35 lines
1.8 KiB
Markdown
35 lines
1.8 KiB
Markdown
# Google Preferred Sources — status & future to-do
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**What it is:** Google's "Preferred Sources" lets readers mark MSOS as a
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favourite so we surface more in Top Stories / Discover / News / AI surfaces.
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Implemented in `preferred-source.js` (loaded site-wide via `tools/seo_inject.py`
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`GA_LINES`).
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## Current state (set 2026-08-30)
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- ✅ **Footer link** ("Add us on Google") is LIVE on every page — a subtle text
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link in `.legal-links`, using the domain deeplink
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`https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=msosorg.com`.
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- ⏸️ **Hub pill button is DISABLED** — `addPill()` is commented out in
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`preferred-source.js` (`init()` only calls `addFooterLink()`).
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## Why the pill is disabled
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`msosorg.com` is **not yet a Google "Top Stories" source**, so the tool returns
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**"No results"** and the button dead-ends. Eligibility requirement (confirmed
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via Google Search Central): the site must already appear in **Top Stories** for
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readers to add it as a preferred source.
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## ▶️ FUTURE TO-DO — re-enable the pill once eligible
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1. Check eligibility: search 3–4 of our news topics on Google; if `msosorg.com`
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appears in a **Top Stories** box, we're eligible.
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2. To get there: publish timely, original news regularly; keep pages indexed;
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add/maintain the publication in **Google Publisher Center**
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(publishercenter.google.com).
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3. Re-enable: in `preferred-source.js`, restore `addPill();` in `init()`
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(uncomment it). Pill renders on homepage / News hub / Blog hub, under the H1.
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4. Verify the deeplink now returns MSOS (no longer "No results").
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## Related (also shipped 2026-08-30)
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- Cookie banner: benefit-led copy + **analytics-only** consent (`consent.js`).
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- **Cloudflare Web Analytics** (cookieless, counts everyone) via `seo_inject.py`.
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- Events structured data: `endDate`/`performer`/`offers` in `event_schema()`.
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