Google has officially launched its first core update of the year: the March 2025 Core Update. As with all core updates, this rollout is expected to cause significant shifts in search rankings—some websites will see improvements, while others may experience declines. The update is still in its early stages, meaning information and data are limited.
However, at Vertz Marketing, we are actively monitoring the changes for our clients to ensure they remain informed and prepared for any potential ranking shifts.
Google March 2025 Core Update Quick Facts
- Name: Google March 2025 Broad Core Update
- Launched: March 13, 2025, at around 12:30 PM ET
- Rollout Duration: Expected to take two weeks to fully roll out
- Impact: Global update affecting all regions and languages
- Focus: General improvements to core ranking systems
- Not a Penalty: Rewards high-quality pages rather than penalizing specific sites
- Google Discover Impact: This update affects Google Discover, featured snippets, and other search features
- Content Creators: No clear confirmation that previously impacted creators will see improvements, but Google hints at continued refinements throughout the year
- Refreshes: Google will conduct periodic refreshes but may not always confirm future updates
What Is the Google March 2025 Core Update?
Google’s core updates modify its search ranking algorithm to ensure that the most relevant, reliable, and useful content appears in search results. These updates are broad and do not target specific websites but rather focus on overall search quality.
Google officially announced the rollout of the March 2025 Core Update on LinkedIn, stating:
(1) “This is a regular update designed to better surface relevant, satisfying content for searchers from all types of sites.”
(2) “We also continue our work to surface more content from creators through a series of improvements throughout this year. Some have already happened; additional ones will come later.”
While Google hints at improvements for content creators, there is no clear confirmation that those previously hit by past updates (such as the Helpful Content Update of September 2024) will recover with this rollout.
As with every Google Core Update, some SEO aren’t so happy. Google even uttering the word “Update” leads to reactions like this one on X. They’re not wrong, either. In the past two years, Google has surfaced content to the top of search from websites and magazines clearly engaged in site reputation abuse.
New ‘Reviews’ Feature in Google SERPs
Google may be using the ‘Reviews’ feature more and more for certain queries. This feature appears to highlight list-based content from product review magazines and blogs, particularly in industries where detailed, comparison-style articles are common.
Early observations suggest that Google may be testing this feature as a way to surface more review-oriented content in a structured format within search results.
For businesses and content creators, this feature could provide a new opportunity to gain visibility for high-quality review content. If this becomes a permanent feature, ensuring well-structured, authoritative review articles could help sites appear in this special section.
What We’re Doing
At Vertz Marketing, we closely monitor core updates like this to ensure our clients maintain strong search visibility. While some businesses see immediate ranking changes, we advise clients not to panic over daily fluctuations.
We actively track rankings and traffic using Ahrefs, SEMrush, Google Analytics, and Google Search Console. Rather than making sweeping changes immediately, we prefer to analyze long-term trends before taking action. However, if necessary, we are prepared to make aggressive optimizations once the update fully rolls out and we have data to support adjustments.
Our clients are rarely impacted by Google updates due to our commitment to ethical SEO practices. By prioritizing quality content and sustainable strategies, we ensure that our clients’ websites remain stable and continue to perform well, even in the face of major algorithm changes.
When to Expect Ranking Changes
While some websites may notice ranking changes immediately, others might take a few days—or even the full two weeks—to see an impact. Based on historical trends, here’s what typically happens:
- Day 1-3: Some important pages may see ranking fluctuations.
- Week 1: More pages across the site will start to experience shifts.
- Week 2: The full effects of the update will become clearer.
- End of Rollout: Google will confirm once the update is fully implemented.
If your site hasn’t seen changes right away, don’t assume you’re in the clear—wait until Google confirms the rollout is complete.
How We Ensure Stability for Our Clients
One reason our clients are rarely impacted by Google Core Updates is that we take a long-term, sustainable approach to SEO. We never use black hat or grey hat tactics that can lead to penalties. Instead, we prioritize quality content over short-term SEO tricks that may provide temporary gains but do not contribute to long-term stability.
We emphasize E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) by ensuring content aligns with the brand’s voice and expertise. By doing so, we help establish credibility in the industry and create content that truly serves the audience’s needs.
Additionally, we don’t panic over temporary ranking shifts. Core updates can cause short-term fluctuations, but we focus on the big picture, ensuring that our clients’ websites are built on a strong foundation of high-quality content and ethical SEO strategies.
How to Recover from a Core Update Impact
For those affected by core updates, Google has provided guidance similar to its Panda Update recommendations from 2011:
- Ensure High-Quality Content: Google emphasizes E-E-A-T.
- Improve Content Presentation: Make your content engaging and easy to read.
- Offer Unique Value: Go beyond generic information—provide insights, comparisons, and real expertise.
- Follow Google’s Quality Rater Guidelines: Understanding how Google evaluates content can help align your strategy with its expectations.
- Analyze Competitors: Compare your content with high-ranking sites to identify gaps.
Our Approach to Core Update Recovery
If any of our clients see a drop in rankings after an update, we take a methodical approach to recovery. First, we identify which pages have dropped by analyzing ranking data to pinpoint the affected content. This helps us determine the areas that require improvement.
Next, we look for patterns across the impacted pages. By evaluating whether certain content types or structures were affected, we can begin to understand the possible causes behind the ranking shifts. Once we establish patterns, we assess the quality of the content on these pages. If necessary, we consolidate similar posts, eliminate underperforming pages, and refine existing content to align better with search intent.
From a technical perspective, we make necessary SEO adjustments. This includes ensuring fast-loading pages, optimizing internal linking, and maintaining a strong site structure to improve user experience and search visibility. Lastly, we continue to monitor and adapt our strategy over time.
By tracking performance and making data-driven improvements, we ensure that our clients stay ahead of any algorithmic shifts and maintain strong search rankings.
Reaction on Social Media
One of the most well-known SEO analysts on X, Glenn Gabe, has been closely tracking the March 2025 Core Update. He noted that several site owners had reported significant ranking volatility even before Google officially announced the update.
Some sites saw their Google Discover visibility disappear, while others experienced ranking fluctuations—top rankings vanishing, then returning, then dropping again. This aligns with past core updates, which often introduce instability during the rollout.
Gabe also speculated that Google may have started rolling out portions of the update before the official announcement on March 13.
He observed unusual ranking shifts as early as March 6, suggesting that Google may have been testing elements of this update in the wild before confirming it publicly. He plans to continue tracking ranking shifts and share further insights as the rollout progresses.
Adam Riemer, a columnist for Search Engine Journal, has also shared his perspective on the March 2025 Core Update. He noted that multiple affiliate sites that had previously lost rankings were beginning to recover, seeing an increase in sales and leads.
While he acknowledged that these could be normal fluctuations, he also pointed out that the industry was “overdue” for a major core update. His observations align with broader trends seen in past updates, where some previously affected sites may see ranking rebounds depending on the changes in Google’s ranking systems.
Final Thoughts
The March 2025 Core Update is rolling out and will take about two weeks to complete. At Vertz Marketing, we are actively monitoring search trends to ensure our clients remain competitive.
If you see volatility in rankings or traffic, do not panic. Fluctuations are normal during core updates, and rankings often stabilize once the update is fully rolled out. We will reach out to clients via email if we notice significant impacts and provide guidance on what steps to take next.
If your rankings drop, rest assured that we have a proven strategy for recovery. Our approach involves identifying affected pages, analyzing content patterns, and making necessary improvements to ensure long-term search visibility.
Additionally, if needed, we can conduct in-depth content and technical audits to optimize site performance and improve rankings. We’ll continue tracking this update and provide further insights as more data becomes available.