Google’s Core Update Alters Discover Guidelines
▼ Summary
– Google updated its “Get on Discover” documentation to align with its February Discover core update, adding new guidance for content visibility.
– The revision splits previous title guidance into two distinct points: using descriptive titles/headlines and explicitly avoiding clickbait tactics.
– It also refines sensationalism guidance to name the tactic directly and adds a new recommendation to provide a great overall page experience.
– These changes reflect the update’s goals of reducing sensational content and clickbait while promoting locally relevant and original content.
– The update is rolling out initially to English users in the U.S., with a global expansion planned, and publishers should consult the revised documentation.
Following a recent core update to its Discover feed, Google has refined its official guidance for publishers seeking visibility in this personalized content stream. The updated “Get on Discover” documentation now provides more explicit instructions, reflecting the update’s stated goals of reducing low-quality content and enhancing user experience. These revisions offer a clearer roadmap for content creators aiming to reach audiences through this prominent platform.
A side-by-side comparison of the old and new guidelines reveals several key adjustments. Previously, advice on titles and clickbait was merged into a single point. Google has now separated these into two distinct recommendations. The first instructs creators to “Use page titles and headlines that capture the essence of the content.” The second, more pointed directive explicitly states to “Avoid clickbait and similar tactics to artificially inflate engagement.” This marks the first time the term “clickbait” has been directly used in this section of the documentation.
The language around sensationalism has also been sharpened. The older version advised avoiding tactics that manipulate appeal by targeting “morbid curiosity, titillation, or outrage.” The revised guidance is more concise, simply warning against “Avoid sensationalism tactics that manipulate appeal.” This change aligns with the core update’s focus on diminishing overly sensational content.
Perhaps the most significant addition is a new recommendation stressing the importance of a “Provide an overall great page experience,” which includes a link to Google’s broader page experience resources. While page experience has been a factor in Google Search since 2020, its formal inclusion in Discover-specific guidance is new. Other sections covering image requirements, traffic fluctuations, and performance monitoring remain unchanged from the previous version.
These documentation edits directly correspond to the objectives Google outlined for the February Discover core update. The company announced the update would prioritize locally relevant information, decrease the prominence of sensational material and clickbait, and highlight more original content from authoritative sources. Historically, changes to the Discover documentation have often coincided with underlying algorithm adjustments, such as when Discover was integrated into the Helpful Content System documentation.
The current core update is initially rolling out to English-language users in the United States, with a global expansion to all languages and regions expected in the coming months. Publishers who track their Discover performance through Search Console are encouraged to review the updated “Get on Discover” page to ensure their content strategies align with the latest recommendations. Google’s standard advice for navigating core updates remains applicable during this period of change.
(Source: Search Engine Journal)
