In a nutshell, Google’s core updates are intended to make search results more relevant and helpful. If you’ve have experienced a significant dip in rankings, traffic or key performance factors then read on and see what you need to do now....
What are Google updates?
Google wants to provide a good user experience and deliver relevant answers to search queries. This is achieved through regular updates to its core ranking system. While the system is always updated and tweaked, significant updates tend to happen every couple of months. The impact depends on the severity of the update and if it was a global or targeting a specific area of the ranking system.
Google’s March 2025 core update - 13th – 27th March
The recent update in March 2025 was a typical one, which saw some movers and shakers. The impact was felt within several days of the rollout for some, but not as widespread as previous updates.
Forums
There are signs that the March update has affected forum sites, with reduced visibility in the SERPS. With the exception of Reddit (which has an existing relationship with Google), we are seeing reduced visibility for forum sites that have previously benefitted from the mid-2023 updates. This include Quora as one of the biggest losses in the UK, along with customer forums on hmrc.gov.uk.
Programmatic content
Google continues to focus on punishing sites that generate content purely for the search engines. This is nothing new and SEOs should be crafting content that adds value to the user as priority.
AI is a great tool, but that’s what is should be – a tool in the SEO box to help with strategy – but used to publish quick content or a blog post.
As a business owner, have you been advised by your digital marketing agency or SEO team of this update? Even if you are not affected communication is key to understanding the digital landscape and what is happening in the SERPS.
How will I know if I’ve been ‘hit’
Your digital agency should be providing reports and communication to advise on any rankings peaks or dips. An SEO is always primed for updates and delving daily into the stats and data, that guides and informs any SEO strategy. If your business has experienced even a slight, unusual dip in enquires or calls then get in touch with your current provider for some insight.
Hang on...I’ve noticed I’m not appearing anymore on Google
Well first things first, as an experienced SEO, the key action is to assess and review everything and not to make any harsh or instant actions that could cause long term problems. All Google updates, even core updates, are there to serve a purpose. Your SEO needs to be adaptable, but ultimately SEO is no longer just about keyword rankings. We focus on driving quality traffic to achieve those KPI’s with the right keywords for your business as well as other traffic driving methods.
There are multiple reasons for dips in visibility, so all of these are taken into account before any actions. The key is understanding what (if anything) caused them and for how long it’s been going on. For example, is it one page that has dipped, or is the issue sitewide? This is where your SEO agency should be providing insight from Google Search Console and software regarding performance.
What’s next?
If your business has seen a dip in traffic, rankings or enquires from online, now is the time to ask your existing SEO agency some questions or get in touch with CWA and see how our SEO team can help your business grow.
