Google Preferred Sources Button for WordPress – 40+ Custom Styles
Invite your readers to choose your site as a Preferred Source on Google. Use Google's official button or one of 40+ custom designs, place it automatically in 12 spots, and control exactly where it shows. No code, no API key.
Official button or 40+ custom styles
Button on your post
What Is Google Preferred Sources?
Google Preferred Sources is a Google Search feature that lets readers pick the websites they want to see more of. When a reader selects your site, your content is more likely to appear in their Top Stories with a "preferred" badge. The badge can also appear in AI Mode and AI Overviews for readers who chose you (Google Search Central).
The catch: readers have to know the option exists. Most will never find the star icon next to Top Stories on their own. A clear button on your site is how you ask them.
Preferred Sources by the numbers
Google says readers are twice as likely to click through to a site after marking it as a Preferred Source (Google, Apr 2026)
Readers had selected more than 600,000 unique sources by August 2026 (PPC Land)
Top Stories Preferred Sources works in every language where Google Search is offered (Google Search Central)
Is my site eligible?
Only domain-level and subdomain-level sites that already appear in Google's source preferences tool can be selected. For example, example.com and news.example.com qualify, but example.com/blog does not. The plugin creates the button and link for you; Google decides eligibility.
Everything You Need to Add a Preferred Sources Button
Official Google button or 40+ custom styles
Use Google's official interactive button, or pick from 40+ ready-made designs: hero cards, pills, outlines, gradients, banners and badges. Custom styles link straight to Google's Preferred Sources page without loading Google's script.
12 automatic placements
Show the button at the start, middle or end of articles, below the post meta, around the table of contents, below the featured image, in the sidebar, above comments or in a floating corner. Turn on several at once. Post meta, table of contents and sidebar spots are found automatically.
A floating button that waits
Keep a button in a corner of the screen as readers scroll. Show it right away, after a time delay, or once readers scroll a set distance, so it appears when they're engaged.
Text that fits every screen
Write your own button label, add your site name with the {site_name} tag, and add a short line of supporting text shown always, on hover or behind an info icon. Use shorter text on mobile and longer text on desktop.
A design that matches your brand
Set the text, background and tooltip colors, the border or fill, corner radius, font size and icon. A live desktop and mobile preview shows every change before it goes live.
Show it only where it belongs
Choose the content types that show the button, including posts, pages, archives and search results. Turn it on or off per post, exclude posts, pages or categories, and bulk-update existing posts.
Manual placement when you want it
Add the button anywhere with the Gutenberg block, the [kmpsbg_preferred_source_button] shortcode or the sidebar widget.
Light and cache-friendly
Custom styles don't load Google's script, front-end files load only when the button is on, and saving settings automatically clears page cache in WP Rocket, W3 Total Cache, WP Super Cache and LiteSpeed Cache.
40+ Button Styles
Pick a style family, then fine-tune the colors and text until it feels native to your site.
Hero cards
Active PreviewStyles: Dark, Light, Blue, Soft grey, Floating, Frosted glass, Editorial serif, Luxe dark
Pills and chips
ViewStyles: Dark pill, Compact pill, Duo pill, Toolbar pill, Accent chip, Small tag
Minimal and outline
ViewStyles: Quiet minimal, Soft outline, Bold outline, Material outline, Minimal underline, Ghost / glass, Inline text link, Bordered card
Gradients
ViewStyles: Gradient card, Aurora, Sunset, Gradient ring, Rainbow border card, Dark rainbow card
Banners and panels
ViewStyles: Banner strip, Split bar, Stacked promo panel, Icon panel card, Accent rail
Badges and CTAs
ViewStyles: Google-style light badge, Follow button, Soft CTA, Neon edge, Icon bubble, Elevated card, Custom solid button
Prefer the real thing? Switch to Google's official interactive button with one click.
Selected Family: Hero cards
* Custom styles link straight to Google's Preferred Sources page without loading Google's script.
12 Places to Show Your Button
| Placement | Where the button appears |
|---|---|
| Beginning of article | Near the start of the article content |
| Middle of article | After a paragraph you choose |
| End of article | After the article content |
| Below post meta | Under the author, date and read-time line |
| Above table of contents | Before a detected table of contents |
| Below table of contents | After a detected table of contents |
| Below featured image | Under the featured image |
| After first heading | After the first heading in the article |
| Sidebar, below sharing | Below the "Share this article" box |
| End of sidebar | Near the end of the sidebar |
| Above comments | Before the comments section |
| Floating corner | A fixed corner of the screen while scrolling |
Detection depends on your theme. If a spot isn't found, use the block, shortcode or widget instead.
How It Works
1. Install the free plugin
Install KudoMetrics Google Preferred Sources Button from WordPress.org and activate it.
2. Choose your button
Open Settings → Preferred Source. Pick Google's official button or a custom style, set your text and colors, and check the live preview.
3. Choose where it appears
Turn on the button, pick your content types and select one or more placements. Add a floating button if you want one.
4. Readers choose you on Google
A reader clicks the button, Google's Preferred Sources page opens for your site, and they confirm the selection with Google.
Manual Placement When You Want It
Add the button anywhere with the Gutenberg block, shortcode or sidebar widget.
Default Shortcode
Place the button anywhere in your content, sidebar, or template.
[kmpsbg_preferred_source_button]Dark Style with Center Alignment
Ideal for night-mode layouts, dark themes, or callout cards.
[kmpsbg_preferred_source_button style="dark" align="center"]Custom Label Shortcode
Specify custom action text directly within the shortcode tag.
[kmpsbg_preferred_source_button text="Follow us on Google"]KudoMetrics vs Adding Google's Code by Hand
Google provides the official button code (light or dark), a direct link and button images, but you add them to your theme yourself. Anything beyond that takes custom development.
| What you need | Google's code by hand | KudoMetrics plugin |
|---|---|---|
| Official Google button | ✓ Add the script and tag to your theme | ✓ One click |
| Custom button designs | Build your own with code, or use Google's images | ✓ 40+ ready-made styles |
| Placement in articles | Edit theme files | ✓ 12 automatic placements |
| Floating button with triggers | Custom development | ✓ Time delay or scroll trigger |
| Desktop and mobile text | Custom development | ✓ Built in |
| Per-post rules and exclusions | Custom development | ✓ Built in |
| Cost | Free | Free |
Who It's For
News publishers and magazines
Turn daily readers into preferred-source selections, so your stories are more likely to surface in their Top Stories.
Bloggers and niche sites
Give your most loyal readers a one-click way to see more of your content in Google Search.
Agencies and developers
Add a consistent, brand-matched Preferred Sources button across client sites without writing custom code.
Plugin Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.7.46 |
| Requires WordPress | 6.0 or higher |
| Tested up to | 7.1.3 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 or higher |
| Price | Free |
| Shortcode | [kmpsbg_preferred_source_button] |
| Get it | WordPress.org plugin directory |
Frequently Asked Questions
Let Your Readers Choose You on Google
Add a Preferred Sources button that fits your brand and shows up in the right places. Free, no code, no API key.
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Disclaimer: KudoMetrics Google Preferred Sources Button is an independent WordPress plugin and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Google. Google and related trademarks are the property of their respective owners. The plugin does not guarantee search rankings, traffic or inclusion in Google Search features.