How to Optimize for Google Discover

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Discover is a feed, not a search box. There’s no query to rank for, so you can’t target keywords there. Google’s documentation on Google Discover says content is automatically eligible if it is indexed by Google and meets Discover’s content policies, and that being eligible is not a guarantee of appearing. Optimization for Discover means qualifying: publishing content people with an interest would want, meeting the image and title recommendations, and treating the traffic as a bonus rather than a baseline.

Search is pull, Discover is push

In Search, someone types a query and Google matches pages to it. In Discover, nobody asks. Google shows content that aligns with a person’s interests, and the documentation notes that older content may appear too if it’s helpful and relevant to someone’s interests. You aren’t answering a question; you’re being chosen for a feed.

So the keyword model doesn’t apply. You don’t make a page rank for “best hiking boots” in Discover; you publish something people interested in hiking would want to read, on a site Google understands as knowledgeable about hiking.

Eligibility and images

Being indexed and following the content policies makes content eligible. A policy violation can lead to Discover manual actions, which appear in Search Console under Security and Manual actions.

A Discover card leads with its image. Google recommends images that are:

  • at least 1200 px wide
  • high resolution, more than 300,000 total pixels
  • in a 16:9 aspect ratio, since Google tries to crop images automatically for Discover

Large images need to be enabled with the max-image-preview:large setting, or by using AMP. The documentation adds that you can use schema.org markup or the og:image meta tag to specify a large, representative image, which can influence the thumbnail Discover picks.

For titles, Google’s guidance is to use page titles and headlines that capture the essence of the content, and to avoid clickbait and misleading information.

What the February 2026 update changed

Google’s February 2026 Discover core update, announced February 5, 2026, lists three changes:

  • showing users more locally relevant content from websites based in their country
  • reducing sensational content and clickbait in Discover
  • showing more in-depth, original and timely content from websites with expertise in a given area

The announcement says Google’s systems identify expertise topic by topic, so a site with a dedicated section on a subject can show expertise there even if it covers other topics; its example is a local news site with a gardening section, compared with a movie review site that wrote a single gardening article. It also says the update was released first to English-language users in the US, with expansion to all countries and languages planned in the months ahead, and that it may lead to fluctuations in Discover traffic.

The practical reading: content that only repackages what others published is the opposite of what the update describes. What it names instead is in-depth, original and timely content from sites with expertise in the topic.

What helps over time

The Discover documentation asks for content that is timely for current interests, tells a story well or provides unique insights. Two habits follow from that and from the update, and a third supports reader trust:

  • Cover your topics consistently. Build a dedicated section on the subjects you want to be known for, rather than single articles.
  • Be timely where the topic moves. Publish while interest is rising, not after it has passed.
  • Make authorship visible. Bylines, author pages and clear editorial responsibility tell readers who stands behind the work.

Measure it separately

Use the Performance report for Discover in Search Console to see which content the feed picked up. Don’t plan around it. The Discover documentation says traffic from Discover is less predictable or dependable than keyword-driven search visits, and that you should consider it supplemental. It lists reasons for swings, including changing interests, changes to content types, and Search updates, and notes that sites may see traffic changes unrelated to the quality or publishing frequency of their content.

Frequently asked questions

Can I target keywords for Discover?

No. Discover has no query. Content qualifies by being indexed and meeting Discover’s content policies, and can appear when it matches someone’s interests.

What images does Google recommend for Discover?

Google recommends images at least 1200 px wide, more than 300,000 total pixels and a 16:9 ratio, enabled with max-image-preview:large or AMP.

What did the February 2026 Discover update change?

Google says it shows more locally relevant content from sites in the user’s country, reduces sensational content and clickbait, and shows more in-depth, original and timely content from sites with expertise in a topic. It launched first for English-language users in the US.

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