AdSense Approval Checklist for WordPress Sites

WordPress makes it easy to launch a site quickly, which is exactly why so many WordPress sites get submitted for AdSense before they're actually ready. Here's what we check first on every WordPress client site.

Theme and default content

Default "Hello World" posts, unedited sample pages, and demo content left over from a theme install are more common than you'd expect — and they're an immediate signal that the site isn't finished.

Plugin bloat and page speed

A stack of unnecessary plugins is one of the most common causes of slow WordPress sites we see. Before submission, we audit the plugin list and remove anything not actively contributing to the site's function or content.

Category and tag structure

WordPress makes it easy to create empty categories and tags that generate blank archive pages. Every category visible in your navigation needs actual published content behind it — empty archive pages read as unfinished to a reviewer.

Policy pages via a proper page, not a plugin shortcut

A privacy policy page needs to be a real, readable page — not a generic auto-generated template that never mentions advertising or cookies specifically. We rewrite these to be accurate to the actual site.

Checklist summary

• Remove all default/demo theme content.
• Deactivate and delete unused plugins; test page speed after.
• Confirm every navigation category and tag has real content behind it.
• Rewrite Privacy Policy, About, and Contact pages to be site-specific.
• Check mobile rendering across at least two device sizes.

10MillionReach runs this exact audit on every WordPress client before submission, as part of our AdSense Approval service.