Once you have submitted your form, you’ll receive an e-mail from Google requesting a response. Take this opportunity to address the Google News guidelines. In this way, you show Google that you have related to them, taken them into account, and carried out the necessary optimizations. In your response, make sure you pay attention to the following points:
- Follow the Google News guidelines closely and make sure you comply with them.
- Link to a page where your team of writers is introduced, and to your copyright & legal notices page if present on your website – this will help fulfill the accountability and transparency requirement as set out in the guidelines.
- Explain your website structure concisely. Show Google News that you have a functioning /news-URL with running IDs, and therefore no obstacles to Google’s web crawler.
- Ensure that journalistic standards are adhered to.
- Also, make it clear that your offering delivers valuable, original content instead of just sharing news items such as weather reports or soccer scores.
Once you have sent your reply, you’ll receive an active ticket from Google News. You’ll then have to be patient for about one to two months. During this time, it’s important that your website continues to do what you promised in the response – the regular publication of good content. Only then will you have a chance of getting into Google News. Google will contact you with either an acceptance into the Google News group, or a rejection. If you receive a rejection, you can start a new registration procedure after 60 days – just keep writing and publishing good news articles!
Google does not have to justify a rejection and is not able to support you individually. However, certain help forums for publishers on the internet may be useful. In Google's own forum, find experts who sometimes voluntarily check websites for Google News guidelines and identify possible reasons for rejection.
It’s quite common to be rejected by Google News at first. This is simply due to the enormous competition in this field, and the wealth of good news sites. As a result, the service's requirements and guidelines have become increasingly strict over the years. So, it’s important to be aware that getting into Google News means a lot of effort and possibly several attempts. But managing to submit your website to Google News successfully will mean a wider readership and ultimately higher chances of success on the web.