Google Search Has Changed Again: What the March and May 2026 Updates Mean for Your Website
- Promovo
- Jun 1
- 8 min read
Google Search has changed again, and this time it is not just a small background update.
In March 2026, Google released a major Core Update.
In May 2026, another Core Update followed.
At the same time, Google has been pushing AI-powered Search features much harder, including AI Overviews and AI Mode.
For business owners, this matters because the way people find websites is changing.
Google is no longer just showing a simple list of links. Search results can now include AI-generated answers, summaries, suggested sources, maps, reviews, business profiles, product results and other information before someone even clicks onto a website.
This means your website may still exist online, but it may not be getting seen, clicked or trusted in the same way it used to.
If your enquiries have slowed down, your traffic has dropped, or you are not sure whether your website is still performing properly on Google, now is the time to check.
What happened in March and May 2026?
Google regularly updates its search systems, but the March and May 2026 updates are important because they arrived during a much bigger shift in how Google Search works.
The March 2026 Core Update started on 27 March 2026 and took around 12 days to roll out.
The May 2026 Core Update started on 21 May 2026.
In plain English, Google is reviewing which websites deserve to appear more prominently and which ones may need to move down.
It does mean that if your SEO has not been reviewed recently, your website may no longer be as aligned with what Google is looking for now.
Why this matters for your website
A website that ranked well a year or two ago may not automatically keep performing well today.
Google is now looking much more closely at whether a website is useful, trustworthy, well-structured and genuinely helpful for the person searching.
That means old SEO work may need updating.
Your website may need a review if:
your enquiries have slowed down
your website traffic has dropped
your Google rankings have changed
your pages are not getting many clicks
your content has not been updated for a while
your service pages are short or vague
your website does not clearly show reviews, experience or trust signals
your competitors are appearing above you
your site has not been checked in Google Search Console
you are unsure whether your website is ready for AI Search
The businesses that are likely to do better are the ones with clear, helpful, well-structured websites that show real expertise and give customers the information they need.
AI Search is now important
One of the biggest changes is the growth of AI-powered Search.
Google is now using AI Overviews and AI Mode to help people explore topics, compare options and get answers faster.
This is important because users may no longer search in the same simple way.
Instead of typing:
“wedding florist London”
Someone might now search:
“best wedding florist in London for a colourful summer wedding under £2,000”
Or:
“which local website designer can improve my Wix SEO and help with Google visibility?”
These longer, more detailed searches are exactly where better website content matters.
Your website needs to clearly explain:
what you do
who you help
where you are based
what services you offer
why someone should trust you
what makes you different
what questions customers usually ask
how someone can take the next step
It means SEO needs to be better.
Google’s own guidance says the same SEO basics still apply to AI features, including making sure your site can be crawled, your content is useful, your pages are easy to find through internal links, your site gives users a good experience, and your structured data matches the visible content on the page.
So the message is simple: if your SEO is weak, outdated or incomplete, AI Search may make that weakness more obvious.
What has changed in the search results?
Search results are now more competitive and more crowded.
Your potential customers may see:
AI-generated answers
Google Business Profile results
map listings
review snippets
competitor pages
directory listings
videos
shopping results
FAQs
comparison content
blog content
local service pages
This means your website has to work harder.
Your site needs to be clear, specific and properly structured.
For example, instead of one general “Services” page, many businesses now need individual service pages that clearly explain each service in more detail.
Instead of vague homepage wording, your website should answer real customer questions.
Instead of generic content, your site should show why your business is experienced, reliable and worth contacting.
Why older SEO may no longer be enough
Many websites had SEO added when they were first built, but SEO is not a one-time job.
Search changes.
Competitors change.
Customer behaviour changes.
Google changes.
AI Search changes things again.
If your website was optimised months or years ago, it may now be missing important updates, such as:
better service page structure
stronger page titles
improved meta descriptions
clearer headings
more useful content
better internal links
FAQs
schema markup
updated image alt text
mobile improvements
trust signals
local SEO wording
Google Search Console checks
AI Search visibility improvements
This does not always mean you need a new website.
Sometimes the best next step is an SEO refresh.
That means reviewing what is already there, fixing what is missing and updating your website so it is more in line with how Google works now.
What should businesses update now?
1. Review your main pages
Your homepage and service pages are usually the most important pages on your website.
They should clearly explain what you offer, who it is for and why someone should choose you.
If your pages are short, vague or out of date, they may need rewriting.
Good page content should answer the questions a real customer has before getting in touch.
2. Improve your service pages
Each main service should ideally have its own clear page.
For example, a beauty business may need separate pages for facials, skin treatments, massage and aesthetics.
A trades business may need separate pages for emergency repairs, installations, servicing and local areas.
A professional service business may need separate pages for each main service, sector or client type.
This helps Google understand your website properly.
It also helps customers find the exact service they are looking for.
3. Add useful FAQs
FAQs are now very useful for both traditional SEO and AI Search.
