Google launches a Preferred Sources button publishers can embed on their sites
Google has released an embeddable Preferred Sources button. Readers who click it add the site as a Preferred Source in Google and return to the page they were reading. Preferred Sources can appear more often in Top Stories, AI Overviews and AI Mode. Google also announced Discover feed controls in users' own words.
What happened?
On 20 August 2026 Mrinalini Loew, General Manager of the Google Search Ecosystem, announced an interactive Preferred Sources button that publishers can add to their pages. When a reader clicks it, the site is added as one of their Preferred Sources on Google and the reader returns to where they left off. Google says Preferred Sources can show up more often in Top Stories, AI Overviews and AI Mode, and that people have already chosen more than 600,000 unique sources. The code for the button is in the Google Search Central documentation. In the same post, Google said users will soon be able to tell Discover in their own words what topics or links they want to see more or less of, with the feed adjusting immediately. It also said Google News app users on Android can customise their daily audio briefings by topic.
Why it matters for businesses
Indian news sites, niche blogs, B2B publishers and brands that publish regular updates compete for limited space in Top Stories and AI answers. A one-click button turns loyal readers into a ranking signal that applies to them personally. Before this, readers had to find the setting and search for the publication themselves. For businesses that run content hubs, such as industry news, market updates or how-to guides, this is a low-effort way to keep returning readers.
How businesses can use this update
- Add the Preferred Sources button to article templates and high-traffic posts using Google's Search Central documentation. - Ask your newsletter subscribers and social followers to add your site as a Preferred Source, and explain the benefit in one line. - Keep publishing regularly on topics your audience follows, since the button helps most when readers come back often. - Track Top Stories and Discover traffic in Search Console to see if engaged readers start reaching you more often.
Pacewalk expert note
This button works best for sites that already have loyal readers. It won't create an audience from nothing. If you publish industry updates or local news, place it where engaged readers will see it, such as at the end of articles or in newsletters, rather than in a pop-up. Focus on content worth returning to, and the button helps turn that loyalty into visibility.
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Original source: Google Blog (The Keyword)
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Talk to PacewalkFrequently asked questions
What is the latest Google Updates update?+
On 20 August 2026 Mrinalini Loew, General Manager of the Google Search Ecosystem, announced an interactive Preferred Sources button that publishers can add to their pages. When a reader clicks it, the site is added as one of their Preferred Sources on Google and the reader returns to where they left off. Google says Preferred Sources can show up more often in Top Stories, AI Overviews and AI Mode, and that people have already chosen more than 600,000 unique sources. The code for the button is in the Google Search Central documentation. In the same post, Google said users will soon be able to tell Discover in their own words what topics or links they want to see more or less of, with the feed adjusting immediately. It also said Google News app users on Android can customise their daily audio briefings by topic.
Why does this Google Updates update matter for businesses?+
Indian news sites, niche blogs, B2B publishers and brands that publish regular updates compete for limited space in Top Stories and AI answers. A one-click button turns loyal readers into a ranking signal that applies to them personally. Before this, readers had to find the setting and search for the publication themselves. For businesses that run content hubs, such as industry news, market updates or how-to guides, this is a low-effort way to keep returning readers.
How can my business use this update?+
- Add the Preferred Sources button to article templates and high-traffic posts using Google's Search Central documentation. - Ask your newsletter subscribers and social followers to add your site as a Preferred Source, and explain the benefit in one line. - Keep publishing regularly on topics your audience follows, since the button helps most when readers come back often. - Track Top Stories and Discover traffic in Search Console to see if engaged readers start reaching you more often.
How can Pacewalk help with Google Updates?+
Pacewalk helps businesses act on google updates trends — SEO Services, Website Designing, Advanced SEO Services. Book a free consultation and our team will apply this update to your marketing.
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