Google March 2025 Core Update Launched

Google officially announced the rollout of the March 2025 Core Update on March 13, 2025, at 09:23 PDT. This update, expected to take up to two weeks to fully roll out, aims to improve search results by better surfacing relevant and satisfying content from various sources, including content creators.

What You Need to Know About the March 2025 Core Update

Quick Facts:

• Name: Google March 2025 Broad Core Update
• Launch Date: March 13, 2025 at 09:23 PDT
• Rollout Duration: Around two weeks
• Scope: Global impact across all regions and languages
• Focus: Improving search quality, not penalizing sites
• Affects: Google Search, Google Discover, feature snippets, and more
• Recovery: Sites impacted need to review content quality following Google’s core update guidelines
• Future Updates: Google will periodically refresh the algorithm without always announcing it.

Key Highlights from Google’s Announcement

Google shared two primary insights on LinkedIn regarding this update:

1. Regular Core Update – The update is designed to enhance search quality by ensuring users get the most relevant and satisfying results from diverse sources.
2. Content Creator Focus – Google continues working on highlighting more content from individual creators. Some improvements have already been implemented, with more updates planned throughout the year.

What This Means for Websites and SEO

Impact on Rankings

As with any core update, rankings may fluctuate significantly. Some websites will see improved positions, while others might experience declines. This is not a penalty; rather, it reflects Google’s evolving criteria for determining high-quality content.

Google Discover and Feature Snippets

Google’s core updates affect multiple search features, including:

• Google Discover (personalized search recommendations)
• Feature Snippets (answers displayed directly in search results)
• Other search elements where content visibility is essential

Possible Pre-Rollout Testing

Some SEO experts believe that Google was testing this update weeks before the official rollout, as fluctuations were observed in search rankings leading up to the announcement.

How to Recover If Your Site Was Affected

If your website’s rankings dropped due to this update, Google recommends the following steps:

1. Avoid Quick Fixes

Instead of making temporary SEO changes, focus on long-term content improvements that align with Google’s best practices.

2. Improve Content Quality

Google evaluates content based on its relevance, user experience, and trustworthiness. Consider:

• Enhancing readability and structure
• Answering user queries comprehensively
• Providing fresh and unique perspectives

3. Evaluate Existing Content

If certain pages underperform, determine whether they can be rewritten, updated, or repurposed before considering removal. Only delete content if there’s no way to fix it.

The Bigger Picture: How Core Updates Work

Google’s core updates do not target specific websites or individual pages. Instead, they reevaluate search rankings based on evolving criteria to ensure users get the most helpful and reliable search results.

A simple example: Imagine you created a list of your best coffee shops in 2024. Over time, new shops open, and your preferences evolve. While some old favorites may still be on the list, newer and better options could take higher spots. Similarly, Google’s core updates reassess search rankings based on changing content quality and relevance.

Final Thoughts: What’s Next?

This update is part of Google’s ongoing effort to improve search quality while amplifying the voices of content creators. It remains to be seen how significant the impact will be, but monitoring search performance over the next few weeks is crucial.

Why it matters: Every core update brings changes, and businesses, marketers, and SEO professionals should stay informed and adapt accordingly.

By staying proactive and prioritizing high-quality, user-first content, websites can navigate core updates successfully and maintain strong search rankings.