Time to read: 4 minutes
Sadly, this is no April Fools’ joke. Google has unleashed their first major shift to search this year with the March 2025 Core Update, which was officially released on March 13.
This is the first core update to be released since December 2024. Like past updates, Google stated that the rollout would take up to two weeks to wrap up. And, as of March 27, the update has completed.
If you aren’t familiar with broad core updates, they occur when Google makes changes to their main algorithm that is used to digest and rank web pages. Oftentimes, core updates cause major fluctuations to rankings which can make it difficult to assess your true standings on SERPs (search engine results pages).
Google’s Objective with the March Core Update
In their announcement, Google stated this core update is a “regular update designed to better surface relevant, satisfying content for searchers from all types of sites.”
(Photo from Barry Schwartz on X/Twitter)
They also mentioned their ongoing efforts to “surface more content from creators through a series of improvements throughout this year,” showing that the focus remains on improving the quality of search results and helping more content from creators to emerge.
Initial Observations from SEOs
Initially, many SEOs observed turbulence and volatility around March 6, prior to the official announcement. However, Google has stated that this was not related to the March 2025 Core Update itself.
Google explained that the core update was released when announced, so any movement before that would not be from this specific update. However, Glenn Gabe suggested that Google could have updated other systems before the core update rolled out, and Google has previously stated that they “could push ‘smaller core updates’ that are generally not widely noticeable.”
That is not to say, however, that this update isn’t causing volatility. According to the Local SEO Guide, during the week of March 10, their tracking data for various home services was the most volatile since March of 2024!
Impact and Community Reactions
Initial reactions from the online SEO community reveal frustration, skepticism, and fears about the impact. Some independent publishers and content creators are reporting continued traffic losses, while established platforms and Google’s AI Overviews might be gaining visibility.
There are also reports of aggregated and low-quality content outranking authoritative sources. And instead of seeing smaller businesses get boosts, some marketers like Lily Ray are seeing pushes for big brands:
What to Do If Your Site Is Affected
Google hasn’t provided new specific advice for this update, but their general guidance remains consistent. And it’s important to note that there aren’t specific actions to take to recover immediately!
A drop in rankings doesn’t necessarily mean there’s something wrong with your pages, but if you see anything concerning and want to know more, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Ensure you are creating high-quality, original content that provides value to users. You can review Google’s core update guidance and quality rater guidelines as well.
- Audit your page content to ensure it delivers genuine value to users and demonstrates your experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). This approach should also include improving your backlink profile and establishing a strong reputation in your industry.
- Check on your user experience from the Core Web Vital scores in Google Search Console to monitor any technical issues on your website. You should also monitor any drops in impressions, clicks, and keyword rankings in GSC as well.
There Is Still Plenty of Time in 2025 to Get Your Marketing on Track
As we start Q2, now is the time to assess how the first three months of the year went for your business. And if you find that your rankings have slipped, your ads aren’t converting as well, or your website just isn’t performing as well as it should be, we’d be glad to take a look and give you our recommendations. We look forward to hearing from you!
