Google concludes its May Core Update, the second of the year

Google has announced the completion of its May core update, which took twelve days to roll out. In this way, the search engine has now gone through a first quarter packed with algorithm adjustments, following the core update from a couple of months ago, the March spam update, and the February Discover update.

That said, while those updates were accompanied by periods of major SEO volatility, this time the situation has been much calmer, as reflected in indexes such as Semrush. As you can see, the biggest changes were concentrated on three specific days, including the grand finale of this period on June 2:

This is something other tools, such as Wincher, have also detected. In this case, it also presents a picture in which there is still significant volatility as of today:

SEO volatility is one of the most baffling indicators for professionals across the industry, who see the rankings for the searches they are trying to rank for shift with remarkable ease. To give a simple example, one day the article you had ranking so well for “history of the Internet” appears in third position on Google, and the next day it is tenth… or gone from the top 20 results altogether.

Check how the core update affected you

In such a volatile environment, it is difficult to be sure that the ranking results you see today will remain stable for any meaningful length of time. In fact, Google itself explained at the time that it is advisable to wait a few days after one of these updates has finished before rushing to assess its effects.

In our experience, that is relatively true.

Although it is true that the “aftershocks” of these SEO earthquakes sometimes last for a few days, if during the two-week period Google took to roll out this update you noticed a trend—whether favorable, unfavorable, or, who knows, neutral—it is quite likely that the update’s final effects will fall somewhere on that list.

So how can you measure them?

For this analysis phase and tense calm, it is essential to understand that although these updates usually shake up the SEO landscape, Google does not provide a specific checklist for recovering lost positions. There is no magical repair button: the official recommendation remains the same: prioritize the creation of helpful, relevant content with high technical and human quality.

The first practical step is to analyze your rankings using real data. Use tools such as Google Search Console to break down how your strategic keywords have changed and, above all, identify whether your main traffic sources have taken a hit or emerged stronger. Cross-reference these insights with your internal analytics to understand the real business impact and… yes, keep your fingers crossed.

On the other hand, despite the growing presence of AI Overviews and AI Mode in search results, the overall philosophy has not changed: usefulness for the user is your best lifeline. If your site offers clear answers and differentiated value, you will be in the best position to coexist with artificial intelligence and benefit from new search habits.

Image: ChatGPT