ONE FOCUSED ACTION

Maintain original and authoritative journalism for better Google News ranking.

Google News optimization

1 checklist items

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    Why this matters

    Original, authoritative content increases relevance and prominence signals in Google News ranking algorithms.

    A STARTING-POINT EXAMPLE

    Hypothetical standard operating procedure

    Adapt this example to your site, access, tools, and change process. It is our suggested procedure, informed by the sources below.

    1. Create news content with original reporting, interviews, and unique insights.
    2. Cite authoritative sources and verify facts before publication to ensure accuracy.
    3. Avoid duplicate content by differentiating news from other outlets.
    4. Regularly update news stories to maintain freshness and relevance.
    5. Monitor Google News performance metrics and adjust reporting strategies accordingly.

    Watch for

    Using copied or low-quality content reduces visibility and undermines trust with users and Google.

    Definition of done

    Google News indexes and ranks your site prominently for stories with original, authoritative reporting.

    Sources & attribution

    1. Ranking within Google News - News Publisher Help ↗
    2. Ranking within Google News - News Publisher Help ↗

    Original checklist wording and example SOP by Best SEO Checklist, using source-grounded AI assistance. Editorial contact: Ted Kubaitis, @tedkubaitis on Teams. Check current source guidance before implementation.