Quick answer: Google's 2026 Discover update aims to show more locally relevant, original, timely, and in-depth content while reducing sensational headlines and clickbait.
What Discover now rewards
- Useful content from websites based in the reader's country.
- Original reporting, first-hand experience, and unique insights.
- Timely articles that match current interests.
- Demonstrated expertise in a specific topic, even when the website covers several subjects.
- Headlines and images that accurately represent the article.
What to avoid
- Exaggerated titles that hide essential information.
- Thumbnails designed mainly to provoke fear, outrage, or morbid curiosity.
- Publishing unrelated topics only to chase a trend.
- Generic summaries that add no local experience or original value.
- Changing publishing frequency solely because Discover traffic fluctuates.
Discover optimization checklist
- Build topic depth through a useful series of related articles.
- Add local examples, dates, observations, expert comments, or original data.
- Use a clear headline that captures the real purpose of the page.
- Use relevant high-quality images; Google recommends large images that are at least 1200px wide for Discover.
- Enable
max-image-preview:large and specify a representative image with og:image or schema markup. - Monitor impressions, clicks, and CTR in the Search Console Discover report.
EEAT check
- Experience: Include real observations, examples, or results.
- Expertise: Keep authors focused on topics they understand deeply.
- Authority: Cite primary sources and identify qualified contributors.
- Trust: Use accurate headlines, dates, author details, and transparent corrections.
Sources: Google Search Central, “Google's February 2026 Discover Core Update” and “Discover and your website.” Discover eligibility and visibility are not guaranteed, and traffic may naturally fluctuate.
Malaysia