Google April 2025 Core Update: Ranking Volatility Heats Up

Only a week or so after the Google March 2025 core update had finished, ranking volatility is back with a vengeance—perhaps even worse than ever before.

The sudden volatility seems to have started on April 2nd, Wednesday, and has continued through to today, April 3rd. While the biggest ranking swings were experienced yesterday, many are left asking: Is Google launching another unconfirmed search ranking update too quickly?

The SEO world is buzzing with speculation of radical changes in search ranks. And then, several third-party search trackers have picked up enormous spikes, which further fuel speculation.

One thing is certain—such changes are causing tremendous flux in search results. Let’s break it down.

Google Tracking Tools Register High Volatility

Several search tracking tools have picked up monumental volatility on April 2nd. Here’s what the data shows

• Semrush 
• Advanced Web Rankings 
• SimilarWeb 
• Mozcast 
• Cognitive SEO 
• Accuranker 
• Wincher 
• Algoroo 
• Mangools
• Sistrix
• Data For SEO
• SERPstat
• LSG Home Services Tracker

Additionally, Wiredboard’s Tool Aggregator lumped together data from several sources and charted the data into a report. Ranking fluctuation spikes indicate something is being cooked in the background.

SEO Community Reaction to the Volatility  

Web site owners and SEO professionals are scrambling to respond to what they have seen in forums like WebmasterWorld. Let us take a look at their descriptions: 
 
Traffic falls even with unchanging rankings – Some website owners are claiming that they’re seeing traffic falls even though their rankings don’t change. Can search features powered by AI be sucking traffic away from simple search results? 
 
Sudden increases and declines – Most individuals are seeing sudden traffic increases, then a sudden decline the next day. This unpredictability is annoying website owners. 
 
Dampening enthusiasm – Certain SEOs grouse that maintaining their websites in operation is similar to climbing a mountain due to erratic ranking oscillations. 
 
Traffic decline at specific times – One user lamented a steep traffic decline at exactly 7 AM daily, which may signal an algorithmic change affecting traffic patterns. 
 
Regional traffic fluctuations – Some have noted decreased Canadian traffic and are questioning political or monetary motives as the cause. 
 
More impressions but no sales – Some websites are getting 20-40% more hits, but these hits are still not translating into sales. Are spammers fiddling with the numbers? 
 
UK experiencing ranking volatility – Some SEO practitioners in the UK are experiencing ongoing change, although the level of disruption varies by niche. 

What’s Next? Another Core Update on the Horizon?

With so much speculation in the air, everyone wants to know—is Google preparing to release another core update? 
 
While it’s too early to say definitively, the combination of increased chatter in the SEO community and the surge in tracking tool data suggests that something significant is happening. Whether this is a minor adjustment, a test, or the start of another major update, we’ll need to closely monitor ranking trends in the coming days. 
 
If you’ve noticed unusual shifts in your site’s rankings or traffic, now is the time to analyze your data and prepare for possible changes. 

Experts advise staying proactive by

Keeping an eye on ranking trends and traffic shifts 
 
Adjusting SEO strategies to adapt to potential updates 
 
Monitoring discussions within SEO communities for insights 
 
Staying informed and adaptable is crucial in this ever-changing SEO landscape. As more data comes in, we’ll continue to analyze the impact of this potential update.