Google Adds Preferred Sources Help Documentation

01/30/26
Source: Search Engine Roundtable by barry@rustybrick.com (Barry Schwartz). Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of Google’s Preferred Sources Help Documentation Now Available for Site Owners

**Google** has globally launched official **help documentation** for its **Preferred Sources** feature that allows site owners to encourage users to select their sites as preferred news sources. When users choose a site as a preferred source, that site’s content is more likely to appear in the **Top Stories** section for relevant queries. The feature supports domain and subdomain levels but excludes subdirectories, and Google provides guidance on building an audience without making it mandatory.

Optimixed’s Overview: Understanding and Leveraging Google’s Preferred Sources to Boost News Visibility

What Are Preferred Sources?

Preferred Sources is a Google Search feature designed to empower users to select their favorite news publications. By choosing a site as a preferred source, users influence their personalized search results, increasing the likelihood that the selected site’s articles appear prominently in the “Top Stories” carousel for relevant news queries.

Key Features and Eligibility

  • Global Availability: The feature is now available worldwide in English for queries that trigger Top Stories.
  • Eligibility: Only domains and subdomains qualify for preferred source designation; subdirectories (e.g., example.com/blog) are not eligible.
  • User Influence: Users actively select preferred sources, which tailors their news experience to favor those sites.

Site Owner Guidance

Google provides official help documentation to assist site owners in understanding and encouraging their audience to subscribe as preferred sources. This documentation outlines strategies to build a loyal audience, although these steps are not mandatory for a site to appear as a preferred source.

Overall, this update offers publishers a valuable opportunity to enhance their visibility in Google News results by fostering stronger user engagement and preference.