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What is Google Discover & How to Leverage RSS Feed?

By
James Gibbons

How to Optimize Your Web Pages for Google Discover?

Google Discover and RSS Feed

Ever felt like the internet was cluttered with too much information, making it hard to find what truly interests you? Enter Google Discover, the game-changing feature that declutters the digital world, ensuring the content you care about effortlessly finds its way to you.

Google Discover is a Google search feature that delivers content recommendations to users based on their search history & browsing activity.

Google Discover was launched to foster an environment where content discovery is seamless, enriching, and deeply personalized. With more than 800 million active users worldwide, Google Discover has become a powerful tool for businesses to reach their target audience & drive traffic to their websites.

In this blog, we will learn everything you need to know about Google Discover & how to optimize your web pages to rank on it.

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What is Google Discover?

Google Discover, a rebranding and enhancement of Google Feed is Google's innovative feature aimed at delivering personalized content to its users even before they search. Think of this feature as Google's way of keeping you in the loop on topics you care about, even when you're not exactly sure what you're looking for. It’s like having a friend who knows what interests you & drops exciting bits and pieces into your conversation.

The content on Google Discover spans various categories, such as news, articles, videos, and other forms of web content.

Google employs advanced machine learning algorithms to analyze user behavior & tailor the content to match individual interests. It ensures that users receive a diverse & personalized selection of information, keeping them informed & entertained.

Google says its goal with Google Discover is to make it easier for users to explore their interests & engage with content they might not have otherwise found.

Google Discover is available on all devices and platforms that support the Google app or mobile browsers. It includes Android & iOS devices.

On Android, it is accessible via the Google app or by swiping right from the home screen. They are also accessible on Google's homepage on the web, ensuring that your personalized content is accessible wherever you are.

However, the layout and appearance of Google Discover may vary depending on the device & platform.

Why is Google Discover Important for SEO?

1. Shift Towards User Intent: Google Discover prioritizes user intent over traditional search queries, adapting to users' evolving interests. It means a deeper focus on creating content that aligns with your audience's anticipated needs & preferences rather than merely targeting specific keywords.

2. Enhanced Visibility: Google Discover is a proactive content delivery platform, pushing your content to potential readers before they even articulate a search query. This precognition-like feature amplifies your reach, placing your content directly in the feed of a relevant audience without them needing to search for it.

3. Boosts User Engagement: High-quality, engaging content on Google Discover encourages users to interact more deeply with your brand. This increases clicks and fosters genuine interest & engagement, which can significantly improve your site's dwell time & reduce bounce rates.

4. SEO Diversification: Relying solely on traditional search rankings is risky. Google Discover offers strategic diversification, tapping into AI-driven content recommendations. It can improve traffic stability, even when algorithm changes affect conventional search results.

5. Content Lifespan Extension: Unlike the fleeting nature of social media, Google Discover can restore older content, presenting it to new audiences long after publication. It enhances the value of your content & maximizes your return on investment over time.

How Does Google Discover Work?

Google Discover is like an intelligent friend who knows what you like to read & watch online. It uses machine learning algorithms to analyze your interaction patterns & learns from what you click on & how long you spend on different topics. If you love space exploration, for example, it'll start showing you more about the stars & planets.

But it's not just about what you click. Google Discover also looks at where you are, what's happening worldwide, and what time it is to find the perfect content for you. So, if a special space event is happening, it'll make sure you know about it.

You can also help Google Discover get to know you better. You can adjust your preferences to see something you like or don't want to see. This way, you're helping it understand what to show you next.

The best part is that Google Discover gets smarter over time. With every article you read or video you watch, it gets better at finding content you'll love. It means your feed is always getting more personalized, keeping up with your changing interests.

How Google Discover is Different From Google Search?

Google's evolution from strings to things has led to the introduction of Google Discover.

Unlike the traditional Google Search, where users input queries to find information, Google Discover offers a more intuitive and personalized content delivery system. Let us understand how these two platforms differ:

Aspect Google Discover Google Search
Function Provides users with a personalized feed of content based on their interests and browsing behavior. Focuses on retrieving information based on specific queries entered by users. It lists relevant websites or pages that match the search terms.
Content-Type Primarily news, articles, and blog posts tailored to user interests. Includes websites, news, images, videos, and more based on the search query.
Discoverability Content is discovered passively, making it ideal for consumption without a specific goal. Content is discovered actively, ideal for specific information or task accomplishment.
User Journey Non-linear and exploratory, driven by curiosity and uncertainty. Linear and goal-oriented, driven by the need for specific information or solutions.
Content Control Users can influence future content by adjusting their interests and activities but have less direct control over what is shown. Users have immediate control by altering their search queries and using advanced search operators.
SEO Impact Optimizing for Google Discover involves creating engaging content that resonates with users' interests, potentially leading to increased visibility and traffic. SEO efforts for Google Search focus on ranking well for specific keywords or phrases, aiming to appear at the top of search results pages when users input relevant queries.

How to Get Your Content Ranked in Google Discover?

