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Published on: February 10, 2026 / Updated on: February 10, 2026 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
Discover Engine Optimization: SEO, GEO… DEO? What the Discover Core February 2026 update means for your traffic strategy – Image: Xpert.Digital
With the launch of the "February 2026 Discover Core Update," Google is explicitly focusing on the Discover environment and deliberately differentiating this update from the classic core updates for organic search. While webmasters and SEOs have primarily been accustomed to ranking shifts in the SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages), this algorithm adjustment targets the curated feeds on millions of mobile devices.
The rollout, planned over a period of approximately two weeks, promises significant changes in the traffic mix of many publishers. Google has defined three clear goals: reducing clickbait and sensationalist reporting, massively strengthening local news, and prioritizing content with in-depth, expert knowledge. Those who have previously relied on sensationalist headlines without substance are likely to suffer a massive loss of visibility, while local media outlets and specialized news portals could be among the winners.
But the update not only brings qualitative shifts, it also raises new strategic questions. The industry is already discussing whether, in addition to traditional search engine optimization (SEO) and local optimization (GEO), a separate discipline of Discover Engine Optimization (DEO) is now necessary. At the same time, publishers face a paradox: While the increasing integration of AI summaries directly into the feed could increase visibility (impressions), it could also decrease the click-through rate (CTR), since users can obtain the desired information without clicking.
This article summarizes what webmasters need to know now, how long the fluctuations will last, and how you need to adapt your content strategy to remain relevant in the Discover feed in 2026.
More information here:
In February 2026, Google will launch the so-called February 2026 Discover Core Update. Unlike traditional core updates, which primarily affect rankings in regular search, this update specifically targets the Google Discover discovery environment. Google describes it as an algorithm adjustment that changes how users find content in Discover and how publishers gain visibility there.
Classic core updates re-evaluate search results in Google Search and lead to typical ranking fluctuations in organic results. The February 2026 Discover Core Update, however, focuses on Google Discover, the area where users receive article, news, and video recommendations without actively searching. In terms of content, the update is similar to search updates because it also focuses on quality, relevance, and expertise, but it is specifically aimed at the Discover environment.
Google has announced that the rollout of the February 2026 Discover Core Update will take place in several phases. The process will initially begin in the US for English-language search results. The rollout is expected to last approximately two weeks. During these two weeks, webmasters and website operators can expect significant fluctuations in Discover traffic, similar to the ranking fluctuations seen after traditional core updates. In the coming months, the update will then be rolled out to other countries, including Germany.
For many publishers, Discover is a crucial traffic source alongside organic search and social media. Changes in how content is delivered on Discover can directly impact page impressions and click-through rates (CTRs) from this source. Since the update explicitly aims to curb clickbait, promote local news, and increase the visibility of expert content, the rules of the game for visibility on Discover could fundamentally change.
By 2026, Discover will increasingly be understood as an additional layer of visibility, creating a distinct dimension in online marketing alongside traditional SEO and GEO (Geo-SEO / Local Search). While SEO and GEO will continue to focus on the traditional search page and local discoverability, Discover deals with the discovery of content outside of targeted search queries. This raises the question for many publishers of whether, in addition to SEO and GEO, a separate Discover Engine Optimization (DEO) will be necessary in the future.
It fits with this:
Google identifies three key areas that the February 2026 Discover Core Update will address:
Google aims to significantly reduce clickbait articles. This primarily includes posts that use exaggerated or misleading titles to generate as many clicks as possible without offering users any real value.
The update aims to increase the amount of local news users see. This means that content from their own country, region, or city will be featured more prominently in Discover. The goal is to increase relevance to individual user locations.
Pages with specialist expertise and a long-standing reputation will be given greater prominence in the Discover feed. Google primarily wants to show users current, in-depth content from recognized experts. This applies to both large specialist portals and local publishers with expertise in specific subject areas.
Google defines "sensational" content as content that deliberately relies on exaggerated sensationalism to generate attention. This includes:
Such content will be shown less frequently in Discover in the future, in order to improve the quality of recommendations.
Strengthening local news means that Discover will not only cover global or national topics, but will also give greater consideration to local events, regional news, and city-related reports. This could mean, for example:
This gives local publishers and regional media a better chance to position themselves in the feed.
Google wants to show users in Discover content that is genuinely helpful and trustworthy. Therefore, demonstrable expertise on a page is becoming increasingly important. Essentially, this means:
The aim is to ensure that users receive not just any content, but contributions that are professionally sound.
Google defines quality in the context of Discover using several parameters. These include:
These factors combine to influence whether an item remains visible in Discover or is scaled back.
Significant fluctuations in Discover traffic are expected during the rollout of the February 2026 Discover Core Update. Similar to core updates in search, individual pages may:
These fluctuations will be particularly pronounced in the first two weeks, until the algorithm has stabilized.
According to Google, the rollout itself is limited to approximately two weeks. However, the subsequent stabilization phases can last for several weeks to months. During this time, publishers can:
Therefore, it makes sense not to react to individual days or weeks, but to observe trends over a longer period.
The following publisher groups are expected to benefit most from the content changes:
These publishers can expect better visibility in Discover and potentially increased traffic from this source.
The update primarily affects those pages that:
These pages may be affected by:
come.
To increase their chances of good visibility in Discover, publishers should consider the following points:
These measures are generally in line with Google's recommendations for all core updates and are also useful for the Discover update.
