What is Google Discover and what is its purpose?
Google Discover, formerly known as Google Feed, is a feature from Google that shows users relevant content based on their interests, search history and online behavior. The feature, launched in 2016 and renamed in 2018, offers a personalized experience where users discover content that matches their preferences. The goal of Google Discover is to show users valuable and engaging content without having to explicitly search for it. Among other things, Google uses search and location history, device data and personal settings to select content that perfectly matches the user.
Why is Google Discover important to my SEO strategy?
Google Discover is a powerful tool for generating organic traffic even without active user searches. It offers a unique opportunity to increase your visibility and reach a wider audience. By capitalizing on trends and developments within Discover, you can strategically position your website and attract more visitors.
7 SEO requirements to optimize for Google Discover
1. Mobile friendly
Google Discover is specifically designed for mobile use. Make sure your website is fully responsive and works optimally on smartphones and tablets. Strong Core Web Vitals are essential for this.
2. URL must be indexable
Make sure crawlers can easily find and index your content. Avoid blockers in your robots.txt and use a clear URL structure.
3. No intrusive ads or pop-ups
Minimize distracting elements such as pop-ups and intrusive ads. A good user experience is crucial to scoring in Google Discover.
4. Website speed
A fast Web site is essential. Optimize your images, reduce server response times and implement caching to improve load times.
5. Images
Use quality images with a minimum width of 1200 pixels. Allow Google to show a large preview using the meta tag“max-image-preview:large.”
6. Comply with E-E-A-T guidelines.
E-E-A-T (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) plays a big role within Discover. Publish content that highlights your authority and expertise and build trust with your audience.
7. Apply general SEO knowledge
Make sure your content is quality, relevant and unique, your website is technically optimized and you work on getting strong backlinks.
How do you measure the effect of your SEO optimizations for Google Discover?
Use Google Search Console to monitor the performance of your pages in Google Discover. The Discover report provides insight into impressions, clicks and average click rate, allowing you to analyze the impact of your optimizations.
3 tips to optimize your content for Google Discover
1. Know who your target audience is
Know the interests and needs of your audience and tailor your content accordingly. Use Google Analytics 4 to gain insight into user characteristics and adjust your strategy accordingly.
2. Think in terms of topics, entities and current events
Focus your content on relevant topics and entities that align with current trends. Combine timeless content with updates to keep your content relevant.
3. Use titles that appeal and stand out
Write titles that arouse curiosity and make a clear promise, without using clickbait. Make sure your title honestly reflects the content and attracts the reader.
4. Review Discover’s content policy
Make sure your content complies with Google Discover’s content policy. This will increase the chances of your content being successfully included in the feed. With these tips and strategies, you will strengthen your position in Google Discover and increase your website’s digital visibility. Want additional support? OnlineLabs is happy to help you.
