Generate Ideas

One of the most challenging aspects of creating a blog article is coming up with an idea. ChatGPT can help you generate a list of relevant topics based on your niche and target audience. By providing a brief description of your blog's focus, ChatGPT can suggest unique and interesting topics for your articles.

2. Conduct Research

Once you have a topic, ChatGPT can help you conduct research by providing links to relevant articles and sources. You can save time by using ChatGPT to find credible sources for your article.

3. Create an Outline

Using ChatGPT's text summarization feature, you can create an outline of your article to ensure that you cover all the necessary points. An outline provides a framework for your article, making it easier to organize your thoughts and ideas.

4. Write an Attention-Grabbing Headline

The headline is the first thing that readers see, and it plays a crucial role in grabbing their attention. ChatGPT can help you come up with a headline that is both informative and engaging. You can even use ChatGPT to generate multiple headlines, so you can choose the best one for your article.

5. Use ChatGPT to Create a First Draft

Once you have an outline and a headline, you can use ChatGPT's text generation feature to create a first draft of your article. This saves time and helps you get your thoughts on paper quickly.

6. Edit for Clarity

The first draft is rarely perfect, and it usually requires editing for clarity and coherence. ChatGPT can help you refine your first draft by suggesting changes in sentence structure and vocabulary.

7. Improve Readability

Readability is crucial when it comes to engaging readers. ChatGPT can help you improve the readability of your article by suggesting sentence structure changes and vocabulary substitutions. This ensures that your article is easy to read and understand.

8. Add Images

Images help break up text and make your article more visually appealing. ChatGPT can provide you with relevant images to add to your article. You can even use ChatGPT to create image captions that are informative and engaging.

9. Optimize for SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) is essential for driving traffic to your blog. Using ChatGPT's text generation feature, you can add relevant keywords and meta descriptions to ensure that your article is optimized for search engines.

10. Check for Plagiarism

I asked ChatGPT to check the originality of this article!

Plagiarism can damage your reputation and hurt your blog's ranking. ChatGPT can help you check for plagiarism to ensure that your article is original and unique. You can run your article through ChatGPT's plagiarism checker to make sure that it is entirely your work.

11. Add Citations

Adding citations is essential when it comes to giving credit where credit is due. ChatGPT can help you add citations to your article. By providing the source's information, ChatGPT can format the citation for you, saving time and ensuring that your article is well-cited.

12. Fact-Check with ChatGPT

Factual errors can damage your credibility and undermine the trust that your readers have in you. ChatGPT can help you fact-check your article to ensure that it is accurate and trustworthy. You can use ChatGPT to verify facts and figures, ensuring that your article is well-researched and informative.

13. Create a Conclusion

A conclusion is essential to wrap up your article and leave a lasting impression on your readers. ChatGPT can help you create a compelling conclusion that summarizes the key points of your article and leaves your readers with a clear takeaway.

14. Proofread for Errors

Proofreading is crucial when it comes to creating a polished and professional article. ChatGPT can help you proofread your article by suggesting changes in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

15. Publish and Promote

Once you have completed all the above steps, you are ready to publish your article. ChatGPT can help you promote your article by suggesting social media posts and email campaigns. You can even use ChatGPT to generate catchy headlines and call-to-action statements to drive traffic to your blog.

ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can help you create high-quality blog articles with ease.

By utilizing ChatGPT's text generation, research, and editing features, you can save time and create engaging content that resonates with your readers. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced blogger, ChatGPT can help you unlock your creativity and take your blog to the next level. 

Limitations and Drawbacks of ChatGPT in Blogging

1. Limited Context Understanding

ChatGPT is an AI language model that is designed to generate text based on the input it receives. However, it may not always understand the context in which the text is being generated. This can lead to inaccurate or irrelevant information being generated.

2. No Emotional Intelligence

ChatGPT is an AI language model that generates text based on algorithms and statistical patterns. As such, it lacks emotional intelligence and may not be able to convey emotions, tone, and style effectively.

3. Overreliance on AI

While ChatGPT can help you create high-quality content, overreliance on AI can lead to a lack of creativity and personal touch in the writing process. You may become too dependent on the tool and overlook the importance of your own unique voice and style.

4. No Control Over Generated Text

When using ChatGPT, you have limited control over the text that is generated. The AI model may generate text that is inaccurate, irrelevant, or inappropriate. You need to review the generated text carefully and make any necessary corrections or revisions.

5. Not a Substitute for Human Writers

ChatGPT is an AI language model that is designed to assist writers in the writing process. However, it is not a substitute for human writers. You have to use your own creativity, knowledge, and expertise to create high-quality content that resonates with your readers.

While ChatGPT is a powerful tool for bloggers, it has some limitations and drawbacks that bloggers should consider. 

You can use ChatGPT as a tool to assist you in the writing process, but you should only rely on your own creativity, knowledge, and expertise to create high-quality content. 

By balancing the use of ChatGPT with your own personal touch, you can create engaging content that resonates with your readers.

Did you know that you can add your Blogspot website directly to AdSense now? Yep, it's getting more integrated, leaving behind the obsolete confusing past and making the monetization process simple. But it does not mean that it's easy to get a lot of profit from a small Blogspot website.

Yes, as a blogger, one of your primary goals may be to earn revenue through advertising, and Google AdSense is a popular choice for many bloggers. However, optimizing AdSense revenue on a smaller Blogspot website can be challenging. 

So, in this article, we will discuss some tips on how to optimize AdSense revenue on your Blogspot website. But before we do, I shall tell you some of the challenges based on my personal experience of managing this Blogspot website, SofanMax!

Why is it difficult to get more AdSense revenue on a smaller Blogspot website?

These are several challenges that I face when I want to optimize AdSense revenue on my small Blogspot website:

Limited traffic

Smaller Blogspot websites, like SofanMax, may have limited traffic compared to larger sites, which can make it difficult to generate significant revenue from AdSense ads. With fewer page views and ad impressions, it can be challenging to earn a substantial income from AdSense. In fact, it took me several years to finally be able to enjoy a small revenue from this semi-personal blog.

I don't think Blogspot monetization can replace your main livelihood (unless if you use a custom domain on your Blogger account, only then may you have a chance). However, it's nice to get paid doing what you love, and having an additional income is never a bad thing. And to get that sweet income, you will need traffic!

Limited ad space

On a smaller website, there may be limited space available for AdSense ads. This means that you need to carefully consider the placement and type of ads to maximize your revenue while still maintaining a good user experience. 

On Blogger.com, specifically, editing themes to accommodate ad spaces can be tricky, especially if you are not tech-savvy. There is an auto-ad feature from AdSense, yes. But sometimes, their placement does not make much sense. You may have a better idea of the positioning, but you may need to edit the theme code to make that possible, and that is not easy.

Competition for ad placements 

With limited ad space, there may be competition between different ad units for placement on your site. It's essential to balance the number of ads you display with the need to provide a positive user experience.

Plus, I notice that sometimes the ads that appear on my Blogspot posts are not relevant. In fact, some of them are straight-up weird and appear to be broken, which would be bad because these bad ads will take away space for the good ones to appear. How do we deal with this problem? Well, read on!

Ad blindness and Blocker

With so many websites using AdSense, users can become "blind" to ads and may ignore them altogether. This can decrease your click-through rate (CTR) and ultimately reduce your revenue.

There is also something called an ad blocker that you can install on your browser. It is understandable because nowadays, a lot of websites are plastered with ads, and it gets really distracting and intrusive. It's no surprise that blockers like AdBlock or uBlock have become more common. 

As a content creator that gets most of his revenue from AdSense, adblocker is a challenge that requires delicate solutions. We shall discuss it further down below!

Compliance with AdSense policies

AdSense has strict policies and guidelines that you must follow to ensure that your ads are displayed correctly and comply with their rules. Failure to comply with these policies can result in your account being suspended or banned.

There have been a lot of bloggers who have come to me asking about this matter. What if there is foul play from a third party? How do we, as content creators, protect ourselves from suspension? There are a lot of things to think about.

To overcome these challenges, it's important to create high-quality content, design a well-optimized website, use the right ad units, and monitor and adjust your ad placements and settings regularly. By following best practices and staying up-to-date with AdSense policies and guidelines, you can maximize your revenue potential and create a positive experience for your users.

Let's discuss them in detail!

Optimizing AdSense Revenue on a Smaller Blogspot Website

As I've said before, it is unlikely that Blogspot revenue will be enough to replace your main salary. However, if you are still interested in making some money from blogging, here is how I do it. Here is how I optimize AdSense revenue and manage to generate a small profit from SofanMax, a small Blogspot website!

1. Ensure that your website has high-quality content

High-quality content will attract more visitors to your website, which will increase your AdSense revenue. Use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation, and make sure your articles are easy to read and informative. Use keywords that are relevant to your content, which will improve your website's ranking in search engine results.

It sounds obvious, I know. But that's how I optimize AdSense revenue from SofanMax. I always put effort into each of my articles. If people do not want to read your blog, then why should you get paid for it? So create something that makes people want to come to your website. 

Do not just write something for the sake of monetization. Write something that you actually be proud of. Read your own article before you publish it, and ask yourself if the article is engaging.

It is not easy to quantify the quality of your content. I may sound contradictory there. But here are some characteristics that define high-quality articles:

Relevance: Your content should be relevant to your website's niche and target audience. It should provide value to your visitors and address their needs and interests. Do not just create a wall of text that says nothing. Be concise with your point!

Originality: Your content should be original and not copied from other sources. It should reflect your voice and style, and provide a unique perspective on your topic. Plagiarism won't increase your AdSense revenue.

Accuracy: Your content should be accurate and based on reliable sources. It should be factually correct and free of errors. Stay away from hoaxes and always cite your resource.

Readability: Your content should be easy to read and understand. Use short paragraphs, subheadings, and bullet points to break up the text. Use a conversational tone and avoid jargon and technical terms unless they are necessary. 

Engaging: Your content should be engaging and capture the attention of your visitors. Use visuals, such as images, videos, and infographics, to make your content more appealing. And of course, learn how to write creatively.

Updated: Your content should be up-to-date and reflect the latest information and trends in your niche. Update your content regularly to keep it fresh and relevant.

By creating high-quality content that meets these characteristics, you can improve your website's ranking in search engine results, attract more visitors to your website, and, more importantly, increase your AdSense revenue. 

2. Optimize your Blogspot theme

A well-designed Blogspot (Blogger) theme can make a significant impact on the user experience and is crucial for attracting and retaining visitors. I shall tell you that some AdSense ads may take user retention as a measure of revenue, especially the ones that pay based on impression. 

A website with poor design can discourage visitors from staying on the website, which can ultimately harm AdSense revenue. So, simply put, to optimize AdSense revenue, you'll also need to optimize your Blogspot theme.

Here are some characteristics of a well-designed Blogspot theme:

Responsive design: A well-designed blog is mobile-friendly and can adjust to different screen sizes. This is especially important, as many users now browse the internet on their mobile devices.

Clean and Simple Layout: A well-designed Blogger theme has a clean and simple layout that makes it easy for visitors to navigate. It should be easy to find information on the website and the website should be easy to use.

Consistency: A well-designed website has a consistent design across all pages. This means that the color scheme, font style, and other design elements should be consistent on every page of the website.

Fast Loading: A well-designed website loads quickly, and users should not have to wait too long for the website to load. Slow loading speeds can discourage visitors from staying on the website, which can harm AdSense revenue.

User-Friendly Navigation: A well-designed Blogspot website has a clear and user-friendly navigation menu that allows visitors to find the information they need quickly and easily. You can use SofanMax as an example of a blog with good user-friendly navigation.

Visual Appeal: A well-designed blog is visually appealing and makes use of high-quality images, videos, and graphics. The website should have a professional look that appeals to visitors. I myself prefer to keep it clean looking! In any case do not go overboard with decorations because they become distractions.

Accessibility: A well-designed website should be accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. The website should have features such as alt tags for images and captions for videos to make it more accessible.

A well-designed website can help increase your AdSense revenue by keeping visitors on your website for longer periods of time.

I highly recommend that you check Jago Desain for themes that meet those requirements. I've been using Jago Desain themes for the last three years, and they have been outstanding. They are cheap too and not difficult to set up!

3. Appropriate ad unit implementation

Use AdSense ad units that are appropriate for your website. I highly recommend that you enable auto ads only if you are a beginner at AdSense. Once you've mastered it you can put ad code manually on your Blogspot theme and posts. 

Personally, I mix auto ads and manual placements. For some specific parts of the blog, like the space below the menu and the sidebar, I place the ad code manually. For the content inside the articles, I can't be bothered to add the code one by one, so I trust the auto ads feature. 

However, sometimes, the auto ads may not appear right away, so it may not be the most optimized option. Manual placements, meanwhile, should appear more reliably. But if you do not have time to tinker with manual placement, I think enabling the auto ad is good enough. 

Google AdSense offers a variety of ad units that are suitable for small Blogspot websites. These are some of the ads offered by AdSense that you can put on your web:

Display Ads: These are the most common ad units and are available in a variety of sizes, from small to large. They can be placed within the content of the website or in the sidebar. Display ads are suitable for small Blogspot websites because they can fit into various spaces without taking up too much room.

Link Units: These ad units consist of a list of related topics, and when clicked, they display a list of ads related to that topic. They are ideal for smaller websites because they take up minimal space and can be placed in the sidebar or footer. I believe this is experimental, but I've seen them appear on my blogs.

In-feed Ads: These ads are designed to blend in with the content of the website, making them less intrusive. They can be placed within the content of the website, and they are suitable for small Blogspot websites because they do not take up too much space.

AdSense Vignette: A full-screen ad that appears between page loads on a mobile website. Vignettes are designed to provide a better user experience by displaying ads during natural pauses in content consumption. Your visitors can dismiss them and quickly return to the content they were viewing. It can be enabled from the auto-ad feature.

AdSense Side Rail: A new type of ad unit that appears in the sidebar of a website, typically alongside other content. Side rail ads are often used to promote products or services related to the content on the page, and can be an effective way to drive conversions and revenue. I personally have not seen this type of ad in action. It's also part of the auto-ad.

