03/06/2026
It has been one week since Google released its May 2026 Core Update - the second core update of the year; and the digital landscape has not stopped talking about it.
With the rollout wrapped up, now is the right time for publishers to take stock of what has shifted and what actions to prioritise.
The update is designed to better surface content that is relevant and genuinely satisfying to users. Google's guidance remains consistent: produce helpful, people-first content.
That said, the next two weeks may bring noticeable shifts in rankings and organic traffic. Here is how publishers should respond:
📌 Segment traffic data by page type to identify whether drops are concentrated in specific content categories, landing pages, or site sections rather than treating it as a blanket site-wide issue
📌 Cross-check affected pages against E-E-A-T signal to assess whether their content clearly demonstrates experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness, as these remain central to how Google evaluates quality
📌 Review underperforming content for thin or outdated information. Pages that lack depth, have not been updated in a while, or do not fully address user intent are often the most exposed during core updates
📌 Check site’s internal linking structure to ensure the strongest, most authoritative content is well-connected and easy for Google to surface
📌 Benchmark against competitors who gained visibility. Understanding what moved up can be as informative as understanding what moved down
Connect with our monetization experts via [email protected] and receive a personalized audit session of your site’s performance and monetization capabilities amid this core update.
