On May 4, 2020, Google announced via a Twitter post that they have released a new update to their algorithm.
A Core Update from Google usually happens a few times a year and affects how the search engine calculates how different websites rank in different search results. Sometimes the updates to the Google algorithm are great and totally change the way the search landscape looks, while others can have a minor impact.
Tip: read Common Factors for Page 1 on Google
Regardless, it is important that you as an entrepreneur or SEO expert stay updated on these updates and monitor your data extra carefully to understand how the update has / can affect you and your company.
In this article, I tell you everything you need to know about Google’s May 2020 update.
What has happened?
The latest update from Google is called the “May 2020 Core Update” and is a relatively large update. The timing of the update has been criticised as many companies, due to the current pandemic, are already living in the effects of an uncertain future and have lost large parts of their revenue – even from Google. It is also uncertain whether the update in May is actually related to Covid-19 and the changed search behaviour it has created around the world.
Unfortunately, it is seldom possible to map out what an update like this will mean as Google never usually states exactly what an update contains, and which always takes a few weeks before all the effects of the update are clear.
Read about Google search quality guide
Why an update from Google could cause concern
It’s just that it takes time for changes from the update to reach all global data centres that create volatile search results. At the beginning of the update, search results can be based on both new and old data, which creates differences in search results around the world.
An update from Google also works like water rings.
Once Google Google has seen the first result and feedback from the original update, further, less adjustment will be made.
Which are affected by Google’s update
There is already some research done on which industries whose search results have been affected by the May 2020 update. In a study from SEMrush , they examined the average change value seven days before versus two days after the update. They found that the industries and categories that had the most impact were:
- travel industry
- Real Estate Market
- health industry
- Pets
- People and society
Note that the analysis was done a few days after the update was released. Google Core Updates can take up to 2-3 weeks to fully roll out. This means that the analysis may look different if it is made today so it is important to take it with a pinch of salt.
Read about Google Panda, Penguin & other updates
What you can do
When Google announces a new algorithm update, the recommendation to those companies that have been hit negatively is always to focus on creating new and improving content / website. As I mentioned in previous articles, this should always be a high priority if you want to invest properly in your SEO results.