AdSense Anchor: A type of ad unit that "sticks" to the bottom of a user's screen as they scroll through a website. Anchors are designed to be highly visible and attention-grabbing and are often used for promotions or calls to action. It is available on mobile and desktop and you can enable it via the auto-ad.

AdSense Multiplex: A type of ad unit that displays multiple ads in a single location. Multiplex ads can be used to promote a variety of products or services, and are often highly effective at driving click-through rates and conversions. This is like display ads but on steroids, you can manually and automatically place them.

AdSense In-Page Ads: A type of ad unit that appears within the content of a webpage, typically between paragraphs or other natural breaks. In-page ads are often highly contextual, meaning they are targeted to the content on the page and can be a highly effective way to drive revenue and engagement. This is an auto ad that can come in various formats, including multiplex and display ad units.

There are other formats that may become available as you go, like the Matched Content ad. Though I have never used it on my blog, so I can't say much about it. 

In any case, remember to avoid placing too many ads on your website, as this can make your website appear spammy. Balanced composition and seamless ad unit selection is the key to optimizing AdSense revenue on your Blogspot website.

4. Manage your targeted ads inventory

Targeted ads are advertisements that are relevant to the content of your website. Targeted ads will attract more clicks, which will increase your AdSense revenue. Google uses contextual targeting to match ads to your website's content (remember the in-page ads?). You can also use the AdSense ad review center to block ads that are not relevant to your website.

AdSense Ad Review Center is a powerful tool that allows you to manage the ads that appear on your Blogspot website. It provides a way to review and control which ads are displayed, allowing you to maximize the revenue generated by AdSense. Here's how to use the AdSense Ad Review Center:

Log in to your AdSense account: Log in to your AdSense account and navigate to the "Ad Review Center" section. This is where you can view and manage the ads that appear on your website.

Review Ads: The Ad Review Center displays all the ads that have appeared on your website. You can see information about each ad, including the ad size, advertiser, and the date it was first displayed.

Block or Allow Ads: You can choose to block individual ads or advertisers from appearing on your website, or you can allow ads that have been previously blocked. This allows you to control which ads are displayed and ensure that they are relevant and appropriate for your audience.

Track Performance: The Ad Review Center also provides data on the performance of each ad. You can see how many times an ad has been displayed, how many clicks it has received, and how much revenue it has generated. This data can help you optimize your ad placement and increase your AdSense revenue.

Experiment with Different Strategies: The Ad Review Center allows you to experiment with different ad placement strategies to see which ones work best for your website. You can block or allow specific types of ads or advertisers to see how they affect your revenue.

It is important to note that blocking too many ads or advertisers can have a negative impact on your AdSense revenue. Therefore, it is essential to use the Ad Review Center strategically and block only those ads that are not relevant or appropriate for your audience. 

5. Monitor your revenue performance

Monitor your website's performance regularly. Use the AdSense reporting tools to track your website's performance, such as the number of clicks, impressions, and earnings. Analyze the data to see which ad formats and ad locations are working best for your website. Use the information to make adjustments to your website's design and ad placement to optimize your AdSense revenue.

Google AdSense provides a range of reporting tools to help website owners analyze their ad performance and optimize their revenue. Here are some of the essential AdSense reporting tools:

Performance Reports: Performance reports provide a detailed view of your ad performance, including metrics like impressions, clicks, click-through rate, and revenue. You can view these reports by date range, ad unit, ad type, and other parameters to get a better understanding of your ad performance and identify areas for improvement.

Ad Units Report: The Ad Units Report provides data on the performance of each ad unit on your website. This report can help you optimize your ad placement and identify which ad units generate the most revenue.

Countries Report: The Countries Report provides data on the performance of your ads in different countries. This report can help you identify which countries generate the most revenue and adjust your ad targeting accordingly. Here is an interesting tidbit: most of SofanMax revenues comes from the USA and India!

Ad Sizes Report: The Ad Sizes Report provides data on the performance of different ad sizes on your website. This report can help you identify which ad sizes generate the most revenue and adjust your ad placement accordingly.

Ad Type Report: The Ad Type Report provides data on the performance of different ad types, such as display ads, text ads, and link units. This report can help you identify which ad types generate the most revenue and adjust your ad mix accordingly.

6. Use responsive ad units

The article recommends using ad units of various sizes, which is a good strategy. However, it's also important to make sure that the ad units are responsive, meaning they adjust to fit the size of the user's screen. This can help improve the user experience and lead to more clicks on the ads.

7. Experiment with ad placement: 

The article suggests placing ads above the fold, which is a good rule of thumb. However, it's also a good idea to experiment with different ad placements to see what works best for your particular blog. For example, you might try placing ads within your content, in the sidebar, or at the end of your posts.

8. Use AdSense optimization tools

Google provides several tools that can help you optimize your AdSense revenue, including the AdSense Performance Reports, AdSense Experiments, and the AdSense Optimization tab. These tools can help you identify areas for improvement and test different ad formats, sizes, and placements.

9. Consider alternative ad networks 

While Google AdSense is a popular ad network for bloggers, there are also other options available that might offer higher payouts or better ad formats. Some popular alternatives include Media.net, PropellerAds, and Amazon Associates.

10. Prioritize user experience

While it's important to maximize your AdSense revenue, it's also important to prioritize the user experience on your blog. Make sure that the ads you display are relevant and non-intrusive, and avoid using too many ads or pop-ups that can annoy your readers.

Conclusion

If you're a blogger, you've likely heard of Google AdSense as a way to monetize your website. While AdSense can be a great option for many bloggers, it's not the only one. There are a variety of other ad networks and monetization strategies out there that can help you earn extra money from your blog.

In this article, we'll explore five AdSense alternatives that you can consider implementing on your Blogger.com (Blogspot) website to increase your revenue streams!

But before we go do that, let's find out why exploring AdSense alternatives is important.

Read also:

• Is It Possible to Monetize Poetry and Flash Fiction Using AdSense in Blogspot?
• How to Add Payment Method in AdSense and Verify Your Bank Account
• My Experience in Completing AdSense Identity and PIN Verification Processes

The Importance of Diversifying Revenue Stream

Diversifying your Blogger website's revenue streams is important for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it can help you mitigate the risks associated with relying on a single source of income, such as Google AdSense.

If your blog's revenue solely depends on AdSense, for example, changes to AdSense's policies, violations, or fluctuations in ad rates can significantly impact your earnings.

By diversifying your revenue streams, you can spread out your income sources and reduce the risk of being negatively impacted by changes in any one source.

Secondly, diversifying your revenue streams can help you better meet the needs and preferences of your audience.

By offering a range of products and services, you can cater to different segments of your audience and provide more value to your readers. 

For example, some readers may prefer to buy e-books or take online courses, while others may prefer to click on ads or make purchases through affiliate links.

Finally, diversifying your revenue streams can help you grow your blog's revenue over time. 

By experimenting with AdSense alternatives, you can identify what works best for your blog and your audience. You may find that certain strategies, such as affiliate marketing or selling digital products, are more effective at generating revenue than others. 

By continuously testing and refining your monetization approach, you can identify the most profitable strategies and focus your efforts on those areas. This can help you maximize your blog's revenue potential and achieve long-term success.

In summary, diversifying your Blogspot website's revenue streams is important for reducing risk, meeting the needs of your audience, and growing your revenue over time. By exploring alternative monetization strategies, you can find new and effective ways to monetize your blog and increase your earnings.

AdSense Alternatives That You Should Try

As a blogger, monetizing your website is an important aspect of running a successful blog. One of the most popular ways to earn money from your blog is through Google AdSense. However, as I've said, while AdSense can be an effective method, it's not the only one. 

In fact, there are a number of AdSense alternatives that you can use to increase your blog's revenue. I've tried all of these methods, and they all greatly amplify my revenue.

1. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a popular and effective way to make money from your blog. With affiliate marketing, you promote a product or service on your blog, and when a reader clicks on the link and makes a purchase, you earn a commission. 

There are a number of affiliate marketing programs available, such as Amazon Associates, that you can use to find products and services to promote on your blog. 

I myself participate in several affiliate marketing programs offered by domestic online shops such as Tokopedia and Shopee or hosting providers like Niagahoster.

However, please be mindful that affiliate marketing requires time and effort to be successful. It is more lucrative than AdSense, but it is also harder to succeed. Nevertheless, you can use affiliate marketing as an alternative, or even better, use it alongside AdSense for juicier income.

2. Sponsored Posts

Sponsored posts are another way to make money from your blog. With sponsored posts, a company pays you to write a post about its product or service. This can be a great way to earn extra money while still providing value to your readers. 

However, it's important to make sure that any sponsored posts are relevant to your blog and your audience, and that you disclose that the post is sponsored. Finding a company that wants to make sponsored content on your small blog can be challenging. But it is not impossible as long as you have high-quality content.

As proof, this blog, SofanMax, has been accepting sponsored posts from Insev Ltd. to promote their products such as follow.it (Feedburner alternative) and TasteWP (free WordPress staging site).

3. Sell Digital Products 

If you have expertise in a particular area, you can create and sell digital products on your blog. This can include e-books, online courses, and webinars. By selling your own products, you can earn money directly from your audience, without relying on advertising.

I have not personally sold any type of digital products yet on my personal websites. However, I do have a client who sells digital articles on his website.

4. Offer Services

This is similar to the third point, but instead of products, you sell services. 

If you have a skill or service that you can offer, such as consulting or writing services, you can use your blog as a platform to promote and sell your services. This can be a great way to earn money while also building your reputation and expertise in your field.

It will be more effective if you can demonstrate and showcase your product and services on your blog. 

For example, I have a lot of experience with copywriting, AdSense, SEO, and blogging. So, I provide premium services related to those skills and use SofanMax as part of my portfolio to demonstrate my expertise.

5. Display Ads from Alternative Ad Networks

While AdSense is one of the most popular ad networks, there are a number of alternative ad networks that you can use to display ads on your blog. These ad networks may offer higher payouts or more specific targeting options than AdSense. 

Some popular alternative ad networks include Ezoic, MGID, Media.net, Propeller Ads, and Infolinks. I shall talk about these networks in detail on some other occasions, especially the first two that I mentioned as I've some experience dealing with these two networks. 

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, while AdSense can be a great way to monetize your blog, it's not the only option. By exploring these AdSense alternatives, you can find new and effective ways to earn money from your blog. Whether you choose to use affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, sell digital products, display ads from alternative ad networks, or offer services, there are plenty of options available to help you increase your blog's revenue.

The spookiest night of the year is just right around the corner! And yes, Halloween is the best time of the year to read some scary manga. If you are looking for some titles that can test your courage, these ones are what you are looking for. They are my favorite horror manga that I am sure you will also love!

Please be warned! The following manga will make your skin crawl. They are not the average cutesy horror stuff that you often find in Japanese fiction nowadays. If you want to experience true terror, these manga are the ones!

Read also: 5 Unique Manga to Read on Valentine's Day

I kid you not; the following manga will make you feel like you are being watched. As you get immersed in the story, you will feel as if the darkness is closing up on you! 

Now grab your treat and put your safety blanket on; these are the 10 scariest manga that I've ever read, perfect for Halloween. Enjoy!

#1 Fuan no Tane

If you ask me which manga is the scariest, Fuan no Tane will be my answer. Translated to Seeds of Anxiety in English, this manga is a collection of ghost stories and urban legends in Japan. 

The chapters are episodic and short. But boy, do they deliver some of the mightiest punches. I think this style of storytelling is perfect for a true horror manga. The dreadful twisted punchlines will take you by surprise, just like how real-life ghost encounters are, swift and sudden. 

Backed by creepy illustrations, this manga will absolutely give you nightmares. The way the author drew the ghosts are sometimes subtle. In some chapters, you'll have to look for the ghost yourself inside the panel, amplifying the terror! 

I believe the stories in Fuan no Tane are inspired by actual events and famous urban legends circulating among Japanese people. The author Nakayama Masaaki did his research well and collaborated with professional ghost stories collectors. Thus this cursed masterpiece was born.

True to its title, this manga made me super anxious for days. After I finished the manga, I felt like someone, or something, was following me. If you are still skeptical, you will have to try reading the first few chapters. If you love horror, and if you dare, Fuan no Tane will hook you right up, I guarantee.

Read also: Barakamon - A Heartwarming Manga about Life in Japanese Countryside Island

#2 Fuan no Tane +

Because Fuan no Tane is short, only 3 volumes, you might be craving for more. Fortunately, the manga has a sequel, Fuan no Tane +. This one lasts up to 4 volumes.

If you think Fuan no Tane was scary, its sequel is even more so. Despite following the same storytelling style as its predecessor, Fuan no Tane + features many more disturbing ghosts. It also has darker illustrations and subtle designs that will amplify your fear.

Fuan no Tane + follows the spirit of its prequel faithfully. So, there is not much more I can say other than check it out now!

#3 PTSD Radio

Just like Fuan no Tane and its sequel, this manga does not have a single continuous plot. However, PTSD Radio follows a general specific theme. 

This manga, which is also created by Nakayama Masaaki, uses a similar short storytelling style as the previous two titles. However, it mainly focuses on a single ghost. 

PTSD Radio starts with a series of seemingly unrelated ghost sightings and creepy supernatural experiences. But as the series progresses, you discover that every curse, disturbing incident, and misfortune are all connected.

Some of the illustrations are a lot more cursed and creepier than the Fuan no Tane! Although, I think PTSD Radio relies more on jump scare. Each page, every chapter, and the panel are filled with some nasty ghostly surprises!

#4 My Dearest Self With Malice Aforethought

Not all people think that ghosts are scary. After all, you might argue that they don't exist. If you are one of those people, you might prefer a manga about a serial killer instead. So, My Dearest Self With Malice Aforethought might be the one that will tickle your fancy. 

Yes, its weird long title might throw some people off but do not be deceived because I think this manga is actually well-written. If you like crime stories and psychological thrillers that are not too over the top and still grounded in reality, this manga is certainly worth a try.

