Google
May 2022 Core Update
In brief
First core update of 2022, rolled out over about two weeks, with no specific target announced.
Key points
- First core update of 2022, rolled out over roughly two weeks.
- No specific target announced: a global reassessment of quality and relevance.
- Marked SERP volatility throughout the rollout.
- Drops are not penalties but a relative reshuffle.
Analysis
Like any core update, the May 2022 one does not target a particular type of site or practice: it refreshes the way Google assesses the relevance and reliability of all pages. A site may decline without having done anything wrong, simply because other content is judged more useful for the queries concerned.
The typical volatility of these two weeks makes in-the-moment analysis misleading: you must wait for stabilization before drawing conclusions. Both winning and losing sites should read the trend across the whole period rather than an isolated spike.
What to do
- Measure the impact over a window covering the entire rollout (before, during, after stabilization), not day by day.
- In case of a drop, audit the quality and usefulness of pages in light of Google's self-assessment questions (E-E-A-T).
- Prioritize improving the most affected content rather than minor technical adjustments.
Impact
Global re-evaluation of quality and relevance. Marked volatility during the rollout.