Google announced on Wednesday (25 May) that it has started rolling out the first broad core algorithm update of the year.
Arriving six months after the last major update back in November, the new “May 2022 core update” will make changes to ensure search results remain relevant for users.
Google’s search expert, Danny Sullivan noted: “Core updates are changes we make to improve Search overall and keep pace with the changing nature of the web.”
He again reiterated that core updates are not designed to target specific websites, hence the use of “broad” in the title.
However, because the new algorithm will reassess content online, it is inevitable that there will be fluctuations in search rankings.
Google says websites are not being penalised in this instance and that looking for a “fix” is not recommended.
Instead, using SEO services to create and publish high-quality content that is optimised for search is the best way to move forward.
The latest update started rolling out at 4pm BST on Wednesday and is set to take up to two weeks before it’s fully completed.
Websites may see “noticeable” changes to how they perform in search in the coming days, with both spikes and drops in rankings possible.
News of the official update comes days after the SEO community speculated about a rollout, after spotting volatility in SERPs.
Google’s John Mueller quashed these rumours after stating that core updates always get an official announcement beforehand.
Following the launch of the latest update, which is expected to be the first of several in 2022, webmasters can start preparing to analyse its impact using SEO tools and software.
