Imagine waking up to 25,000 clicks—before lunch.
Google Discover can be a goldmine for website traffic—if you know how to use it. While traditional organic search strategies still matter, Discover offers a unique chance to earn thousands of pageviews in a short burst. And if your content continues showing up, your long-term traffic can explode.
But here’s the problem: most businesses are still making major mistakes that kill their chances of showing up in Discover. If you’re relying on outdated SEO tactics, you’re likely missing out.
Let’s break down the most common pitfalls—and what to do instead.
1. Obsessing Over Content Length
Forget everything you’ve heard about word count. Google has repeatedly said that content length is not a ranking factor—even for regular search.
In fact, Google’s own John Mueller addressed this directly on LinkedIn, stating:
“There is no universally ideal content length. Focus on bringing unique value to the web overall, which doesn’t mean just adding more words.” — John Mueller, Senior Search Analyst at Google
And for Google Discover? Long content can actually hurt you.
Discover is designed for mobile. Readers want fast, engaging, scroll-friendly stories—not 2,000-word essays. Don’t write fluff just to pad your article. Get to the point. Make it readable. If you’re used to writing for SEO with massive intros and keyword stuffing, it’s time to unlearn that.
A classic example? Recipe blogs that force you to scroll past someone’s life story before getting to the ingredients. Don’t do that.
2. Using Boring or Generic Featured Images
Google Discover is visual. That thumbnail is the first thing users see—and often the only reason they click.
Too many creators just grab a random stock photo from Pexels or Unsplash without thinking. Even high-quality images can fall flat if they’re not interesting. You need something that pops.
Better options include:
- Original photography (best-case scenario)
- Editorial images from sources like Getty or Alamy (great for news and celebrity content)
- Carefully chosen stock photography that grabs attention
Put real thought into your image. If you wouldn’t stop scrolling for it, don’t use it.
3. Writing SEO-Style Headlines Instead of Clickable Titles
This is a big one. Discover is not traditional search. No one is typing keywords. It’s all algorithmic suggestion based on interests and behavior.
That means your headline needs to hook people. Don’t write like you’re optimizing for Google Search—write like you’re trying to win a click on social media.
If you’re unsure what works, study it:
- Open Google Discover on your phone.
- Screenshot 10 headlines that catch your eye.
- Use ChatGPT to analyze them and generate more headline ideas for your niche.
Think of your headline as your handshake. Make it count.
4. Focusing Too Much on Evergreen Content
Evergreen content is great for long-term SEO—but it’s not what fuels Google Discover.
Discover rewards timely content:
- News
- Trends
- Industry updates
- Event reactions
- Cultural moments
Sure, the occasional evergreen piece might get picked up, but your best bet is to tap into what’s happening right now. Don’t be afraid to chase relevance—it won’t confuse Google, and it won’t hurt your site. The myth of “thin content penalties” is mostly noise from overzealous SEO influencers.
5. Overusing AI Without Strategy
Yes, AI can help—but don’t just prompt ChatGPT to write a 500-word news story and call it a day.
Google Discover rewards relevance and originality. A better workflow:
- Research or gather info yourself
- Feed your notes into ChatGPT
- Use Canvas mode or live editing tools to refine it paragraph by paragraph
- Inject your voice and perspective
Bonus tip: Try recording a voice memo to brainstorm or free-think. Then paste the transcript into ChatGPT and have it structure your article. It’s fast, it’s your own content, and it still leverages AI to polish and publish.
6. Thinking You Can Mass-Produce Discover Content
Google knows when content is mass-produced. Even if it’s short and digestible, you still need to put care into each piece.
AI doesn’t replace creativity—it enhances it. You can’t just automate your way to viral content. Focus on quality, originality, and strategic timing.
Final Thoughts
If you’re trying to crack Google Discover, it’s not about gaming the system. It’s about meeting readers where they are—with stories they care about, headlines that stand out, and visuals that stop the scroll.
Ready to start showing up in Discover? Let’s build a custom strategy for your business. Contact Vertz Marketing today.