Just when you thought you’d got your head around Search Engine Optimisation, Google decides to roll out another core update on May 25, 2022, six months after their previous wave of changes. While the initial statement noted a one to two week period for full implementation, many sites have already noticed a significant change, with a whole host of analytical data now available online.
As always, Google haven’t revealed any specific details about the update, noting in 2019 that core changes involve making ‘substantial improvements to our overall ranking processes’, which have increasingly focused on rewarding quality content. But what does this mean for website owners?
How Do Core Updates Affect SERPs?
The main issue to be aware of is that core updates will have an impact on Google search engine results pages (SERPs), and with the speed of May’s changes – with some users reporting as little as 24 hours – your previous Google ranking is likely to have altered, even if you’ve improved your SEO.
With Google keeping their algorithms and systems to themselves (to prevent users from trying to override them), there isn’t much you can do to alter your new SERP result. That said, the purpose of core updates is to create a better user experience, so if your ranking falls significantly, it’s a sign that you need to make further improvements before the next update (expected towards the end of the year).
Should You Make Changes to Your Website?
Regardless of Google core updates, there’s always a reason to review and improve your website. Internet users are increasingly savvy about where they choose to spend their time, so if there’s an element of your site that’s not reaching its full potential, take the opportunity to revise it.
Have a look at your new ranking and see how you fare. If you’ve already been working hard to make changes, you might actually see your position has improved. But if you’ve left your site ticking along without checking the analytics or making alterations, the chances are your rating will have fallen.
What Support is Available for Core Updates?
While the specifics of core updates remain restricted, Google have provided some general advice for website owners, including:
- increasing the quality (of not only your content but also imagery, navigation and SEO)
- improving as many factors as you can (as core updates ‘don’t target anything specific’)
- and don’t take ranking changes personally – it doesn’t necessarily mean there’s anything wrong with your site, just that there are more useful sites out there.
For those professionals and companies who have noticed a significant decline in web rankings and other analytical data, enlisting the support of an expert could be the way forward. At Bobble Digital, we have over 20 years of experience in SEO and are here to help businesses from every background achieve optimised web content and high organic SERPs. Get in touch with us to find out more.
