Abstract
Google News is a specialized content aggregation platform that prioritizes timely, authoritative, and original journalism. For technology focused news websites, inclusion in Google News significantly enhances indexing speed, visibility, and organic reach. This tutorial provides a detailed explanation of how to submit a news website to Google News using a custom WordPress sitemap plugin named PakSoft Sitemap. The article covers eligibility requirements, technical configuration, sitemap implementation, internal and external linking strategies, and best practices for long term approval and performance.
Introduction
Search engines play a central role in the dissemination of digital news content. Among them, Google News stands out as a highly influential platform that delivers curated news articles to millions of users worldwide. For emerging technology news platforms such as PakSoft.net, Google News inclusion is a strategic objective that can result in increased readership, improved credibility, and faster discovery of newly published content.
This tutorial is intended for publishers who already operate a WordPress based news website and use a custom sitemap solution rather than commercial SEO plugins. The focus remains on compliance with Google News guidelines while utilizing the PakSoft Sitemap plugin to generate both standard and news specific XML sitemaps.
Understanding Google News
Google News aggregates content from approved publishers and organizes articles based on relevance, freshness, authority, and user interest. Unlike general search results, Google News emphasizes journalistic standards and editorial transparency.
Advantages of Google News Inclusion
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Immediate indexing of breaking news
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Increased impressions and click through rates
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Eligibility for Google Discover
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Enhanced domain authority
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Long term organic traffic growth
Technology news websites that publish frequent updates benefit most from this ecosystem.
Google News Eligibility Requirements
Before submitting a website to Google News, it is essential to ensure compliance with content and technical policies.
Editorial and Content Requirements
Your website must publish original, factual, and news oriented content. Suitable content categories include:
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Technology and software news
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Product launches and updates
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Cybersecurity announcements
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Industry trends and analysis
Each article must clearly display:
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A unique and descriptive headline
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Author name or editorial credit
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Publication date and time
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Original reporting or analysis
Content that is rewritten, auto generated, or misleading is not eligible for Google News inclusion.
Website Structure and Technical Standards
Google News requires a well structured website that allows efficient crawling and indexing.
Technical Requirements
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Clean and permanent URLs
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Articles accessible via HTML
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HTTPS enabled across the site
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Mobile responsive design
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Fast page loading speed
Additionally, Googlebot must not be blocked by robots.txt or meta noindex tags.
Role of XML Sitemaps in Google News
XML sitemaps assist search engines in discovering and indexing content efficiently. For Google News, a dedicated news sitemap is essential.
Types of Sitemaps
| Sitemap Type | Description |
|---|---|
| sitemap.xml | Lists all posts and pages |
| news-sitemap.xml | Lists only recent news articles |
The news sitemap should include articles published within the last 48 hours and must update automatically as new content is published.
Using the Paksoft Sitemap Plugin
Paksoft.net utilizes a custom WordPress plugin named Paksoft Sitemap, designed specifically to generate both post and news sitemaps without reliance on third party SEO frameworks.
Features of Paksoft Sitemap Plugin
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Automatically generates sitemap.xml for posts
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Generates Google News compatible news-sitemap.xml
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Updates sitemaps in real time
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Lightweight and optimized for performance
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Fully compliant with Google News XML standards
This plugin provides greater control and transparency compared to generic SEO plugins.
Sitemap URLs Generated by Paksoft Sitemap
After activating the plugin, the following sitemap URLs become available:
These URLs should be publicly accessible and return valid XML output.
Submitting the Website to Google Publisher Center
Google News submissions are handled through Google Publisher Center.
Submission Process
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Access Google Publisher Center
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Sign in using your Google account
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Add your publication name
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Verify website ownership through Google Search Console
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Provide publication details such as logo, description, and contact information
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Submit the publication for review
Once submitted, Google reviews both editorial quality and technical configuration.
Submitting Sitemaps to Google Search Console
Sitemap submission ensures faster crawling and indexing.
Steps
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Open Google Search Console
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Select your verified website property
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Navigate to the Sitemaps section
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Submit sitemap.xml
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Submit news-sitemap.xml
This step is critical for Google News eligibility and performance.
Internal Linking Strategy for News Websites
Internal linking improves content discovery and topical relevance.
Best Practices
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Link related news articles within content
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Use clear and descriptive anchor text
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Link to category pages such as Technology News
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Avoid excessive or irrelevant linking
Example internal reference:
Readers can explore more updates in the Technology section of PakSoft.net.
External Linking and Source Credibility
Google News values transparency and verifiable sources.
External Linking Guidelines
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Link to official announcements or documentation
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Reference authoritative technology sources
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Avoid linking to unreliable or spam websites
Example external reference:
Google News content policies are documented on Google Search Central.
Optimizing Content for Google Discover
Google Discover complements Google News and increases visibility.
Optimization Strategies
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Use high quality featured images
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Maintain factual and neutral language
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Avoid exaggerated or misleading headlines
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Publish content consistently
User engagement signals strongly influence Discover visibility.
Common Reasons for Google News Rejection
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Insufficient original reporting
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Missing author information
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Poor site navigation
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Inconsistent publishing schedule
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Low quality or thin content
Addressing these issues improves approval probability.
Google News Sitemap Plugin Download Information
Click Here paksoft-sitemap.zip file contains the Paksoft Sitemap plugin.
Click Here to Read Full Documentation of Google News Paksoft sitemap PluginÂ
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