What to Do After Your First Scan

Making the Most of Your Scan Results

You have run your first scan and now have a results page full of scores, grades, and recommendations. The question is: what should you do next? This guide walks you through the practical steps to turn your scan results into real improvements.

Step 1: Focus on Critical Fixes First

Your fix list is sorted by priority for a reason. Critical fixes are issues that will block you from being approved by ad networks, no matter how good the rest of your site is. Common critical fixes include:

• Missing privacy policy: Every ad network requires one. If you do not have a privacy policy page, add one immediately.
• No HTTPS: Sites without SSL certificates are rejected by all modern ad networks. Most hosting providers offer free SSL through Let's Encrypt.
• Thin content: If your pages have very little text content, ad networks will see your site as low quality. Aim for at least 800 words per article.
• Broken navigation: Dead links and missing pages signal a poorly maintained site. Fix or remove any broken links.

Address every critical fix before moving on to important or optional improvements. These are your highest-impact changes.

Step 2: Pick Your Target Network

Look at your Network Readiness panel and identify the most valuable network that you are closest to qualifying for. If you are already ready for entry-level networks like Google AdSense, your next target might be Ezoic or Monumetric. Focus your improvement efforts on the specific requirements that network needs.

Each network card shows exactly which requirements you meet and which you do not. Use this as your checklist. Some requirements (like traffic volume) take time to build, but others (like adding required pages or fixing technical issues) can be addressed in a single afternoon.

Step 3: Make Improvements

Work through your fix list methodically. For each fix, the scanner tells you what the issue is, why it matters, and which networks it affects. Some common improvements include:

• Improving page speed by optimizing images and reducing JavaScript
• Adding or improving your About, Contact, and Privacy Policy pages
• Publishing more high-quality content to meet minimum article count thresholds
• Fixing mobile responsiveness issues so your site works well on all devices
• Improving internal linking between your pages
• Adding an XML sitemap and submitting it to Google Search Console

Step 4: Re-Scan After Changes

After making improvements, run another scan to see how your score has changed. The results page will show a score delta indicating how much your score went up or down compared to your previous scan. This immediate feedback loop helps you confirm that your changes had the intended effect.

Pro and Premium users can use the Compare feature to view two scans side by side, making it easy to see exactly which modules improved and which fixes were resolved.

Step 5: Track Your Progress

With a free account, you can view your scan history and see your scores over time. The Score Trends chart shows your overall score trajectory, making it satisfying to watch your progress as you make improvements. Set a goal score and work toward it systematically.

We recommend scanning your site at least once a week while you are actively making improvements. Once your site is stable and approved by your target networks, monthly scans are sufficient to catch any regressions.

Step 6: Apply to Ad Networks

When the Network Readiness panel shows green for your target network, it is time to apply. Each network card includes a link to the network's application page. Remember that AdGateScore checks published requirements, but networks may also consider factors like domain age and content niche that are harder to measure automatically. A green status means you meet the measurable requirements and have a strong chance of approval.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Trying to fix everything at once: Focus on high-impact items first rather than trying to address every recommendation simultaneously.
• Ignoring traffic requirements: Some networks require minimum traffic levels that cannot be achieved overnight. Start building organic traffic early.
• Applying to networks before you are ready: Rejections can delay your ability to reapply. Wait until AdGateScore shows green status.
• Not re-scanning: Changes do not affect your score until you run a new scan. Always re-scan after making improvements.