Google Discover is a personalized content feed that uses machine learning to recommend articles, videos, and other content based on a user’s interests and browsing history.
It does not rely on traditional keyword-based searches but focuses on content relevance and user engagement.
While Google Discover is not a search engine, it can significantly contribute to your website’s SEO strategy and overall visibility. Here’s how:
1. Increased Traffic and Visibility
- Content Appearance in Discover: High-quality, engaging, and relevant content can appear in Google Discover, driving significant traffic to your website without users having to search for specific terms.
- Wider Reach: It showcases your content to users who might not have otherwise found it through traditional search queries.
2. Boosts Brand Awareness
- Frequent Impressions: Repeatedly featuring in Discover can increase your brand visibility and establish authority in your niche.
- Recognition: Regular users seeing your content might recognize your brand, which can improve trust and credibility.
3. Engagement Metrics Impact SEO
- User Engagement: Discover prioritizes content with higher engagement, such as clicks, time spent on the page, and shares. These metrics indirectly benefit your website’s SEO as they signal content quality to Google.
- Reduced Bounce Rates: If your content keeps users engaged, it can contribute to better overall site performance metrics.
4. Focus on E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
- High-Quality Content: Content that meets Google’s E-A-T guidelines is more likely to appear in Discover, as Google ensures users see reliable and authoritative information.
- Credible Sources: Linking to trusted sites and having author profiles boosts your content’s authority.
5. Image Optimization
- High-Quality Visuals: Google Discover heavily features content with captivating images, so optimizing images (e.g., proper dimensions, file size, alt text) can improve your chances of being featured.
- Featured Images: Content with large, visually appealing images performs better in Discover.
6. Mobile-First Design
- Since Discover is primarily accessed through mobile devices, ensuring your website is mobile-friendly and loads quickly is critical for appearing in the feed.
7. Fresh and Evergreen Content
- Timely Updates: Publishing fresh, relevant content on trending topics can help your site gain traction on Discover.
- Evergreen Value: Content that remains relevant over time can continue appearing in Discover for extended periods.
8. Leverage Structured Data
- Schema Markup: Using structured data like Article schema helps Google better understand your content, which may improve its chances of being featured in Discover.
9. Localization
- Localized content tailored to specific geographic audiences can improve visibility for region-specific users in Discover.
Best Practices for Leveraging Google Discover for SEO:
- Focus on High-Quality Content: Write user-centric, engaging articles.
- Optimize Headlines and Titles: Use attention-grabbing titles without being clickbaity.
- Use AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages): AMP can enhance page speed, improving Discover performance.
- Improve Site Performance: A fast, responsive site improves user experience.
- Monitor Discover Traffic: Use Google Search Console to analyze your Discover performance.
Although ranking in Google Discover doesn’t directly affect search engine rankings, the resulting increase in traffic, brand recognition, and engagement metrics can significantly enhance your overall SEO efforts.