Google’s March 2025 Core Update is Now Complete
Google has officially finished rolling out its March 2025 Core Update. The update began on March 13 and ended on March 27, taking 14 days in total. This was the first major update of the year, and Google says more updates like this are expected throughout 2025.
What You Need to Know:
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Update Name: March 2025 Broad Core Update
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Start Date: March 13, 2025
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End Date: March 27, 2025
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Goal: To improve how Google ranks content overall
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Penalty? No, it doesn’t punish websites — it rewards better content
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Global Impact: Affects websites in all countries and languages
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Main Focus: To show more helpful, relevant, and trustworthy content
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Affected Areas: Web Search, Google Discover, Featured Snippets, and more
What Are Core Updates?
Google makes several big changes to its search system every year — these are called core updates. They’re not meant to target specific websites, but to improve how Google finds and shows helpful content across the entire internet.
Think of it like updating your list of favorite restaurants. Some new ones open, others improve, and your list changes — not because the old ones are “bad,” but because better options are now available.
If your website loses traffic after a core update, it doesn’t always mean you’ve done something wrong — but it might be time to review your content.
How to Check If You Were Affected:
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Use Google Search Console
Compare your traffic before and after the update. Wait at least a week after the update ends to check changes. -
Look at Top Pages & Queries
If a page drops from position 2 to 4, don’t worry too much. But if it falls from 4 to 29, it’s time to review that content. -
Check Different Search Types
Look separately at Web, Image, News, and Video results — the drop might only be in one of these.
What to Do If You Lost Traffic:
If your rankings dropped a lot, focus on these tips:
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Be Honest About Your Content
Review your pages to see if they truly help the reader. Ask someone outside your team for honest feedback. -
Don’t Make Quick Fixes
Avoid deleting sections or changing things just for SEO. Instead, improve your content for users — make it clear, useful, and easy to navigate. -
Only Delete Bad Content as a Last Resort
If a page offers little value and wasn’t made for real users, removing it might help your overall site.
How Long Does It Take to Recover?
If you make real improvements, it might take a few weeks or months to see results. Google’s systems need time to recognize the changes. But keep in mind — there’s no guarantee you’ll regain traffic quickly, or at all, until the next core update.
Google’s search results are always changing. What works today might shift tomorrow as new content appears and user needs change.
Community Feedback on the March 2025 Update
Many website owners and SEO experts reported major changes:
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Some lost up to 70% of their traffic
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Smaller sites and online shops seemed most affected
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A few gained traffic, but many were confused why their high-quality content dropped in rankings
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Others saw more impressions but fewer pages indexed or lower conversions
Tracking the Update
SEO tools like Semrush, Mozcast, Sistrix, and SERPstat tracked this update closely. Most showed major fluctuations around March 16 and March 26, but things calmed down toward the end.