On 26 April this year, Google announced that Preferred Sources are available in all supported languages.
This has further triggered the expansion of this most anticipated feature.
Earlier, it was available in the US and India, but now it has been rolled out globally.
Although this feature is gradually picking up pace, it is perceived as an ideal opportunity to leapfrog the competition.
How To Get Into Google’s Preferred Sources?
There is no shortcut to getting your site into Google Preferred Sources. This works simply in the following sequence:
Besides, there are certain best practices that you can follow to raise your chances of getting into Google Preferred Sources.
- Ad CTA or Deeplink: You can add a deep link on your social media posts, emails, and promotional content. Just use the following URL pattern:
https://google.com/preferences/source?q=Your_Website’s_URL You can also put a CTA directly on your site by picking the designs from Google’s catalogues.
- Promote the Option: Let your audience know about the feature and its benefits. You can make a “How-to” short video or instruction page to walk them through the simple process.
- Use News Schemas: Make sure your articles are tagged as news in the schema to make them more effective in popping up in the preferred sources.
- Publish Valuable Content: Unique and productive content is the bedrock of all SEO techniques. When your content earns your audience’s trust, they ultimately prefer your results over other SERP options.
Benefits Of Google Preferred Sources
Google Preferred Source is a personal toggle and won’t affect the choices and interests of others. But think of how it will impact your post if it appears at the top of your audience’s search pages.
Here are some of the noteworthy benefits.
- Bypasses Algorithmic Dependencies: The preferred sources make it all the way to the top in the search results, irrespective of your SERP rankings.
- Attract More Traffic: When your site appears as a Google preferred source on the search results, users are more likely to click on that link and visit the respective page.
- Elevates Brand Authority: The more users mark your site as a preferred source, the higher the authority your brand develops.
Suggested Read: Could Google’s AI Opt-Out Cost You Top Stories Visibility?
What Do Digital Marketers Say?
Aleyda Solis, a renowned SEO and AI search Consultant, has published a post on X, hinting at preferred sources, mentioning it as a move toward more personalisation.
However, Lily Ray, a popular New York-based Digital Marketer, has cautioned about preferred sources being filled with AI-generated spam content. See her post below.
The same issue was reported by Glenn Gabe, a famous SEO expert and AI Search Consultant, when he reiterated:
“Google’s Preferred Sources Tool Is Jammed With Spam”
On the flip side, John Shehata, CEO and Founder of NewzDash, expressed his views and opined that strong brands will have an edge in yielding the outcomes of this feature. He also suggested encouraging your audience to use this feature.
Concluding remarks
Google Preferred Sources can be a fantastic tool to further keep your audience hooked to your content. Although Google’s Top Stories Carousel in AI Overviews gives a push to the news and journalism content, Preferred Sources is a step further in making a deep connection with the users.
Next Read: Why Does AI Search Prefer Original Research Citations? Possible Gaps and Solutions
