Google gives publishers a new way to fight AI-driven traffic losses
techcrunch ·
Google introduced a new interactive "Preferred Sources" button that publishers can embed on their websites, allowing readers to mark them as favorite sources to be highlighted more often in Google Search, Discover, and Google News. This follows an earlier May rollout of Preferred Sources to Google's AI experiences like AI Mode and AI Overviews, with the option previously available in Top Stories. By May, over 345,000 unique sources had been selected via this method. Google stated that becoming a preferred source can drive more traffic, as people are twice as likely to click through when a preferred source is available. The company is offering these tools to help publishers cope with traffic losses caused by AI-powered search features. Additionally, readers will soon be able to customize their Discover feed in the Google app using natural language commands via a three-dot menu. Android users will also be able to personalize their audio daily briefings in the Google News app. This move aligns with a broader trend of social media apps introducing user-controlled algorithms for content tuning.
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