Google gives publishers a new way to fight AI-driven traffic losses
Google is giving publishers a new button that lets readers make them a preferred source across Search, Discover, and Google News, potentially boosting their traffic as AI search sends fewer clicks to the web.
Google has introduced a new way for publishers to combat the decline in website traffic due to AI-driven search features. The tech giant is allowing publishers to embed a "Preferred Sources" button on their websites. This interactive button lets readers indicate which sources they'd like to see more often in Google Search, Discover, and Google News.
Google announced this launch following its previous implementation of the Preferred Sources feature in May across its AI experiences, including AI Mode, AI Overviews, and Top Stories. As of the May rollout, over 345,000 unique sources had been selected by users. By becoming a preferred source, publishers can potentially drive more traffic to their websites, as studies show readers are twice as likely to click through to a preferred source when available.
Google is also planning to allow readers to customize their Discover feed within the company's app, using natural language commands. Additionally, Android users will soon be able to customize their audio daily briefings within the Google News app.
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