B2B support and SaaS for SEO and GEO (AI search) combined: The all-in-one solution for B2B companies – Image: Xpert.Digital
The digital landscape for B2B companies is undergoing rapid change. Driven by artificial intelligence, the rules of online visibility are being rewritten. For companies, it has always been a challenge not only to be visible in the digital mass, but also to be relevant to the right decision-makers. Traditional SEO strategies and managing local presence (geo-marketing) are complex, time-consuming, and often a battle against constantly changing algorithms and intense competition.
But what if there were a solution that not only simplified this process but also made it smarter, more predictive, and far more effective? This is where the combination of specialized B2B support with a powerful SaaS (Software as a Service) platform comes into play, specifically designed for the demands of SEO and GEO in the age of AI search.
This new generation of tools no longer relies solely on manual keyword analysis and backlink strategies. Instead, it leverages artificial intelligence to more accurately understand search intent, automatically optimize local ranking factors, and conduct real-time competitive analysis. The result is a proactive, data-driven strategy that gives B2B companies a decisive advantage: they are not only found, but perceived as the leading authority in their niche and location.
Here's the symbiosis of B2B support and AI-powered SaaS technology that transforms SEO and GEO marketing, and how your company can benefit from it to grow sustainably in the digital space.
More information here:
Many publishers and webmasters are asking themselves, in light of the February 2026 Discover Core Update: Do we now need to implement DEO in addition to SEO and GEO? The term Discover Engine Optimization (DEO) is being discussed in this context to indicate that Discover could officially be treated as its own "search/discovery platform".
Related to this:
Google itself doesn't officially refer to DEO as a separate discipline, but emphasizes that the basic principles of content quality and guideline compliance still apply. The recommendations for Discover run parallel to those for traditional search. Therefore, there is no separate "DEO" guideline that requires entirely new techniques.
There are certain points that publishers can actively influence:
Nevertheless, the direct influence on Discover delivery is limited, as Google controls the feed logic internally.
Actual visibility in the Discover feed depends largely on algorithms that publishers cannot control. These include:
Publishers can therefore only indirectly influence the quality and topic direction of their content, not the specific feed logic.
If one considers DEO as an additional discipline, it differs in the following points:
Although the principles are similar (helpfulness, quality, local relevance), DEO focuses more on discoverability without a direct search query.
At the moment, it is not necessary to introduce completely new tools. Publishers can use existing instruments:
Crucially, the content strategy as a whole must be qualitatively oriented, not just focused on the single new algorithm update.
In addition to Google's efforts to improve the quality of Discover, there's another major issue: AI summaries. Google has been integrating automatically generated article summaries into Discover for some time now, displaying them directly in users' feeds. These AI summaries can lead to users:
This potentially means fewer clicks and less traffic for publishers, even if they receive more impressions.
Related to this:
The impact of AI summaries is multifaceted:
For many publishers, this presents a paradoxical situation: theoretically, the update will increase their visibility in terms of quality, but as a result, they might receive less traffic from Discover overall.
To retain traffic even when AI summaries suggest the completeness of the content in the feed, publishers can use the following strategies:
In summary, AI summaries limit click-throughs, but not necessarily the importance of Discover as a visibility channel.
Yes, the content users see in their Discover feeds depends not only on the algorithm but also on personal settings and preferences. These include:
This means that the same content will not be visible to every user in the same way, but will be highly personalized.
For some time now, Discover users have been able to directly influence their source preferences. This can present both opportunities and risks for publishers:
Publishers should therefore ensure they deliver consistently high quality so that users are more likely to rate the source positively.
A new and interesting aspect is that early adopters can now customize their Discover feed via AI prompts. Specifically, this means:
This presents a new challenge for publishers: the more users control their own feed, the more important the brand and topic clarity of their own content becomes in order to be taken into account in such guided feed management.
By 2026, Discover will be an integral part of the Google ecosystem. It will complement traditional search, local search, and Maps results by adding another layer: content discovery without a direct search query. In this context, Discover will be understood not only as a traffic channel but also as a platform for brand and content discovery.
Discover differs from social media in that:
This means that Discover can be an attractive alternative or complement to social media channels, especially for publications that focus on current news, specialist content or local reporting.
To succeed in the Discover feed in the long term, publishers should strategically adjust their portfolio:
This makes Discover not just an additional channel, but part of an integrated content strategy.
No. The February 2026 Discover Core Update is less of a complete reinvention and more of a further step towards quality-first. Publishers who already:
You don't necessarily need to fundamentally rethink your approach. However, you should monitor the update, analyze the performance in Discover, and adjust your content and brand strategy accordingly.
Publishers should not assume that the update:
Algorithms are complex and results can vary greatly depending on the market, niche and target group.
Realistically, the February 2026 Discover Core Update can be expected to include:
Publishers should therefore see the update as an opportunity, not a threat, and focus on high-quality, helpful and authentic content, rather than short-term black-hat strategies.
Konrad Wolfenstein
I and my team are happy to be available to you as your personal advisor.
You can contact me by filling out the contact form here or simply call me at +49 89 89 674 804 ( Munich) . My email address is: [email protected]
I'm looking forward to our joint project.
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© February 2026 Xpert.Digital / Xpert.Plus – Konrad Wolfenstein – Business Development
