How To Get Your Content Into Google Discover

Google Discover provides an opportunity for websites to reach readers without waiting for them to search for specific information. It recommends content based on users' interests and activities, helping publishers attract additional traffic from Google's platforms.

Getting content into Google Discover can increase visibility and introduce articles to new audiences. However, appearing in Discover is not guaranteed, even when a website follows Google's recommendations.

What Is Google Discover?

Google Discover is a personalised content feed that displays articles, news, videos and other information based on users' interests. It is available through the Google app, the Google homepage on some mobile devices and other Google surfaces.

Unlike traditional Google Search, where users enter queries to find information, Discover automatically recommends content that may interest them. Its recommendations can include recent publications as well as older articles that remain relevant.

How Google Discover Works

Google Discover uses information from users' Google activity and interests to recommend content. These recommendations may reflect topics people follow, their previous searches and their interactions with content across Google services.

The feed changes as users' interests develop. This means a website's articles may appear in Discover when Google's systems determine that the content is relevant to particular users.

Google does not require publishers to submit individual articles to Discover. Content that is indexed by Google and meets its content policies is automatically eligible for consideration. However, eligibility does not guarantee that an article will appear.

How To Get Your Content Into Google Discover

Although publishers cannot directly control which articles appear in Google Discover, following Google's recommendations can improve the quality and suitability of their content.

Here are important practices to consider.

1. Publish Original and Helpful Content

Create original articles that provide useful information rather than simply repeating what other websites have published.

Focus on answering readers' needs with accurate details, meaningful explanations and relevant insights. Avoid publishing thin articles that offer little value or exist mainly to attract clicks.

Google recommends helpful, reliable and people-first content. Prioritise the needs of readers when planning and producing articles.

2. Follow Google's Content Policies

Google Discover has content policies that publishers must follow. Content that violates these policies may not be eligible for recommendation.

Avoid misleading headlines, deceptive previews, prohibited content and material designed to manipulate readers.

Publishers should also ensure that advertisements and other promotional material do not exceed the actual content on their pages. Sponsored content and other commercial relationships should be clearly disclosed.

Following Google's content policies helps keep articles suitable for Discover.

3. Use High-Quality Images

Images are important in Google Discover because they help articles stand out in the feed. Use clear, relevant and high-resolution images that represent the subject of each publication.

Google recommends images that are at least 1,200 pixels wide and have more than 300,000 total pixels. A 16:9 aspect ratio is also recommended.

You should enable large image previews by using the max-image-preview:large setting or publishing an AMP version of your page.

You can also use structured data or the og:image property to help Google identify the main image associated with an article.

Avoid generic logos, low-quality images and pictures containing excessive text.

4. Write Clear and Compelling Headlines

Headlines help readers understand what an article covers before opening it. Write descriptive titles that accurately represent the information provided.

Avoid clickbait, exaggerated claims and misleading headlines designed only to attract attention.

A good headline should communicate the main subject of an article without promising information that the content does not provide.

Google recommends headlines that capture the essence of the content. This helps readers understand what they are about to read.

5. Publish Content Relevant to Your Audience

Understand the subjects your audience follows and publish articles that address their interests.

For example, a technology website can cover smartphone developments, software updates, cybersecurity, mobile applications and other relevant technology topics.

News publishers can focus on important developments, current events and stories that matter to their readers.

Publishing relevant content consistently can help your website reach audiences interested in those subjects. However, consistency alone does not guarantee Discover visibility.

6. Demonstrate Experience and Expertise

Google encourages publishers to create helpful, reliable and people-first content. Articles should demonstrate a clear understanding of their subjects and provide information that readers can trust.

Include accurate technical details, verify important claims and explain complicated subjects in a way that readers can understand.

Provide clear author bylines, publication dates and information about your website. Include an About Us page and accessible contact information so readers can identify the publisher and understand who is responsible for the content.

These details help establish transparency and make it easier for readers to assess the credibility of your publication.

7. Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly

Google Discover is primarily experienced on mobile devices, making mobile usability important for publishers.

Ensure that your website displays correctly on different screen sizes. Text should be readable without unnecessary zooming, images should fit the screen and navigation should be easy to use.

Also, pay attention to page loading speed and overall page experience. Avoid design elements that make it difficult for readers to access the main content.

A mobile-friendly website makes articles easier to read and navigate.

8. Avoid Excessive Advertisements and Intrusive Pop-Ups

Too many advertisements can make it difficult for readers to access and enjoy your content.

Avoid placing excessive adverts between paragraphs or using intrusive pop-ups that interrupt reading. Ensure that advertisements do not dominate the page or prevent visitors from accessing the main information.

Google's Discover content policies also state that advertisements and paid promotional material should not exceed the actual content on a page.

Maintain a balance between monetisation and the reading experience.

9. Keep Your Content Accurate and Relevant

Accuracy is important when publishing content for Google Discover. Check facts, update outdated information and correct errors when necessary.

For articles covering technology, finance, health or other subjects where information can change quickly, ensure that the details remain current.

Older articles can also appear in Discover when they remain useful and relevant to readers. Therefore, updating valuable existing content can be worthwhile when there is genuinely new or corrected information to add.

Do not change publication dates simply to make old articles appear new.

10. Monitor Your Google Discover Performance

Google Search Console provides a Discover performance report that allows publishers to monitor how their content performs in the feed.

The report includes information such as impressions, clicks and click-through rates. These figures can help you identify articles that receive Discover traffic and understand which topics attract readers.

To access the report, open Google Search Console, select your website and look for the Discover report under the Performance section.

The Discover performance report is only available when a website has received the minimum required number of impressions within the last three months. Individual pages must also meet a minimum impression threshold to appear as separate rows in the report.

Review the available data to understand which content performs well and use those insights to guide future editorial decisions.

How To Check If Your Website Appears on Google Discover

You can check whether your website receives traffic from Google Discover through Google Search Console.

Follow these steps:

1. Visit Google Search Console.
2. Sign in with the Google account connected to your website.
3. Select the website property you want to check.
4. Open the Performance section.
5. Select the Discover report if it is available.
6. Review the clicks, impressions and click-through rates for your content.

If the Discover report is unavailable, your website may not have received the minimum impressions required for the report to appear.

Does Google Discover Require a Special Submission?

No. Google does not require publishers to submit their websites or individual articles separately for Discover.

Content that is indexed by Google and meets its Discover content policies is automatically eligible for consideration.

Publishers do not need special structured data or dedicated tags to qualify. However, meeting Google's requirements does not guarantee that an article will appear in the feed.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Google Discover?

Google Discover is a personalised content feed that recommends articles, news, videos and other information based on users' interests and activities.

2. Can new websites appear on Google Discover?

Yes. New websites can appear in Google Discover when their content is indexed by Google and meets its content policies. However, appearance is not guaranteed.

3. How long does it take to get traffic from Google Discover?

There is no fixed timeframe. Google determines when content may be relevant to users, so some articles may receive Discover traffic while others may not.

4. Do website owners need to submit articles to Google Discover?

No. Google automatically considers indexed content that meets its Discover content policies. Publishers do not need to submit individual articles.

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