Google Just Changed the Rules for Discover: What You Need to Know

Google just dropped a massive update to the Discover feed this February and it is sending shockwaves through the web. If you have noticed your traffic suddenly spiking or dipping, this is why.

This isn't just a minor tweak. Google is completely changing how it decides what ends up on your phone's home screen. Here is the breakdown of the new rules and how you can win.

Own Your Niche (Or Get Left Behind)

The days of chasing trends are over. In the past, you could write about a viral celebrity story even if you usually blogged about fitness, and you might get a massive traffic hit.

Google now cares about Topical Authority. If you are a tech expert, Google wants to see your tech stories. If you suddenly start posting about cooking, the algorithm will likely ignore it.

The Win: Pick your lane and go deep. Be the go-to source for one specific thing and Google will reward you with more feed space.

The Local First Shake-up

This is the biggest surprise: Google is getting hyper-local. They want to show users news from their own neck of the woods.

It is getting much harder for international sites to grab traffic from other countries. Google wants to see content that is rooted in the user's community.

The Win: Lean into where you are. Mention your city, your community, and your specific local expertise. Being a big fish in a local pond is now a winning strategy.

Goodbye Clickbait

We have all seen those headlines: "You won't believe what this actor did!" or "The one secret food you need to stop eating."

Google’s AI has officially grown up. It can now tell when a headline is purposely hiding information just to get a click. These articles are being pushed to the bottom of the pile.

The Win: Be clear and helpful. Use headlines that actually tell the reader what the story is about. Trust is the new currency.

Big Images are Mandatory

If your photos are small or blurry, you are invisible.

High-resolution images (at least 1200 pixels wide) aren't just a nice to have anymore—they are a ticket to entry.

The Win: Use stunning, high-quality visuals. If the photo looks like a magazine cover, it is much more likely to show up in a million people’s feeds.

The Human Touch Wins

Google is cracking down on boring, copy-paste AI content. If an article feels like it was written by a robot with no personality, it is going to struggle.

Google is looking for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.

The Win: Add your own stories. Share your personal opinion. Use your own data. Show Google that a real human being with a real brain wrote the piece.

The Bottom Line

Google Discover is turning into a high-end digital magazine. It is moving away from junk content and moving toward high-quality, local, and expert voices.

If you focus on being the best in your specific niche and using great visuals, this update is actually a huge opportunity for you to grow faster than ever.