I will not say much about this manga as it will spoil the mystery.

Even though there is no creepy ghost, My Dearest Self With Malice Aforethought will disturb you with its twisted plot. Indeed, the scariest thing in the world is perhaps not ghosts but humanity's malice. You will be in for multiple plot twists, and you are in for a wild ride.

#5 Hideout

I won't even say anything about Hideout as I'd like to leave you with a little surprise. In any case, if you want something short but leave a lot of impressions, this bizarre thriller manga is for you! It's only one volume, but it'll fill you up!

#6 The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service

If you are okay with some disturbing gore, The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service is worth checking out! Just as the title implies, this manga is about a group of people whose job is to dispose of and deliver dead bodies. Each character has unique supernatural power, allowing them to do their job efficiently.

Unlike regular funeral services, the Kurosagi group's clients are the corpses themselves. The main character has this unique ability to talk with dead bodies.

Please note that I really meant it when I said this manga contains disturbing gore. The illustrations might disgust you. You get to see some mangled corpses, rotting flesh, bizarre death, organs, and other unnatural body horrors.

The Kurosagi Corpse Delivery does not take itself too seriously. Despite having a disturbing art style, this manga is actually a comedy, albeit a dark one. This manga is not for everyone, but it is a perfect title to pass Halloween if you can stomach gores.

#7 Domu -  A Child's Dream

Stories about psychics are also a staple for Halloween. And when it comes to psychic-themed manga, there is no shortage. However, Dome- A Child's Dream is worth mentioning if we discuss a psychic manga that gives off an unsettling vibe. 

This classic manga tells a story about a twisted old man gifted with extrasensory powers who silently holds sway over an entire block of apartments. The occupants are puppets for him to control using his creepy mind control.

But suddenly, there is a new voice in his head, and before he knows it, a young girl with her own battery of psychic abilities has arrived to challenge him! Soon, the sprawling complex becomes a battleground between two minds possessing incredible, unimaginable power.

#8 I am a Hero

Halloween is not complete without some zombie manga. There are probably dozens of manga about zombies out there, but I firmly believe that I am a Hero stands above the rest.

Fans of the Walking Dead and other zombie survival franchises would absolutely love I am a Hero. You get to follow the main character's adventure across zombie-infested Japan, seeking sanctuary.

This manga has a solid story and excellent illustrations. It is also quite realistic and action-packed, just like Hollywood's zombie survival movies you often see on TV.

It starts off slow, kinda reminds you of Shaun of the Dead, then once the zombie kicks in, you will be in for an exciting ride!

#9 Another

Some people call it boring, but some, including me, believe that Another is an excellent horror manga. It follows the classic ghost-at-school storytelling that we all love. 

Unlike most horror manga, Another does not rely on jump scare or creepy illustrations. Nevertheless, you still get to feel the dark and uneasy atmosphere as you read about the bizarre mass death that surrounds the main character.

While I believe Another is the weakest horror manga on this list, it is still worth checking out!

#10 Uzumaki

Fans of horror manga would be familiar with Ito Junji's works. The author is famous for creating super weird manga with unsettling illustrations and dialogue. 

And I believe that Uzumaki is Ito Junji's most cursed work! Literally translated to Spiral, this manga tells a bizarre story of spiral-related curses plaguing a whole city. The characters are terrorized by spiral-related phenomena that make them go insane.

It kinda reminds me of The Colour Out of Space a little bit. The characters are slowly descending into madness as they become obsessed with spirals.

Those are the scariest manga to read on Halloween! Which one is your favorite? Leave a comment below!

Read also: Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou - The Best Mono no Aware Manga of All Time

If you are looking for a slice of life manga to read during this troubled time, you definitely need to give Barakamon (ばらかもん) a chance. This manga, written and illustrated by Satsuki Yoshino (ヨシノサツキ), is about the life of a Japanese calligrapher, Seishuu Handa (半田 清舟), and his quirky neighbors on the quiet rural Japanese island.

You might think that it doesn't sound very appealing because the countryside is boring. However, Barakamon is actually far from dull. Surprisingly, this manga has a lot of exciting developments and heartwarming interactions. Even though the chapters are episodic, you will still notice how the characters are growing up.

Innocent Story about Growing Up

Right from the first chapter, I can guarantee that Barakamon will hook you on. You will be welcomed with the lighthearted antics of Handa Sensei. And shortly after, you will meet the cute little Naru (琴石 なる). She is one of the younger residents of the island.

Handa, who has just moved from the city, does not know much about living in the countryside. It is funny to see how he tries to adjust his life to the new place.

The dynamic between Handa and Naru will melt your heart away. You will see how Handa reacts to Naru's mischievous adventures. It is also amusing and inspiring to see how Handa as a young adult, is trying to find his own place among the islanders.

It is a story about growing up. It doesn't always take itself too seriously, but it is unexpectedly thoughtful. There are some moments in which Handa has to attend serious events held by the island community. Despite he is already in his 20s, he only just begins to realize that the world is not just about himself.

Barakamon is very relatable, especially if you and Handa share the same age. You will notice that you are an adult now, but you still do not know much about how to behave in society.

At first, you may hate Handa's character because you may see a piece of your immaturity in him. But over time, you will root for him as he becomes more reliable.

The islanders, especially Naru, will teach Handa a lot about life. Later on, all of the islanders become Handa's inspiration to try harder to achieve his dream. Barakamon is able to convey those serious ideas in a funny way.

Japanese Calligraphy and the Country Side

One of the plot devices which sets Barakamon apart from other slice-of-life manga is its emphasis on Japanese calligraphy. This manga has taught me that Japanese calligraphy can be quite interesting. It is not the main point of this manga, but it is not a bad addition to the story.

Japanese calligraphy is part of an old honored culture. It may look dull on the outside, but it can be complex. It is an art that can be quite evocative. Japanese calligraphy is not just pretty writing. It is also an artistic drawing.

If you do not know anything about the Japanese alphabet, or if you are not interested in it, I think you would still be able to appreciate Barakamon. Japanese Calligraphy is just a little part of the story. Barakamon is all about the interactions and communications between the characters.

For the female audience, this manga may provide you with a nice little fan service. However, it is not overly done, so even the male audience would not mind it too much. The fan service can be a little bit cringe-worthy, but it is not a big deal.

The art style of this manga is quite relaxing. The drawing is able to convey the feeling of being on the countryside island excellently. It is not as impressive as Yokohama Kaidaishi Kikou, which is also a great manga about countryside Japan. However, Barakamon's artwork is good enough to set the atmosphere. It is quite chill and comfortable to look at.

My Opinion On Barakamon

I read this manga in English. It is officially published by Yen Press. The company did a good job of translating this manga. The translation is still able to convey the humor and the accent. They used the old Southern American English to portray the Japanese islanders' rustic rural dialect. They've also included translation notes at the end of each volume to explain the original context.

Barakamon is an innocent and lighthearted manga. It will provide you with a warm feeling, a lot of laughter, and a yearning to visit the countryside. I give Barakamon a solid 4 out of 5!

Additional Information About Barakamon

• Title: Barakamon, Vol.1
• Total Volume: 18
  
• Author: Satsuki Yoshino
• Format: Digital Download
• ISBN-13: 9780316384414
• Imprint: Yen Press World
• Price: $6.99 US / $8.99 CAN
• On Sale Date: 02/24/2015
• Original run: February 21, 2009 – December 12, 2018
• Original Publisher: Square Enix

Barakamon has an anime adaptation. The anime covers the events between the first and the sixth volume. The animation is well done. The voice acting is also top-notch. You can watch the anime and then continue reading from the seventh volume for more Handa-Naru actions.

Barakamon also has a spin-off manga titled Handa-Kun. It tells the story of Handa during his high school days. It was not that interesting, in my opinion. It felt like your run-off-the-mill school-life manga. Art-wise, it was not that great, either. But if you like Handa as a standalone character, it's worth checking out.

The picture within this post belongs to Satsuki Yoshino. No copyright infringement is intended against Yen Press and Square Enix.

Read also: Review: A Very Large Expanse of Sea - Post 9/11 Love Story & America Today

Getting your first website approved by AdSense is an outstanding achievement. It is proof that your content has a monetary value! It is definitely an occasion worth celebrating. But do not forget that AdSense approval is not your final destination. Now comes the most challenging part: generating actual income. 

To do that, first, you must learn about AdSense policies. You do not want to violate them on your first day. After all, disobeying the rules can be fatal. AdSense might warn you, limit your account's monetization capability, or, even worse, permanent suspension!

Therefore, I will tell you about three things that you must never do after getting AdSense approval!

#1 You must never click your own ads!

I understand that clicking your own ads is very tempting. However, this act is strictly forbidden. Artificially increasing your click goes against AdSense policy. This is an absolute rule, and you can not challenge it. And, of course, this type of foul play will not increase your revenue.

AdSense, and Google in general, has an intelligent algorithm that can discern fake clicks. So clicking your own ads and asking other people to click your ads will be counterproductive. Artificially-generated clicks would harm the advertiser's revenue, which is why Google hates this trickery.

Of course, sometimes you might accidentally click your ad, which is understandable. Usually, when invalid clicks are detected, AdSense will null it or deduct your revenue at the end of the month. As long as it was accidental and nothing excessive is happening, there is nothing to worry about. However, if you do not heed this warning, then be ready to face a harsh penalty from AdSense.

Sometimes, it is not you but other people who misuse the system. If you suspect unusual activity of people abusing the ads displayed on your website, you can report it to AdSense via this form. But again, typically, unless the volume is large, nothing will happen other than revenue deduction.

The best way to avoid invalid clicks is to let things be organic. Just let the ads be. Turn them on and forget about it. 

Of course, you can check your website but never intentionally touch the ads. You should also avoid reloading your page excessively because that might artificially inflate ad impressions, which is also against AdSense policy.

You also need to vigilantly monitor your AdSense account. Use Google Analytics to analyze your traffic pattern. Do not spam your link on sketchy places because it might invite irregular traffics. 

As soon as you notice unusual spikes in clicks, you can manually disconnect your website from AdSense temporarily. And, of course, do not forget to report it via the form I've linked above.

If you are still worried about invalid clicks, you can read Google's tutorial on keeping your AdSense account in good standing. Your AdSense revenue should be safe from penalty if you act in good faith and follow the guidelines.

#2 Do not put ads on weird spaces!

You should never add ad codes on unusual spaces that might interfere with your visitors. Your ads should not be the focus of your web pages. Please remember that a user visits your website to view your helpful articles, not the ads.

If you decide to add ad banners manually, you should not go overboard. AdSense has created a guideline on the best practice for ad placement that you should follow!

One of the most essential points you must adhere to is adding ads above the fold. The first thing that a visitor should see is your content, not a giant ad.

The best way to put your ads is through AdSense Auto Ad features. The system will automatically determine the best places for the ad banners. Moreover, Auto Ad will also decide the optimum number of ads that will appear on your content.

However, auto ads can sometimes be weird, especially if your theme is broken. Display ads may get injected into the wrong spaces. If this scenario happens, you must block the incorrect ad placement through AdSense's preview feature.

#3 Do not Modify AdSense Ad Code

AdSense strictly forbids you from modifying their ad code. The safest way to input ads manually inside your content is to just copy the code generated from AdSense.

However, not all modifications are against AdSense policy. The platform provides you with some freedom to edit the ad code. 

For instance, you are allowed to manipulate the size of the ads as long as the size follows AdSense's guidelines. You can also modify the ad code to make it loads more efficiently through Lazy AdSense modification.

While those modifications are legal, they are not recommended if you do not know what you are doing. If you have no prior coding knowledge, it is best to use AdSense ad code as the system provides.

This is why I strongly recommend beginners to just use the Auto Ad features. You do not have to worry about codes and ad placements. 

Conclusion

AdSense is one of the best monetization programs that can be profitable. However, we must follow AdSense's guidelines closely to ensure that our account is in good standing.

Always pay close attention to AdSense's Policy Center, as any type of violation usually would appear in that section to warn you. You can check it by login into your AdSense account and selecting Policy Center from the sidebar.

You have nothing to worry about as long as you act in good faith, monitor your traffic, and do not deliberately violate AdSense policy. Now, focus on creating content and enjoy your revenue!

This year, I can confidently say that I have become a professional blogger. I've been able to receive a steady income from blogging. And thus, I'd like to share some insights if you are interested in pursuing the same career.

Previously, I only wrote for fun. I started my first blog in 2012, and writing was simply a hobby. But I discovered that I can make a substantial amount of money from blogging. I didn't make a lot at first, and I still do not make much money now. But, I do earn enough for a living and spare some for a little bit of saving.

The life of a blogger can is full of uncertainty. But undeniably comfy. If your passion lies in writing, a blog would be your playground with limitless potential. You can spill whatever ideas inside your head and watch the world marvel at your thoughts. Writing is liberating.

Of course, the journey from being an amateur and becoming a pro is long and full of challenges. So, I thought it would be a good idea to share my experience with you.

Here are the top 10 things that you should know before you decide to become a full-time blogger!

1. Getting good at blogging takes a long process

Patience is the key if you want to make a substantial income from blogging. As I have stated, it takes years for me to become a blogger with somewhat a stable income. If you've just started blogging from scratch, do not expect to get money for 1 to 2 years. And do not be surprised if your new blog doesn't have a visitor. It takes time to get going.

The best way to start a blog is today. You won't make money anytime soon, but your blog will become a long-term investment if you put some effort into it. For those of you who have just started a website, do not be in a rush to monetize it. 

Sometimes, your investment might fail to generate profit. Yet with a blog, you can still get a value out of it. Your writings shall become your portfolio, that you did something valuable with your time. In fact, this is actually how I earn a lot of opportunities, thanks to my blogs.

2. You will need to treat your articles as your employees

I have learned that publishing blog articles are the same as having employees. Your articles will generate money for you. So, you should treat your writing with care. Make sure that whenever you write something, you write it with the conviction that the article can generate money.

Business owners would need to constantly monitor their workers. Thus, a blogger should always check how their articles are performing. Find out which articles that generate the most profit and traffic. Update your low-performing posts! 

