Google rolled out its first core update of 2025 on March 13, and as always, we’re watching closely. The update will take about two weeks to roll out. According to Google, this is a “regular update designed to better deliver relevant, satisfying content for searchers from all types of sites.”
It’s just one part of a series of improvements this year to surface content from creators. And while it’s being called a “regular” update, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Key Takeaways
- This isn’t a penalty: The focus is on rewarding better content, not punishing bad sites.
- Updates are global: Every region and language is affected.
- Google Discover and snippets are affected: Core updates impact Google Discover, featured snippets and more.
- We’ll see refreshes: Google will refresh the algorithm periodically, although it may not communicate about these refreshes.
What Does This Update Mean for You?
Google says this update is meant to improve how it ranks content, making sure searchers get more useful and relevant results. That’s nothing new, but there’s also a continued focus on surfacing content from individual creators. So, will this impact your website?
As usual, it depends. If you’ve been playing by Google’s rules — creating high-quality, helpful content that provides value to your audience — you’re probably fine. If your rankings take a hit, though, it doesn’t necessarily indicate a webmaster guideline violation or something else wrong with your site. You may see some recovery between updates, but you’ll most likely see more impact after the next core update.
Subscribe to
The Content Marketer
Get weekly insights, advice and opinions about all things digital marketing.
Thank you for subscribing to The Content Marketer!
What Should You Do if You’ve Been Hit?
At the time of writing, users have recorded some volatility, though the impacts are not widespread.
Google didn’t release any specific advice regarding the most recent updates. However, if you’re noticing changes, here are some things to look at:
- Check your analytics: Look for sudden drops in traffic or major ranking shifts. If you see a dip, follow Google’s guidance for managing and addressing it.
- Review your content: Is it actually useful? Does it answer the questions people are searching for? Compare your content against Google tips for creating reliable, people-first content.
- Avoid low-quality tactics: Don’t haphazardly remove random page elements because you heard they were bad for SEO. Instead, focus on sustainable changes that make sense for your users in the long term.
- Keep an eye on updates: As refreshes roll out, keep an eye on your site’s performance and adjust as needed.
And for the timeline? After you’ve made improvements, it’ll take time to see them in the search results. Some will show within days, while others may take a few months for systems to learn that the site is now producing helpful, people-first content in the long term.
What’s Next?
Every Google update shakes things up to some degree, but the principles remain the same: Make valuable content, create for people and stay consistent. If your site is built on a solid foundation, you’re unlikely to see major negative impacts. But if you’ve been cutting corners, this might be time to clean things up.
We’ll keep watching how this update plays out. In the meantime, stay focused on what matters: serving your audience.
Want to learn how this fits in with past updates? Check out our regularly updated blog post.
