Getting your website featured on Google News can transform how readers discover your content. Millions of people open the Google News app or browse the News tab every day to catch up on the world’s latest stories. When you submit your website to Google News, you give your articles a chance to appear in top stories, reach new readers, and drive a surge of targeted traffic that ordinary search results rarely deliver.
This guide shows website owners and publishers how to move from simply posting articles to appearing in Google News as a trusted source. You will learn why the Google Publisher Center matters, how to meet Google News content policies, and the exact steps to verify website ownership, create a Google News sitemap, and publish high quality content that Google’s crawlers love. With the right approach, your news site can gain authority, build reader loyalty, and attract more traffic directly from Google’s powerful ecosystem.
What Google News Is and Why It Matters
Google News is a powerful news aggregator that collects and organizes the world’s latest stories into a personalized feed for millions of readers. It is more than just another search engine feature. When your news site appears in the Google News app or the News tab, your stories can surface in top stories across Google Search, on mobile devices, and even in Google Discover.
For publishers and website owners, this visibility translates into more traffic, stronger authority, and a growing audience that trusts your reporting. Google News crawlers scan web pages to highlight timely and newsworthy content from verified publishers. If your publication offers accurate information and follows Google News content policies, you can connect with readers who actively seek fresh updates every day.
By understanding how Google News works and preparing your website to meet its quality guidelines, you set the foundation for a successful submission and long term presence in this influential platform.
Eligibility Requirements Before You Submit Your Website to Google News
Preparing your site before submission is essential. Google rewards publishers who maintain strong technical standards and publish trustworthy, timely information. Here are the main factors to review.
Meet Google News Content Policies
Your publication must provide accurate reporting and high quality content. Every article needs a clear date, author byline, and a short author bio. Avoid duplicate or thin material and always share original, relevant content that adds value for readers.
Ensure a Professional and Fast Website
Use a clean layout with a secure HTTPS connection and mobile friendly design. Organize your site with structured headings and an XML sitemap so Google News crawlers can easily find each news story. Fast loading times help your articles rank higher and keep users engaged.
Publish Consistent and Timely News
Google News favors active publishers. Post newsworthy content on a regular schedule that matches your audience’s interests. Frequent updates show that your news site is reliable and ready for inclusion in the Google News app, the News tab, and other Google products.
Meeting these requirements sets a strong foundation before you move to the actual submission process in the Publisher Center.
Step by Step Guide to Submit Your Website to Google News
Submitting your site to Google News through the Publisher Center is straightforward when you follow each step carefully. This process helps Google verify your publication and ensures that your news content is ready to reach millions of Google News users.
Access the Google Publisher Center
Go to the Google Publisher Center. Sign in with the same Google account connected to your Google Search Console so verification is seamless.
Add a New Publication
Click Add publication and enter your publication name, website URL, and primary language. Provide a short description that clearly represents your news site and the topics you cover.
Verify Website Ownership
To prove that you own the site, use the same account registered in Search Console. Click Verify in Search Console next to the website property to connect ownership details quickly and accurately.
Configure Publication Settings
Upload your publication logo, add relevant sections, and set your publication categories. If you publish multiple types of news content such as business or entertainment, create distinct sections for each.
Add Your News Sitemap and Feeds
Include an XML sitemap or RSS feeds to help Google News crawlers discover new articles faster. A dedicated Google News sitemap improves indexing and ensures that your stories appear in the News tab and Top Stories section.
Review and Publish
Double check every detail and agree to Google News content policies. Click Publish to send your site for review. The approval process usually takes between two and four weeks, after which your news articles can start appearing in Google News and other Google products for a wider audience.
Create and Submit a Google News Sitemap
A dedicated Google News sitemap makes it easier for Google News crawlers to discover and index your latest stories. While your site can appear in Google News without one, adding a news sitemap gives your content a faster path to the News tab and Top Stories section.
Why a Google News Sitemap Matters
A news sitemap highlights the most recent articles on your site and helps search engines understand which pages are newsworthy. It ensures that your updates reach readers quickly and improves visibility in search results and the Google News app.
How to Generate a Google News Sitemap
If your site runs on WordPress, you can create a sitemap using plugins such as XML Sitemap & Google News SEO plugin. These tools generate a dedicated feed of your latest news articles and keep it updated automatically.
- Install your chosen plugin and enable the Google News sitemap option.
- Save settings to generate a feed that typically appears at yoursite.com/sitemap-news.xml.
- Review the feed to ensure each article includes the correct publication name, headline, and publication date.
Submit the Sitemap in Google Search Console
Sign in to Google Search Console, select your site property, and navigate to the Sitemaps section. Enter the URL of your new news sitemap and click Submit. This action signals to Google News bots that fresh stories are ready for crawling, improving your chances to appear in Google News faster.
Setting up and submitting a dedicated news sitemap strengthens your site’s technical foundation and supports consistent indexing for every new article you publish.
Optimize Your Content for Maximum Reach in Google News
Publishing news articles is only the first step. To gain visibility in Google News and the News tab, your content must be easy for search engines and readers to find, understand, and trust.
Craft Compelling Headlines
Write clear, keyword rich titles that describe the news story accurately. Use relevant phrases like submit website to Google News or Google News sitemap where natural. Strong headlines encourage clicks and help Google News crawlers identify the topic of your article quickly.
Maintain a Consistent Publishing Schedule
Google favors active news publishers. Post newsworthy content every day or on a steady timetable so the Google News bot knows your site provides fresh updates for readers.
Use Structured Formatting
Organize each page with proper H2 and H3 headings, short paragraphs, and descriptive image alt text. This improves readability for users and helps Google understand the context of your stories.
