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

Google has officially completed the rollout of its March 2025 Core Update, marking the end of two weeks of significant volatility in search rankings. The update began on March 13 and has created notable shifts in search visibility across various sectors and website types.

Impact of the Update

Data collected during the update’s rollout period revealed some of the most volatile search engine results pages (SERPs) in the past 12 months. According to tracking from Local SEO Guide, their system, which monitors 100,000 home services keywords, showed unprecedented movement beginning the week of March 10th. SISTRIX’s Google Update Radar confirmed these findings, detecting substantial changes across UK and US markets starting March 16th.

Changes in Forum Content Valuation

One of the most significant trends emerging from this update is a recalibration of how Google values forum content. After approximately 18 months of heightened visibility for forum websites following Google’s mid-2023 “hidden gems” update, many forum sites are now experiencing substantial drops in visibility. SEO strategist Lily Ray highlighted this trend, noting steep visibility declines for platforms like proboards.com, which hosts numerous forum websites.

While Reddit continues to gain visibility, many other forum sites that benefited from the 2023 algorithm changes are now diminishing their rankings. This shift suggests that the SEO benefits of being a forum site are no longer guaranteed, and that Google is now prioritizing quality over quantity.

Additional Patterns and Insights

Andrew Shotland, CEO of Local SEO Guide, identified several other potential patterns in this update, including:

1. Devaluation of Forum Content: While Reddit remains strong, other forums are seeing their previously gained visibility disappear.
2. Penalties for Programmatic Content: Sites creating large volumes of programmatic pages, particularly those designed specifically for SEO rather than user value, are experiencing significant declines.
3. Cross-Sector Impact: Unlike some updates that target specific industries, this core update has affected sites across retail, government, forums, and content publishers.

Implications for SEO

With the update now complete, SEO professionals can begin to assess the full impact on their sites and implement appropriate strategies. For those managing forum content, this update signals the importance of quality over quantity and suggests that simply having forum content is no longer sufficient for strong rankings.

Sites negatively impacted by the update should focus on improving content quality, removing programmatic or low-value pages, and ensuring their content genuinely addresses user needs rather than being created primarily for search engines.

Conclusion

The March 2025 Core Update marks a significant shift in Google’s approach to search rankings, with a focus on quality, diversity, and user value. As the search landscape continues to evolve, it’s essential for SEO professionals to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and adjust their strategies accordingly. By prioritizing quality content and user experience, sites can improve their visibility and ranking in the search engine results pages.