🚀 How I Got 80K+ Users from Google Discover in 13 Days Using an Expired Domain (My Full Strategy)

Introduction: What This Case Study Is About

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been running a unique SEO experiment: using an expired domain to tap into Google Discover traffic—and the results were far beyond my expectations.

Without any paid ads or backlink outreach, a brand-new blog I launched hit:

• 80,000+ active users
• 136,000 page views
• 415,000 tracked events (clicks, scrolls, plays, etc.)

In this post, I’ll break down exactly what I did, what worked, where the traffic dropped off—and what you can learn if you’re looking to grow through Google Discover.

Why an Expired Domain?

I used a clean, niche-relevant expired domain with existing backlinks and authority. These domains can often:

• Bypass the “sandbox” delay of new domains
• Rank faster due to past trust signals
• Get indexed and discovered quickly by Google

But it’s not just about the domain—you still need real content that Google Discover finds useful.

The Strategy: How I Set It Up

Here’s what I focused on during this experiment:

✅ 1. Niche Match + Clean Domain

I picked a domain that was topically relevant and had a clean backlink history. No spam, no unnatural links.

✅ 2. Fast WordPress Setup

I installed a lightweight WordPress theme, mobile-first design, and added schema markup for author, article, and organization.

✅ 3. Discover-Optimized Content

I published a few highly relevant posts around trending topics. Each post included:

• Large feature images (1200px+ with max-image-preview:large)
• Clear headlines and fresh insights
• Content tailored for mobile reading
• Hooks that aligned with user interests, not just keywords

✅ 4. Search Console + Performance Tracking

Google Search Console showed Discover impressions within 4–5 days. Engagement spiked shortly after. All traffic came organically—no backlinks, no shares, just pure Discover exposure.

The Results

After 13 days:

• Users: 80,000+
• Views: 136,000+
• Events (CTR, video clicks, scrolls): 415,000+

CTR across posts was ~10%. Most of the traffic came from mobile devices, proving how important responsive design is for Discover visibility.

The Drop: Why Traffic Faded After 15 Days

This is where it gets interesting. Around day 15, traffic suddenly dropped.

No manual actions. No crawl errors. Nothing unusual in GSC.

This pattern—sharp rise, sudden fall—is something I’ve now seen repeatedly with Discover experiments. It seems Google uses a “burst model” for new or reactivated domains.

This is normal, but it raises questions:

• How do we stay in Discover longer?
• Is this a matter of frequency? Engagement? Content velocity?

I’m currently testing different methods to answer that.

What Helped This Succeed

✅ Expired Domain Authority

A clean domain with age and backlinks helped accelerate indexing and trust.

✅ Fresh, Engaging Content

My posts were niche-specific, visual, and aligned with mobile user behavior and Discover intent.

✅ Mobile + Schema Optimization

Every page was fast, responsive, and included basic structured data. Discover rewards this.

My Key Learnings (With E‑E‑A‑T in Mind)

Final Thoughts: Is This Worth Trying?

If you’re an SEO or content creator, testing with expired domains + Discover is worth exploring—but it’s not a magic formula.

👉 Use a clean domain
👉 Publish helpful content
👉 Track performance closely
👉 Don’t rely on Discover alone—build long-term SEO too

I’ll keep sharing updates as I test further strategies to extend Discover visibility. If you’ve tried something similar, let’s connect—I’d love to exchange insights.

Want More?

Next up, I’ll break down:

• The exact tools I used (including WordPress plugins)
• How I built a content schedule for Discover
• A checklist for picking expired domains the safe way

Stay tuned. You can subscribe or bookmark prashantviroja.com for upcoming posts.