If you don't yet know what Google Discover is or how to fully utilize the Google app, this publication is for you! We'll start with some basic information, especially useful right after installing the Google app, and then we'll give you some more insights for more experienced users. See if we'll cover any new topics you haven't heard before! Finally, we'll summarize for those who enjoy reading backwards. Enjoy!
What is Google discover?
Google Discover (until 2018, Google Feed) offers high-quality content that actively adapts to user interests, displaying relevant content and the latest data. For many, it's a reliable source of the latest news from around the world.
How is Google discover different from Google search?
The difference between Discover and Google Search is that the search engine responds to a user's search query by displaying results (SERPs – Search Engine Result Pages), while Google Discover automatically suggests personalized content. Google Discover is based on a dedicated algorithm that uses user information such as:
- location history,
- browser search history,
- interaction and engagement on individual websites,
- “my activity” from other Google services (e.g. gmail, contacts, photos, calendar, maps, notes).
After processing the collected information, the system tries to reach the Internet user in the best possible way by creating a dedicated content package in the form of:
(The rest of the article can be found below the form)
- articles,
- news from around the world,
- match results (also live),
- guides,
- curiosities,
- video materials,
- warnings and alerts, e.g. IMWM.
This is also where the Discover service differs from Google News. The evergreen content provided to users doesn't come solely from news outlets, nor is it just breaking news. These pages can present content in various ways, with a range of topics and page titles "sorted." This approach utilizes artificial intelligence to help target internet users' interests.
Google discover card – what does it contain?
Evergreen content, live scores, notifications, and news. The Discover tab consists of a headline, an image, and information about the source and origin of the article targeted at users. On a standard-sized smartphone screen, users typically see two news stories. Swiping down brings up the next one. Each piece of news can be marked with a heart (to receive more such notifications and increase the chances of staying up to date), shared, or described as uninteresting, allowing the service to be even more tailored to your needs.
How do I enable Google Discover and customize my Discover tab?
The Discover card service is available to users:
- in the Google app,
- in the browser on your Android phone or tablet,
- in some devices, you just need to swipe right when you are on the home screen.
Google discover – good to know…
A very useful feature in Discover is that it tailors the information displayed to the user's interests , without having to search for it. The service allows you to select notifications and exclude unwanted posts or sources.
How to customize your Discover tab? It's simple. If you have "web and app activity" enabled on your smartphone (by clicking your profile picture or initial in the Google app and entering "Your data in search"), search for "Settings" -> Feeds and Interests -> Your interests. There, you can check the list created by Google and modify it as you wish.
What determines a website's visibility in Google Discover?
Google states that to be eligible for inclusion in Discover, you must adhere to a few key points related to its core principles. Content on your site must comply with its content policy, which prohibits:
- misleading the user, including through manipulation,
- promoting hatred, violence, cruelty, terrorism,
- using profanity,
- creating a sexually explicit context,
- creating medical content.
The activities listed above are strictly prohibited, which is no surprise. Any self-respecting website wouldn't allow its reputation to be damaged by creating prohibited content. So what should you focus on to build a competitive advantage and gain a presence on the Discover card?
Show only valuable and interesting content!
We've prepared a practical checklist with tips to help you review or modify the steps discussed. Analyze the most important guidelines and see if your website is ready to generate traffic from this feature in your Google account!
Responsiveness and speed of the home page
In Poland, Google Discover is designed for mobile devices only. Therefore, a smartphone-friendly website is essential. Be aware of the most common errors that can lower a website's responsiveness algorithm score:
- content wider than the screen,
- small font that makes the text difficult to read,
- clickable elements too close together.
Speed is equally important . It's one of the most important factors that impacts your website's performance, not only for Discover, but also for Google robots and, most importantly, for users!
Do you know that…
Nearly 70% of customers admit that slow website load times influence their decisions to continue using the site. Regardless of the high-quality content and information you provide on a given topic, Discover tools require that it be served quickly to determined users!
Google Search Console, which you can connect your Google account to, will highlight any errors . Simply click "Mobile Usability" or "Core Web Vitals" in the left-hand menu. The tool will highlight any issues related to responsiveness or page load speed. AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) technology can also be useful; more information can be found on the official website: https://amp.dev/
How do you create content that Google Discover will find valuable?
It sounds trivial, but content creators know that this is probably the most difficult thing to accomplish. Building reliable content that 's targeted to a specific audience is a long-term process. Google values valuable and credible content that follows trends and established themes, and isn't copied from other portals. It definitely can't be a wall of text that no one will read through.
Rich and original content will include:
- insightful analyses,
- reports confirmed by research,
- interesting conclusions and summaries,
- infographics,
- quotations,
- correct style, grammar and punctuation,
- structured content – descriptive title, subheadings, paragraphs, bullet points.
To be featured in Google Discover, it's worth creating evergreen content on your website—consistent content that regularly brings new users to your site. This content rarely goes out of date and will always be useful to a given audience. It can include:
- industry articles,
- guides,
- frequently asked questions and answers (FAQ),
- product descriptions.
Will the content appear on your website? That doesn't mean the work is over! Content published online can be slightly modified from time to time, with new content or original photos added if we feel it 's outdated and we're struggling to generate traffic. However, we shouldn't stray from the topic, change the URL, or use it on other sites.
Generate a high EAT score
Experience, authority, and credibility , or EAT (Expertise-Authoritativeness-Trustworthiness), are three online metrics that the Google algorithm pays significant attention to, especially in the Discover feature. What exactly do they mean? They refer to the trust built among web crawlers and users for the entire website. These metrics include factors such as:
- the length of the website's existence and the positive history of the domain,
- the growing popularity of the site,
- encryption of customer data, i.e. security measures such as SSL,
- operational reliability (rare errors caused by servers),
- frequent content updates.