They help Google understand what your page is about, and they help customers get quick answers.
Good FAQs should answer real questions, such as:
What is included?
How long does it take?
How much does it usually cost?
Do you cover my area?
What should I prepare before booking?
How does the process work?
Can you help if my website traffic has dropped?
The aim is not to stuff keywords into the page.
The aim is to be genuinely helpful.
4. Strengthen trust signals
Google and customers both need to trust your website.
Your site should include trust signals such as:
reviews
testimonials
case studies
before and after examples
accreditations
qualifications
experience
clear contact details
an about page
real photos where possible
examples of your work
links to social profiles
business location information
If your website looks anonymous or thin, it may struggle to compete.
5. Improve internal linking
Internal links help Google understand which pages on your website are connected.
They also help visitors move around your site.
For example, your homepage should link to your main services.
Your service pages should link to related services, relevant blogs and your contact page.
Your blog posts should link back to the service pages they support.
This creates a stronger website structure.
6. Check mobile experience and speed
Many people will visit your website from a mobile phone.
If your website is slow, awkward to use, difficult to read or hard to navigate, visitors may leave before they enquire.
Google also considers page experience.
A website review should check:
mobile layout
page loading speed
image sizes
button spacing
menu structure
forms
pop-ups
text size
spacing
broken sections
Good SEO is not just about keywords. It is also about user experience.
7. Check Google Search Console
Google Search Console is one of the most important tools for checking your website visibility.
It can show:
which pages are appearing on Google
which search terms people are using
which pages are getting clicks
which pages have dropped
whether pages are indexed
whether there are technical issues
whether Google is seeing your site properly
If your website has not been checked in Search Console recently, you may be missing important information.
8. Update your content for AI Search
AI Search works best with clear, useful and well-structured information.
This means your website should include direct answers, helpful explanations and specific details.
For example, instead of writing:
“We offer professional services tailored to your needs.”
Write something more useful:
“We provide one-off Wix SEO optimisation for small businesses that want to improve their Google visibility, fix indexing issues and generate more enquiries from their website.”
Specific content is better than generic content.
AI Search needs clarity.
So do your customers.
Do Wix websites need SEO updates?
Yes, many Wix websites do.
Wix has strong SEO tools, but they still need to be used properly.
A Wix website may need reviewing if:
the SEO dashboard was never fully completed
page titles and descriptions are missing or weak
service pages are too short
images do not have proper alt text
headings are not structured properly
Google Search Console is not connected
the sitemap has not been checked
pages are not indexed
the mobile version needs tidying
content has not been updated since the site was built
AI Search visibility has not been considered
The platform is not usually the problem.
The problem is often that the SEO setup has not been updated to match how Google works now.
What happens if you ignore it?
The risk is that your website becomes less visible over time.
You may still have a nice-looking website, but it may not be doing enough to bring in traffic, leads or enquiries.
That is why a review is useful.
It shows what is working, what is missing and what should be improved first.
Free SEO and Google visibility audit
If you are unsure whether your website has been affected by the recent Google changes, I am offering a free, no-obligation SEO and Google visibility audit.
This is especially useful if your website is built on Wix and you have not reviewed your SEO recently.
The audit will check key areas such as:
your current SEO setup
page titles and meta descriptions
homepage and service page content
Google visibility basics
indexing checks
mobile usability
trust signals
FAQs
internal linking
AI Search readiness
key areas for improvement
You will receive clear, simple recommendations.
If your website needs updating, I can also provide a quote for the work.
There is no obligation.
Request your free website audit here:
Want to talk it through first?
WhatsApp: wa.me/447307379054
Book a call: promovo.appointlet.com
Website: promovo.co.uk
FAQs
What was the March 2026 Google update?
The March 2026 Core Update was a broad Google Search ranking update released on 27 March 2026. Core Updates can affect how websites are assessed and ranked across search results.
What was the May 2026 Google update?
The May 2026 Core Update started on 21 May 2026. It continued Google’s wider changes to how websites are evaluated and displayed in search.
Is AI Search important for my business website?
Yes. AI Search is becoming a bigger part of Google. Features like AI Overviews and AI Mode can change how people discover websites, compare services and decide which business to contact.
Does SEO still matter with AI Search?
Yes. SEO still matters. Google’s own guidance says the same SEO best practices remain relevant for AI features in Search.
Why has my website traffic dropped?
Traffic can drop for many reasons, including Google updates, stronger competitors, weaker content, indexing issues, technical problems, slower mobile performance or changes in how search results are displayed.
Do I need a new website?
Not always. Some websites only need an SEO refresh, better content, improved structure and technical fixes. A website audit can help identify whether you need small updates, SEO work or a larger redesign.
Can Wix websites still rank on Google?
Yes. Wix websites can rank on Google when they are properly structured, optimised and maintained. The key is making sure the SEO setup, content and page structure are strong.
Comments