Blogger is a wonderful, budget-friendly way to run a website, and Google has added a small feature that can help your readers find you more easily: Preferred Sources. It lets readers pick their favorite websites, and a simple link can help your blog benefit from it.
When a signed-in reader selects your site as a Preferred Source, your content becomes more likely to appear in their "Top Stories" results, marked with a "preferred" badge. In AI Mode and AI Overviews, your content can also be highlighted with that badge for readers who chose you. It is not a guaranteed top spot, but it is a direct vote of trust from your audience.
Most readers will never find this setting on their own, so today I'll show you how to build a shortcut link and ask your audience to use it.
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| This visual comparison shows how getting your readers to save your blog as a preferred source helps independent creators bypass unfair SEO competition and get featured in Google AI |
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Quick Navigation Menu
- 1. How Preferred Sources Work
- 2. Check Eligibility and Build Your Link
- 3. Crafting the Perfect Reader Call-to-Action
- 4. Other Habits That Help Your Visibility
- Let's Hear From You!
1. How Preferred Sources Work
- Readers sign in to Google and choose the sites they want to see more often in Top Stories.
- For those readers, your content is more likely to appear, with a "preferred" badge.
- In AI Mode and AI Overviews, your content can be highlighted with the same badge for readers who selected you.
- It only affects the readers who choose you. It does not change your rankings for everyone else.
- The strategy depends on building real, repeat readers who care enough to add you.
2. Check Eligibility and Build Your Link
You do not need coding skills for this. Google uses a simple link format that you can adapt to your own domain in a few seconds.
Step 1: Check that your site is eligible. Not every site can be added. Go to google.com/preferences/source, signed in to Google, and search for your domain. If your blog does not show up, the link below will not work for readers yet.
Step 2: Build your link.
- Start with Google's preferences link:
https://google.com/preferences/source?q= - Add your bare domain right after
q=. Leave outhttps://andwww.. - Use a domain or subdomain only. Subdirectories such as
example.com/folderare not accepted. - Blogger example:
https://google.com/preferences/source?q=canadianbloggertips.blogspot.com - If you use a custom domain, put that domain after
q=instead.
Step 3: Test it. Open the finished link while signed in to Google. You should see a prompt to add your site. A plain incognito window will not work for this, because you need to be signed in.
3. Crafting the Perfect Reader Call-to-Action
Most readers want to support independent creators, but they need simple instructions. The extra step many people miss is ticking the checkbox next to your domain, so mention it. Place a short note at the end of your posts or in your newsletter.
Here is an HTML snippet you can paste into Blogger's HTML view:
<p><b>✨ Quick Tip:</b> Want my latest Canadian blogging tutorials to show up more often for you on Google? <a href="https://google.com/preferences/source?q=canadianbloggertips.blogspot.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Add Canadian Blogger Tips as a Preferred Source on Google</a>, then sign in and tick the box next to canadianbloggertips.blogspot.com.</p>Google also offers a JavaScript button that lets readers add your site in one tap and return to your page. The plain link above is the simpler choice if your platform makes custom scripts awkward.
4. Other Habits That Help Your Visibility
Preferred Sources is a bonus, not a substitute for a well-built site. These habits support your reach everywhere.
- Clean HTML Layouts: Keep markup simple so browsers and assistive tools read your pages cleanly.
- Descriptive Image ALT Text: Briefly describe each image. Shorter descriptions are generally easier for screen readers and crawlers to handle.
- Clear Semantic Organization: Use logical heading levels (H2, then H3) so your structure is easy to follow.
- Track Reader Behavior: Use a tool like Google Analytics to see which posts readers actually engage with.
Let's Hear From You!
- Did you know Google lets readers choose preferred sites for Top Stories and AI answers?
- Is your blog showing up in Google's Preferred Sources tool?
- Leave a comment to share your experience with our blogging community!
About the Author
Su is a seasoned Canadian blogger who creates dedicated spaces to help content publishers navigate SEO strategies, affiliate relationships, and smart digital monetization tactics.
Connect with Su: linktr.ee/Sister_Su_Buys
✨ Quick Tip: Want my latest Canadian blogging tutorials to show up more often for you on Google? Add Canadian Blogger Tips as a Preferred Source on Google, then sign in and tick the box next to canadianbloggertips.blogspot.com.
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