It’s that time again when Google throws SEO agencies a curveball and sends us running to check the SERPs.
Another Google core algorithm update. Be it good for your keyword rankings, or be it bad, you can guarantee it will be fun.
Latest Insights
On the 25th of May 2022, Google released their May Core Update for Google search.
As outlined in our previous article about the Google core algorithm updates in mid-2021, as usual, Google hasn’t given any indications as to what changes the update includes, instead they refer everyone to this 2019 guidance.
However, as a London SEO agency tracking rankings for a wide range of clients globally, we have some unique insights into how these updates affect our client’s rankings.

The Main Changes We’ve Noticed So Far
While the most significant ranking turbulence typically happens within a day or 2 of the core algorithm update, typically we notice increased levels of turbulence for a couple of weeks on either side of the update. We put this down to Google testing their changes in limited markets prior to the full roll-out, and then subsequent adjustments post-roll-out, when the new algorithm doesn’t deliver the quality of relevant search results that they hoped for.
In the 3 weeks prior to the May 2022 core update, we noticed that clients with landing pages containing a keyword density higher than recommended by Yoast started to fare better than clients with landing pages at the recommended keyword density of 0.5% to 3%.
Other than that slight shift relating to keyword usage on-page, we noticed remarkably little change in keyword rankings, with the notable exception of clients selling Covid products, as outlined below.
COVID-19 Keyword Rank Changes After The May 2022 Core Update
One of our clients selling covid test kits had explosive growth in page 1 keyword rankings on 27th and 28th May, following the update on the 26th, see the graph below showing the rank distribution of the keywords that we track for them:
Around November last year, these same keyword rankings suddenly and dramatically dropped, and no amount of adjusting, tweaking, re-writing, and brainstorming was going to entice them back.
We are pleased that Google has finally released their manual adjustment to our client’s rankings as part of this core algorithm update in May 2022!
COVID-19 Keyword Search Volume Data Changes
A further exciting development we’ve noticed is that Google Covid-19 keyword search volume data has suddenly become available since Google’s May 2022 Core Update!
Since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, we have had to develop our SEO strategies for our clients selling pandemic-related products without the benefits of any keyword data for search terms that included the word Covid, because Google rightly didn’t want people profiteering from the crisis, however, it did make it difficult at times to make essential products visible online to the people who needed them.
We can only assume that Google has now decided that profiteering from the COVID crisis is now a thing of the past, and therefore releasing the keyword search volume data to the marketing world is no longer an issue.
SEO Help And Advice – How To Respond To Core Updates
While some SEO operatives get anxious about the uncertainty that search engine algorithm changes bring, we remain confident that if we continually strive to improve the relevance and quality of our client’s websites, the longer-term search ranking trend will be upwards, in spite of short-term ups and downs.
Browse the advice contained in our SEO help articles, or contact our team of knowledgeable SEO operatives and consultants, and we can help you formulate a game plan to give you the best odds to win the ranking race against your competitors.
Our digital marketing services to help you survive and thrive online:
SEO Site Audits. We will go over your site from technical, user experience, conversion rate optimisation, and search engine optimisation points of view and give you a report with recommended actions.
SEO Consultancy. If you wish to have your teamwork on the site in-house, we can be trusted on-team consultants to guide the direction and also optimise content and hold discussions to maximise your team’s efforts.
Complete SEO Package. We will take time to understand your business and your industry, and research keywords that are important. We will also carry out an audit of your site and then work through the recommended actions once approved by your team.
Website Builds or Re-Builds. With our team of developers, we can either further develop your existing site, or in the event of an obsolete platform or site that is riddled with issues, we can re-build your website from scratch. Websites that we can build include non-eCommerce catalogue or service sites, eCommerce sites (our preferred platform in WooCommerce on the WordPress CMS), blog sites and any other site that your imagination can conjure!
Content Creation and Blog Writing. If you are struggling to create content due to in-house time restrictions, why not let our team of content writers handle it for you? We can write blogs, product descriptions, category descriptions, pages, and ads.
Ultra-Fast Web Hosting Packaging. Our next-generation cloud hosting packages have CDNs in every corner of the globe ensuring that your site is accessible globally at top speed!
Set-Up, Manage and Optimise Google Ads PPC Campaigns. We have excellent success in managing Google Ads PPC Campaigns to reduce spending, increase your quality scores, and get you more clicks for less!
Our Reviews
Author
-
With over 10 years of experience, Cristian Savulescu has built a reputation as a leading SEO specialist. He has worked with globally recognised brands, including Fortune 500 companies such as John Lewis and Ralph Lauren, as well as innovative firms like Revolut and the fashion label Never Fully Dressed. Cristian is known for delivering measurable results, combining technical expertise with strategic insight to drive traffic, conversions, and brand growth. Trusted by some of the biggest names in the industry, he consistently helps businesses achieve and maintain top search rankings.
View all posts