Google Discover, initially called Google Feed, was launched in 2017 as part of Google’s efforts to provide a more personalized, visual, and mobile-friendly experience. Over time, Google Feed evolved into a powerful platform for discovering content based on user interests.
In this article, we cover everything you need to know about Google Discover and share 5 proven tips to increase your traffic through this platform.
Table of Contents
What is Google Discover?
Google Discover is a news feed that delivers content to users without requiring a search. Its algorithm works similarly to Instagram Explore, Twitter, and Facebook feeds. Available only on mobile devices, Google Discover shows content based on user interests derived from:
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Past searches
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Browser history
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User interests
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Location
To increase your content’s visibility on Google Discover, create content that users find engaging. Google monitors interactions, and if users like your content, it will reappear in their feed.
Which Websites Are Suitable for Google Discover?
Google Discover is not equally effective for all types of businesses. Since Discover has a news-like nature, news websites generally perform better. However, any site can appear on Google Discover if it aligns with user interests.
Blog posts, in particular, are popular content for Google Discover. The highest click-through rates (CTR) are observed in the following categories:
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News: 11%
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Travel: 8%
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E-commerce: 7%
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Entertainment: 4%
How to Display Content on Google Discover
As a content creator, you do not need special settings to appear on Google Discover. If your site is indexed and regularly updated, and your content follows Google Discover policies, it is eligible for the feed.
Key tips for visibility:
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Use high-quality images and videos, as Discover is a visually-driven platform.
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Ensure your website is mobile-friendly, responsive, and fast-loading.
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Create content that engages your target audience and encourages interaction.
5 Tips to Optimize Content for Google Discover
1. Use High-Quality Images
Content can appear with either a small thumbnail or a large image preview. Large images generally generate more clicks and higher CTR.
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Minimum image width: 1200px
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Add the
max-image-preview:largemeta tag in your HTML. -
Consider using AMP for default large image previews.
2. Avoid Clickbait or Exaggerated Content
Google Discover filters content designed to mislead or overhype users. Titles and descriptions must be accurate, relevant, and valuable to your audience.
3. Optimize for the Follow Feature
The Follow button allows users to follow websites. Content from followed sites appears in the Following tab in Discover.
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Currently, the Follow button is available in English for Chrome on Android in the U.S., but Google plans to expand it.
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If your site doesn’t have an RSS or Atom feed, Google will automatically create one.
4. Add Structured Data (Schema)
Structured data helps search engines understand your content. For publishers, using Schema.org increases the chances of appearing in rich results, which also improves visibility in Google Discover.
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Use tools like Google Structured Data Markup Helper to add schema.
5. Follow SEO Best Practices
Entities in SEO help Google categorize content by topics, objects, and interests. Use keyword-rich, contextually relevant content to help Google understand your content’s category and relevance.
How to Check Google Discover Data in Search Console
Google Search Console provides a dedicated Discover performance report. If you don’t see the Discover menu, it means your site hasn’t appeared in Discover yet.
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This section shows impressions and clicks for each URL, not by keyword.
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Analyze which content drives traffic and optimize accordingly.
3 Myths About Google Discover
Myth #1: Only Fresh Content Appears
Discover prefers fresh content, but evergreen content can also perform well if it matches user interests. For example, a travel guide published last year can appear for users planning a trip today.
Myth #2: E-commerce Sites Don’t Work
Google Discover highlights visually valuable content. Educational or visual product content, such as tutorials or videos, can still appear and drive traffic.
Myth #3: Google Discover Only Works in English
Discover supports all Google languages and automatically suggests content in the languages used by users. The feed can be bilingual or trilingual depending on the user.
Conclusion
| No. | Tip | Description | Keyword / SEO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Use High-Quality Images | Large, attractive images increase CTR. Minimum width 1200px and include max-image-preview:large meta tag. |
Google Discover, high-quality images |
| 2 | Avoid Clickbait or Exaggerated Content | Misleading or overly exaggerated content is less likely to appear on Google Discover. | Google Discover, clickbait-free content |
| 3 | Optimize for the Follow Feature | With an RSS or Atom feed, your content can appear in the “Following” tab and users can follow your site. | Google Discover, Follow feature |
| 4 | Add Structured Data (Schema) | Structured data helps Google better understand your content and increases chances of appearing in rich results and Discover. | Google Discover, structured data, Schema |
| 5 | Follow SEO Best Practices | Use context-based keywords and entities to help Google categorize and serve your content to the right audience. | Google Discover, SEO, entities |
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