SEO Term Definition
Google News SEO
Optimization techniques to get news articles indexed and featured in Google News and the Discover feed.
Reviewed by Alexander Yarovenko · Updated: 2026-07-03
What Is Google News SEO?
Google News SEO refers to practices that help news and editorial content appear in Google News, the Top Stories carousel, and Google Discover. These placements can drive massive, albeit often short-lived, traffic spikes.
Eligibility Requirements
- Publish original news content regularly
- Follow Google News content policies (no misinformation, transparent authorship)
- Implement bylines and publication dates prominently
- Submit a news sitemap to Google Search Console
Technical Optimisation
- Use clean, keyword-rich URLs that include the article topic
- Add NewsArticle schema markup with headline, datePublished, author, and image
- Serve pages quickly — news traffic is time-sensitive
- Avoid paywalls on content intended for News inclusion
Editorial Best Practices
- Publish breaking news as soon as possible — speed matters for Top Stories
- Update articles with the latest information and mark them as updated
- Include quotes, data, and original reporting to signal authority
- Cover topics that align with your existing authority signals