- By Admin
- 12th January 2025
With the ever-evolving digital landscape, publishers and content creators are looking for every possible opportunity to boost their visibility. One such underutilized avenue is Google Discover. Over the years, Google Discover has become a significant traffic driver, with some publishers even reporting that it sends more visitors than Google Search. So, if you haven’t optimized your site for Google Discover yet, it’s time to get started.
In this article, we will break down everything you need to know about optimizing for Google Discover, from prerequisites to actionable tips. Following these steps can increase your chances of appearing in users’ personalized Discover feeds.
Prerequisites for Getting Featured on Google Discover
Before you dive into optimization techniques, ensure you meet the basic requirements to get your content featured on Google Discover:
- Google Indexing: Your website must be indexed by Google. If it’s not, your content won’t appear on Discover.
- Adherence to Google Content Policies: Ensure your content complies with Google’s Discover-specific policies, which are quite similar to Google News guidelines. This includes standards on original content, transparency, and avoiding misleading practices.
- High-Resolution Images: Images should be clear and high-quality, with a minimum width of 1200 pixels. Pixelated images reduce user experience, affecting your chances of appearing on Discover.
- Clear Dates and Author Information: All articles should include visible bylines, publication dates, and information about the author. This fosters trust and credibility with readers.
- Transparency: Ensure that your site provides clear information about the publisher, publication, and contact details to build user trust.
- Timely Content: Content that’s relevant and up-to-date has a higher chance of appearing in Discover feeds, which prioritize trending and timely stories.
How to Optimize for Google Discover: 7 Actionable Tips
While you cannot directly optimize for Google Discover as you would for Google Search, there are certain practices that can boost your chances of getting featured. Here are seven key strategies:
1. Deliver High-Quality Content
Timeliness is a major factor. Most of the content in Google Discover is fresh, often ranging from one to three days old. However, evergreen content can also gain traction, especially when refreshed and updated.
But the key to standing out in Discover isn’t just timeliness—unique insights matter. Offering a fresh perspective on current trends or covering a different angle on popular topics can help you differentiate your content from others.
2. Include High-Quality Visuals
- Use high-resolution images with a minimum width of 1200 pixels.
- Avoid using logos as the main image.
- Maintain a 16:9 aspect ratio for hero images.
- Add appropriate Alt text and descriptive file names.
- Ensure captions are relevant and detailed.
Visuals improve user engagement, which is vital for being surfaced in Discover.
3. Optimize for Mobile
Google Discover is predominantly mobile-driven, making mobile optimization a non-negotiable. Ensure your website is responsive, fast, and provides a smooth user experience on mobile devices. Prioritize improving Core Web Vitals for better chances of appearing in Discover.
4. Prioritize People-First Content (Helpful Content)
Google’s helpful content update shifted the focus toward content that is user-first. That means content should provide value, solve problems, and enhance the reader’s experience.
Best practices include:
- Clear author bios on articles.
- Secure your site with HTTPS.
- Provide detailed information about the publisher and contributors.
5. Tap Into Buzz-Worthy Topics
Google Discover functions similarly to a social feed, meaning that user engagement plays a huge role in determining which content gets surfaced.
To increase engagement:
- Focus on shareable, trending topics.
- Optimize social buttons for easy sharing.
- Track time spent on articles and bounce rates.
6. Secure a Knowledge Panel for Your Brand
For businesses, securing a Google Knowledge Panel can make a significant impact. Knowledge Panels allow users to follow a brand or entity, sending a clear signal to Google that your content is valuable.
7. Understand Your Google Discover Audience
Google Discover is all about personalization, so understanding your audience’s interests is key.
Use Google Search Console to identify which topics and tags have driven traffic from Discover, then cluster this information to gain deeper insights into your audience’s interests.
Final Thoughts: Stay Ahead of Google Discover Trends
Google Discover is rapidly evolving, incorporating new content formats like short-form videos and interactive media such as polls and quizzes. Keeping up with these trends and optimizing your content accordingly can give you a competitive edge.
By focusing on user engagement, optimizing mobile performance, and creating high-quality, helpful content, you can significantly boost your chances of appearing on Google Discover and driving valuable traffic to your website.
Stay informed about the latest updates in Google Discover by subscribing to us and keep refining your strategies to maximize your reach in this growing traffic channel.
