Google Preferred Sources: A New Way to Increase Your Visibility in Search and AI Results

Want your organization’s content to appear more prominently in Google Search, AI Overviews, and AI Mode when people are looking for information related to your expertise?

Google recently introduced expanded support for Preferred Sources, giving users a way to tell Google which websites they want to see more often.

It is not a magic shortcut to the top of every search result. But it is a direct signal from your audience:

“I trust this source and want to see more from them.”

According to Google’s announcement, Preferred Sources are now coming to AI Overviews and AI Mode, and selected sources can be clearly labeled in AI responses.

Google also says that any website that publishes fresh content is eligible.

That last part matters.

Fresh Content Matters

Google notes that sources that are not updated regularly may be unavailable.

In plain English: if your website rarely publishes helpful updates, stories, articles, guides, events, or resources, Google may not see it as an active source worth recommending.

In the example below, one of Locable’s recent articles was:

• Featured directly in an AI Overview
• Marked as a Preferred Source
• Shown prominently in regular search results
• Rewarded, in part, because it was fresh and relevant

This is the bigger lesson: search is not only about keywords and technical SEO anymore.

Google is increasingly trying to understand which sources people trust, which content is useful, and which websites are actively publishing information worth showing.

How to Add a Preferred Source

For example, if you like practical local marketing tips like this, you can add Locable as a Preferred Source here:

https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=locable.com

Go ahead. It is a good chance to see how the feature works before asking your own audience to do the same.

You can add a website as a Preferred Source using this format:

https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=yourwebsite.com

Just replace yourwebsite.com with the domain you want to add.

Google also provides documentation for website owners with more details.

What to Do If Your Site Does Not Appear

If your site does not show up as an available source, the fix is probably not a trick.

You likely need to publish more fresh, useful, indexable content.

That could include:

• Local guides
• Business spotlights
• Event updates
• Community stories
• Frequently asked questions
• Helpful how-to articles
• Member or customer features
• Timely announcements

This is exactly why Locable puts practical content creation at the center of our platform.

Our Marketing 3-4-5™ marketing plans are woven into Locable accounts through our new Marketing Assistant, with how-to guidance and step-by-step worksheets to help even busy business owners create useful content quickly.

You can see more about those updates here:

New Local Marketing Plans, Content Worksheets, and Platform Updates in Locable

The Takeaway

Preferred Sources is a small feature with a big message.

Google is giving people more control over which websites they see in Search and AI results.

That means your audience matters more than ever.

The organizations that consistently publish helpful content, earn trust, and stay active online are more likely to benefit as Google continues evolving search.

So yes, create your Preferred Source link.

But more importantly, give people a reason to use it.