Each of your articles is your worker, and you need to ensure they are not lazy.

3. Learn Search Engine Optimization

The ability to write alone will not turn you into a professional blogger. Of course, you will need to know how to write interesting articles to have income from blogging. But, you will also need to understand how your posts are delivered to your audience.

Please note that you must ensure your potential readers knows how to discover your blog. Make sure that they can find your website. 

There are millions of websites out there, and you will compete for the top spot. Knowledge of search engine optimization (SEO) will help you announce your presence on the world wide web. The best way to start learning about SEO is through Google Search Console.

4. Originality is the king, and consistency is the queen

Originality is my mantra. However, when I ask you to be original with your blog, I do not mean that you have to discover a completely new idea.

But, you need to find a way to present your idea in your own original method. You have to find your writing style. You will also need to be capable of combing various ideas into a concise original article.

Here is an example. If you search "blogging tips" on Google, you will find at least 48,700,000 websites. So, this blog, SofanMax, is definitely not the most original when it comes to the topic. There are literally millions of other places. And yet, my contents are unique. I write them in my own way and filter those ideas through my own perspective. Thus I create something original that has value.

Then, professional bloggers have to be strict with themselves. They need to maintain a tight schedule and consistency. You have to have the discipline to write and publish articles regularly. 

Being consistent is perhaps the most challenging thing about being a blogger, or at least, that's how it is with me. When your visitor drops or your AdSense money is not generating much, it is easy to get discouraged. But you have to keep going because blogging is a continuous process.

5. Bloggers should have the ability to deal with uncertainty

Being a blogger means that you have to be ready for unpredictable situations. The Internet is a dynamic place that constantly changes as quickly as blinking. Some days, your visitor might drop suddenly, and you must be ready for that eventuality.

You are essentially at the mercy of the ever-changing Google algorithm.

To minimize the risk that arises from the volatility, you need to diversify. To be a successful blogger, you will need to manage several websites. Yep, your earning source would be multiplied when you have multiple blogs. 

In fact, you do need to own multiple websites if you want to make a living out of blogging. When a blog's performance drops, you will still have another website that will back you up.

6. A good reader is a good writer

To become a blogger is essentially to publish your own book. So, you need to ensure that readers want to read what you've written. Read your own writing objectively, and put yourself into your readers' perspective.

Moreover, to find inspiration for your content, you must constantly research new material. You will have to keep reading new material so you won't run out of ideas. 

Pay attention to the trend on the news, and deepen your comprehension of whatever you've read. Then you can re-tell those stories you've found in your way as blog content.

7. Take the time to master a new language

I highly recommend bloggers learn a new language. Knowing at least two languages (being multilingual) will allow you to expand your blog's reach.

I know three languages, Indonesia, English, and Javanese. I can create one article in English and post it on my international website. Then, I can translate the same content to my native languages and post it on my domestic websites. Killing three birds with one stone!

You can double your opportunity to monetize your websites efficiently if you are bilingual. Create one content and translate them into different languages. Of course, by translating, I mean that you will have to tailor the content to suit the local culture. 

Direct and raw translation would sound awkward or too formal. So, you will have to give the translated content some personal touch to make the articles easier to read.

For instance, I translate my content from SofanMax, which is in English, to omu.my.id, which is an Indonesian website. I admit I've not been using this strategy optimally (because of my limited time resources), but I'd like to do it slowly over time.

8. Article without an image is like a flavorless soup

Adding at least one picture to your blog content is imperative. This way, your content will have the opportunity to appear on Google image search results. Sometimes, people can discover your website through photos that have been uploaded inside the article.

Providing high-quality illustrations would be vital if your blog deals with marketing or reviews. Articles that feature tutorials will also benefit significantly from pictures. Show the readers the steps through photos and screenshots.

9. Expand your social media presence

This idea will not be foreign to you if you've read about online marketing. Experts will keep repeatedly tell you that social media will boost your traffic. And here, I will reiterate the importance of social media to your blog's sustainability.

Posting your rants over social media will not make you money. Write your opinion on your blog, and post the link on your social media. Now that is the best way to use social media. You do not get paid to tweet your opinion, but if you tweet your link, you will have some traffic coming to you!

Having social media presence will also help your blog to get indexed faster. For example, after I post an article, the link might take some time to appear on Google. But, if I post that link on Reddit, the Reddit post will appear on Google almost instantaneously.

10. Explore alternative monetization options

AdSense is not the only way to monetize your website. You can make money from affiliate links, paid promotions, ad space, selling your product, and many more. You have to be creative and open-minded to explore more opportunities.

For instance, SofanMax generates revenue not just from AdSense. It gets money from being an affiliate to follow.it, a free email subscription management service. 

Thanks to that program, I get paid some extra dollars per year whenever a user signs up for their premium program. 

I also put affiliate links for Tokopedia, the largest online shop in Indonesia, for some extra money.

SofanMax also serves as a way for me to promote my own product. Some of you might already know I'm also a freelance writer. You can hire to write for you for a fee. In fact, it used to be my most significant source of income. The blog itself acts as my personal portfolio.

Obviously, there are dozens of other methods to monetize one website. You just have to be keen on your research and keep your ears open for opportunities.

Finally, I'd like to repeat that being a professional blogger is viable if you have the drive, the passion, and the will to act. If you want to make money from blogging, you should start now. There are more things that I'd like to discuss, not just these 10 points, but I shall do it next time.

Leave a comment below if you would like to ask me some questions about being a professional blogger.

You do not need new expensive hardware to start a successful blog. In fact, up until last March, I was still using a 10-years-old laptop to create and publish all of my blog content. However, if you are looking for an upgrade, I recommend the affordable Acer Aspire Slim 5. 

This model is an excellent choice if you want a dedicated laptop for daily blogging that won't hurt your pocket. Professional bloggers with limited budgets should consider getting an Acer Aspire 5 because it offers the best value for money.

I'd like to mention that my opinion about this laptop is strictly based on my perspective as a blogger. I am not a tech-savvy computer nerd that knows much about hardware. I am just a satisfied customer with no expertise commenting on a product. So, your mileage toward Aspire 5 may vary.

I would also like to note that dozens of  Aspire Slim 5 variants are available from the manufacturer with varying specs. My laptop, discussed in this article, is the Acer Aspire 5 Slim A514-54-3291 variant.

But, before I disclose my full opinion on Aspire 5, I'd like to tell you a little story about my old laptop.

My Old Laptop

For a decade, I relied on Asus A43SD to write and edit hundreds if not thousands of blog articles. I received it from my parents as a present for being accepted into the university in 2012. In fact, this blog, SofanMax, was started on that old laptop. 

For your information, SofanMax was created in 2014, but I started blogging when I got the old Asus.

It was a powerful device that faithfully accompanied my blogging journey, from an amateur to a professional! The crimson-colored Asus will always have a special place in my heart.

The laptop has a Core i3-2330M, an excellent second-generation Intel processor at the time. It also comes with an NVIDIA GeForce 610M, complementing the laptop's graphic processing performance. It has a 500 GB hard disk and 2 GB RAM, which I upgraded to 4 GB.

My busted old Asus. Good night sweet prince.

I remembered that it cost about IDR 5,500,000 or about $600 in 2012 money. 

That machine was something else. I spent countless hours playing Skyrim, Company of Heroes, and Age of Empires III on the laptop. The GeForce 610M and the excellent cooling system did allow some intense gaming sessions in a medium to high setting!

And, of course, as I've mentioned before, I started my blogging journey on that laptop.

Unfortunately, in February this year, my Asus died for good. The misfortune didn't come as a surprise because the 10-years-old laptop was already falling apart. The LCD and other components were deteriorating.

So, I thought it was an appropriate time to finally find a replacement instead of fixing it. But since my budget was limited (my hard-earned income from blogging!), I needed to find one with a good value. And thus, I chose the Acer Aspire 5.

My Opinion on Acer Aspire Slim 5 with Gen 11th Intel Core i3

You can blog on practically any type of laptop if you want to. As long as it can connect to the internet, you are good to go. However, if you are serious about blogging, you will need comfortable hardware with good performance.

A good laptop will allow you to pump out content more efficiently, and you won't get tired quickly. It's all about productivity, and I believe that Acer Aspire 5 has what it takes to fulfill every blogger's needs.

In early March, I bought Aspire 5 Slim (A514-54-3291) for IDR 7,199,000. That's equal to about $495 in 2022 money. It seems to be more expensive than my old Asus laptop when I use local currency. But, it actually has a lower value in USD.

The Aspire A514-54-3291 version offers 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4, 4,00 GB, and 512 GB SSD storage. It also comes with Intel UHD and a super lovely 1080p Full HD IPS monitor. You can check the full specification here.

All that for less than $500.

So far, the 11th Gen Intel Core i3 has provided me with satisfactory performance. I could process dozens of Google sheets filled with keywords quickly.

It also allows me to edit articles directly on WordPress with the Grammarly and Yoast SEO plug-in without lag (my previous laptop would lag hard doing those tasks). Opening a browser, I use Edge nowadays, takes almost no time.

Aspire 5 comes with Windows 11, and the newer Intel Core i3-1115G4 can handle the OS just fine. The 512 GB SSD also helps to make things run smoother.

Light multi-tasking is also not a problem. I can listen to some music while editing, copying files, checking the news on the widgets, and opening a few other programs simultaneously.

The 1920 x 1080 IPS display offers a crystal clear view that allows bloggers to clearly write, edit, and read articles. I can stare at Aspire 5's monitor for hours without tiring my eyes out. It produces sharp images with well-balanced contrast and brightness. Compared to my old Asus, the 1080p monitor is a game changer!

Even though it is only 14 inches, the thin bezel and the quality of the monitor will allow bloggers to stay focused on their tasks at hand. It looks more spacious too.

Please be advised that Aspire 5 with Intel Core i3 Gen 11th comes in several versions. The one I have right now, the A514-54-3291 version, comes with a 1080p Full HD monitor. Meanwhile, the other version is the cheaper A514-54-32XQ. The second one only offers 1366 x 768 HD resolution.

Both versions offer the same specs other than the display resolution. The price difference is only IDR 200,000 or about $14. So, I strongly recommend bloggers get the slightly more expensive A514-54-3291 with the FHD monitor. After all, you do not want to read and write articles on a crappier resolution.

There is also A514-54-33AP, which has the exact specification as A514-54-3291. The only difference is that the former is black while the latter is full silver.

In any case, this laptop offers more features that can support bloggers with high mobility. If you need to blog on the go, just bring the lightweight Aspire Slim 5! It is only 1.45 kilograms, and the battery will last up to 10 hours. It'll run out in 3 to 5 hours if you use it intensively.

Aspire Slim 5 also provides a very responsive touchpad. I've used various laptops from different brands before, but I think this one takes the cake. The touchpad area is large and offers some precise control.

I absolutely adore the Aspire Slim 5 design. It looks minimalistic yet exquisite, especially the silver-colored one. The lid is easy to open up, even with just one hand.

Because of its thin design, I think Aspire Slim 5 looks fragile, but I don't think that's the case. The lid cover seems to be manufactured from aluminum to provide sturdiness. Though most of the body still only uses some kind of plasticky composite material. 

Some Acer Aspire 5 Downside

The Acer Slim 5 offers 4 GB DDR4 RAM. It is a little bit too small for me. That much memory won't allow me to open hundreds of tabs simultaneously. Opening multiple tabs is an essential capability for a blogging laptop. However, considering the price, I guess it was fair enough. Plus, it encouraged me to be more efficient with my tabs. 

Fortunately, Aspire 5 allows you to up upgrade the RAM. I plan to increase mine when I have some disposable budget in the future. I think an 8 GB would be a minimum if you want a faster blogging laptop. I think you can even upgrade it to 16 GB for less than $100.

Another Aspire 5's downside is its lack of dedicated GPU. Without it, you won't be able to play fancy games or do heavy video editing. But, since we are talking about a blogging laptop, the lack of GPU is not a big deal. You can still play some games if you lower the settings and add more RAM.

Of course, the keyboard is also a key factor when you want to find a new blogging laptop. Acer Slim 5 offers an okay quality keyboard that will let you type with adequate precision. It does not have a backlight, but it is not a significant problem. Who wants to write a blog in a dark room anyway?! 

I have a little complaint about the power button being too close to the backspace. Yes, the Slim 5 incorporate the ON/OFF button with the keyboard. Sometimes, I might accidentally turn off the monitor when I need to erase some sentences because I miss pressed the button. 

But again, it is not a significant problem because you can instantly turn the monitor back on by pressing the power button again. The way it works reminds me a bit of a smartphone display.

The arrow keys on Slim 5's keyboard are also too small. Still, I think this one comes down to a personal preference, not necessarily a weakness.

But overall, the keyboard is not fancy but comfy enough and functional. Bloggers would be able to comfortably write articles on it.

The Reason Why I Choose Acer Aspire Slim 5 Over Other Brands

Acer was actually my third choice. Initially, I wanted another Asus or HP as an alternative. However, after making some comparisons, Acer came out on top, considering my needs as a blogger.

My budget was only $500, and Acer was the one that offered the best value for that much money!

Here are my reasonings.

I wanted a laptop with the latest Intel Core i3 processor. I know that this processor is good for blogging, as proven by my 10-years-old Asus anecdote. Moreover, because Microsoft has launched the Windows 11, having the latest gen processor is essential.

So I was looking for a laptop with an 11th generation Intel Core i3 (of course, there is 12th gen now, but it's not widely available yet). Why not go for Ryzen, you might ask. Well, I guess I am one of those loyal customers of the brand. Ryzen could be better, but I am more familiar with Intel, and I know that it would be good enough for me.

There is actually Asus A416 that uses the 11th gen Intel Core i3 configuration. However, I could not find it because it either ran out or hasn't been released in my town. Instead, they offer a laptop with a 10th gen version at a similar price range. Obviously, I do not want a computer with an older CPU. 

As a side note, Asus would be a good alternative if you are okay with Ryzen. A blogger who loves gaming would appreciate Asus more because the brand also offers some versions with dedicated GPU.

