What You Need to Know About Google’s March 2025 Core Update

Google rolled out its first major algorithm update of the year between March 13 and March 27, 2025, and it made waves across the digital landscape. From health and finance to e-commerce and small business websites, rankings shifted significantly — reinforcing a familiar message: quality content and user experience still reign supreme.

What Was the March 2025 Core Update?

This broad core update focused on improving the relevance and quality of search results. It wasn’t about targeting a specific type of site or tactic. Instead, Google refined how it evaluates content overall — with the goal of giving users more accurate, helpful results.

One major theme stood out: trustworthiness and originality. Websites that rely heavily on shallow, AI-generated content or keyword stuffing were likely to see drops in performance. On the flip side, sites that prioritize in-depth, useful, and human-first content saw gains.

Industries Most Affected

Early data shows that the health, finance, and e-commerce sectors experienced the biggest swings. Why? These industries often publish high volumes of content where accuracy and credibility are especially important.

  • Health sites with vague or duplicate content lost visibility.

  • Finance blogs lacking citations or clear expertise were impacted.

  • E-commerce brands that leaned on thin product descriptions or outdated SEO tactics were hit.

If you’re in any of these categories, now is the time to audit your content — not just for keywords, but for value.

Key Takeaways for Your Website

Here’s what this update tells us about where Google is headed:

1. Content Quality Matters More Than Ever

Google is doubling down on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). Content needs to provide real value — not just check SEO boxes.

2. User Experience Plays a Bigger Role

Fast load times, clean mobile design, intuitive navigation — these aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re now essential to ranking well.

3. AI Content Isn’t a Shortcut

Google’s systems are getting better at detecting low-quality AI-generated content. Using tools to assist in writing is fine, but the end result must feel original, insightful, and tailored to human readers.

What You Should Do Now

If your site saw a drop after this update, don’t panic — but do act. Here’s where to start:

  • Review your top pages and remove or improve thin content.

  • Focus on clarity — write for users, not just algorithms.

  • Add sources, author bios, or update dates where appropriate.

  • Double down on unique insights and avoid generic, AI-spun articles.

If you saw an increase, now is the time to build on that momentum by scaling quality content.

Final Thought

Google’s March 2025 Core Update is a reminder that there are no shortcuts in SEO. As algorithms evolve, the best strategy remains simple: create content that’s genuinely helpful, rooted in expertise, and easy to access. At SteerPoint, we help brands build lasting search visibility by aligning strategy with substance.

Need help navigating the impact of this update? Contact John Slimak or SteerPoint today.