Google’s May 2022 Broad Core Algorithm Update: What to Know

Google announced its latest broad core algorithm update in May 2022. It is Google’s first since last November. Three weeks into the rollout of the new update, on June 9^th, Google confirmed that it was complete.

Google continues to update its algorithm to refine how its search engine interprets web pages. This directly impacts your company’s ranking, traffic, and, subsequently, revenue. A core update aims to improve the overall ranking process by increasing the relevancy of the search results and keeping pace with the changing nature of the web. Early impressions of the update indicate it is impacting all content types, languages, and regions globally.

In this post, we will go over:

• The key elements of the latest Google broad core update
• How it will modify your website’s performance
• Top factors to consider
• How one of the top SEO agencies in the Toronto area can help you stay relevant post-update.

What Exactly Is a Broad Core Update?

In the last couple of weeks, we have seen major fluctuations in SERP pages. Some websites gained in ranking which they then lost within a few days, only to regain them.

So, what’s all this fuss about?

As stated, these fluctuations were caused by Google’s broad core algorithm update. It represents an overall change to Google’s core algorithm and overall search ranking system, instead of a targeted fix to identify a specific problem. That’s why Google calls it ‘broad’. It interprets signals from web pages (e.g. keywords and links), with the sole purpose of giving rank to those pages that best answer a search query.

So, what is so unique about this new broad core-algorithm update? Let’s find out.

What Is the May 2022 Update Targeting?

Google’s main purpose for a core update is to improve the accuracy of its search results. For this one, they announced on Twitter that its purpose was to benefit pages that were “previously under-rewarded.” So, it is like Google is hitting the refresh button on their search results, based on a new set of ranking rules.

As a result, your website may have gone up or down or even remained in the same place on the SERP after the update’s rollout was complete.

Was your website impacted? Look at these factors:

• The visibility or organic traffic that your website generates. Did your statistics change unexpectedly?
• Whether there was an overnight or sudden drop in your search engine ranking.
• If there is a significant increase that lasts longer than 1-2 weeks.

If you see any or all of these changes on your web pages, it is likely due to the latest broad core algorithm update. But web pages that see a drop in search engine rankings are not necessarily being penalized. They are just being re-evaluated against content that’s gone live since the last update.

The Top Factors You Should Be Considering Right Now

So, what factors should you take into account in the wake of this update? Here are the top ones you should be considering to respond to broad core updates:

1. Our top recommendation is to focus on publishing the best possible content by adding original information, reporting, and research to handle the impact of the update.
2. Add a substantial, complete, or comprehensive description of the topic and offer insightful analysis or interesting information that is beyond the obvious. If your website’s ranking has increased, that means your content is probably already following these rules. But, if your ranking drops, then you have to improve your content.
3. Focus on E.A.T. (Expertise, Authority, Trust) . This means that when you are publishing content, it should:

• Have established expertise in that field.
• Come from a position of authority.
• Be trustworthy in the eyes of readers.
• Provide a great user experience with fast page speed and build healthy backlinks.

4. The May 2022 Google broad core update has impacted multiple snippet types for SERPs, like FAQ snippets and featured snippets. An FAQ is an interesting clickable element on the SERP for users to find an answer to their query. That’s why it empowers your web pages to attract more clicks by adding credibility and expertise to your SERP listings. In addition, it improves your main search ranking as a whole, as stronger FAQ snippets lift your content to the top. So go for those FAQ snippets.
5. Last but not least is video. We know that video is not always ideal for finding an extensive answer compared to well-organized text with informative points, such as a blog post for a particular query. But we already know how TikTok is exploding the internet with short videos, YouTube videos are well-structured with labelled sections, and video embedding is as effective as ever. Video websites have increased their average visibility metric (their capacity to be discovered on search engines) by 25%.

Contact G Web Pro for Help

So, if your website has been affected by this update, there are certain key solutions that you can implement, depending on the severity of the impact. But how do you measure that severity? Our SEO professionals can help ensure that no penalties were added to the website that could be seen in the Google Search Console. They will audit your website to identify fixable issues both large and small. Or do you need help recovering your SERP ranking? Either way, the SEO experts at G Web Pro are here to help. We have been working with businesses of all sizes for a long time to help them generate traffic and leads. Contact us to let us help you.