Google has announced a new core update, set to roll out throughout May 2020.
The previous Core update was back in January 2020.
Google stated it would take “one or two weeks to fully roll out”, so we can all expect to see some volatility in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages) over the next couple of weeks.
Later today, we are releasing a broad core algorithm update, as we do several times per year. It is called the May 2020 Core Update. Our guidance about such updates remains as we’ve covered before. Please see this blog post for more about that – https://developers.google.com/search/blog/2019/08/core-updates
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) May 4, 2020
What is a Core update? ♂️
Google makes changes to it’s search results on a regular basis (sometimes daily) to improve the overall user experience.
The majority of these changes aren’t noticeable. However, several times a year, Google will make more significant changes to how their search algorithm works. These particular updates are referred to as “core updates”.
What to expect
Whenever Google rolls out a Core update, it’s usually followed by volatility in the search engine rankings, across a wide spectrum of industries.
This volatility means your website may rank better or worse in the search results than it was previously.
While there’s nothing you can do to prepare for the changes, knowing when Google are making these updates is important as it can help us (or your alternative SEO agency) consider the Core update as a factor in your rankings improving (or declining). Especially since other SEO related updates could be happening on your website on a regular basis.
What to do if you’re negatively impacted
Unfortunately, it’s not black and white. Even if you are negatively affected, it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your website. Google can have various other reasons to rank another website above your own.
Google have provided a list of questions to consider if your website is negatively impacted by a core update.
The best thing you can do is ensure you’ve considered all the questions provided by Google in the article above, and that you continue to develop and produce the best content you can. The Google algorithms seek to reward websites that offer valuable content to their audience.
Here’s a statement from Google that may help provide some context:
“One way to think of how a core update operates is to imagine you made a list of the top 100 movies in 2015. A few years later in 2019, you refresh the list. It’s going to naturally change. Some new and wonderful movies that never existed before will now be candidates for inclusion. You might also reassess some films and realize they deserved a higher place on the list than they had before. The list will change, and films previously higher on the list that move down aren’t bad. There are simply more deserving films that are coming before them.”
If you’re an existing client of Excite Media, don’t worry! We’ll keep our eye on your rankings and make new updates accordingly as part of your ongoing SEO plan.
Talk to our team about how we could help you stay ahead of your competitors in the search engines. Contact us today!
