Google has taken action against several publishers for violating its Discover content policies. This development comes amidst the rollout of the August core update, creating a complex situation for affected websites.
Key Points:
- Multiple manual actions issued
- Violations focus on misleading headlines
- Distinct from August core update impacts
According to Gagan, Google has sent manual action notices to at least seven publishers. These actions specifically target violations of Google Discover policies, with a focus on misleading headlines designed to artificially boost click-through rates (CTR).
Distinguishing Between Update and Manual Action Impacts
It's important for publishers to understand the distinction between traffic changes resulting from:
- The August core update
- Manual actions for Discover policy violations
The core update, which began rolling out two weeks ago, may have already affected Google Discover traffic for many sites. However, if a publisher received a recent manual action notice and observed a further drop in Discover traffic, this additional decline is likely due to the manual action itself.
Recommendations for Publishers
- Review Google Discover policies
- Ensure headlines accurately reflect content
- Monitor Search Console for any manual action notices
- Distinguish between core update and manual action impacts when analyzing traffic changes
Publishers relying on Google Discover traffic should remain vigilant and prioritize adherence to Google's content policies to avoid potential penalties.
