What Is This Google Core Update?
When Google states that it will be making changes to its algorithm or any other core updates, there is one crucial thing to keep in mind. Their goal as a search engine is to enhance their user experience; not the experience users have with your website.
In their official statement about the May core update, Google explained that it was “designed to increase the overall relevancy of our search results and make them more helpful and useful for everyone.”
In simple terms, core updates are Google’s way of improving search results’ overall quality and relevance. When these core updates happen, it is not to one specific website. Yet, for the sake of your business, you should be aware of these updates as they may produce changes to the performance of your website.
What Changed?
Since core updates exist to improve search functionality and keep up with the ever-evolving web environment, it is essential to know what changed.
Google’s broad algorithm change affects ranking search results based on a website’s indexed web pages. Upon the initial transition, websites saw high volatility in Google search results, which has since leveled off.
Many site owners noticed things felt chaotic for a couple of weeks after the update landed. Some saw their traffic drop off a cliff, then slowly climb back—kind of like their site was recovering from a wild night out. Typical, honestly, since Google’s updates usually need a bit of time to settle before you have any real sense of where you stand. Everyone holds their breath, checks analytics, and waits for the dust to clear. No one ever really likes surprises when it comes to search rankings.
What’s interesting—and honestly a little nerve-wracking—is that broader shifts like this can shake up entire industries. Suddenly, niche players sometimes outrank big brands, at least for a while, and smaller businesses start popping up where you’d least expect them. It’s not always permanent, but the mix-up does force people to rethink how much they rely on a single spot in the rankings. Maybe it’s just a reminder that the web doesn’t owe anyone stability, even if it’s been kind before.
Why Websites Are Seeing Their Ranking Declining
The main reason websites are seeing their ranking decline is because Google is reassessing the pages on your website. Google noted that some websites could see drops or gains in their overall rankings.
For instance, if your website featured web pages that once ranked high for specific keywords, this core update could cause those same pages to rank lower, which could affect the ranking of your website in the search results overall.
In cases outside of core updates, violations of Google’s webmaster guidelines are the only reason for a change or algorithmic action that causes a change to your website. Again, although these core updates don’t target specific websites or pages, understanding how to curb any negative impacts can be beneficial.
According to the Search Engine Journal, there’s a suspicion that AI-generated content suffered a bigger impact in this new update, but there’s no official statement from Google supporting this, however.
How to Avoid That to Your Website
According to Google’s Search Central Blog, it is vital to note that even if your website experiences a drop in ranking, there may be nothing you can fix to improve your search engine results ranking immediately.
The best advice to avoid declining your website ranking is to produce the best possible content based on your target audience and keywords. Also, be very aware of how making changes to your website could further affect you because you could be making changes to the wrong thing.
While your business can’t stop Google’s algorithm change, you can make sure to produce the best content possible and market it effectively.