Ranking in Google’s Top Stories section requires a combination of strong SEO practices, newsworthiness, and Google News compliance. Here’s a step-by-step guide to increase your chances of getting featured:
1. Get Your Website Approved by Google News
Google News prioritizes authoritative and trustworthy sources. While websites no longer need to apply manually, meeting Google News Publisher Center guidelines can help improve visibility.
- Publish original, high-quality news content consistently.
- Have a clear editorial policy and an About Us page that builds trust.
- Ensure author bylines and bios are present for credibility.
2. Use Structured Data (NewsArticle Schema)
Google’s Top Stories often feature content with proper structured data markup. Add the NewsArticle schema to your posts to help Google recognize your content as newsworthy.
- Use JSON-LD format for structured data.
- Include fields like headline, datePublished, dateModified, author, and publisher.
- Validate structured data using Google’s Rich Results Test.
3. Optimize for Speed (Core Web Vitals)
Top Stories prioritize fast-loading pages. Ensure your site performs well on:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Under 2.5 seconds.
- First Input Delay (FID): Below 100ms.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Low visual instability.
Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights and Web.dev to measure and improve performance.
4. Enable AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages)
AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) is not a strict requirement anymore, but it significantly increases the chances of ranking in Top Stories.
- Use Google’s official AMP plugin if on WordPress.
- Ensure your AMP pages validate properly.
- Avoid excessive JavaScript that slows down AMP pages.
5. Focus on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
Google ranks trustworthy sources. Improve your site’s E-E-A-T by:
- Publishing fact-based, well-researched articles.
- Having clear author credentials (journalists, industry experts).
- Building high-quality backlinks from authoritative sources.
6. Use Timely, Click-Worthy Headlines
Google prioritizes breaking news and trending stories. Write headlines that are:
✅ Concise & Informative: “Google Rolls Out New Algorithm Update – Here’s What You Need to Know”
✅ Keyword-Optimized: Use terms people are searching for.
✅ Not Clickbait: Misleading headlines can reduce trust and ranking.
7. Publish Fresh, Breaking News Content
Google favors the most recent and relevant news. To improve rankings:
- Publish newsworthy content quickly after an event happens.
- Update existing articles with new details to keep them fresh.
- Use Google Trends to find hot topics in your niche.
8. Optimize Images & Videos
Google’s Top Stories often feature images and videos. Optimize by:
- Using high-resolution, relevant images.
- Adding descriptive alt text.
- Embedding fast-loading, mobile-friendly videos.
9. Improve Internal Linking & Site Structure
A well-structured website improves Google’s ability to index and rank your news articles.
- Link to relevant news stories within your site.
- Use clear category pages for different news topics.
- Ensure your sitemap is submitted to Google Search Console.
10. Promote Your News for Faster Indexing
To increase visibility:
- Share articles on social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit).
- Use Google’s Indexing API for faster indexing.
- Encourage backlinks from authoritative news sites.
Final Thoughts
Ranking in Google’s Top Stories requires technical SEO, quality journalism, and fast content delivery. Focus on newsworthy, timely content, optimize your site speed, and ensure compliance with Google’s best practices.