It can be seen that the above factors are a must-have for every website also in terms of SEO.
The EAT indicator also applies to authors, who must be verified in at least several posts and recognized as experts in their field . Reviews from people who use the site and generate views can help with this assessment. Therefore, it's worth providing the opportunity to comment or rate the article (using stars from 1 to 5).
It is worth strengthening the credibility of the materials you create by adding the date of the entry, the name and surname of the author (along with a short description of his activity).
Make sure the title reflects the essence of the content
The title is one of the most important elements of every article, guide, or news story. Importantly, it's heavily weighted by search engine crawlers. While it's advisable to use keywords in titles for SEO , it's not recommended for Discover. According to official Google recommendations, it shouldn't evoke extreme emotions, such as morbid curiosity, excitement, or outrage. Simply put, avoid clickbait and create titles that reflect the content.
Content promotion across various channels
If you're also active on social media , try to select the most interesting and best articles to promote. Linking or sharing your post across multiple channels will help you reach a larger audience. Google's algorithm will certainly recognize this and may consider your content even more valuable, displaying it, for example, in the Discover tab.
Prepare dedicated graphics
Another crucial element in achieving visibility in Google Discover is appropriate visuals. The Mountain View giant recommends including high-resolution images (at least 1200 pixels wide) in your content. You'll need to use the max-image-preview:large setting or AMP technology.
Remember…
An original photo taken by the website owner that is relevant to the content will be rated much better than a random photo from free stock portals or using the website's logo as an image.
Why are graphics so important? The answer can be found in the Discover tab. Images take up the vast majority of the screen on any phone.
Meeting these guidelines should ensure your website resonates with users and appears on Discover. However, there's no 100% surefire way to get there. Trends are highly volatile and dynamic, requiring knowledge and a bit of luck. It's worth using tools like Google Trends, Senuto, or Semstorm to stay up-to-date.
Remember that paying attention to the above tips and adapting your website content to the user's needs is the path you must follow.
How to check Google Discover traffic statistics?
The traffic from Google Discover that a website generates can be checked in a free tool – Google Search Console.
Once your site is connected to GSC and meets the minimum impression threshold for this feature, a new option should appear in the left menu under "Performance" called "Discover."
As you can see in the GSC example, the site gained traffic through valuable articles that appeared in Google's search results. Below the graph, you can see which articles generated clicks and impressions.
Is it worth fighting for visibility on Google Discover?
It's definitely worth fighting for content that aligns with a user's interests. The Discover feature is one of Google's most advanced services. Internet users use it for free, receiving personalized news, guides, and other useful materials tailored to their interests and level of knowledge.
Google Discover is a product focused on user needs and clearly demonstrates the policy pursued by the Mountain View giant for the coming years. The pursuit of universal and verified information is crucial, hence the introduction of certain restrictions related to the nature of the content.
Websites that engage internet users with their content have a greater chance of appearing on the Discover tab , gaining valuable traffic and a broader base of new customers. To achieve this, it's crucial to ensure a responsive website, original graphics, and attention to EAT metrics. Be patient, and you'll surely be pleased with the results!
Google Discover FAQs
This service is designed primarily for mobile devices. A personalized stream of Discover Card content appears on the home screens of some devices, when you open a browser with the Google app on your phone or tablet, and when you launch the app on the Android operating system.
The service strictly enforces its policy and does not display material that violates these guidelines. Content containing profanity, pornography, inciting violence, spreading hatred, or misleading the user (manipulative content of any kind) is prohibited. Displaying medical articles is also prohibited.
Absolutely. If a website isn't properly optimized for smartphones, it loses visibility. It's worth eliminating issues like text that's too small or content and images that extend beyond the screen width. Including a large image (at least 1200 pixels wide) is also essential.
An article shouldn't overwhelm the internet user with a gigantic "wall of text." The content should be divided into logical sections, supported by quotes, among other things, and grammatically correct. The title should absolutely not be flashy "clickbait" that shocks the reader—it should clearly state what the content is about. Unlike SEO efforts, it doesn't have to rely on unnatural keyword stuffing.
In short, it's a measure of the author's authority, credibility, and expertise, as well as the domain itself. For this metric to be highly rated, texts should not be anonymous. It's important to provide information about the publication date and the author (name and surname or at least a short author's note). The website itself should be secure, stable, and trustworthy.
While Discover is known for serving up news, creating evergreen content is an equally good idea. Thoughtful, periodically updated content like this can drive desired traffic for years and gain traction with both users and search engines. These can include comprehensive lists, user manuals, descriptions, or pre-prepared questions and answers.
Summary
The above article covers the following topics:
- Google Discover is a service that delivers personalized content based on your location history, searches, website interactions, and activity across other Google services.
- The Discover tab includes articles, news, match results, guides, videos and alerts with headlines, graphics, source information and publication date.
- Discover is available in the Google app and browser on Android devices.
- Visibility on Discover requires compliance with content policies and valuable content.
- The website must be mobile responsive and load quickly.
- Valuable content includes analyses, reports, infographics, quotes, correct styling, and evergreen content such as guides and FAQs.
- A high EAT (Experience, Authority, Credibility) index is built on domain longevity, SSL, frequent updates and verified authors as experts.
- The title should reflect the essence of the content without clickbait or evoking extreme emotions, and keywords are not as important here as in SEO.
- Promoting content on social media and linking articles increases their value in the eyes of the Google algorithm and their chances of visibility in Discover.
- Graphics must be at least 1200 pixels wide, original photos are ranked higher than stock photos or website logos.
- You can check your Discover traffic statistics in Google Search Console under “Performance” once you have reached the minimum number of impressions.
- The fight for visibility on Discover is worthwhile because the service delivers personalized content to millions of users and generates valuable website traffic.
