Should you still use Google+ to boost your visibility in Google News?

Why has this statement become outdated?

Google+ has ceased its operations for the general public, making this official recommendation completely inapplicable. Google's social platform, launched with ambition, never managed to compete with Facebook and was permanently shut down.

This statement illustrates a recurring pattern at Google: temporarily favoring its own services in search results. At the time, posting on Google+ provided an additional distribution channel to appear in Google News without going through the traditional inclusion criteria.

What was the mechanism behind this recommendation?

Google+ posts benefited from near-instant indexing and privileged exposure in certain sections of Google News. This integration allowed publishers to partially bypass traditional indexing delays.

The concept of recommended content mentioned by Stacie Chan suggested a distinct highlighting algorithm from the main feed. Google was then testing different ways to mix traditional editorial content with social content.

What lessons remain for current News SEO?

The shutdown of Google+ did not kill the underlying strategic approach. Google Discover has taken on some content recommendation features, with similar eligibility criteria.

Publishers optimizing for Google News must understand that diversifying entry points remains crucial. YouTube, Google Discover, and even Google My Business for local media now serve as the modern equivalents of this strategy.

• Fast indexing remains a major competitive advantage for news content
• Presence on Google platforms continues to influence visibility in the ecosystem
• The Google News inclusion criteria are constantly evolving and require active monitoring
• The notion of recommended content persists through Discover and featured snippets

Does this statement reflect a strategic constant at Google?

Absolutely. Google has always sought to favor its own services in its results, sometimes at the expense of algorithmic neutrality. Google+ is the most glaring example, but we see the same pattern with YouTube, Google Maps, and Google Shopping.

Stacie Chan’s recommendation was clear and direct: use our platform to gain visibility. No ambiguity about the competitive advantage offered. This type of clarity is rare in Google's official communications, which generally prefer to discuss user experience rather than editorial advantages.

What nuances should be added to this approach?

The strategy of relying entirely on a Google platform carries a major risk of dependency. Publishers who heavily invested in Google+ lost that advantage overnight. [To be verified]: no compensation or automatic migration was offered during the shutdown.

The data on the actual impact of Google+ on Google News traffic is virtually non-existent publicly. Google never disclosed specific figures on the click volume generated through this channel. Therefore, it is impossible to retrospectively quantify the effectiveness of this recommendation.

In what cases does this logic still apply today?

For video publishers, YouTube provides a comparable leverage: fast indexing, presence in Google News via video tabs, and cross-recommendations. Optimized YouTube channels regularly appear in news carousels.

Google Discover operates under a similar logic: sites that meet its specific technical criteria (high-resolution images, schema.org Article markup, loading speed) benefit from privileged exposure. Same mechanism, different platform.

What should news sites do concretely today?

Forget Google+, focus on Google Discover and Google News. Signing up for Google News Publisher Center remains essential, but optimizing for Discover can generate comparable or even higher traffic volumes.

Technical criteria are strict: images at least 1200px wide, complete Article schema.org markup with datePublished and dateModified, and impeccable Core Web Vitals. Without these foundations, there is no hope for significant exposure.

What errors should be avoided in News optimization?

Never duplicate content between different Google platforms hoping to multiply appearances. The algorithm detects duplicates and penalizes this practice. An article published on your site is sufficient if the markup is correct.

Also, avoid neglecting content freshness. Google News favors recent news: an article older than 48 hours has little chance of appearing in the main sections. Regular updates with modified dateModified can extend its lifespan.

How do you measure the effectiveness of your News strategy?

Google Search Console offers a specific Discover report that shows impressions and clicks. Utilize this data to identify formats and topics that perform well. The patterns are often counterintuitive.

For classic Google News, track the specific traffic source via UTM parameters or by segmenting news.google.com in Analytics. Compare bounce rates and session durations: News traffic is often less qualified than organic search traffic.

• Register the site in Google News Publisher Center with all relevant sections
• Implement schema.org Article and NewsArticle markup on all eligible content
• Optimize images to reach at least 1200px in width with effective compression
• Monitor Core Web Vitals specifically on article pages
• Publish regularly with consistent frequency to maintain editorial freshness
• Analyze Discover and News performances monthly in Search Console