Ranking your content on Google Discover presents a unique opportunity to capture audience attention beyond traditional search queries. As mentioned earlier, Google Discover proactively suggests content based on a user's interests & previous interactions.

The personalized feed feature makes Google Discover an invaluable tool for content creators & marketers aiming to boost their visibility & engagement. But not every web page is shown in Google Discover.

According to Google, to improve your chances of ranking your content on Google Discover, you must ensure that your web pages are optimized for the Follow feature and use the RSS feed.

1. The Follow feature allows users to follow the website to receive the latest updates in the Following tab within Discover in Chrome.

2. Using RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed allows users to access updates from their favorite websites automatically.

Google Discover uses RSS feeds to pull content from websites & display it to users based on their interests.

Apart from RSS feed, other factors that impact your content ranking in Google Discover include relevance, recency, and user engagement.

Read best practices to rank on Google Discover.

RSS Feed & Google Discover

RSS Feed, an acronym for Really Simple Syndication, is a web feed that enables users and applications to access updates to websites in a standardized, computer-readable format. This tool is particularly important in SEO and content dissemination strategies because it allows for the efficient distribution of updated content, such as blog posts, news articles, and videos, directly to a user's RSS feed reader.

Utilizing an RSS feed for Google Discover SEO ensures your content effectively reaches your intended audience. Setting up a Google Discover RSS feed and optimizing it for Google's algorithms can dramatically increase a website's reach.

Google Discover RSS automation allows for real-time content updates, ensuring your latest posts have the potential to appear in users' Discover feeds, thereby increasing engagement and traffic.

Moreover, Google Discover RSS feed submission is a straightforward process that, when done correctly, can enhance your content's visibility and discoverability. Managing your Google Discover feed effectively involves regular updates, quality content, and strategic use of keywords.

Knowing how to submit an RSS to Google Discover and optimizing it for relevant keywords can significantly impact your content's performance. Ultimately, for those aiming to excel in Google Discover SEO, leveraging an RSS feed is an invaluable strategy.

Steps to Implement RSS Feed for Your Web Pages

The essence of an RSS feed is to allow users to stay informed about updates on your site through a standardized XML file format.

Sample Format of a Page's RSS Feed Entry
Sample Format of a Page's RSS Feed Entry

Implementing it for your web pages involves several steps. Let us look at the steps needed to achieve this functionality:

1. Define the Structure of Your RSS Feed

An RSS feed is essentially an XML document. Hence, the first step is outlining its structure according to the RSS 2.0 specification. It involves defining the channel (representing your site) and the items (each representing content like a blog post or news article).


2. Implement a Dynamic Feed Generation

After defining the structure, a dynamic feed generation system must be defined to update your RSS feed when new content is added automatically. You can use PHP (Hypertext Preprocessor) a powerful language for this task to to dynamically generate the RSS feed by combining the XML structure with the content fetched from your database.

Implement a Dynamic Feed Generation
Implement a Dynamic Feed Generation

3. Incorporate GUID for Uniqueness

Include a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID) for each item in your feed to ensure its uniqueness. This uniqueness helps in better indexing and visibility of your content on Google Discover.

To leverage Google Discover RSS automation fully, integrating GUIDs within your RSS feeds is a step you cannot skip. It ensures every piece of content is distinctly recognized, preventing duplicates and enhancing content integrity in your Google Discover RSS feed submission. It helps prevent issues where aggregators might mistake one item for another.

4. Implement Content Syndication

Consider adding tags to include the full content of your articles. It allows subscribers to read your content directly from the feed.

5. Include Media Elements

To provide a richer experience, integrate media elements within your feed using Media RSS extensions. It lets you embed multimedia content, such as images & videos, directly into the feed.

6. Validate & Make Your RSS Feed Discoverable

After your RSS feed dynamically generates content, it's essential to validate it to ensure compliance with RSS standards. It can be done using online tools like the W3C Feed Validation Service. Validation will catch common errors, such as improperly escaped characters or incorrect formatting, which could prevent RSS readers from properly parsing your feed.

After validating, ensure your RSS feed is discoverable by adding a link to it in your web page's HTML head section. These tags inform browsers and feed readers about the existence & location of your RSS feed. Utilizing both Atom & RSS formats in this manner ensures broader compatibility with various feed readers and enhances the discoverability of your content.

Validate and Make Your RSS Feed Discoverable
Validate and Make Your RSS Feed Discoverable

Best Practices to Rank Your Content on Google Discover

1. Optimize Content for Relevance and Quality

Focus on creating content that's relevant and of the highest quality. It means diving deep into topics that resonate with your target audience, ensuring your content answers their most pressing questions or provides unique insights.

By prioritizing user engagement & satisfaction, you aid Google in recognizing your content as valuable for Discover. Keeping your content fresh & relevant can further enhance its appeal to both users & the algorithm.

2. Embracing High-Quality and Engaging Multimedia

Content richness plays a pivotal role in Google Discover visibility. Prioritize high-quality, engaging multimedia elements such as images, videos, and infographics that capture users' attention at first glance. Ensure high-resolution images carry proper file names and alt texts mirroring the content's theme. Learn how to optimize images for web & SEO.

