May 2022: Google’s broad core update moves rankings across the board
Covers May 2022. Part of our search timeline: a month-by-month look at the changes that shaped SEO, AI search, paid ads and social media, written in November 2026 for local businesses with the benefit of hindsight.
Quick answer: On 25 May 2022 Google launched its May 2022 core update, a wide-ranging change that shifted rankings in lots of different sectors. There was no single thing to fix, as is always the case with core updates. Sites offering stronger, genuinely helpful content and obvious expertise generally came out ahead.
We are writing this in November 2026, and the May 2022 update still stands out as one of the bigger shake-ups of that year. It is also a good example of why staying calm pays off when a core update hits.
What did the May 2022 update involve?
The rollout took around two weeks to complete. Google’s advice stayed the same as for previous updates: concentrate on content quality, expertise and whether visitors leave satisfied, rather than on technical tinkering.
How did it affect local businesses?
A number of UK businesses saw traffic rise or fall sharply. The ones that reacted in a hurry, rewriting or deleting pages before the dust had settled, often found things harder. Those that worked through their content quality steadily tended to recover, or even gain ground, in later updates.
Picture a landscaper covering three towns who loses a few positions for “garden design” the week the update starts. Rewriting every service page that afternoon would be guesswork. Waiting for the rollout to finish, then comparing their pages with the ones now ranking above them, gives a much clearer picture.
How to handle a core update today
- Hold off on any analysis until Google confirms the rollout is complete.
- Set the pages that dropped alongside the ones that rose, and compare depth, accuracy and the expertise on show.
- Strengthen or merge thin pages instead of removing large chunks of content in one go.
Frequently asked questions
Why have I lost rankings after a core update?
Google reassessed a huge number of pages, and some competitors may now be judged more relevant or more useful. A drop like this is not a penalty.
How often does Google run core updates?
Usually a few times each year. Google keeps a public list of them, so you can check dates.
Sources and further reading
Want help with this? If a core update has moved your rankings, our local SEO service can help you respond properly. Get in touch.
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