I would say that HP was the closest alternative to Acer. Hp offers a lot of variants that seem to be similar to Aspire 5. But in the end, Acer still provides more value with the same budget. I looked at some HP models, but they only have lower HD monitors and less SSD storage at a similar price range.

Conclusion

Indeed, blogging doesn't require a pricy laptop with fancy specs. This is why I strongly recommend people to start their own website regardless of their hardware. Blogging does not require complicated skills, and you can do it on a limited budget and time. Yet, you get to give birth to something that has value!

So, if you are thinking about starting a blog, get down right to it right away, even if you have limited resources. The best time for blogging is now! You can create a website with your current laptop. 

However, the budget-friendly Acer Aspire 5, especially the A514-54-3291 variant, should definitely be on top of the list if you are looking for a dedicated blogging laptop. This laptop offers everything a blogger needs and more!

Did you know that you can sign up for the AdSense monetization program using a free Blogspot domain? Nevertheless, getting approval is not an easy task. Some people claim that AdSense approval is more complicated nowadays than it used to be. I think this is true. Here are the reasons why AdSense will not approve your blog!

#1 Your blog is too new.

If you just created your blog yesterday, AdSense will be unlikely to approve it. However, AdSense itself does not explicitly state that your blog has to have a certain age. Still, newly created blogs usually are under construction, which means they don't have mature content. 

AdSense will only approve websites with developed content, so newly created blogs are unlikely to get approval. Previously, AdSense did recommend your blog needs to be 6 months old, but I don't think this is no longer true. 

But still, an older website with more published content has a better chance of approval.

So, for new bloggers, I recommend not rushing with monetization. Be patience! Take your time to develop a good website that people actually want to visit. Then, sign up for AdSense after that. The chance of approval will be a lot higher.

#2 Your blog does not have enough published content.

Just as I have implicitly stated in the first point, AdSense approval is highly dependent on content. Your published articles are your blog's lifeblood. If you want to have a profitable blog, do not be lazy to write!

Many users got rejected because they did not have enough published articles. Forget about monetization if you have only a few contents. You will not get any substantial profit if you do not have visitors anyway. Of course, again, AdSense does not have any specific requirement on how many published articles you need for approval. 

Many people think that having 15 or 20 articles is enough for AdSense approval. That may be true. In fact, I was approved with as few as 3 articles. However, this is an exception to the rule. It is a rare occurrence. Usually, having more than 100 articles would provide you with a significantly higher chance of success. 

#3 Your blog's content quality is terrible.

Besides the quantity of the published articles, I believe quality also significantly influences AdSense approval. In my opinion, quality is defined by three primary factors. 

The first one is originality. AdSense will reject your Blogspot website if you publish plagiarised content. Moreover, a website that discusses something too generic might have a more challenging time getting AdSense approval. Be original with your idea and the way you present the idea. 

The second one is readability. Make sure that you are using proper sentences. Adhere to the generally accepted grammar convention. Plus, pay attention to the text formatting. Do not post a wall of text!

The third one is the depth of the article. Instead of writing something that is already an obvious common knowledge, you should try to elaborate further. For example, you want to create a product review website. Do not just list the product features, but explain why those products are good.

#4 Your blog violates AdSense content policy.

AdSense maintain a strict set of rule. Any website that violates its content policy will never get approval! So, before you sign up for AdSense, read this official guideline first!

#5 You are not 18 yet.

AdSense monetization program is only eligible for Blogspot users who are already 18 years old or older. Alternatively, you can ask your parents or legal guardian to monetize your blog through their AdSense account. Once you are old enough, you can create your own account.

#6 Your blog is not indexed in Google.

AdSense does not actually explicitly state that your blog must be indexed in Google. It only says that users can visit your published website. Nevertheless, based on my observation, websites that do not have traffic from Google often struggle to get AdSense approval. You can index your Blogspot website using Google Search Console.

Moreover, if you want to have a profitable blog, you should aim to get traffic from Google as much as possible. It pays more!

#7 Your blog has a spammy subdomain name.

A blog with a questionable spammy subdomain may not be approved by AdSense. This point is related to point number 4 regarding content policy.

When choosing a subdomain for a Blogspot, you should be original with it. Be short and memorable!

#8 Your blog is not well-organized.

Having a navigation menu is an essential part of getting AdSense approval. In fact, a website that does not have a proper menu will trigger a specific rejection. 

Be sure to have a functional menu that helps users navigate your content. Avoid having broken links on your website!

#9 You change your blog theme during the approval waiting time.

Once again, AdSense only approves a well-developed blog. If you change your theme during the approval process, AdSense will think that your website is still under construction, which means it is not ready for monetization. 

Do you still have a problem with AdSense monetization in Blogspot or Blogger? Leave a comment below!

SofanMax - Blogger, or Blogspot, transforms into a modern platform that emphasizes mobile-friendliness. It is actively modernizing its core to create a powerful content management system. 

Consequently, users may notice a major update in image URL format. You may also see that your images, including WebP, will be served in JPG format by default.

Previously, the old Blogger did allow you to directly upload WebP to the server. Furthermore, images will be displayed according to the original format. If you upload PNG and WebP, the server will serve the images in those formats. Nowadays, Blogger will automatically convert your images to JPG.

You can still serve images in WebP format in Blogger. There is a hidden option that allows you to do it by tweaking the image URL a little bit. However, before we delve deeper into that, you need to see the URL difference first.

Read also: 

• Fletro Pro v6.1 Blogger Theme With Great Core Web Vitals
• My Essay on The Reality of Blogspot and AdSense Monetization

Difference Between Old and New Blogger Image URL

In the old Blogger, your image is stored using the following URL structure:

  https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h0k-4HwoD0I/X0FkhYTm42I/AAAAAAAAHRA/LrJxGn7nNG0mOIZR9jhbgSGAjmiA7JLVwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1920/how-to-solve-site-behavior-navigation.png

Meanwhile, the new Blogger will serve your photo using the following URL structure:

  https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiA0iT7b3CjFAfZ1FuZbrb5-GKQkrBUw0sYAYvhj0dgK84nwDaI_jROYBqJTTDxRM6r6oekcVywqTTqK1XPrSivbZVpsGVGZx2zsHUFUOZlNGLrTQgsxZ6f3npRZv8T7LUhyu_fRvgd2ZazwlrMj_D9_cPhf8in3Sz2DLxdNSq2wgczghA3GK1zXTga1A=s1280

Your URL may look slightly different, depending on your image. However, you can still clearly see the difference. The old Blogger uses https://1.bp.blogspot.com, while the newer version uses https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/.

The old Blogger URL shows your image extension clearly. The example above, it comes in PNG format.

For the new Blogger image URL, you may notice that it lacks the format extension. It does not clearly show what type of image it is. It will be served under the JPG format by default if you open it.

The picture above shows you that the images in the new Blogger are served in JPG format. You may initially upload the image in PNG or WebP. But, the server will still forcefully serve it in JPG.

As a result, your blog may not be optimized for speed! After all, you want to display a clear image in the smallest size possible.

Fortunately, there is a method to get around this problem. We can serve images in WebP format through the following process!

Read also:

• How to Solve AdSense Policy Violation "Site Behavior: Navigation
• How to Index Blogger Post Using Google Search Console Tool - Basic Search Engine Optimization

How to Display WebP Image in New Blogger URL Format!

To serve WebP in the new Blogger, you must manually alter your image URL. It is a bit tedious, but it is very simple. You just need to locate the image URL in your post, then put -rw at the end of the URL

For example, the following URL is serving image in WebP!

  https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiA0iT7b3CjFAfZ1FuZbrb5-GKQkrBUw0sYAYvhj0dgK84nwDaI_jROYBqJTTDxRM6r6oekcVywqTTqK1XPrSivbZVpsGVGZx2zsHUFUOZlNGLrTQgsxZ6f3npRZv8T7LUhyu_fRvgd2ZazwlrMj_D9_cPhf8in3Sz2DLxdNSq2wgczghA3GK1zXTga1A=s1280-rw

You will notice that I simply put -rw at the end of the URL after the image size. It is simple as that!

You can try it yourself, download the image or check it in PageSpeed Insight. Putting -rw at the end of the new Blogger image URL will automatically convert it into WebP. 

Furthermore, you may upload the initial image in any format. If you want to convert it to WebP, all you need to do is add -rw at the end of the URL.

If you are new to Blogger, you can locate your image URLs using the HTML view from the text editor. The button is located on the top left side.

After entering the HTML view mode, you can automatically tidy it up using the Format HTML button. The button looks like three horizontal stripes. This feature will not affect your non-HTML formatting at all, so you can use it liberally. 

Tidying up the HTML code will help you quickly locate your image URL.

Every time you upload an image in Blogger, it will provide you with two URLs. The first URL store your picture in 1600px size. The second URL displays the thumbnail.

Like the example above, you can add -rw to both of those URLs.

I would like to mention that the WebP format and new Blogger image URL may not be perfectly compatible with some themes. You may notice a little bug. It is unfortunate, but we hope that theme developers can update their creations to be more compatible with the new Blogger.

Why do bloggers need to serve their images in WebP format?

If you are new to blogging, you may wonder why image format matters. The answer is related to speed performance. You want to deliver your content as fast as possible to your visitors. Your readers prefer websites that load fast.

Images are assets in a web page that usually loads slower because of their sizes. So, you need to provide compressed images optimized for the web. That format is called the WebP. This format features high compression. As a result, visitors can see the image clearly in its smallest size.

According to the official definition, WebP is a modern image format that provides superior lossless and lossy compression! Using WebP, you can create smaller, richer images that make your blog faster.

Before I end this article, I'd like to thank John, a Google staff and Blogger.com developer who helped me to point out this solution. If you guys have an unresolved issue with Blogger, I suggest you visit the official forum.

Leave a comment below if you have any questions regarding WebP image conversion in Blogger or Blogspot!

Read also: 

• My Experience in Completing AdSense Identity and PIN Verification Process
• How to Use follow.it to Replace Blogger's FollowByEmail Gadget - Free Feedburner Alternative

If you are single, reading unique manga on Valentine's Day is not the worst thing that you can do. It will distract you from the fact that you are sad and miserable. Don't worry, I am not being sarcastic right now because I am currently single too. Just take your mind off from the real world and immerse yourself in the stories.

The following manga are all completed. They feature unique art styles and storytelling. Furthermore, they are not long, less than 15 volumes. So, you can finish all of them in one sitting.

Read also: Top 10 Special Gifts For Bloggers to Celebrate Valentine Day!

#1 Magi no Okurimono

We start the list with my favorite romance manga. Magi no Okurimono or The Gift of The Magi tells the story of a man and a (dead) girl who try to find a closure. It is tragic, sad, and beautiful. Even though it is just one volume, the story will fill your heart with a lot of emotions. On top of that, the art style is superb. If you love detailed drawings, this one will be up on your list too.

 #2 Hikari no Machi

Asano Inio's works will always hit you on the right spot, especially if you enjoy realism. Hikari no Machi or The City of Light is my favorite story written and drawn by this author. The manga-ka skillfully plays with raw emotion and portrays actual people doing their best to live. The chapters may seem disjointed at first, but they are all connected in one way or another. This title truly captures the essence of the slice of life genre.

#3 Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou

"Mono no Aware" is a specific feeling that you'll get when you read Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou (YKK). Beauty in impermanence vibes is intense with this classic manga. The story tells the life of an immortal android who lives in a seaside cafe. She observes the passage of time as humanity is fading away. If you are lonely on Valentine's Day, this manga will not fail to cheer you up. It's very immersive! YKK is the most beautiful thing I've ever read, a true masterpiece.

#4 Koe no Katachi - A Silent Voice

Here is another romance manga to celebrate your lonely Valentine's Day. However, Koe no Katachi is super unique. The manga tells the story of a former bully and a deaf girl. A story that puts emphasis on disability is rare. It is very emotional. Some of the chapters are also very depressing and dark. It does not shy away from portraying mental health issues and suicide. I like this manga a lot because it is far from cliche. Of course, I also enjoy the meaningful story, you'll love it too.

#5 Emma

A romantic story during the Victorian era has to be unusual! If you want to read something unique and different, Emma is your friend. The story is about a forbidden relationship between a beautiful maid and her young master. It sounds like a classic soap opera, and it does play out like that. However, the manga format is able to keep the story fresh and entertaining. The art is beautifully drawn and features some interesting details. If you love romance, you should definitely give Emma a try.

Happy Valentine everyone! Whether you are with your partner or on your own, I wish you all a good day!

Valentine is coming up soon! It is the best time of the year to celebrate love and friendship. You can show your appreciation toward people that you care about by exchanging present. If your soulmate is a blogger, they may expect something unique related to their profession. Fortunately, this article will provide you with a unique list of gifts for bloggers!

I have been a professional blogger for 3 years. Sometimes, I wish I have certain accessories to improve my productivity. Consequently, I would like to disclose my opinion on the best valentine gifts for bloggers! The following items will be an excellent present for special people in your life! They also happen to be in my wish list, so here we go!

Read also: My Essay on The Reality of Blogspot and AdSense Monetization

Relaxing Desk Decoration as Valentine Gifts for Bloggers 

Having a tidy and organized desk is a factor that will increase productivity. Keeping a comfortable working environment is essential to keep your imagination fresh. The following items will be suitable to decorate your boyfriend or girlfriend table!

1. Reversible Cat Plushie for Blogger Girlfriend

Having a relaxed mind is the key to be a productive writers. If you are feeling fresh, words will flow effortlessly. Items that can encourage relaxation are ideal valentine gifts for bloggers. For your girlfriend, you can get her this super adorable Reversible Black & White Cat Plushie. The doll is palm-sized and she can turn it inside out to show a different mood. The black cat mode can glow in the dark!

2. Adorable Sticker for Laptop and Computer

Having a cute stickers on your laptop will certainly reduce your stress level. It is definitely the most affordable way to decorate your blogging equipment. You can stick this adorable stickers collection on your boyfriend's desk, notebook, or CPU unit! The sweet design will remind your soulmate that it is okay to take a break for awhile and relax.

