Can ecom stores get free traffic from Google Discover?

Monday greetings to you, brilliant entrepreneur! Two editions ago, 67% of you voted on ecom stores leveraging Google Discovery as the topic you wanted to see the most. Today, I bring you just that. In addition, I’ll also cover:

• How AI is accidentally creating sales superstars

• Your challenge: get recommended by AI

• Trending product: waterproof jewelry

AI Just Became Your Best Sales Rep

Remember when we worried AI might hurt business? Well, plot twist – it's actually sending customers our way! Here's a fascinating story:

Viv, a period care brand, got a surprise 400% traffic boost thanks to... ChatGPT and Google Gemini! Apparently, when people asked AI questions about non-toxic period products, they pointed them straight to Viv's blog. The best part? These weren't just window shoppers – sales jumped 436%!

So what did Viv do right? Content, content, content! Viv's marketing director, Kelly Donohue, reveals their strategy was surprisingly simple: Be everywhere with helpful information.

See how top Shopify brands are leveling up their lifecycle marketing

• 3X the opt-in rate of your existing pop up

• Grow your subscriber list by 40%

• Increase abandonment flow revenue by 55%

See how it works

Growth hack: Google Discover as a goldmine for e-commerce traffic

If you know how to use it.

But let’s back it up a bit - if you’re not sure what Google Discover is, it’s a personalized feed that shows your articles based on what Google thinks your interests are.

I tested the Google Discover recommendation system by searching for “best dehumidifiers for January,” and within 10 minutes, I here’s what my Google Discovery feed looked like.

The “bedding” entry beats me too, but here’s what I noticed with these recommendations:

• Multiple recommendations directly related to recent searches

• All entries are mobile-optimized, with unique feature images

• Topics are solution-focused: “best…to prevent mould”, “new X prevents mould and improves…air quality”

• Featured articles appear on news-style publications

According to Nikita Sherbina, co-founder & CEO of AIScreen, AIScreen used Google Discover to drive traffic by creating content that aligns with their audience's interests. AIScreen focuses on visually appealing, mobile-friendly blog posts (it’s updated - we checked!) that address trending topics or pain points relevant to their niche. 

For Natalia Lavrenenko, UGC manager/Marketing manager, Rathly, the strategy that worked not trying to "trick" the algorithm. Rather, they put energy into fresh content that served real value.

In summary,

• Fresh Content Wins: Update regularly and ride seasonal or trending topics.

• Visuals Matter: Clear, lifestyle-focused images grab attention.

• Consistency Pays Off: Success on Discover takes time, so stay the course.

• Leverage PR: Respond to PR requests on Featured, Qwoted and other PR outlets. Also look out for free media opportunities in our Wednesday newsletter

💪 Challenge of the Week: Build Your Content Plan

📝Let's turn your store into an AI-friendly content machine! Spend 60 minutes this week to audit your current content and list your customers' top 10 questions

This will form the backbone of your content calendar. Use this guide.

💎 Trends: Waterproof Jewelry

Waterproof jewelry is the latest must-have for people who live active lives—or just don’t want to take their accessories off for every shower or swim.

Searches for waterproof jewelry have grown 260% in the last 2 years.

Here’s how you can ride the trend:

• Test waterproof versions of your existing jewelry collection

• Test tarnish-resistant versions of your jewelry collections too

🎯 Final Thought: AI, Strategy, and Staying Ahead

AI isn’t just the future; it’s happening now. From search recommendations to personalized traffic boosts, the brands that win are the ones that stay adaptable and focus on delivering value. Keep experimenting, keep learning—and keep thriving.

📩 If this newsletter made your day, forward it to a friend who needs a little inspo. Sharing is caring!

Cheers to innovation,

re you!