What to Know:
– Google’s John Mueller recently answered a question about whether a company blog can be eligible for Google News.
– Mueller stated that a company blog can be eligible for Google News if it meets the necessary criteria.
– The criteria for eligibility include having a dedicated news section on the website, publishing news content regularly, and adhering to Google’s content policies.
– Mueller also mentioned that having a separate news sitemap and following Google’s guidelines for news publishers can increase the chances of being included in Google News.
– However, he cautioned that being eligible for Google News does not guarantee inclusion, as Google’s algorithms determine which sites are shown in the news results.
The Full Story:
Google News is a popular platform that aggregates news articles from various sources and presents them to users based on their interests and preferences. Many businesses and organizations have company blogs where they publish news and updates related to their industry. However, it has been unclear whether a company blog can be eligible for inclusion in Google News.
Recently, during a Google Search Central SEO hangout, John Mueller, a Webmaster Trends Analyst at Google, addressed this question. He stated that a company blog can be eligible for Google News if it meets the necessary criteria.
Mueller explained that in order to be eligible for Google News, a company blog should have a dedicated news section on the website. This means that the blog should have a separate section where news articles are published, distinct from other types of content such as product updates or opinion pieces.
Additionally, Mueller emphasized the importance of publishing news content regularly. He stated that in order to be considered for Google News, a company blog should consistently publish news articles on a regular basis. This shows that the blog is actively providing up-to-date information to its readers.
Furthermore, Mueller mentioned that adhering to Google’s content policies is crucial for eligibility. Google has specific guidelines and policies that publishers need to follow in order to be included in Google News. These policies cover various aspects such as originality, accuracy, and transparency of the content.
Mueller also provided some additional tips to increase the chances of being included in Google News. He suggested creating a separate news sitemap for the news section of the website. This helps Google understand the structure and organization of the news content on the site.
Moreover, Mueller advised following Google’s guidelines for news publishers. These guidelines provide detailed instructions on how to format news articles, use structured data, and optimize the website for news-related queries. Following these guidelines can improve the visibility and discoverability of the news content in Google News.
However, Mueller cautioned that being eligible for Google News does not guarantee inclusion in the news results. Google’s algorithms determine which sites are shown in the news results based on various factors such as relevance, authority, and user engagement. Therefore, even if a company blog meets all the eligibility criteria, it may not necessarily appear in Google News.
In conclusion, a company blog can be eligible for Google News if it meets the necessary criteria. This includes having a dedicated news section on the website, publishing news content regularly, and adhering to Google’s content policies. Creating a separate news sitemap and following Google’s guidelines for news publishers can also increase the chances of being included in Google News. However, eligibility does not guarantee inclusion, as Google’s algorithms determine which sites are shown in the news results.
Original article: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/is-your-company-blog-eligible-for-google-news/504355/