3. Iron Man Action Figure For a Desk Buddy

Having an action figure as a desk decoration is an excellent idea! It provides you with a companion that will tirelessly watch over you while you blog. One of the best figurines that you can buy is this detailed Iron Man Mk. 42! The miniature replica is very well-crafted and features multiple joints for cool poses.  And so, this item will be an excellent Valentine day present for your loved ones who enjoy Marvel.

Read also: Top 10 Activities That Bloggers Should Do In January

Valentine Gifts for Bloggers to Improve Their Productivity 

Better hardware can dramatically improve your blogging productivity. Valentine day is the perfect time to upgrade your blogging equipment. The following items will be suitable presents for your soulmate who is working hard every day!

1. Comfortable Keyboard for Fast Typing

Microsoft Surface WS2-00025 series, is apparently one of the most comfortable keyboards in the world! Tech experts seem to always mention this model whenever they talk about ergonomic keyboards. The hardware does look elegant and I bet I could type faster with it without hurting my wrists! Get one now as a special valentine gift for your boyfriend or girlfriend! 

2.  Affordable Laptop Cooling Pad

Blogging for a long duration can be strenuous for your laptop. Based on my personal experience, it will heat up faster when you open multiple browser tab during keyword research. Processing thousands of words for content will test your hardware. And so, a cooling pad is an essential accessories for bloggers. For a special valentine gift, you can get this pad by Liangstar store. It features 6 red fans!

3. Cute Desk Lamp

Eyes are precious irreplaceable organ that we often take for granted. Bloggers, especially, should pay attention to their sights! You need adequate lighting for your desk to ensure healthier eyesight. For a valentine gift, you can get this super Cute Cat Desk Lamp! It comes with adjustable light intensity and integrated pen holder for extra organization. 

4. Pink Laptop Bags as Special Gifts for Bloggers 

Valentine is a day for hugs and kisses! If your girlfriend is a blogger, she will absolutely treasure this pink laptop bag. It has a minimalist design that permeates loveliness.  The bag will look good on your girlfriend. She will enjoy the ultra-comfortable strap. Inside, there are extra compartments to hold small accessories. This item will allow your precious girlfriend to carry her blogging laptop everywhere!

5. Laptop Table for Bed With Tilting Function

A laptop table has to be one of the most practical valentine gifts for bloggers. The SAIJI laptop table will allow you to blog from the comfort of your cozy bed. The tabletop can be tilted for comfier blogging position. In addition, it comes with sliding laptop stopper so your device can stay still. The surface can be easily cleaned and the height of the table is adjustable. I definitely need one of these.

6. Kobo E-reader for Bloggers

The best way to find inspiration for new content is through reading a lot of books. Nowadays, it is easier to consume information digitally. Reading book via e-reader is the way to go. The device is optimized to provide text clarity and enjoyable reading experiences. The Kobo Libra 2 is one of the best e-readers that you can buy for a gift!

7. Business Card Holders As Gifts for Bloggers 

A valentine present usually comes in small sizes. They shouldn't have to be too expensive. For your blogger soulmate, you may want to consider this stylish business card holder. Of course, professional bloggers should own business card! (I have not made one yet though). The container is made out of metal and features magnetic lid. It comes in many colors. Truly, a perfect gift to celebrate love!

Now that you have seen the items, which one will you buy? They are all excellent valentine gifts for bloggers! Shop now! 

Read also: How to Use Yoast SEO to Improve Blogspot Websites

Fletro Pro v6.1 is the current theme of SofanMax website. So, I'd like to compare this incredible template with its predecessor, the v6.0 which I still really love. I would also like to disclose my honest opinion on this incredible product. There are some surprising aspects that put this amazing template ahead of its competitors.

Read also: Is It Possible to Monetize Poetry and Flash Fiction Using AdSense in Blogspot?

For most of 2021, SofanMax was running on the old Fletro Lite v.5.5 whose development unfortunately has been discontinued. It was an excellent theme until Blogger updated its image url structure. As a result, most of themes, including the Lite version, became obsolete and SofanMax was glitching. And so, I've decided to upgrade it to the latest version. And here is what I think about Fletro Pro v6.1!

Read also: How to Use Yoast SEO to Improve Blogspot Websites

My implementation of the latest Fletro Pro!

1. Fletro Pro v6.1 is Premium Blogger Theme With Great Core Web Vitals

The elusive core web vitals is a new Google's metric that measure how user friendly your website is. It basically assess three elements. They are First Input Delay (FID), Large Contentful Paint (LCP), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS).

The basically they measure interactivity, loading speed, and visual stability. I will talk about this issue in detail in another article. For now, I just want to say that Fletro Pro v6.1 is perfectly capable of passing core web vital test! Based on my test, this theme offers zero FID and CLS, and super low LCP!

Here is the test result based on Google's PageSpeed Insight, with AdSense and Google Analytic enabled:

Fletro Pro v6.1 passes PageSpeed Insight Score With AdSense and GA enabled.

2.More Monetization Opportunity!

3. Higher Accessibility Features

Fletro Pro v6.1 is very user-friendly. This premium Blogger theme offer dynamic font size accessible for website visitors. They can change it to small, medium or bigger for ease of reading. In addtion, the developer reworked the comment section style, making visitors easier to comment. The pop-up comment system certainly will drive more engagement.

This template is the only blogger theme that features a notification that can be dismissed by the visitors. This notification appears at the top of the blog so visitor will be able to read urgent short message! SofanMax enables this feature to announce its present on Google New!

Furthermore, Fletro Pro v6.1 is very compatible with new Blogger image url format. There is no blurry thumbnail anymore!

The Downsides

I personally feel that, performance wise, Fletro Pro v6.1 does not offer dramatic improvement over the previous version. This theme does fix the potential LCP and CLS problem though.

Moreover, the v6.1 comes in a boring minimalist design. For instance, you would no longer be able to change the color of the header menu easily. The styling certainly has been scaled down, which is a bit unfortunate. 

 This theme still suffers from  minor visual glitches, especially the footer size-part. Nevertheless, if you are familiar with CSS, customizing the style of this template will not become a problem.

Already own Fletro Pro v6.0? Should you upgrade it?

I also happen to own Fletro Pro v6.0, which I got technically for free as a compensation because the Lite was discontinued, thanks to the generous Jago Desain developer. I absolutely LOVE the v6.0 because it is much easier to customize, and its performance through the roof. But alas,  Blogger Update also ruined it because of, again, the new image url schema. 

Thankfully, the developer was able to fix the v6.0's glitch. For people who do not want to upgrade to the Fletro Pro v6.1 version, the older one would still run perfectly well! You will be able to fix the blurry image problem on the older theme by joining Jago Desain Telegram channel, only available for people who purchase the theme legally! Go join now!

So, if do not want to use Fletro Pro v6.1, the older one will still provide you with great performing website. I personally would not upgrade my websites that already run the v6.0 because changing theme is tedious. 

Conclusion

Please pay attention, for people who have already purchased Fletro Pro v6.0, you will automatically receive the newer version for free! If would like to buy the v6.1 for the first time, the price will still be around $15! It is still very cheap for all the features that you will get!

The newest v6.1 will definitely an improvement! After all, it is literally the best premium Blogger template with high performance. Remember to buy Fletro Pro v1.6 only at the developer's website at jagodesain.com!

SofanMax - New year has come, and let's celebrate 2022 with productive activities to improve our blogs! January is the best month to evaluate our websites' strengths and weaknesses. This way, we can carry on forward this year with much better performances. And so, I have compiled a short but undoubtedly helpful list of 10 activities for bloggers to do in January.

1. Check your Search Console to assess blog performance

Google Search console should be a mandatory tool to be mastered by every aspiring blogger. It is a fundamental tool that allows you to determine how well your blog is doing. Check the coverage report to see if your main contents are appropriately indexed. Find out which page has the most visitors and which keywords are the most popular!

2. Set up an email subscription feature for your Blogspot websites using follow.it

Have you upgraded your blog's email subscription? Don't forget that Blogger.com is no longer using Feedburner's automatic email newsletter service. It is time for you to leave Feedburner behind and move on to follow.it! It offers a free and reliable email subscription for your loyal blog readers. Register now and use the super cheap premium version for extra features.

3. Check Your AdSense Revenue

How was your AdSense Revenue last year? Check the Active view viewable percentage, impression, CPC, and perhaps set up a blocking control! You can also learn to set up customized responsive ad sizes for optimal performance. Tweaking the AdSense setting is definitely one of the most productive activities for Blogger in January!

4. Learn How to Write Based on SEO Principles

There are various activities for Bloggers to do in January! One of them is learning SEO writing. Basically, this method aims to create an article that can be read by a machine. The Google algorithm will have an easier time detecting, analyzing, and ranking your article if they are optimized for search engines. Obviously, you also have to optimize it for human readers. You should always pay attention to humans and machines when you create content. 

5. Update Your Blogger Template

Are you looking for a new blogger theme? Most modern blogger themes nowadays are mobile-friendly and load very fast. January is a great time to upgrade if you are still on the classic template. You can also try custom premium templates such as Fletro Pro or iMagz for a performance boost!

6. Publish Your First Article of the Year in January

The essence of blogging is writing. Bloggers should not be lazy to create a new article! Now that we are entering a new year, you should be more consistent with your content production. Let's go publish your first article of the year today! If you are still chasing that sweet AdSense income, regular posting in 2022 will elevate your revenue.

7. Update Old Articles 

Do you have old articles that are no longer relevant? Things are constantly changing, including information. Perhaps your article was the hottest tutorial on the internet. However, things may be different now. Go upgrade your old article to stay fresh! Instead of letting old content died, it is always beneficial to update it with new information.

8. Change Blogspot Domain to Custom Domain

Are you looking to compete with a big-time publisher? Then changing your Blogspot domain should be your main priority this year. A custom domain offers more versatile branding opportunities. For bloggers who like to improve their website's commercial value, a custom domain is necessary. 

9. Set up Google Analytics

For bloggers with hundreds or thousands of visitors per day, adding Google Analytics will help you analyze your visitor's behavior. You can also check the performance of your blog through bounce rate, visiting time, comparative analysis, and so on!

10. Back Up Your Blog Content

Did you know that you can back up your content on blogger.com? This platform is owned by Google, so you do not have to worry about lost data. Nevertheless, it is always prudent to own a personal copy of your content. If Google shut this service, or if you somehow make a fatal error, you still have a good copy of your content. You can back up your old template as well!

Now that you have learned about essential bloggers' activities in January, you will be ready to implement them. Among the top 10 activities, which one would you like to do first? Let me know in the comment section!

Using the YoastSEO plugin is one of the most common strategies to improve on-page optimization. The tool will guide you to write and optimize an article based on a focused keyword. However, this feature is only available exclusively for the WordPress platform. Luckily, I have found two methods to use YoastSEO to improve Blogspot websites!

I'd like you to know that I wrote this article using YoastSEO.

Use YoastSEO to Improve Blogspot by Utilizing Real-time Content Analysis

The easiest method to improve your on-page Blogspot posts is using YoastSEO Real-time content analysis tool. You can access this function by going to the following link: https://yoast.com/research/real-time-content-analysis/.

Before you publish your article on your Blogspot website, you can copy and paste your text into the tool. Then, your content will be analyzed by Yoast. You will receive suggestions on how to optimize it for the search engine.

Use YoastSEO real-time content analysis to improve your Blogspot performances.

Read also: My Experience on Completing AdSense Identity and PIN Verification Process

To use YoastSEO properly, you must determine a key phrase or keyword. You can enter your keyword into the content analysis tool located at the bottom of the text editor. There will be suggestions for the keyword placement and how many times it should appear. Having one focused keyword is an excellent way to perform better on Google Search.

Furthermore, you will also receive suggestions on how to improve your article's readability. It uses the intelligent Flesch Reading Ease scores that show if your content is easy to read or not. This feature will analyze your sentences length, passive voice usages, subheading distributions, and so on.

Read also: Top 5 Tips to Improve Your Blogspot Traffic

Use YoastSEO to Improve Blogspot by Creating WordPress Website on InfinityFree

Did you know that InfinityFree offers a 100% free hosting program? This hosting provider offers an entirely free plan without any hassle. This free plan is intended for students or testers. Nevertheless, we can use InifinityFree web hosting to create a WordPress website. 

InfinityFree is free!

Before you get to feel too excited, InifityFree unpaid hosting is limited. It only allows 50,000 hits per day (roughly around 1000 visitors max), and the website speed is absolutely abysmal. The free hosting plan will not be helpful for commercial purposes. Luckily, by having a WordPress website on InfinityFree, you can install the YoastSEO plugin!

This way, we can own a free WordPress that can be used as a text editor and on-page SEO testing ground. Before publishing an article on your Blogspot website, you can check it first through your free WordPress.

There is one downside, however. You have to know how to create a WordPress website. This step can be complicated for most people. But, it does offer more degrees of freedom compared to the first method. You can also learn how to manage and familiarize yourself with WordPress if you want to migrate someday.

How to Improve On-page SEO Based on Yoast Suggestions

To have a better on-page performance, you need to pay attention to the following points:

• Choose a key phrase that is not too long nor too short (3-5 words).
• Add keyword on the title.
• Put the keyword in your first paragraphs.
• Add keyword on the subheading, but not too frequently.
• Add keyword in article's search description.
  
• Make sure that your article is at least over 300 words.
• Repeat keyword several times (4-5 times) and spread it out. Do not repeat it too often. 
• Add search description (meta description).
• Add images, internal links, and outbound (external) links but not too much.

Improving Readability Based on YoastSEO Suggestions

Please remember that actual humans will read your article. You have to make your content easy to read.

• Do not use passive sentences too often (10% of your total sentences maximum).
• Try to avoid making overly long sentences. 
• Try to avoid making excessively long paragraphs.
• Provide subheadings!
• Be mindful of your word choices. Put some variety. You can use synonyms.
• Use transition words such as furthermore, additionally, in addition, nevertheless, and so on.

Following YoastSEO suggestions will not magically improve your ranking. However, it does help you to optimize your content quality. It provides you with the guideline to create articles that will perform well on search engines without sacrificing user-friendliness. 

