Google AdSense
Google AdSense places ads on your website or videos and pays you a share of what advertisers spend, without you ever dealing with an advertiser.
In plain English
You add a piece of code to your site. Google decides which ads to show, collects the money, and passes a share to you. There is nothing to sell and nobody to invoice.
The money follows attention. A page that lots of people read, on a subject advertisers want to reach, earns more per visit than one nobody is looking for.
Why it matters
It is the least demanding way to earn something from traffic you already have, which is why it is often the first income a site sees.
It is also the least profitable per visitor. Most people who make a living from a site treat AdSense as a floor, with affiliate income or their own products above it.
How it works
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You apply with your siteGoogle reviews it for enough real content and a few required pages.
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You place the ad codeAutomatic placements, or specific units where you decide.
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Ads are auctioned per viewAdvertisers bid, the winner is shown, and you get a share.
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You are paid at a thresholdEarnings accumulate and pay out once they pass the minimum.
Never click your own ads
Not once, not to test. Google treats it as fraud and the usual outcome is a permanent ban with the balance withheld.