Embedding videos from YouTube can offer dual benefits, capitalizing on YouTube's search capabilities alongside Discover. The appeal of your multimedia content can significantly influence click-through rates from Discover.

3. Leveraging E-A-T Principles for Content Credibility

Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-A-T) are Google's backbone for assessing content quality. Your content should establish authority in your niche, showcasing expertise and gaining users' trust.

Include author bios highlighting their expertise, cite authoritative sources, and gather reviews or testimonials. Such elements also enhance your content's eligibility to be featured on Google Discover, increasing the credibility of your page.

4. Optimizing for Mobile and Page Experience

Since Google Discover is primarily accessed via mobile devices, optimizing for mobile is non-negotiable. Implement responsive design, ensure fast loading times, and use tools like Google's Mobile-Friendly Test to gauge your site's performance.


Focus on improving the overall page experience. It involves optimizing visual stability, interactivity, and browsing safety (free from malware or deceptive content). A better page experience increases dwell time & increases your chances of ranking on Discover.

5. Engaging with Your Audience Through Timely and Trending Topics

To stay relevant, it's essential to tune into what's trending & what interests your audience the most. Crafting content around timely topics or emerging trends can give your content the immediacy & relevance that Discover favors.

However, it's important to balance trend-based content with evergreen topics to maintain a consistent audience engagement over time. By understanding the dynamic interplay between trends and timeless subjects, you can create a content strategy that captures the current attention and builds a lasting connection with your audience.

Adhering to these best practices can increase your chances of appearing in Discover feeds and captivate and retain an engaged audience.

Monitor Your Google Discover Performance in Google Search Console

Monitoring your Google Discover performance in Google Search Console is key to understanding how well your content is doing. Check it regularly - once a week or at least once a month. Here's how:

1. Log into Google Search Console and pick your website.

2. Under the Performance tab, click Discover.

3. See your clicks, views, and click-through rate (CTR) for Google Discover.

4. You can also track the performance of each page.

To make the most out of your Google Discover performance insights, keep an eye out for trends & patterns. If you notice increased traffic or engagement on a particular post, try to understand why that is the case. Is it the topic that’s resonating with your audience? Or is it the format of the content?

On the other hand, if you notice a decline in traffic or engagement, it might be time to re-evaluate the content and see if you can do anything to improve it.

Fast Track Your Content Creation to 10X with Quattr

In conclusion, leveraging Google Discover presents a unique opportunity to enhance your online visibility & engage a wider audience. It involves focusing on content relevance, quality, and user intent. Google Discover also values personalization, E-A-T principles, and mobile optimization, highlighting the importance of a strategic content creation approach.

However, manually crafting and fine-tuning content to meet Google Discover's criteria can be both time-consuming & complex. This is where Quattr can significantly enhance your content creation efforts.

Quattr's AI technology enables you to perform keyword research & craft a new page draft in just a few minutes. Its Auto-Writer technology is there to assist you in swiftly generating SEO-friendly content. It comprehends your input, understands its context, and creates relevant content, serving as a virtual assistant for your content needs.

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Google Discover FAQs

Is Google Discover just news?

Google Discover goes beyond mere news delivery, utilizing a sophisticated AI algorithm that tailors content based on individual user preferences. It dynamically adapts to evolving interests, considering search history, location, and app usage. It's a personalized content ecosystem encompassing articles, videos, and even evergreen content, providing a holistic, user-centric information experience.

How frequently is the content updated on Google Discover?

Google Discover refreshes its content in real time, dynamically adjusting to user interactions and emerging trends. It ensures a constantly updated & personalized feed for the users.

What type of content performs well on Google Discover?

Content that resonates with the user's interests & aligns with their intent has a higher chance of being featured on the platform. High-quality visuals, including relevant images & videos, significantly boost your chances. Produce in-depth content that covers a niche topic comprehensively to establish yourself as an authority in that space.

Can I track performance and analytics for my content on Google Discover in Google Search Console?

Yes, tracking performance & analytics for content on Google Discover is possible through Google Search Console's Discover report. It provides insights into how your content is performing, including impressions, click-through rates, and more, essential for optimizing your Google Discover RSS feed.

About The Author

James Gibbons

James Gibbons is the Senior Customer Success Manager at Quattr. He has 10 years of experience in SEO and has worked with multiple agencies, brands, and B2B companies. He has helped clients scale organic and paid search presence to find hidden growth opportunities. James writes about all aspects of SEO: on-page, off-page, and technical SEO.

About Quattr

Quattr is an innovative and fast-growing venture-backed company based in Palo Alto, California USA. We are a Delaware corporation that has raised over $7M in venture capital. Quattr's AI-first platform evaluates like search engines to find opportunities across content, experience, and discoverability. A team of growth concierge analyze your data and recommends the top improvements to make for faster organic traffic growth. Growth-driven brands trust Quattr and are seeing sustained traffic growth.

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