Read also: Is It Possible to Monetize Poetry and Flash Fiction Using AdSense in Blogspot?

SofanMax - Increasing website traffic is not the most straightforward task when you choose blogger.com as your platform. You need a high level of patience and comprehensive blogging knowledge to improve your Blogspot traffic. Nevertheless, it is not impossible to acquire thousands of visitors per day.

Blogger.com is part of Google's product that offers free blogging platform through the Blogspot domain. This website allows anybody to create a blog quickly and earn income through AdSense. This platform is often underrated. However, on the right hand, Blogspot is actually mighty. 

Let's improve your blogspot traffic together!(Photo: Pixabay)

Read also: My Essay on The Reality of Blogspot and AdSense Monetization 

Blogspot does not require maintenance, secured by Google. It has unlimited bandwidth to handle millions of visitors without slowing down your website. You get all these excellent features for free. If you know how to improve your Blogspot traffic, you can own a robust website at a minimum cost.

On this occasion, I have curated the top 5 tips that you can follow to improve your Blogspot traffic immediately.

1. Utilize Google Search Console

Google Search Console provides you with chances to request manual indexing, verify your website ownership, and track your website performance. It is a platform that must be mastered by every blogger who seeks to improve their traffic. Fortunately, you can integrate Blogspot with Google Search Console!

You can submit your website to Search Console, and you can enjoy more visibility in Google Search results. If your website is indexed, it means that everyone in the whole wide world can locate your blog content on the internet. 

2. Use Reddit to Improve Your Blogspot Traffic

Reddit is the most popular content aggregator website in the world. You can submit your links on Reddit as long as it follows the guidelines. If your blog post is relevant and popular, people will upvote it, and thousands of visitors will come your way.

However, Reddit moderators can be pretty strict. Depending on the subreddit, you need to follow the rules accordingly; otherwise, your link may get removed. Furthermore, Reddit has a tight policy regarding spam. Never ever try to spam on Reddit because your website address may get blocked. 

Read also: Is It Possible to Monetize Poetry and Flash Fiction Using AdSense in Blogspot?

3. Keyword Researching

Google Search displays relevant results based on user's keywords. Therefore, you have to be mindful of these keywords when creating content. If you incorporate a relevant keyword, then the chance of your website to show up on top will increase. Research which keywords are often used by visitors!

Nonetheless, developing the right keywords into a great article can be tricky. You have to learn how to write based on the Search Engine Optimization principle while also being user-friendly. The best writing is the one that uses relevant keywords, can be read easily, optimized for Google.

4. Shows Up in Google Search Image

If you love taking photos or creating infographics, you can include them in your articles. Sometimes, people are searching for relevant images. You can show up in Google Search Image result if your articles have them. It is a niche way to get visitors, and it works well if you can provide excellent quality images.

But, please be mindful that images alone will not be enough. You need to provide caption and alt image info. You also have to explain your image well. Provide a thorough description or explanation of your images. Again, blogging is all about writing, so images are a complementary way to get more visitors.

5. Get Mentioned On Reputable Websites to Improve Your Blogspot Traffic

Try to have your blog mentioned in local news or reputable websites in your area. If they cite your blog, it may increase your legitimacy, and more visitors will be more likely to visit. Of course, this strategy is not easy. You have to create original content to become the primary source.

However, the effect of getting mentioned on another reputable website can be very significant and dramatic. This method is usually referred to as backlink acquirement. Having more websites placing your link inside their contents will improve your blog ranking on the internet. Be careful! Backlink usage is strictly regulated by Google, so you need to check their policy first.

Now that we have learned the top 5 tips to improve your Blogspot traffic, I hope that you can attract more visitors. Please remember, change is gradual, and improvement may not happen overnight. Be patient and be consistent! 

Read also: My Experience on Completing AdSense Identity and PIN Verification Process

SofanMax - Blogger.com, or familiarly called Blogspot, is the perfect platform for those of us who loves writing. It is very simple to use, even for people who don't know much about internet technology. Blogspot basically allows you to create your own personal website where you can publish your thoughts and express creativity.

If you love making Poetry and Flash Fictions, Blogspot is definitely the most suitable place to publish your creations. And yes, you absolutely can monetize Poetry and Flash Fiction using AdSense in Blogspot.

Read also: How to Use Twitter Summary Card in Blogger Theme - Tweet Optimization

Personal Experience on Monetizing Poetry and Flash Fictions in Blogspot

This blog, SofanMax, was actually my personal blog that only contains Poetry. I love writing cheesy stuffs. One day, I tried to apply my Blogspot website to AdSense, and I got approved. Nowadays, my content has expanded quite broadly,but it was started from Poetry blog.

Tea and Poetry. (Photo: Pixabay)

As for Flash Fiction, I helped a friend of mine to monetize her blog, Fateism, that contains short fictional stories (300-500 words each). It was successful!

Therefore, based on these two personal experiences, I'm absolutely certain that Poetry and Flash Fictions can be monetized with AdSense in Blogspot.

However, there is several conditions. You need to follow several criteria so that AdSense will accept your blog. So keep reading! 

Read also:

• How Many Articles Do You Need to Get AdSense Approval for Blogger?
• How to Add Payment Method in AdSense and Verify Your Bank Account
• How to Optimize Your Blogger Websites on Google Search

How to Monetize Poetry and Flash Fiction with Blogspot and AdSense

Not every Blogspot website can be monetized using AdSense. Only websites with high quality content can be accepted. 

First, you have to make sure that your Poetry and Flash Fictions are really really good. People who read your contents should be impressed. Of course, art is subjective, but still, if you put efforts in your creations, more people will like it.

Second, please note that your Poetry and Flash Fictions are arts. The text may not follow the rule of grammar for artistic effect. Your content may also be very abstract. And that is okay for your human readers. However, your contents will also be evaluated by AdSense using their machine.

Now, because machine can not appreciate arts, AdSense may not understand that your Poetry and Flash fictions are actually valuable to human readers. There is a good chance that your blog will be rejected at first. 

The solution is quite simple. If machines can not understand your contents, then you will have to explain it to them. How do you explain arts to machine? Well, describe and provide explanation or interpretation to your arts.

Therefore, your blog post should not only contain Poetry and Flash Fictions. Write an explanation about the meaning, what inspire you, how do you create them, how long do you create them, why do you create them, and elaborate everything in detail. 

Pro tip: you should also put video or picture to enrich the value of your post.

You can put that explanation under your Poetry and Flash Fiction. Your main content is above, and the explanation below. It is a recommended format, based on my personal experience.

Third, mix up your contents. Because Blogspot is your personal space, you can post anything in it. And so, you should also post something other than Flash Fiction and Poetry.  

For example, you can create a real article about your personal interpretation of a famous poem by a famous poet from the ancient time. You can also write an article about tips and trick of how to write good poetry. Usually, articles that talk about guides are considered to be valuable.

In other words, you can expand your horizon. Not just specific to Poetry and Flash Fiction, perhaps literature in general, or even broader.

Fourth, make sure that your Poetry and Flash Fictions adhere to Blogger and AdSense content policies. For example, graphic erotica may not be eligible for AdSense monetization as Blogger content policy does not allow it.

Erotica is a legitimate form of art, and I am not judging anyone who read and write. I think it is a brave expression of sexuality. However, if you depict them too graphically in an extreme way, AdSense may not be viable.

There are other points from the content policies that you need to pay attention. I suggest you to read them. You can find Blogger content policy here and AdSense content policy (in line with Google Publisher content policy) here.

Is Blogspot the Best Platform for Poetry and Flash Fiction writers?

In this platform, you have a lot of control when it comes to formatting. Not just that, you have full control over the way your content is presented to your readers. For example, you can choose to customize the style of your blog's theme, links, and many more!

Furthermore, Blogspot is integrated with Google Search Console. It means that you can index your Poetry and Flash Fiction so that they appear in Google Search result!

Most importantly, Blogspot can be connected to AdSense for monetization. This aspect is perhaps the biggest factor why writers and bloggers should be using Blogspot. Your original thoughts, in the form of writings, have monetary value. 

It not easy to be published and get money in real world. However, with Blogspot and AdSense, you can become a self-published writer and receive income directly to your bank account via monetization program.

Comparing Blogspot with Other Free Platform

There are other platforms that allows writers to publish their Poetry and Flash Fiction for free. For example: Poetizer, Wattpad, Instagram, Facebook, and Medium. Now let's do a little bit of comparison.

Blogspot have more freedom

These platforms are not bad but you will have not much degree of freedom. You contents will be tied to those platforms. You are given a page, your profile, and you don't have control over the whole website. 

On the other hand, Blogspot provides you with freedom of control, unlike the free platforms that I have mentioned.

Blogspot have wider audience but harder to gain viewers

In term of visibility, it is easier to gain viewer via those platforms. They have social media features and everyone with the same interest as you will be gathering. 

Blogspot is different as it closer to creating a website. You are not a social media influence but an actual website owner. It is harder to gain viewers. After all, it is harder to grow a website compared to grow a social media presence. 

However, with Blogspot,  you can get indexed in Google Search result, which is very cool. Your audience will be global, not tied only to those who use the same platform.

In Instagram, your readers will mostly be also from Instagram users. In Blogspot, the whole internet is your audience.

But again, despite the wider visitor potential, it is harder to gain visitor. It's called the saturation effect.

Blogspot Has Stronger Monetization Opportunity

Blogspot with AdSense integration is relatively easier to monetize. Of course, you still need to fulfill several criteria before you can monetize your Blogspot. Nevertheless, if you are able to do it, your income will grow exponentially with the amount of your visitors. 

AdSense will automatically insert advertisement inside your Poetry and Flash Fiction. Your readers who view your contents will also see the advertisement, and thus your income is generated.

In social media, you can not monetize it using AdSense. Your monetization strategy will not be as versatile because you don't have control.

So Which One is The Best Platform for Poetry and Flash Fiction?

The answer is actually the combination of those platforms. 

You should mainly write your Poetry and Flash Fiction inside your Blogspot blog. Then, use the social media platform to distribute the preview of your contents, the caption, and the links.

This way, you will have the powerful monetization opportunity from Blogspot using AdSense and the power of social media feature to distribute your contents. 

With the combined approach, you have the global reach of a website and the viral power of social media in your hand.

Previously, we have learned about blog optimization through various methods. This time, I'd like to reiterate what we have learned and summarize it in a simpler guide. If you are a beginner, this article will help you to start your own Blogger website optimization.  

Before you continue reading this article, I'd like to make sure that you are familiar with Google Search Console. You can read this article about indexing: How to Index Blogger Post Using Google Search Console Tool - Basic Search Engine Optimization.

Once you have learned how to index your blog, now let's learn how to optimize it!

Illustration of website performance.

The algorithm that determine your website's ranking is always changing every month. Google will always update its core so that the search engine can provide better result. If your website provide relevant information, your chance to have a higher ranking will increase. 

However, having relevant information alone will not be sufficient to compete with other websites. You need to do better and more! Thus, you need to optimize your blog for Google Search engine. 

Read also: My Essay on The Reality of Blogspot and AdSense Monetization

Provide Descriptive Information

First, you need to optimize your content. To do that, you will need to create an accurate title. A good title is very important. In fact, nowadays, a lot of people tend to only read the title and not the article itself. It is a bad habit, however it goes to show that good title will drive traffic into your website.

Good title should be accurate, interesting, not too short and not too long.

Not just title optimization, you need to optimize your articles as well. Be descriptive with your articles. A good article does not have to be too long. A short article, around 600-800 words, that can describe a detailed information will be the most ideal.  

Remember the 5W + 1H principle to create a descriptive article.

Then, provide a good and clear distinction between topics. Discussing multiple unrelated topics in one article will cause your readers to feel confused. Such article is usually shallow, that's why you should avoid making listicle. The most ideal article should only focus on one topic and perhaps break it down into several sub-topics.

Use Labels in Blogger to classify topics. Use Headers or bullets for sub-topics within an article.

Provide Complete Information

A website that only serves shallow information will not do well in Google Search. You can not expect to gain organic visitors if your website only serve useless articles. Again, being descriptive is the key.

Google Search engine will be able to understand your contents if you have good description over your articles. You should always know what you are writing. If both engine and human can read it, then it is an excellent article.

Do not forget to provide a search description in your articles. In Blogger it is located on the right side bar in the text editor. Search description is not your title, it should be a short sentence (less than 150 characters) which can describe the whole article. In my blog, you can read the search description below the title.

Do you want to have a Blogger theme that can display search description under the title? Buy Fletro Pro!

Topic Adjustment

We all know that a consistent update is necessary in order to have good blog performance. Having a schedule will help your website to grow better. However, consistent update schedule is not enough! 

You also have to adjust the topic of your content based on the seasonal trend. The law of supply and demand also applies to website traffic. When the trend is shifting, you need to adapt.

For example, it is almost Christmas. You should try to incorporate the season into your website's content. Provide special deals or events based on the season. Another example, Google have recently released the Pixle 6 and it becomes a trending topic. If you buy the phone, you can also try to chime in with your own opinions.

Following the short trend is always the best way to keep your blog fresh. However, do not forget to also create articles that can stay relevant for a long time. The long term trend is as important as the short ones.

Update Your Website 

Websites are always changing. The relevancy of your old articles will be decreasing. Sometimes, it is a good idea to update your old articles so that it can stay relevant. Adding new information in your old article is not bad idea.

For example, the method of AdSense registration from Blogger has changed. If your tutorial article is still referencing information from 2019, there is a good chance that your tutorial is no longer true. Instead of letting it rot, update the tutorial!

Not just the content, you also need to update the interface of your blog. If you are still using the old themes, you may need to change it into the modern ones. Make sure that your blog is mobile friendly and load fast. Custom theme such as Fletro Pro, LinkMagz or Fiksioner is recommendable.

Use Texts

Google Search is heavily reliant on keywords to provide relevant results. If you want to be visible on Google Search, then obviously you need to provide texts with relevant keywords.

