Google Preferred Sources

The Google Preferred Sources block lets readers start Google’s flow to add your site as a preferred source. It is available in the free version of WP Recipe Maker.

Google explains that selecting a preferred source can make its content appear more often in a reader’s Top Stories results when it is relevant. Before adding the button, check that your site appears in Google’s source preferences tool. Only sites at the domain or subdomain level are eligible, rather than individual recipes or subdirectories. See Google’s publisher guide for current eligibility and availability details.

Adding the Button to a Recipe Template

1. Go to WP Recipe Maker > Template Editor and edit the recipe template you want to change.
2. Click Add Blocks, then choose Google Preferred Sources in the Integrations group.
3. Position the block where you want the button to appear and choose its Display Mode.
4. Save the template and check the button on a public recipe page using that template.

The button uses the site’s domain, so you do not enter a recipe URL or Google API key. WP Recipe Maker loads Google’s Preferred Sources library on public pages where the button appears, including when you use the custom display mode.

Button Options

• Display Mode: Official Google Button is the default. Choose Custom WPRM Button to match your recipe card’s design.
• Theme: For the official button, choose Light (the default) or Dark.
• Language: For the official button, leave this blank to use the reader’s browser language, or enter a supported language code such as en. Google’s publisher guide links to its supported language codes.
• Custom Button: Choose Text, Button, Inline Button (the default) or Full Width Button. Customize the icon, text, text style, colors, padding, border and corner radius. The default text is “Add to Preferred Sources”.

The Template Editor shows a preview without loading Google’s flow. Test on a public page to check the actual button. It is omitted from print output and AMP pages.

Using the Shortcode

The block uses [wprm-google-preferred-sources]. You can also add it to a WordPress Shortcode block outside a recipe card. Use the Shortcode Generator on the WP Recipe Maker > Template Editor page to build it with your preferred options.

For the official button with its default light theme and automatic language:

[wprm-google-preferred-sources]

For a custom inline button:

[wprm-google-preferred-sources display_mode="custom" style="inline-button" text="Add to Preferred Sources"]

See Recipe Shortcodes for more about using WPRM shortcodes outside templates.

Tracking Clicks

WP Recipe Maker tracks clicks on both button styles as Google Preferred Sources Button (google-preferred-sources-button) in Recipe Analytics. Enable local tracking and place the button inside a recipe card to associate clicks with that recipe.

With Google Analytics 4 Event Tracking, the event name is wprm_google_preferred_sources_button. GA can also track a standalone button outside a recipe card when WPRM’s frontend scripts are loaded on that page. Google Analytics must already be loaded through gtag.js.

A tracked click does not confirm that the reader completed Google’s flow or added your site. Readers manage their own selection in Google; see Google’s Preferred Sources help for those steps.