May 2020 Google Algorithm Updates

Google started rolling out the May 2020 core algorithm update on May 4, 2020, and it took about two weeks for it to roll out completely. This core Google algorithm update was one of the biggest in recent memory because it hit many different niche markets. Search engine result pages have not seen this much volatility since the Medic Google core algorithm update that came out almost exactly a year earlier. If you are one of the sites that took a hit with the May 2020 Google algorithm updates, there are several factors that you need to consider.

Thin Content

While Google has already released several updates related to thin content, May 2020 Google algorithm updates again hit websites hard that still had not corrected this problem. In particular, landing pages that have little or no content have taken the biggest hit. To fix this problem, ensure that you design every page on your website to meet user intent. Avoid creating pages for different geographical areas with the same content on them. Do not copy and paste content from one page to another without reworking it completely. Make sure that your site hierarchy is established so that your most essential pages naturally rise to the top. Use the number of words you need to convey an idea completely.

Search Result Pages with Multiple Intents

Google has rebalanced many pages where users may have different intents when entering a phrase into the search engine box. There is a simple experiment that you can do to determine if you are meeting Google’s expectations for your keywords. Open an incognito window to remove any personalization that Google has done for you. Then, enter your search term into the box. In some cases, you can figure out what Google thinks that users are looking for on that page by looking at their distinctive features. Now, look at the organic results on the first page. Make a list of what you think the intent of the page is and divide your list into different areas. For example, if you enter the term “buy car insurance,” then you will see a combination of informational and shopping sites. Try to make the content where you are hitting on that keyword match the percentages that Google has used.

Local Content

Another area that experienced a massive shakeup in the recent Google algorithm update is local content. This area may settle down a bit, but currently agitators and directories are winning against local websites. Therefore, be sure your site is listed with the correct contact information on the top sites in your category if you own or operate a small business.

SERP Features

If you have been relying on Google’s special features, like shopping carousels, image carousels, and snippet features to drive traffic to your site, you may have lost this traffic during the May 2020 Google algorithm updates. If you want to try to recapture this traffic or gain it for the first time, conduct a content gap analysis using your keywords to discover possibilities. Then, create content that you think will please Google, along with pleasing your target audience.

There is no doubt that the May 2020 Google update was a big one. If you took a hit, then follow the advice in this article to recover.