Publishers can now opt-in to having their content featured in the new Search live coverage carousel, a pilot project from Google. Participating in the project will allow publishers to expedite the process of having their content surfaced by Google. The live coverage carousel will feature content such as live blogs, full length articles, videos, and more.
In addition to opting in to the pilot project via the form found here, there are several requirements that your content needs to meet before it’s eligible to be featured in the new live coverage carousel.
Requirements for Being Featured in Google’s Search Live Coverage Carousel
AMP Content Only
Only content published using Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) will be considered for inclusion in the carousel. For more information about AMP, including how to use it for your WordPress content, please see this article.
Structured Data Markup
Content published using AMP must also include structured data markup, which helps Google understand the context around a piece of content. This will allow Google to display an accurate preview in the carousel. For more information about how to implement structured data markup, please see help guide.
Push Content With an Atom XML Feed
Sending content to Google’s live coverage carousel requires the use of an HTTP POST request in an Atom XML feed. This will allow Google to index the content as soon as it hits the web. Google has been recommending Atom XML feeds for optimal crawling since October 2014.
If your content meets the above requirements, you can express interest in having your content featured in the live carousel using this form.
H/T: Aaron Bradley
