Here's how you can add Business Today to Google's Preferred Sources for you

Published in Business and Finance on Sunday, August 24th 2025 at 17:45 GMT by Business Today
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How Business Today Can Become Google’s Preferred News Source – A Complete Walk‑Through

In a digital era where the first few seconds of a Google search can determine a news outlet’s reach, Business Today’s new article “Here’s how you can add Business Today to Google’s preferred sources for you” offers a roadmap for editors, content strategists, and SEO specialists. The guide, published on 18 August 2025, breaks down the process into clear, actionable steps, while reminding publishers of the importance of editorial integrity, technical compliance, and ongoing monitoring.

Why “Preferred Source” Matters

Google’s “preferred source” designation is more than a marketing badge. When a news outlet is flagged as a preferred source, its stories are automatically prioritized in search results, Google News, and Discover feeds. For readers, this means quicker, richer access to Business Today’s content; for the publisher, it translates into higher visibility, increased traffic, and a stronger competitive position against rivals.

The article stresses that the designation is not a one‑time event; it’s a continuous relationship that hinges on consistent quality, timely updates, and adherence to Google’s editorial guidelines. Publishers must also maintain a robust technical foundation—structured data, well‑configured sitemaps, and a secure, fast website are non‑negotiable.

Step 1: Verify Your Domain in Google Search Console

The guide begins with the foundational requirement: ownership verification. Editors should log into Google Search Console, add Business Today’s domain, and complete one of the verification methods (HTML file upload, meta‑tag insertion, or DNS record). Once verified, the domain can be moved into the Google Publisher Center.

Tip from the article: If you run multiple sub‑domains (e.g., www, blog, mobile), verify each one to avoid missing content in Google’s index.

Step 2: Claim Your Publisher Profile in Google Publisher Center

Google’s Publisher Center (link: https://publishercenter.google.com) is the hub where publishers manage their presence across Google News and other platforms. The article provides a step‑by‑step walkthrough:

Create or log into a Google Workspace account (the Publisher Center requires a Workspace email, not a personal Gmail address).
Add a new publisher and fill in the requested details: publisher name, logo, description, and contact email.
Select the “News” category and set up your publication’s geographical focus (India, in this case).
Choose your preferred editorial language (English for Business Today’s primary audience).

After submitting, Google will review the profile and grant “preferred source” status if it meets the editorial and technical criteria.

Step 3: Set Up Structured Data for Articles

Structured data signals to Google that a page contains a news article, allowing Google to display rich snippets and include the story in the News carousel. Business Today’s technical team should add schema.org markup for Article or NewsArticle (see https://schema.org/NewsArticle). The article lists the mandatory fields:

headline
datePublished
dateModified
author
publisher (with logo)
mainEntityOfPage
image

In addition, the guide recommends using the NewsArticle type for time‑sensitive stories and Article for evergreen content. The article also mentions that if you’re using a CMS (e.g., WordPress, Drupal), you can install plugins that automatically generate the markup.

Step 4: Create a News Sitemap

A news sitemap (link: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/advanced/sitemaps/news-sitemap) tells Google where to find new content. Business Today’s editorial workflow should:

Generate a dynamic XML sitemap that lists all articles published in the last 48 hours.
Include the lastmod tag for each URL, reflecting the most recent update.
Upload the sitemap to Search Console under “Sitemaps” and schedule daily updates.

The article warns that failing to keep the news sitemap up to date can result in delays in content appearing in Google News.

Step 5: Adhere to Google’s Editorial Guidelines

Google has a strict set of editorial policies that cover content quality, source verification, and copyright. Business Today must:

Maintain a transparent author attribution system—every article should credit a verified author.
Avoid click‑bait headlines and ensure the headline accurately reflects the content.
Respect copyright: use only content you own or have explicit permission to publish.
Provide original, in‑depth reporting; re‑posting aggregated content or syndicating third‑party material without attribution can trigger penalties.

The article references Google’s official editorial guidelines (link: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/advanced/guidelines) and urges publishers to regularly audit their content for compliance.

Step 6: Promote and Monitor Your Presence

Once you’re a preferred source, you’ll see a boost in coverage across Google’s platforms, but continuous monitoring is vital:

Use Search Console’s “Coverage” and “Performance” reports to track indexing issues and keyword rankings.
Track impressions in Google News to gauge how many times your stories are being shown to users.
Leverage Google Analytics to monitor click‑through rates (CTR) and user engagement.

The article recommends setting up alerts for any sudden drops in traffic or indexing errors. If a problem arises, you can submit a request for review through the Publisher Center’s “Help” section.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Missing Structured Data – Without proper schema markup, stories may not appear in News carousels.
Slow Page Load Times – Google’s Core Web Vitals are a ranking factor; a sluggish site can hinder visibility.
Inconsistent Publication Frequency – Sporadic publishing can lead to de‑prioritization.
Violation of Editorial Policies – Even a single breach can temporarily demote a publication.

The article advises a weekly technical audit and an editorial check that mirrors Google’s own quality guidelines.

Looking Ahead

The Business Today guide doesn’t just stop at getting the preferred source badge; it points to future growth opportunities:

Optimizing for Google Discover – By focusing on mobile-friendly, visually appealing content.
Expanding into Video – Adding structured data for VideoObject can open new discovery channels.
International Expansion – Leveraging the “multilingual” feature in Publisher Center to reach a global audience.

The article emphasizes that the journey to becoming a trusted news source is iterative. By marrying editorial excellence with technical rigor, Business Today can ensure that its stories not only reach more readers but also uphold the highest standards of journalism.

In Summary

Business Today’s “Here’s how you can add Business Today to Google’s preferred sources for you” provides a detailed playbook that combines domain verification, Publisher Center configuration, structured data implementation, news sitemap creation, editorial compliance, and ongoing performance monitoring. By following these steps, the publication can secure a preferred status on Google, translating into higher visibility, more traffic, and an elevated reputation in the crowded news landscape.

Read the Full Business Today Article at:
[ https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/heres-how-you-can-add-business-today-to-googles-preferred-sources-for-you-489902-2025-08-18 ]

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