Hi, I’m Oscar Auza, CEO of Brandika — a digital marketing agency helping brands grow smarter and faster in today’s noisy landscape.
Let’s get straight to the point: Google Discover is one of the most underrated tools in the digital marketer’s toolkit. And yet, it can drive thousands of visits to your site without your audience even needing to search for anything.
Imagine this: your ideal customer opens the Google app on their phone — maybe while waiting in line for coffee — and there’s your content, front and center. No keywords. No ads. No competition on a search results page. Just visibility. Instant and relevant.
That’s the magic of Google Discover. It’s a personalized feed powered by Google’s AI, showing users articles, videos, and stories they might like, based on their activity, interests, and location. Think of it like a social feed — but curated by Google.
If you’re not tapping into this traffic source, you’re missing out on one of the biggest shifts in content distribution. And as someone who’s worked with dozens of brands to grow their online presence, I can tell you: Discover is the next frontier of organic reach.
How Google Discover Works: A Personalized Content Revolution
Google Discover isn’t a traditional search feature — it’s a discovery engine. It lives inside the Google app, and instead of reacting to what people type in, it predicts what they’ll want to see based on their behavior.
It’s powered by signals like:
- Search history
- Web & app activity
- Location
- Device usage
- Topics followed in Discover itself
Yes, users can actually “follow” specific topics, and Google will prioritize showing related content in their feed. That means if someone follows a niche like “email marketing tips,” and you’ve written a great piece on that — boom, you’re in their Discover feed.
In practice, Discover looks like a series of tiles: articles with big thumbnails, headlines, and sometimes short summaries. The key here is personal relevance. Google is optimizing for click-through potential, so content that looks engaging visually and contextually tends to win.
And let me tell you, it’s smart. Really smart. The more someone interacts with the feed, the better Google gets at guessing what they’ll enjoy. That’s great news for creators and marketers, because you’re no longer competing for search terms — you’re competing for attention.
The Power of Discover Traffic (And Why It’s a Game Changer)
Here’s where it gets exciting.
Back when I first started exploring Google Discover for our own content, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Then something clicked — literally. One of our SEO articles got picked up by Discover. It had the right structure, a strong headline, and was shared by a few voices in the industry. The next morning? Over 2,000 clicks in just three days.
We had never seen that kind of instant organic traction from Google — not even with well-optimized SEO content.
What makes Discover traffic so powerful?
- It’s high intent. These people are interested in your topic, even if they weren’t actively searching.
- It’s mobile-first. Most Discover users are on their phones, meaning quick, impulse-driven engagement.
- It’s brand-building. Showing up consistently in someone’s feed creates familiarity and trust.
And here’s the kicker: Discover traffic can be bigger than traditional SEO if you play your cards right. It’s volatile, yes. It’s unpredictable, yes. But when it hits — it really hits.
How to Appear on Google Discover: Proven Strategies That Work
Here’s the truth: there’s no guaranteed formula for getting featured on Google Discover. But there are strategies that can stack the odds in your favor. These are the exact methods we use at Brandika, and that I’ve personally seen work.
✅ Create People-First, Helpful Content
Google’s “Helpful Content Update” made one thing clear: articles written by real people for real people are what Google wants to reward.
Focus on:
- Clear, valuable advice
- Unique perspectives
- Actionable takeaways
When your content genuinely helps readers, Google notices.
🎯 Nail the Headline and Meta Description
You don’t just need a good title. You need one that stops the scroll.
Think curiosity + clarity. “5 Ways to Get Featured in Google Discover (Even Without SEO)” is way more clickable than “Google Discover Tips.”
Same goes for your meta description — give users a reason to click without giving away the whole story.
🖼️ Use High-Quality Visuals
Google Discover is visual. Articles with large, eye-catching images tend to get better placement.
Use:
- 1200px wide images (minimum)
- Unique thumbnails
- Alt text with descriptive keywords
Great visuals aren’t optional. They’re essential.
🔄 Keep Your Content Fresh
Fresh content often performs better in Discover. That means:
- Publishing new articles regularly
- Updating older posts
- Adding new media and insights to evergreen content
Even non-news content can get a boost if it’s updated and relevant.
📲 Don’t Underestimate Social Shares
Here’s something I’ve personally tested: social media engagement can trigger Discover visibility.
One of our posts was shared by a major voice in the SEO space. The very next day, it was in Discover — and traffic spiked. Coincidence? Maybe. But we’ve seen it happen more than once.
Content That Performs Well in Google Discover
Want to know what kind of content gets featured?
Based on our own testing and dozens of client projects, here’s what works:
🔥 Trending Topics
If your content is timely — say a new Google update or tech trend — it’s more likely to get picked up.
💎 Evergreen Guides With a Fresh Twist
Long-form, educational content does well when updated frequently.
💬 Thought Leadership
Google values expertise. Show off your industry knowledge. Back it up with real experience.
🎥 Mixed Media (Video + Articles)
Google Discover includes videos too. Embedding relevant YouTube videos can increase your content’s appeal.
In short: aim to be useful, current, and visually compelling. That’s the trifecta.
Common Mistakes That Keep You Out of Discover
Some sites struggle to appear on Discover. Here are the most common reasons why:
- ❌ Weak headlines
- ❌ Stock images instead of original media
- ❌ Outdated or shallow content
- ❌ Lack of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
- ❌ Slow mobile performance
- ❌ No structured data
Fix these, and you’re already ahead of most competitors.
How to Monitor Your Performance in Google Discover
Want to know if your content is appearing in Discover?
👉 Head to Google Search Console.
Under Performance, there’s a Discover tab (if you’ve been featured). It shows:
- Clicks
- Impressions
- Click-through rate
- Top-performing pages
- Geographic breakdown
Keep in mind: if you don’t see any Discover data yet, it doesn’t mean your content isn’t good — it just hasn’t been picked up yet. Keep going.
Final Thoughts: Discover Is the Future — Are You Ready?
Google Discover is evolving fast. It’s changing how people consume content, and how brands reach new audiences.
As the CEO of Brandika, I’ve helped brands of all sizes build strategies that go beyond traditional SEO. Discover is now part of our core content strategy — because it works.
If you’re creating high-quality content and want to amplify it through smart distribution, you can’t afford to ignore Discover. And if you need help getting there, that’s exactly what we do.
📩 Need help crafting a Discover-ready content strategy? Contact us at Brandika. Let’s make your content visible, clickable, and unforgettable.
Let’s dominate that feed,
Oscar Auza
CEO, Brandika
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