Note: This article was originally published in 2011. Some steps, commands, or software versions may have changed. Check the current WordPress documentation for the latest information.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

  • WordPress installation (self-hosted)
  • Administrator access to WordPress dashboard
  • FTP/SFTP or file manager access to server files

If you look out there you’ll find there are a number of plug-ins available for WordPress around using Google ads in your site, but if you are not looking for any fancy functionality/reporting capabilities then you are better off just using the Text widget provided by default in WordPress. Below are some simple instructions on how to achieve this:

  1. Make sure you are logged in as an administrator in the site
  2. Hover over Appearance and then click ‘Widgets’
  3. Select the sidebar you want the ad to appear on and drop the Text widget on top of it
  4. Click on Edit widget
  5. I usually leave the caption empty but you can place a header for this widget if you wish
  6. Paste your Google Adsense code in the text area

Summary

You’ve successfully learned add google adsense ads to your wordpress site (no plug-ins needed). If you run into any issues, double-check the prerequisites and ensure your WordPress environment is properly configured.