How to put AdSense and Google Affiliate Network in your blog's sidebar

Note: This article assumes you are using a classic template. For Layouts-enabled blogs, you can simply add a new AdSense page element to your sidebar, or drag an existing element to the desired location.
If you're new to AdSense and not too familiar with making modifications to your blog's template, you can follow these instructions for placing AdSense code in your blog's sidebar (using the Minima template as an example).
Assuming you have already signed up and been approved for a Google AdSense account, you should be able to log in here. Once you're signed in, click the AdSense Settings tab near the top of the page. To cut right to the chase, focus on these steps:

1. Choose Your Ad Layout - To fit ads in your sidebar, it's best to choose one of the following ad layouts.

   Button (125x125)
   Skyscraper (120x600)
   Wide Skyscraper (160 x 600) 
   Vertical Banner (120 x 240)
   Small Rectangle (180x150)

2. Choose a color palette - They are very cleverly named but it's really just a matter of your preference.
3. Copy your AdSense code - At the bottom of the page, there's a box with code in it. Highlight all of that code and copy it.
4. Paste the code somewhere - Notepad or Text Edit or something like that is a good place for now.
5. Go to Blogger.com and sign in - Choose the blog you want to put ads on and click the template tab.
6. This is less of a step and more of a precaution - Copy your entire Blogger template and save it in Notepad or Text Edit just in case.
7. Find the place in your template that says this; you might have to scroll down pretty far:

   <!-- Begin #sidebar -->
   <div id="sidebar"><div id="sidebar2">

8. Paste the AdSense code you saved earlier right after that part.

   <!-- Begin #sidebar -->
   <div id="sidebar"><div id="sidebar2">
   PUT YOUR ADSENSE CODE HERE!

9. Save your template changes and republish your blog.

How to put Google Affiliate Network links in your blog's sidebar

If you're new to Google Affiliate Network and not too familiar with making modifications to your blog's template, you can follow these instructions for placing Google Affiliate Network links in your blog's sidebar (using the Minima template as an example).
Once you sign up and are approved for a Google Affiliate Network account, you can sign in here to view your account. Once you're signed in, click the Links tab near the top of the page. Select which advertiser's links you want to work with, and then follow these steps:

1. Choose your links - In the 'Links' section of your profile, select the advertiser whose links you want to use. Click Get Links in the Action drop down menu next to the advertiser's name. Click either the Text Links or the Image Links tab to view your options in each category. To fit ads in your sidebar, it's best to choose one of the following dimensions for an image link:

   Button (125x125) 
   Skyscraper (120x600) 
   Wide Skyscraper (160 x 600) 
   Vertical Banner (120 x 240) 
   Small Rectangle (180x150)

2. Copy your Affiliate link HTML - Just beneath your desired link, click Get HTML. A box with code in it will appear. Highlight all of that code, then copy and paste it into Notepad, Text Edit, or a similar program.
3. Sign in to Blogger - Choose the blog you want to put ads on and click the Template tab.
4. Caution - Copy your entire Blogger template and save it in Notepad or Text Edit just in case.
5. Find the place in your template that says:

   <!-- Begin #sidebar -->
   <div id="sidebar"><div id="sidebar2">

6. Paste the Affiliate link HTML you saved earlier right beneath that place in the template:

   <!-- Begin #sidebar -->
   <div id="sidebar"><div id="sidebar2">
   PUT YOUR AFFILIATE LINK HTML HERE!

7. Save your template changes and republish your blog.