What are the ranking factors for "Google News"? How can we compete?

[betnl]

We have a few sport news websites that are picked up by Google News.

Once in a blue moon, one of our articles ranks for a great keyword and shows in one of the 3 listings that Google News has in SERPS.

Any tips on how we can we optimise more of our articles to compete in these 3 positions?

[ClaudioHeilborn]

Hi Betnl

By any chance have you read anything about standout meta?

Read this relatively old link, now google news is getting hot, so have a look on this and then you can get deeper on the subject.

By the way, never EVER over use this feature!

https://support.google.com/news/publisher/answer/191283?hl=es

Hope it works

Cheers from southern sunny spain!

[Andy.Drinkwater]

Have you thought about becoming a Google news publisher? This page will give you a load of information on how you can do this to ensure that news is more readily picked up and used.

https://support.google.com/news/publisher/?hl=en#topic=4359865

-Andy

[betnl]

Thanks for your answers so far! But I was hoping to get a better answer than a support.google.com link

[ClaudioHeilborn]

Hi Betnl, its really diffiicult to help you if you do not tell us how much you know about this issue. Your question was generic, without to much specification, and the answer was in this same line.

Sorry to dissapoint you with the answer  I guess that Andy and myself where just trying to give you a hint.

If your question is more precise, maybe we, or somebody that knows more than me at least, can give you some further assistance.

Invest more time in your question and probably you will find some more deep answers that go directly to the point you are looking for.

Hope you can find the answer you are looking for!

Cheers!

[Andy.Drinkwater]

Well, if you don't fancy trying to become a Google news publisher (it is pretty easy to do), then there is no guaranteed way to ensure that you are going to get a spot in one of the first 3 listings, or included at all.

This is going to be based on a number of factors, such as relevance to the search query, freshness of the article, how many others have written about this before you (if any) and if you are actually seen as a reputable news source.

I have only set others up to become news sources in the past, so can't offer any additional insights to this, but happy to take a peek at one of your articles to see if I can offer further help?

-Andy

[betnl]

Hi Andy, thanks again for your response!

To get listed in Google News, you need to be a publisher. We are publishers, I am just looking for tips on the best optimisation tactics.

You are right it is based on a number of factors, I think its 732 Do you know any of the secret ones that are not common knowledge or ones not listed on the support.google.com site?

[betnl]

Hi Claudio, thanks again for your response!

Sorry, this was my first Moz question and its my bad thinking this isnt a newbie Q&A type forum. I should have been more detailed in my questioning.

Thanks for your advice, I will keep that in mind if I ask another question in the future!

[Andy.Drinkwater]

I had heard it was 733, and that final one is the secret!

Do you want to share an example article here, or PM me a link over? Without seeing one, I don't know what you do an don't have in there. For example something as simple as a correct / acceptable news layout, cited sources to back the article up, etc.

-Andy

[katemorris]

Did Andy get the answer you needed? It sounds like everything has been taken care of but I wanted to be sure.