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WordPress Guide → SEO → Google News
How to get your WordPress site in Google News
Getting listed in Google News can skyrocket your traffic, establish your site as a trusted source, and boost your visibility in search results. But Google doesn’t let just anyone in; you have to meet strict editorial and technical guidelines.
Let’s walk through everything you need to know to get your WordPress site approved for Google News, from setup and submission to ongoing optimization.
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What is Google News and why it matters
Google News is a content discovery platform that highlights the latest headlines from trusted publications across the web. Stories that meet Google’s quality standards can appear in:
- The dedicated News tab of search results
- “Top Stories” carousels on desktop and mobile
- Google Discover feeds on Android and iOS
Being featured in Google News can dramatically increase your impressions, click-through rates, and authority. For publishers, journalists, and niche bloggers, it’s one of the most powerful organic visibility tools available.
Requirements to get listed in Google News
Before you submit your site, make sure it follows Google’s core content and technical guidelines. These aren’t optional—violating them will almost guarantee rejection.
- Content must be original, transparent, and newsworthy. Aggregated or AI-only content won’t cut it.
- Every article must have a clear byline, timestamp, and author bio.
- You must have an About page and a Contact page, preferably with a physical address and contact form.
- Avoid excessive ads, popups, or paywalls that block access to content.
- Site must be mobile-friendly, fast-loading, and secured with HTTPS.
You don’t have to be a massive publication, but you do need to act like one.
Set up your WordPress site for Google News success
Google News prefers sites with a clear editorial structure and transparency. Here’s how to prep your WordPress site:
- Use a clean, crawlable WordPress theme that loads fast and adapts to mobile.
- Add an About page with your organization’s purpose or mission.
- List editorial guidelines or team members if available.
- Enable author pages or bios on each article to build trust.
- Use WordPress categories like “Local News,” “Tech,” or “Politics” to group articles logically.
- Add structured data using plugins like Yoast SEO or Schema & Structured Data for WP.
These steps help Google understand who’s behind your content and whether it meets editorial quality standards.
Create a Google News–compatible XML sitemap
Unlike a standard XML sitemap, Google News wants a sitemap that shows only your recent news articles—ideally from the past 2–3 days. Use one of these plugins to generate a News-specific sitemap:
- XML Sitemap & Google News
- Yoast SEO with News SEO Add-on (premium only)
Key requirements for the News sitemap:
- Includes only articles published in the last 48 hours
- Lists the publication name, article title, and publication date
- Gets updated automatically as you publish
Once it’s created, you’ll submit this sitemap during the registration process.
Submit your site to Google News Publisher Center
Once your site is properly structured and optimized, you can apply for inclusion.
- Go to Google News Publisher Center.
- Click Add Publication and enter your site name, URL, and language.
- Verify site ownership using Google Search Console if you haven’t already.
- Add “sections” such as categories, topic-specific feeds, or tag archives.
- Upload logos and brand assets in multiple sizes.
- Review all information, then click Submit for Review.
Approval can take several days or a few weeks. If you’re rejected, Google typically provides reasons. You can fix the issues and reapply.
Optimize content for ongoing Google News visibility
Getting accepted is just the beginning. To stay visible, keep these habits in place:
- Publish consistently. Frequency helps you stay in rotation.
- Stick to journalistic standards. Clarity, objectivity, and source citations go a long way.
- Avoid clickbait or vague headlines. Google favors straightforward, descriptive titles.
- Use images, but compress them. Rich media improves engagement, but speed still matters.
- Monitor performance in Google Search Console using the News filter under “Performance.”
Over time, strong engagement will lead to better placement and more visibility in “Top Stories” and Discover.
Common mistakes that get WordPress sites rejected
Even great content can get blocked if your site misses key technical or editorial details. Watch out for:
- No author bylines or bios on articles
- Missing Contact or About pages
- Publishing non-news content, like how-to guides or commercial reviews
- AI-written or duplicated content with no editorial oversight
- Heavy ad use or intrusive popups that disrupt reading
- Slow site speed or mobile rendering issues
Take time to review your site like an editor and a search bot. If anything looks suspicious or sloppy, fix it before applying.
Should you use a dedicated news plugin or theme?
A WordPress news site doesn’t need special plugins or themes to get into Google News, but they can help streamline your workflow.
Popular themes like Newspaper, JNews, and Newsmag come with built-in layouts for trending stories, breaking news tickers, and multiple author support. Some even include ad monetization modules.
Plugins can also add useful features:
- News carousels and widgets
- Breaking news banners
- Infinite scroll or pagination tools
But be cautious: some news themes are bloated or slow. Prioritize speed, mobile optimization, and crawlability over flashy animations or homepage carousels.
FAQs about Google News and WordPress
Next steps for getting your WordPress site in Google News
Being listed in Google News can open the door to more traffic, better SEO, and increased brand authority, but you need to meet Google’s strict requirements first.
Start by auditing your content, setting up proper author and contact pages, and creating a valid News sitemap. Once everything is in place, submit your site through the Google Publisher Center and start monitoring your visibility.
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