Create SEO Friendly URLs
Keep URLs short, descriptive, and free of random characters. A clean structure shows both readers and search engines exactly what the article covers, which can improve rankings across Google Search and Google News.
Enhance Pages with Multimedia
Add high quality images or embed videos to support the story. Rich media attracts attention in the Google News app and can increase engagement, especially on mobile devices.
Consistently applying these optimization steps will boost your website traffic and strengthen your presence across all Google products.
Advanced Tips to Boost Google News Visibility
Once your site is approved in the Google Publisher Center, take extra steps to stand out among other news publishers. These advanced methods help your stories reach more readers and build long term authority in Google News and Google Search.
Add Multimedia and Video Content
Google News users engage more with articles that include images and video. Embed high resolution photos or add a YouTube playlist related to your news content. In Publisher Center, you can create a video section and link your YouTube channel so videos appear directly in the Google News feed.
Implement AMP for Mobile Readers
Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) improve loading speed on mobile devices, giving users a seamless experience. While AMP is not required to appear in Google News, enabling it can help your articles surface in the Top Stories carousel and reach a larger audience on smartphones.
Strengthen Your Authority with Backlinks
Build relationships with other reputable sites and encourage natural backlinks to your best news stories. Quality links signal trust to search engines and can help your articles rank higher in both search results and the News tab.
Monitor Performance and Adjust Strategy
Use Google Search Console and Google Analytics to track impressions, clicks, and traffic from the Google News app. Review which articles gain the most engagement and adjust your publishing schedule or topics to match reader interest.
Keep Publication Details Updated
Regularly check your publication settings in the Publisher Center. Update your logo, contact details, and publication name if anything changes. Accurate information builds credibility with both readers and Google News crawlers.
Applying these advanced tips will strengthen your news site’s reputation and help your stories maintain strong visibility across Google’s products.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When You Submit Your Website to Google News
Even after a successful submission to Google News, certain missteps can reduce visibility and limit website traffic. Avoid these issues to keep your publication ranking well in the News tab and Google News app.
Publishing Thin or Duplicate Content
Google News rewards high quality content. Reposting wire stories without added value or copying articles from other publishers can cause your site to lose trust with readers and Google News crawlers.
Using Misleading Headlines
Clickbait titles may attract quick clicks but hurt long term credibility. Always write headlines that match the news story and provide accurate information for users and search engines.
Ignoring Site Speed and Mobile Optimization
Slow pages or a poor mobile layout discourage readers and may prevent your site from appearing in top stories. Optimize images, use caching, and test performance in Google Search Console to keep load times fast.
Forgetting to Update Older Pages
Outdated articles or broken links can reduce authority. Regularly refresh older content and ensure that all URLs remain unique and functional for both readers and the Google News bot.
Avoiding these mistakes will protect your standing as a trusted news source and keep your site performing well across Google products.
Track Results and Maintain Compliance for Google News Publishers
Submitting your site to Google News is only the beginning. Continuous monitoring and regular updates keep your news site visible in the News tab and Google News app while protecting your hard earned authority.
Monitor Performance with Google Tools
Use Google Search Console and Google Analytics to track impressions, clicks, and overall website traffic coming from Google News. Analyze which news stories attract the most readers and adjust your publishing schedule or topics to match audience interests.
Keep Content Policies in Mind
Always follow Google News content policies and quality guidelines. Provide accurate information, clear author bylines, and transparent publication details to maintain trust with both readers and search engines.
Update Sitemaps and Feeds Regularly
Review your Google News sitemap often to ensure all new articles are indexed correctly. When you add new sections or change your publishing frequency, update the sitemap and resubmit it in Search Console.
Refresh Older Content
Revisit older pages to fix broken links, add new data, or improve formatting. Consistent updates show Google News crawlers that your publication stays current and relevant.
By tracking performance and maintaining these standards, you strengthen your position as a reliable Google News publisher and keep your website growing in reach and credibility.
Conclusion: Submit Website to Google News
Appearing in Google News opens the door to a global audience and a steady flow of targeted website traffic. When you submit your website to Google News through the Publisher Center, follow the eligibility requirements, create a dedicated Google News sitemap, and publish consistent, newsworthy content that meets Google’s quality guidelines.
By optimizing headlines, maintaining a fast and mobile friendly site, and monitoring performance in Google Search Console, your publication can secure a strong presence across the News tab, the Google News app, and other Google products.
If you want expert help setting up your news site or need a professional WordPress build that meets Google News standards, the team at Seahawk can guide you from start to finish and ensure your publication gains maximum reach.
FAQs: Submit Website to Google News
How do I submit my website to Google News?
Go to the Google Publisher Center, add your publication details, verify your site with Google Search Console, upload a logo, and include your Google News sitemap or RSS feeds. Once you review and publish, Google will process your application, usually within two to four weeks.
Is a Google News sitemap required?
A sitemap is not mandatory, but creating and submitting a Google News sitemap improves indexing speed and helps Google News crawlers discover new articles quickly, increasing the chances of appearing in the News tab and Top Stories section.
Can any website appear in Google News?
Only websites that meet Google News content policies and publish timely, original, and high quality content are eligible. Your site should have clear author bylines, secure HTTPS, and a professional design to be considered a trusted source.
How can I increase traffic from Google News after approval?
Post newsworthy content frequently, optimize headlines with relevant keywords, use descriptive URLs, and add multimedia content such as images or videos. Monitor performance with Google Search Console to identify popular topics and refine your publishing strategy.
Do I need AMP for Google News?
AMP is not required to appear in Google News, but it improves page speed on mobile devices and can help your stories show up in the Top Stories carousel, which often attracts more readers and higher engagement.
