Google’s “Top Stories” Now Favors Preferred Sources: What This Means for Your Local SEO Strategy — In a recent update to its search interface, Google has made a quiet but significant change to how news content appears in its Top Stories section. For businesses and brands, this shift highlights the increasing importance of establishing trust and authority online—especially when it comes to Local SEO.
This update is just one example of how Google continues to refine its ranking systems to better serve user intent and showcase reliable content. And it’s also one of the many factors MILE Social considers when building effective Local SEO strategies for businesses.
What’s Changing in Google’s “Top Stories” Feature?
Traditionally, Google’s “Top Stories” carousel included a rotating mix of articles from various sources based on relevance and freshness. However, recent tests—and now a broader rollout—show that Google is beginning to prioritize “preferred sources” in this news feature.
Instead of rotating multiple outlets, some users are seeing Top Stories populated only by a small number of trusted or authoritative publishers, often with consistent placements and less variation.
While this initially appears most relevant to news organizations, the implications for all businesses—especially local ones—are clear: Google is placing greater weight on trusted content sources across all areas of search.
Why Trust and Authority Matter More Than Ever
This shift aligns with Google’s ongoing emphasis on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)—a concept that governs how content quality is assessed. When Google recognizes a site as a reliable and knowledgeable source in its field, it’s more likely to favor that content across all types of search results—not just news.
For local businesses, this means that investing in reputation, review management, and authoritative content creationis more than just good branding—it directly affects visibility in search. If your business is frequently cited, well-reviewed, and produces consistent, high-quality content, you are more likely to be treated as a “preferred source” in your local niche.
How MILE Social Helps Local Businesses Build Authority
At MILE Social, we specialize in helping businesses become visible and trusted within their communities. This includes strategies like:
- Publishing locally relevant content on your website and Google Business Profile
- Building citation and directory listings to reinforce your business’s presence and consistency across the web
- Encouraging and managing reviews to build trust and signal quality to Google
- Optimizing your Google Business Profile to maximize visibility in map and local results
- Monitoring local news and trends so your content stays timely and relevant
These efforts help establish your business as a reliable source in your industry and location—something Google’s evolving algorithm is increasingly prioritizing.
Stay Ahead with MILE Social’s Local SEO Expertise
As Google continues to evolve, businesses must adapt to remain visible. The move toward preferred sources in Top Stories is one more sign that trust and authority are key components of modern SEO.
MILE Social offers a wide range of Local SEO services designed to help small businesses and multi-location brands stay competitive. From technical optimization to reputation management, our team understands how to build your presence in a way that meets both Google’s standards and your customers’ needs.
Ready to become your industry’s preferred local source? Contact MILE Social today for a customized Local SEO strategy built to grow your visibility, credibility, and conversions.
