And everything you need to unlock new traffic through Google Discover  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ Raptive News JANUARY 28, 2026 By Maddie McHugh Director, Content Marketing Hi Raptive, In this week’s newsletter, we’re sharing practical resources to help you compete. Whether you’re up against publishers with greater scale or fighting to diversify away from Google search, our experts are here to empower you to grow. First is the newest episode of Ctrl Alt Ask, all about how smaller sites can compete against bigger publishers in their vertical. Then, don’t miss our ultimate guide to Google Discover, made to help you diversify your traffic through this high-potential channel. Here’s what else is inside: • One of the creators behind Inspired Taste brings awareness about AI slop to NPR • A roundup of our top webinars of 2025 What’s new Ctrl Alt Ask Episode 9: The discoverability hack for small entertainment sites How can high-quality independent sites break through in spaces where massive publishers dominate? That’s the challenge facing Jamie Broadnax of Black Girl Nerds and smaller news and entertainment creators across the web. This week on Ctrl Alt Ask, Raptive SEO expert Eddie Mercado joins the pod to unpack where Google traffic really comes from in 2026, why search is especially stacked against entertainment creators, and how creators in all verticals can use their niche as a competitive advantage. Tune in to the latest episode → Inspired Taste’s Adam Gallagher discusses the dangers of AI-recipe slop with NPR Adam Gallagher, one half of the duo behind Inspired Taste, stopped by NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday to spread the word on the “Frankenstein” recipes plaguing the internet. He and host Ayesha Rascoe talk about how AI generates these unhelpful recipes and how it impacts the real people who create them. Listen to the interview → Want to hear more from Inspired Taste? Adam and Joanne Gallagher spoke about the impact of AI on Google search on the first episode of Ctrl Alt Ask. Catch up on that interview here! Top resource A traffic diversification strategy where you can win Google Discover can quietly become one of your biggest traffic drivers—if you know how to optimize for it. Our SEO team analyzed network-wide data and found 3,750+ sites where Google Discover drove 25% or more of total traffic last year, showing just how big the opportunity can be for creators who get it right. This guide breaks down what Discover is, how it decides which content to surface, and the steps you can take to increase visibility, clicks, and long-term traffic from the feed. Learn how to optimize for Google Discover → Quick tip Focus on speed, not perfection with Google Discover “Most Discover traffic happens fast: ~60% in the first three days and nearly all of it within a week. That means speed matters more than perfection. Publish quickly, monitor performance in Search Console, and tweak your title or image by day three to extend the post’s lifespan.” Eddie Mercado VP, SEO Solutions In case you missed it Our top webinars of 2025 #1 Discovering more Google traffic Hear from Eddie Mercado as he breaks down what Google Discover is, how to optimize for it, and how to measure and iterate for future success. Watch the recording → #2 Grow email and social traffic with Grocers List (1/2) In this two-part series, we break down the powerful auto-DM tool that is helping creators drive site traffic and grow their email lists. Watch the recording → #3 Creator email and traffic wins with Grocers List (2/2) In our recent follow-up webinar, we dive deeper with Raptive creators who share their strategies for success. Watch the recording → #4 Earn more with the right video player setup Pair this webinar with the Raptive video player playbook for the ultimate guide to video optimization. Watch the recording → What we’re reading Catch up on news from around the industry • Scarlett Johansson, Cate Blanchett and Joseph Gordon-Levitt among 700 industry backers of new anti-AI campaign: ‘stealing our work is not innovation’ (Variety) • Google’s AI overviews Pose public health risk with unreliable medical advice (Creati.ai) • Angry gamers are forcing studios to scrap or rethink new releases (The Washington Post | Gated) Question of the week How are you feeling about Google Discover right now? ✨ Feeling like a winner I consistently see great traffic from Discover! 🌊 Riding the Discover wave Sometimes my content is featured, but it’s inconsistent 💔 I can’t seem to crack it Unfortunately, my content hasn’t been picked up 📋 Investing elsewhere I’m focusing my time on other traffic sources for now Was this email helpful? You’re receiving this email because you help manage a site that works with Raptive. 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