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Official statement

Traffic from Google Discover is generally very unstable, with brutal fluctuations. If the algorithms determine that a site should no longer be featured in Discover, traffic can nearly vanish overnight, without any intermediate position.
🎥 Source video

Extracted from a Google Search Central video

💬 EN 📅 12/11/2021 ✂ 30 statements
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Other statements from this video 29
  1. Is it true that Google prioritizes its own platforms in search rankings?
  2. Should you split your backlinks between two different URLs?
  3. Why doesn't Google automatically hide Chrome extension pages on mobile?
  4. Does Google really slow down crawling on pages that are in prolonged no-index?
  5. How can temporary internal linking boost your reindexing speed?
  6. Is it true that changing your URL could cost you valuable SEO data?
  7. Can canonical and hreflang tags actually work together on the same page?
  8. Why should you avoid using canonicals between language versions?
  9. How do you choose between no-index and canonical for an effective SEO strategy?
  10. Should you combine no-index and canonical tags to enhance your SEO signals?
  11. Why does the crawl rate take longer to recover than to decline?
  12. Should you use the form to boost your crawl rate?
  13. Why is a 500-millisecond response time essential for effective SEO crawling?
  14. Why doesn't a reduced crawl rate from Google lead to the deindexing of your pages?
  15. Why does Google keep crawling old mobile subdomains?
  16. How does Googlebot's geographic limitations affect content indexing?
  17. Is it true that the ES-419 code is a critical error for hreflang?
  18. Should you really replicate the markup of major websites for SEO?
  19. Why doesn't Google assign a single quality score for SEO?
  20. How could bold text influence your SEO strategy?
  21. How can overusing bold text harm your SEO efforts?
  22. How does semantic HTML enhance your SEO performance?
  23. Is it really necessary to manage over 10,000 links per page to optimize your SEO?
  24. Should you favor a hierarchical structure to boost your SEO?
  25. What makes Google Discover's SEO standards so much stricter?
  26. Does response time really impact how Google crawls your site?
  27. Do PWAs Really Impact Your SEO?
  28. Is it essential to redesign older websites for better performance?
  29. What unique SEO challenges do JavaScript PWAs bring?
📅
Official statement from (4 years ago)
TL;DR

Google Discover traffic can be very volatile. If a site is no longer deemed relevant, traffic can plummet dramatically. Safeguard your visibility by diversifying your traffic sources.

What you need to understand

What is the nature of Google Discover?

Google Discover is designed to provide content based on user interests rather than search queries. The algorithms detect engagement and recency to adjust content visibility.

  • Based on user interests.
  • Constant adjustments by algorithms.

What factors influence ranking on Discover?

Content freshness, user engagement, and your site's reputation are crucial. Natural fluctuations in news can dramatically influence traffic without warning.

  • Current and engaging content.
  • Domain authority.

SEO Expert opinion

Is this statement consistent with observed practices?

Absolutely. SEO professionals note these sudden variations, often without warning. Google Discover operates in a more vague and algorithmic manner than traditional SERPs.

What nuances should be addressed?

It’s crucial to understand that volatility is often due to an excessive reliance on Discover for traffic. Diversifying sources is essential.

Is this a grey area in Google's communication?

Yes, Google remains vague about the exact criteria triggering variations, leaving the realm of optimal practices somewhat unclear. [To be verified]

Practical impact and recommendations

What strategic adjustments should be considered?

Consider diversifying traffic sources beyond Discover. Your content strategy should incorporate elements that can directly engage users, such as newsletters or social media.

  • Optimize content for engagement.
  • Monitor performance using analytics tools.
  • Integrate social and direct as additional channels.
Thinking outside the box optimizes Discover, but consulting a specialized SEO agency can be prudent for a sustainable strategy.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Comment fonctionne Google Discover ?
Il propose du contenu basé sur les intérêts des utilisateurs, pas sur des requêtes de recherche.
Pourquoi mon trafic Discover chute-t-il ?
Les algorithmes modifient régulièrement la visibilité selon la pertinence ressentie du contenu.
Peut-on influencer son classement sur Discover ?
Indirectement, via la qualité de votre contenu, l'engagement qu'il suscite, et l'autorité de votre site.
🏷 Related Topics
Algorithms Discover & News AI & SEO JavaScript & Technical SEO Pagination & Structure

🎥 From the same video 29

Other SEO insights extracted from this same Google Search Central video · published on 12/11/2021

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