OReel
SEO

Add Google's Preferred Sources Badge to Your Website in 5 Minutes

Quick Win

Do this first

Check that your site is eligible

Reel Playbooks addition: per Google's documentation, enter your site in the source preferences tool search box to confirm it appears. To be eligible in AI Overviews and AI Mode, your site must also be included in Search generative AI features in Search Console.

See all 5 steps

Summary

Google lets searchers choose preferred sources. When someone picks your site, your content is more likely to show for them in Top Stories and can be highlighted with a "preferred" badge in AI Overviews and AI Mode. The creator calls it the SEO move nobody knows about: add a badge to your site so readers can choose you, using Google's own documentation and an AI assistant to do the setup in minutes.

Skill level
Beginner
Time to implement
15 min
Cost
Free
Platform
Instagram
Tools
ChatGPT, Claude
Outcomes
More traffic
Last verified
Nov 15, 2026

Set upWhat you need

  • A website on its own domain or subdomain (subfolders like example.com/blog are not eligible)

  • Access to edit your site's HTML, theme or tag manager

  • Google's preferred sources documentation

  • Optional: ChatGPT or Claude to adapt the code to your platform

  • About 15 minutes

ToolsChatGPTClaude

Do thisStep by step

0 of 5 steps done

  1. Check that your site is eligible

    Reel Playbooks addition: per Google's documentation, enter your site in the source preferences tool search box to confirm it appears. To be eligible in AI Overviews and AI Mode, your site must also be included in Search generative AI features in Search Console.

  2. Give the documentation to your AI

    Open Google Search Central's guide, "Help your readers find your site through preferred sources in Google Search", and paste it into your favorite AI along with your platform (WordPress, Shopify, Webflow or custom). Ask it exactly where to add the code.

  3. Add the standard button

    Reel Playbooks addition: Google's recommended version is two lines. In the page head add <script async src="https://news.google.com/swg/js/v1/publisher.js"></script> and where the button should appear add <div google-add-preferred-source-btn></div>. Add data-theme="dark" for a dark button.

  4. Or use a simple link

    Reel Playbooks addition: if your platform blocks scripts, link to https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=yourdomain.com with your domain. You can use the same link in emails, newsletters and social posts.

  5. Place it where loyal readers will see it

    Put the badge near the top or bottom of articles, in your newsletter and on your about page. You can customize the look with Google's official button assets or the advanced JavaScript option.

Heads upCommon mistakes & tips

  • Ask, do not assume. Readers have to click and confirm, so tell them why: "See more of our updates in Google".

  • Reel Playbooks addition: the reel and caption say that if enough people click, it "functions as a global ranking signal" so your site does better for everybody. Google's documentation only describes benefits for the people who select you, so treat that claim as unverified.

  • Reel Playbooks addition: this feature mostly matters for sites that publish news or frequent updates; a static brochure site will see little effect.

  • Google notes that promoting the button is optional; you can appear as a preferred source without it.

ES

Edward Sturm

@edward.buildsIG

Original strategy by Edward Sturm. Watch the original on Instagram.

Watch the original View their profileMore playbooks from Edward

MeasureHow to know it worked

The "Add to preferred sources" button renders on your page, and clicking it opens Google's source preferences with your site selected. When you add your own site as a preferred source in a logged-in Google account, you should start seeing it highlighted in Top Stories for relevant news queries.

ProvenanceSource & adaptation notes

Original

The reel and caption recommend adding a preferred sources badge to your website so people can have you appear more in AI Overviews, AI Mode, Top Stories and Google Discover. They call it a new Google feature everybody is sleeping on, say to paste Google Search Central's documentation into your favorite AI to get instructions, say the creator did it in five minutes and that the buttons can be customized, and claim it works as a global ranking signal if enough people click it.

Reel Playbooks additions

Reel Playbooks additions: eligibility rules and the Search Console requirement, the exact two-line code and theme option, the deeplink alternative, placement ideas, verification steps, the note on which sites benefit most, and the flag on the unverified global ranking signal claim. Code details come from Google's documentation as of November 2026.

AttributionCredit

Original tip by Edward Sturm (@edward.builds) on Instagram (watch the original reel).

Adapted from @edward.builds's video; steps expanded by Reel Playbooks.

Watch the original video

Reel Playbooks credits and links to the original creator. See For creators to request changes or removal.

BG