Google Confirms May 2020 Core Algorithm Update Rolling Out Today | Latest Google Algorithm

Google's Danny Sullivan has confirmed that a major algorithm update is underway today - May 4, 2020.

The update will officially be known as the "May 2020 Core Update".

Later today, we are releasing a comprehensive core algorithm update, as we do several times per year. This is called the May 2020 core update. Our guidance on such updates remains the same as we have previously covered. Please see this blog post for more information on this: https://t.co/e5ZQUAlt0G

— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) May 4, 2020

Google has been one step ahead of the SEO community when naming these updates, as the company now defaults to the generic month/year naming pattern.

Otherwise, I think we would all be tempted to refer to it as the "May Fourth" update - or something to that effect.

Update 3:52 p.m.: The May 2020 Core Update is now rolling out.

The May 2020 core update is now running live. As is typical with these updates, it will usually take one to two weeks to fully complete.

— Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) May 4, 2020

Second Core Update in 2020

This is Google's second confirmed update to 2020, with the first launch in January.

A lifetime ago seems to reflect on how the world has changed between then and now.

In addition, it effectively answers any questions about whether Google will prevent core updates in the midst of a coronavirus epidemic.

The answer is no.

However this is not necessarily a bad thing, and throughout this post, I will explain why.

The Purpose of Core Updates

Broad core updates have been designed to produce widely noticeable effects in search results in all countries in all languages.

Sites will inevitably notice a drop or gain in search rankings when the core update rolls out.

Changes in search rankings are usually a reflection of content relevance.

If the content has gained relevance since the last update, it will be moved up the ranking. The opposite is also true.

At the time of the last update, no new published material existed. Everyone has to be convinced against the already existing material.

Simply put, the ranking can go up considerably.

The May 2020 core update has the potential to be particularly unstable, with this being the first update since the epidemic.

First Core Update Since COVID-19

The last core update was launched in the second week of January 2020.

At the time, Coronavirus and COVID-19 were hardly on anyone's radar. Now he will not be able to get ahead of the truth.

The world changed rapidly when Coronavirus was declared an epidemic, which came with significant changes in users' search behavior.

Earlier today, Google said that there have never been as many searches for a single topic as COVID-19.

Google search has never seen that many searches for the same topic continue over a sustained period as is now happening with COVID-19. Many searches are about the news of what is happening in local areas, such as shelter updates or the latest on testing. Here's how we're helping ...

- Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) May 4, 2020

COVID-19 has replaced those who need Google's search results.

Whether it is seeking information about the virus itself, or at places offering remote services, or where buying more products online.

Many things are gaining relevance not previously as relevant to explorers.

Conversely, categories that were once highly relevant have yet to be discovered.

For example - searches related to travel, tourism, live entertainment and personal events are all below. just to name a few.

With the core update of May 2020, Google is facing the unique challenge of catching up with how the world is searching.

Over time, we'll see if people are getting easier to access the information they need through Google search.