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What Are Google Top Stories?
Google Top Stories is a component of Google's search results that displays trending news articles and stories related to a user's query. The Top Stories section appears at the top of the search results for a query, usually as a series of stories in a carousel, sourced from a variety of news sources.
Key Features Include
- Timeliness: The articles showing up in Top Stories are usually contemporary and will cover breaking news and trending issues.
- Source Variety: Google compiles content from a wide range of credible sources of information to provide users with multiple views on an issue.
- Visual Elements: Articles in Top Stories often have images and, of course, headlines that make them visually attractive to users.
How to Optimize for Google Top Stories
To enhance your odds of being listed in Google Top Stories, consider implementing the following options:
1. Publish in a Timely, Relevant Manner
- Be Current: Focus on breaking news and timely topics relevant to your audience. Research your local news aggregator and social media to understand what's trending.
- Publish Quickly: It's important to publish your articles quickly after the news breaks. Speed matters when trying to harness the audience's interest and to rank in Top Stories.
2. Use Structured Data Markup
- Schema Article: Use structured data using schema.org markup for articles. Structured data markup clearly defines your content for Google and increases the chances of being included in the Google Top Stories.
- Schema NewsArticle: Use specifically the NewsArticle schema so Google can have additional information about your articles.
3. Publish High-Quality, Engaging Content
- Good Headlines: Use titles that will draw attention to your articles. Always follow through with content relevant to the title. Utilize keywords and terms used in the news of the day to improve click-through rates.
- In-Depth Reporting: Article content should be thorough and well-researched. Include quotes, statistics, and expert opinions for credibility and engagement.
4. Optimize for Mobile
- Responsive Design: Make your site mobile-friendly because many users will access your content on a mobile device. If your site has a responsive design, there is a better user experience overall, and possibly better rankings.
- Fast Loading Times: Have a site that is optimized for faster loading times. If your pages are loading slowly, this could easily deter users or even worse, sever your opportunity to rank in Top Stories.
5. Use Social Media
- Share Content: Share articles on social media to drive traffic and engagement on the page. More shares and interactions could signal to Google that the content you have shared is useful to users.
- Engage with Readers: Engage with the audience on social media following share of articles. If you respond to comments and continue engaging, users will act as one community and start sharing articles without you even asking!
6. Emphasize Authority and Trust
- Use Reliable Sources: Always use reputable sources and link to original research or the source of data. This will help you build trust with readers and also build trust with search engines.
- Author Credentials: Make sure to highlight the authors' credentials, especially for certain topics, as it is necessary to identify the authority of the author (for example, health, finance).
7. Use Multimedia
- Images, Videos: When you have articles, include images and videos. This can improve overall engagement and make your articles interesting.
- Alt Text: Write alt text on your images to aid accessibility and help Google to understand what the image is about.
8. Track Performance and Trends
- Track Analytics: Use tools, like Google Analytics, to track traffic and engagement metrics. Examine which articles are doing well and why.
- Modify Strategy: Be adaptive and modify your content strategy, depending on metrics and trending news.
Optimizing for Google Top Stories requires publishing timely, quality content and using some technical SEO, as well as actively engaging with audiences. By executing these strategies, news organizations and other content creators will have a better chance at being included in this significant search result section, generating traffic and increasing visibility in a highly competitive space.