Google’s latest Core Update, called May 2020, was officially announced by Google on May 4 in the following statement:
Later today, we are releasing a broad core algorithm update, as we do several times per year. It is called the May 2020 Core Update. Our guidance about such updates remains as we’ve covered before. Please see this blog post for more about that:https://t.co/e5ZQUAlt0G
— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) May 4, 2020
It’s now a reality and it’s starting to wreak havoc on some online stores. Its effects are beginning to show, and your online store could be clearly affected if you don’t take the right measures.
Before we go on: if Google’s Core Update sounds like Greek to you and you run an eCommerce business, you’d better take note of what we’re about to tell you.
What does it mean when Google runs a Core Update and how can it affect my online store’s revenue?
A Core Update is an update to Google’s core algorithm. In other words, the internet giant makes changes from time to time so that the results appearing in the top positions are relevant and of “quality” by its own standards.
Google states that these updates are designed to fulfill its mission of delivering relevant and authoritative content to users.
These are technical matters, but it’s important to keep up with every update. A drop in your online store’s SEO can mean a significant fall in revenue. It wouldn’t be the first time a Google Core Update drastically cut an online store’s income. A very clear example was the penalty many online stores suffered after the Medical Update 2018. Online stores in the health sector, especially online pharmacies, saw their organic traffic drop by more than 50% within a few days. As a result, those that failed to react and adapt to Google’s new “core” update were practically dealt a fatal blow.
How do I know if the Core Update May 2020 has affected my online store?
Although it’s still early to tell, with tools like SEMRush or Sistrix you can start finding out whether your online store has lost or gained rankings.
For example, if we analyze in Sistrix the visibility index of three domains that, so far, have benefited from the Core Update May 2020, we can see that their visibility index grows significantly after the update:
Another way to find out whether you’re gaining or losing organic traffic after Google’s “core” update is to analyze total clicks and impressions in Google Search Console. If you compare recent periods and see an increase in total clicks, you’re one of the lucky ones who have benefited from this change.
Which sectors have been hurt by Google’s new algorithm update?
According to SEMRush sources cited in one of Search Engine Land’s articles, the most affected categories have been websites related to travel, real estate, health, pets and animals, as well as sites related to people and society.
On the other hand, contrary to what was initially thought, Google’s new update is having a strong impact on search results. This is shown by the SERP volatility chart from SEMRush for the last 30 days:
And now comes the big question:
What can I do if the May Core Update has hit my online store’s traffic and is costing me money?
Let’s be clear here: if this has happened to you, you’re probably already late. But don’t worry, all is not lost and you can still bounce back if you get to work.
The first thing you need to do (we’re not saying it, Google is) is answer these questions.
Content and quality:
Does your online store’s content provide original information?
Does your online store’s content provide a complete description of the topic?
Does your online store’s content go beyond the obvious?
Is your online store’s content copied word for word from other sources without adding value?
Are the titles you use in your online store a descriptive and useful summary of the content?
Would you expect to see your online store’s content in a printed magazine, an encyclopedia or a book?
User trust:
Does your online store’s content present information in a way you would trust?
Is your online store’s content written by an expert who knows the subject well?
Does your online store’s content have spelling mistakes or stylistic issues?
Is your online store’s content mass-produced or outsourced to a large number of creators?
Do you have too many banners and ads that distract users while they read the content?
Does the content display correctly on mobile devices?
Does your online store’s content display correctly on mobile devices?
Once you’ve asked yourself these questions, you’ll see that you can greatly improve the SEO content on your website’s categories, your homepage or even your blog.
But that’s not all you need to do if you want to improve your eCommerce rankings. We recommend reading the post we published a few days ago on how to improve your online store’s SEO rankings.
