“On February 5, 2026, Google Search launched a significant, targeted algorithm update known as the February 2026 Discover Core Update. It focuses on enhancing local relevance, reducing clickbait, and prioritizing in-depth, expert-driven content.” My sales have slowed considerably so far this month and I am wondering if this is part of the reason. Anyone have a similar experience or any advice on how to adapt our SEO strategies after this update?
Hi @EpicKitchn
First — Google has not officially announced a February 2026 Discover Core Update. If it were a major core update, it would be confirmed on Google Search Status or widely reported in SEO news.
Also important: Google Discover traffic regular search traffic.
If your sales dropped, check:
Google Search Console → Performance
Did impressions/clicks drop
Was it Discover specifically, or Search
Traffic sources in Shopify
Is the drop organic only
Or paid/social as well?
If Discover traffic dropped
Discover favors:
Fresh content
Strong E-E-A-T (experience & authority)
Non-clickbait headlines
High-quality images
Consistent publishing
But Discover is volatile by nature — traffic can fluctuate heavily month to month.
More common causes of sales drops
Seasonality
Ad performance changes
Competitor pricing
Conversion rate issues
Traffic quality changes
I’d first confirm whether your organic search traffic actually declined before attributing it to an algorithm update.
Check data first then adjust
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Hey,
You’re not alone in this. Many website owners have noticed a drop in traffic and sales after the February update, so it’s completely normal to question whether it’s affecting your business too. From what people are observing, Google is now giving more importance to content that is detailed, useful, and relevant to a specific location. At the same time, headlines that feel exaggerated or written only to attract clicks are not performing as well as before. If a large portion of your traffic was coming from Google Discover, this update could be one of the reasons behind the recent slowdown.
Right now, the best approach is to focus on improving the quality of your content. Make your articles more in depth, keep your titles clear and honest, and update older posts so they provide real value. If your audience belongs to a specific country or region, adding local relevance can also make a difference. Try not to worry too much. Traffic changes are common after major updates. Stay consistent, keep improving your content, and give it some time to stabilize.
Stay consistent, keep improving your content, and give it some time to stabilize. All the best 
1 Like
Hello @EpicKitchn, this Google update is the most controversial one Google has ever released. It affects not only Google Discover but also many other websites that rely on organic search. The common solutions for these situations remain the same, but there are a few points to note:
- Optimize content quality. While it’s difficult to define what constitutes “good” quality, you can refer to the top-ranking sites that Google currently considers “good.”
- Optimize your crawl budget. Delete or noindex duplicate pages and thin content that are not truly necessary or relevant to your website.
- Invest in quality backlinks. Google says backlinks are no longer the most important criterion, but having good links is never a bad thing. Try to invest in backlinks through legitimate means.
- Submit the changes to GSC and WAIT. Notify Google of the changes you’ve made through the submit feature on GSC and wait for Google to process them. Typically, rankings won’t improve immediately due to numerous factors; it can take anywhere from a week to 2-3 months to reappear in their previous positions.
In the meantime, try to create new content and add more detailed information about your website, products, services, or staff.
Hope this helps 