Google’s March 2025 Core Update, announced on March 13th and expected to conclude its rollout this week, has caused significant search ranking fluctuations. