The Google core update for June 2025 wrapped up on July 17. It started rolling out on June 30 and took almost three weeks to complete. Like previous updates, this one is part of Google’s ongoing effort to better evaluate the quality of content and make sure people see more useful, relevant, and trustworthy information when they search.
These updates happen regularly, but the latest Google core update has caused some noticeable changes in website rankings across many industries. So, if you’ve seen a drop or spike in your traffic or search positions, this update is likely the reason.
While it’s normal for rankings to shift during core updates, it’s still important to understand what’s behind the changes. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what this update means, how it might be affecting your website, and what steps you can take to respond in a smart, effective way.
What Is a Google Core Update?
A Google core update is a major change to how Google decides what content ranks well in search results. Google is always testing new ways to improve the quality of those results. Every few months, it updates its definition of what “quality” really means, looking at things like relevance, authority, originality, and how helpful the content is for users.
With this latest update, the goal remains the same: to reward websites that show deep knowledge, real-world experience, and genuine value.
If you’re a marketer, here’s what that means for you: focus on creating content that stands the test of time. For example, if you run a personal finance blog, use local data that’s actually relevant to your audience. Make sure your team includes certified financial planners, and feature tools like SIP calculators that are regularly updated. That kind of effort aligns perfectly with Google’s current focus on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust).
What Changes Did the June 2025 Google Core Update Bring?
This latest release saw many SEOs reporting unusual ranking volatility, especially during the early days of release.
Platforms like SEMrush Sensor and Sistrix track the top results on Google (for thousands of keywords) every day. When those rankings change a lot, meaning websites are gaining or losing positions rapidly, they assign a volatility score.
- A low score (e.g., 2–4) means search rankings are relatively stable.
- A moderate score (e.g., 5–6) suggests some movement, maybe due to minor updates.
- A high score (above 8 or 9) usually indicates a major update or algorithm change, like a Google core update.
This time, SEMrush Sensor and Sistrix indicated volatility scores between 9.3 and 10.69, well above normal levels. This suggests significant adjustments were made to search results across a wide range of industries.
In addition to very high ranking volatility, a few other key trends stood out:
- Increase in AI Overviews: AI-generated content summaries are appearing more frequently in search results. Google seems to be doubling down on its use of aggregated overviews, pushing publishers to create more distinctive and genuinely useful content.
- Organic Visibility Recovery: Some websites have regained as much as 55% of their organic traffic since the update began, according to Search Engine Roundtable.
- Boost in Video Content: Video content in SERPs has increased in visibility by roughly 12% since rollout. Obviously, Google is giving more space to video results, suggesting a clear advantage for publishers with high-quality video content.
Who Was Most Affected by the Google Core Update?
Not all websites experienced the latest Google core update the same way.
Sites relying heavily on low-quality backlinks, shallow content, and content generated purely by AI without added expertise often saw rankings drop. These types of pages simply didn’t meet the quality thresholds Google is emphasizing.
Conversely, websites with original, well-researched content and strong signals of expertise and trustworthiness tended to perform better. This trend was especially clear for niche authority sites, which gained visibility over larger aggregators of low-effort content farms.
Again, the takeaway is that your content needs to be relevant, helpful, and clearly written by people who know what they’re talking about.
If you’re not able to do this effectively by yourself, then you should seriously consider working with a partner who’s an expert in internet marketing. This approach gives you the freedom to focus on your business and not worry about what Google is or is not doing.
How to Check If You Were Affected By The Google Core Update
To check whether your site was affected by the core update Google released, here are some practical steps:
- Search Console: Review performance reports for June 30 to July 17. Look for unexplained dips or rises in organic traffic.
- Analytics Tools: Google Analytics can help you spot traffic drops and changes in user behavior that coincide with the update timeline.
- Ranking Trackers: Tools such as SEMrush or Ahrefs can identify keywords ranking shifts that may be related to the core update Google released.
It’s also important to compare mobile vs desktop performance. Google’s mobile-first indexing means sites that don’t perform well on smaller screens could be disproportionately affected by this update.
If your traffic held steady or even increased, great news. If not, continue to learn how to move forward.
What to Do If Your Site Was Impacted By Google Core Update
A drop in rankings during a Google core update can be understandably frustrating, but it’s typically resolvable. Here’s what to do next:
- Audit Your Key Pages: Start with the most affected URLs. Compare them to what’s ranking now for the same queries. Are your pages still addressing the full intent behind the keyword?
- Focus on E-E-A-T: Google wants to see Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. This means you should be sure to update your author bios, cite credible sources, and ensure your content reflects lived experience where possible.
- Work On Your UX: Slow, cluttered, or poorly formatted pages suffer during algorithm updates. To stay safe, improve your page speed, mobile responsiveness, and navigation.
- Consolidate Weak Content: Remove or combine thin articles that don’t perform well. Google tends to reward depth over quantity.
- Wait Before Making Drastic Changes: Sometimes, rankings stabilize on their own after a few weeks. Don’t be in a hurry to rewrite or delete content.
Something worth bearing in mind is that not every dip was caused directly by the core update Google rolled out. Sometimes, it’s an older issue, like poor site structure, weak internal linking, or outdated keyword strategies, that only becomes more visible after the update.
Whatever the case, work with a qualified SEO marketing expert who can help identify the real problem, not just the symptoms.
Wrapping Up
The latest Google core update is part of a clear, ongoing trend: a reward for helpful, user-first content.
More than ever, Google is looking for signs that the person behind the content actually knows the topic. It wants to highlight content that isn’t just correct, but also insightful, well-presented, and created intentionally.
To reiterate, for content creators in India, this means:
- Write with purpose. Don’t just publish to meet a target.
- Localize where possible. Google values unique, region-specific content.
- Show your work. Explain why your advice or insight matters, and how you know it’s true.
If you’re planning for long-term online success, a key lesson here is that you should consider partnering with professionals who can complement your efforts with their expertise, experience, and resources. This is where we can come in at Justwords.
Our digital marketing services can help you make the most of your online presence without stretching your internal resources.
Get in touch to find out how.
