I Got Rejected by Google AdSense: What 'Low Value Content' Really Means

I applied for Google AdSense on Toolpod and got rejected. The reason? "Low value content."

This was frustrating because I'd put real effort into making sure every tool page had substance. Not just an input box and a button, but actual explanations of how things work, common use cases, FAQs, and related tools. I have 65+ developer utilities, 15 blog posts, an about page, privacy policy, the works.

So what gives?

The Rejection Email

Google's feedback was vague, as expected. The rejection cited "low value content" and pointed me to their program policies. No specifics about what was wrong or what to fix. Just a checkbox to confirm I'd fixed the issues and a button to request another review.

If you've been through this, you know the feeling. You're left guessing at what the actual problem is.

What "Low Value Content" Actually Means

After researching this extensively, I learned that "low value content" is Google's catch-all rejection reason for new sites. It often has nothing to do with your actual content quality.

Here's what's really happening behind the scenes. Google's AdSense approval process weighs several factors that have nothing to do with how good your content is.

Site age matters more than content quality. Google wants to see a track record. Sites that are only a few weeks or months old frequently get rejected regardless of content. They want 3-6 months of consistent activity before they trust you.

Traffic signals trust. This is the frustrating chicken-and-egg problem. Google prefers sites that already have visitors. But you want ads to monetize those visitors. They're essentially saying "prove you're valuable first, then we'll let you monetize."

Tool sites get extra scrutiny. The internet is full of thin, spammy utility sites that exist only to show ads. One input field, one button, and a wall of ads. Google's algorithms are trained to be skeptical of tool sites, even legitimate ones with real content.

What I Actually Have

Let me be clear about what Toolpod looks like, because I don't think this is a content problem.

Every tool page includes a description of what the tool does and why you'd use it, step-by-step instructions, common use cases, FAQs addressing real questions, related tools for discovery, and proper meta descriptions for SEO. Take the JSON Formatter or JWT Decoder for example. These aren't thin pages with just an input box.

Beyond the tools themselves, I have 15 original blog posts covering topics from regex patterns to JWT debugging to my vibe coding journey. There's a proper about page explaining who I am and why I built this. The privacy policy is real and detailed, not a template. Everything runs client-side so user data never leaves their browser.

This isn't a thin content site. But Google's bot doesn't know that on the first pass.

What I'm Going to Do

I'm not changing anything drastic. The content is solid. Instead, I'm taking a patience-first approach.

Wait and reapply. Many people report getting approved on their second or third attempt with zero changes. Sometimes it's just about getting a different reviewer or letting the site age a bit more.

Keep publishing. I'll continue adding blog posts and tools. Not because Google told me to, but because that's what I was doing anyway. Consistent activity signals a maintained, legitimate site. I'm currently working on an AI coding tools comparison that compares Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, and other tools I actually use.

Focus on traffic first. Instead of obsessing over AdSense approval, I'm putting energy into SEO and community engagement. Reddit has been great for getting real developers to actually use the tools. Once traffic is established, monetization becomes easier.

Consider alternatives. AdSense isn't the only option. Ezoic accepts newer sites with lower traffic thresholds. Carbon Ads focuses specifically on developer audiences with cleaner, less intrusive ads. These might be better fits anyway.

The Bigger Picture

Here's what I've realized through this process. Chasing AdSense approval is probably the wrong priority for a new site.

The rejection stings, but it's also clarifying. My goal isn't to run an ad farm. It's to build useful tools that developers actually want to use. If I do that well, the monetization will follow, whether through AdSense eventually approving me, or through alternatives that might be a better fit anyway.

Tool sites have a reputation problem because so many of them are genuinely terrible. The only way to differentiate is to keep building quality and let time prove the site's value.

Advice If You're in the Same Boat

If you just got the "low value content" rejection, here's what I'd suggest.

Don't panic and don't make drastic changes based on vague feedback. If your content is genuinely good, the problem is probably timing, not quality.

Do make sure the basics are covered. You need a real about page, privacy policy, and contact information. These are table stakes.

Wait at least 2-3 weeks before reapplying. Some people reapply immediately and get rejected again. Give it time.

Keep building in the meantime. Publish content, improve your site, grow traffic organically. The approval will come, or you'll find a better alternative.

Document your journey. That's what this post is. Maybe it'll help someone else going through the same thing.

What's Next

I'll reapply in a few weeks. If I get approved, great. If not, I'll try again or explore alternatives. Either way, the site keeps growing.

The irony is that by the time AdSense approves me, I might not need them as badly. That's probably the whole point.

Have you dealt with AdSense rejection? I'd be curious to hear what worked for you. You can reach me through the contact page.