Pictures and videos are essential to enhance the quality of your articles. However, Google engine will have a harder to to read pictures and videos. If you want to have an optimized blog, then you should rely on texts. Pictures and videos are complementary.

For example, if you are using Blogger as an online store, you may use a lot of pictures to show your products. Even then, you will need to provide context to those pictures.

You can further optimize your blog by adding text to your pictures and videos. For pictures, add caption, alt text, and title text. The text should be describing the picture. If you put a picture of a cat, then describe the cat in the caption and alt text. If you display a picture of person, then describe how the person looks like and what he is doing.

For video, unfortunately Blogger does not have a caption feature. However, it is always better to describe the content of the video inside of your article.

Get Referrals

You are probably familiar with the term of backlinks. However, while backlink is certainly useful, it is often misunderstood by beginner bloggers. Please remember that not all links are equals. Random links on random websites will not be as powerful as having listed on reputable websites.

Spamming links is a bad bad referrals strategy. Google is getting smarter when it comes to detecting spam. A strong backlink occurs naturally. You do not ask for a backlink. People will naturally use your website as source material if it serves great contents.

Moreover, branding can be more powerful than an just active links. Google has been hinting that getting mentioned in a reputable news website will be great for your blog visibility. 

Use Professional Service

If you have the resources, and want to compete commercially, you will definitely need a professional help. They will be able to spot the weakness of your blog and provide various solutions. 

Of course, you will have to pay considerable amount of money to hire a SEO expert. After all, search engine is becoming even more competitive than ever. Make sure the person that you hire is actually legit. Too many scammers and black hat SEOs out there, so be careful.

Read also:

• How to Add Payment Method in AdSense and Verify Your Bank Account
• My Experience on Completing AdSense Identity and PIN Verification Process
• Replace Blogger FeedBurner with 'follow.it' - The Best Free Alternative!

SofanMax - For beginner bloggers, receiving your very first income from AdSense can be one of the most exciting part in your life. In order to get your money, you need to add a primary payment method in your AdSense account and verify your banking account. This step is a little bit tricky, so pay attention!

Developing a profitable blog requires a lot of works and continuous efforts. Receiving your first real payment from Google is a testament that you have created a valuable and useful website. Having income from AdSense is something that you should be proud of, even though maybe the money is not that much at first.

To get paid, you will have to reach the minimum income threshold of $100. Then, you need to set up payment method in your AdSense account so that the money can be sent automatically into to your bank account.

Complete Identity Verification First!

You will be able to add payment method in AdSense after you have completed the identity verification step. In the previous article, we have discussed this issue thoroughly. If you do not know about AdSense identity verification, then read that article first and go back here.

Here is the article: My Experience on Completing AdSense Identity and PIN Verification Process.

Basically, you need to earn your first $10 in AdSense to do the identity verification process. After you have completed it, you will need to wait for AdSense PIN and you can also add payments method.

You do not have to complete the PIN verification to add payments method in AdSense. However, I personally finished the PIN verification first, then add payment method after that. I did it in proper order to avoid confusion.

You can not add payment method because you have not completed AdSense identity verification process.

Adding and verifying bank account can be done anytime, so there is no need to rush and do the steps carefully. If you have not finished AdSense identity verification, the option to add payment method will be locked.

Adding Payment Method in AdSense 

If you have fulfilled the requirements above, now you can begin to add payment method. First, go to your AdSense account, then select Payments on the left bottom sidebar. 

Then, under your earnings information, you will see the methods of how you get paid. Then, select ADD PAYMENT METHOD.

You can add payment method in AdSense

After you have clicked add payment methods, you will be able to add your name, select bank, and add account number. Your first payment method will be the primary, you can add additional different bank accounts later.

When entering the name, make sure that it matches exactly with the name on your bank account! 

Then, you will be able to select your bank. AdSense will provide you with list of all recognized bank based on your country, choose the correct one. If your bank is not on the list, do not worry, you can open a new account in a new bank which is recognized by AdSense, simple as that.

Then, you will need to enter your account number. Make sure that it is correct. Then set it as the primary method. After you have added all of the required information correctly, click Save.

Enter the correct bank information.

Verify Your Bank Account

After you have added payment method and clicked save, you will receive a notification which informs you that AdSense will deposit you with less than $1 (less than Rp1,000 if you are Indonesian) to your bank account. In other words, Google will sent you a small amount of money into your bank account. Click GOT IT to dismiss the notification.

Google will sent you a test deposit.

The small amount of money serves as a test deposit. This way, your income will be sent to your bank account properly.

Then, go check your Payments again, you will see a red notification which says "You haven't completed the verification process for Bank account *****". You will also see VERIFY NOW button. You can click the button and complete your verification for bank account after you have received the small deposit.

Do not try to randomly verify your bank, you have to wait for the deposit. After three failed attempts, your account may get locked and you will have to contact AdSense, and that can be troublesome.

The process may take some times. You will be required to wait for 2 - 5 days until Google transfer the small deposit.

After 2 days passed, go to your bank and ask the clerk to check for transfer information, do not forget to bring you bank book. You can also do it from ATM, though the settings may vary depending on your bank and country. If there is no deposit from Google yet, try the next day and so on.

Depending on the country your bank is located in, the test deposit will appear in your bank account under one of following labels:

• AFS RE GOOGLE
• AFS RE GOOGLE ADSENSE
• ARVATO FINANCE SERVICES LIMITED
• BFS FINANCE LTD
• CITIBANK IRELAND FINANCIAL SERVICES
• Google AdSense Payment

For example, you may receive 0.123$, it is likely this deposit was sent from Google. Please note that the amount of deposit is completely random, just like AdSense PIN.

After you have received the small deposit sent by Google, enter the amount into your AdSense account. Click the VERIFY NOW button in the Payments. Then select the correct amount of deposit.

Verify your bank account after you have received Google's test deposit.

In my case, Google sent me Rp547. So I select that amount. Again, the deposit is random and every person will receive different amount.

Make sure that you select the correct deposit. Then, choose VERIFY. Again, you only have 3 attempts, so you need to be sure that you choose the correct Google's deposit.

Select the correct deposit.

If you have successfully verify you bank, the red notification will disappear and you will see that your payment is no longer pending.

Now your AdSense account is fully activated and you are ready to receive payment when your income reach $100.

What if You Do Not Receive Any Deposit From Google?

Not all of country requires this step. If you are in Bulgaria, Gibraltar, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Romania, and South Africa, you will not be required to do the test deposit verification.

If you are not from those countries, and Google still has not sent you any deposit, then try to wait 5 more days. It is possible that there is a little delay. You should also keep contacting your bank and ask them about small money transfer from Google. 

Successful bank account verification for AdSense payment.

If after a total of 10 working days have passed and your bank still says that there is no transfer from Google, then it is very likely that you have entered the wrong bank, account number, or name into your AdSense payment methods.

If you have entered the wrong information, do not worry, it is quite easy to solve. Go to your AdSense account, then add payment method with the correct information. Do not forget to set it as primary. Google will send you the small deposit into your correct bank account. Then, you can remove the wrong payment method.

AdSense PIN verification is perhaps one of the most significant step for beginners in order to monetize their Blogger websites, or YouTube channels. These mechanisms are essential to ensure the correctness of your identity and, especially, your address. 

AdSense will send you a letter, which contains a PIN (Personal Identification Number), directly to your home and you will need to input the numbers into your account. By doing so, your AdSense account will be fully activated and you'll be able to actually receive payments once you have reached the $100 threshold.  

Read also:

• How Many Articles Do You Need to Get AdSense Approval for Blogger?
• My Essay on The Reality of Blogspot and AdSense Monetization
  

Without  AdSense PIN verification, you will not be able to receive payment, even though you've reached your threshold. AdSense will also temporarily stop showing ads on your website if you missed a certain deadline. Therefore, you have to pay careful attention to AdSense PIN verification steps because it will affect your income.

I'd like to describe my experience on dealing with AdSense PIN verification process. However I'd like to note that I had done my PIN verification in 2020. Therefore, I do no know whether the process has changed or not. Nevertheless, I don't think AdSense PIN verification process will be much different.

I decided to not write an article about AdSense PIN right away because it's a bit sensitive. So, about one and a half year later, I'm ready to tell my experience!

Earn $10 in AdSense to Begin ID and PIN Verification

So I was able to start identity (ID) and AdSense PIN verification by earning $10. If you are Indonesian, you need to earn Rp130,000 to start the verification process. 

The PIN verification process itself is actually not that hard. However, earning your first $10 is actually quite challenging if you are only relying on one free Blogspot website.

For me personally, it took me several months to get $10 from one Blogspot website. Your income at first will be very very low. I remember my first income, from one Australian visitor, it was only Rp19 or around $0.0013! Very very low!

Your income will gradually increase naturally as your website grows and you receive more organic traffic. Based on my experience, I was able to boost my income significantly when my articles are able to rank on Google's top 10 search results.

If you want to quickly request the AdSense PIN, I suggest you to:

• Monetize an established website which already has steady traffics.
• Have a top level domain (such as .com).
• Focus on ranking by writing good articles and pay attention to good SEO principles.
  

The topic of your website can be about anything, but it's always important to write well. Be patience!

Once you have earned $10, AdSense will display a notification which says "Your payments are on hold. Action is required to release payment." on top of your account. You will also receive an email from Google Payments which tells you to verify your identification.

Please note that the $10 or the Rp130,000 threshold is not the accumulated balance but your total income. For example, my accumulated balance from previous months is $8 (as you can see from your AdSense account dashboard). But today, I receive $2 income. So even though my income has not been accumulated yet, I have received a total $10. Email and notification will appear right away.

Another example, the balance is still only Rp107,00 but the person received Rp24,000 this week, so he has Rp131,000 total. Thus he is ready for identity and AdSense PIN verification.

If you see such notifications, do not panic. It means that you are eligible start ID and PIN from AdSense and the verification process can be started!

Read also:

• How to Fix Valuable Inventory: No Content in AdSense Violation
• How to Use follow.it to Replace Blogger's FollowByEmail Gadget - Free Feedburner Alternative

Start AdSense Identity Verification Process

Before AdSense send you a PIN, you will need to do identity verification first. You will be required to upload a picture of your valid official identity card issued by your government. It can be a passport, driver license, or your national identity card, just pick one of them.

To do identity verification, go to your AdSense account, then select Payment. You will notice a red warning which says "Verify your identity." and "VERIFY NOW" button. Before you click on the verify now button, please note that there are several requirements for your identification document picture.

Do not take this step lightly, you have a limited amount of chances (if I recall correctly, you are given 3 chances) to upload the correct and valid identity card picture! If you failed to upload the required photo, you account might get locked out and you might need to contact AdSense to complete the identification process (which may not be feasible).

Identity Verification Process

Tips for taking identity card picture:

• Capture the entire document including all four corners, it must be a full picture of your identity card!
• Your image must be readable, in focus, and free of reflections and glare. Please note that if you card is old and the data is unreadable, it is better to renew it first! Do not upload expired document! Select the clearest, cleanest, and newest document (Passport, National Identity Card, or Driver License). 
• For Indonesians only, if your national identity card is expired, even though it is legally valid, it will not be accepted by AdSense.
  
• Incomplete or obstructed documents or dark or blurry photos won't be accepted. 
• To prevent abuse, AdSense only allow a limited number of verification attempts.
• Uploading documents or photos other than what is requested may result in account suspension. Do not upload the wrong picture. Only a picture of your Passport, Driver License or National Identity Card are acceptable. Other documents are not accepted!
  

In my experience, I used my driver license card. It was my newest and clearest official document and it worked well!

Once you have taken the correct and clear picture of your document, you can click the VERIFY NOW button in AdSense Payment section. You will be required to fill in your identity. Make sure that the information, your name and address, that you enter match with the information written on your selected document.

Once you have submitted your documents, you will need to wait for AdSense confirmation email.

Review your information, and again, make sure that it matches with your document. After that you can upload your identity card photo and submit it to AdSense.

After you have submitted your information and document photo, AdSense will verify it. It may take several days until you get reply from AdSense. If it is successful or failed, AdSense will notify you via email. If it is not successful, you can attempt to try it again, just make sure that you follow my tips above!

In my case, AdSense verified me in just 6 hours. I received an email which stated that my identity had been successfully verified. I can set up a payment method right away but I chose to wait until I received my PIN and verified my address first.

Waiting for AdSense PIN

After you have successfully finished the identification process, AdSense will send you a physical letter which contains the PIN directly to your house! This is quite exciting and anxiety-inducing process. 

It says that you will receive the PIN in 2 - 4 weeks. If you have not received the PIN after 4 weeks, you are allowed to request the PIN again. Make sure that your address is correct, you can modify it at this stage.

AdSense PIN to verify billing address.

In my case, I have to wait for over a month until my AdSense PIN arrived. I had to wait more than 4 weeks because of the pandemic situation.

After 4 weeks had passed, I click Verify and then choose the "Resend PIN" button for additional PIN. Do no try to submit random PIN, you have a limited amount of attempt to submit the correct PIN.

Requesting resend PIN in AdSense

The post office staffs were kind enough to notify me directly when the PIN had arrived so I picked it to the office myself because I was so excited. Normally, the post office will deliver it to your house.

I actually ended up receiving two PINs, the first PIN which was delayed because of the pandemic and the second one because I click the "Resend PIN" option. They contains the same set of numbers.

AdSense PIN verification successful.

I entered the PIN into my AdSense account and click Submit, it was successful! My tips for AdSense PIN verification:

• Be patience, wait until it is 4 weeks. If it has not arrived, do not panic select the "Resend PIN" option. AdSense PIN delivery will be longer if your home has uncommon address or if it is located in remote places.
  
• AdSense PIN usually may be delivered a bit late but do not worry! As long as you complete your PIN verification within 6 months (which is plenty of time), you account will not be badly affected.
  
• Make sure that your address is correct before you ask for AdSense to resend PIN.
• Go to your local post office and check with them directly.

I'd like to discuss setting up the payment method and bank verification process in AdSense, However, the article has gotten too long. I promise to publish an article about that next time. Stay tune!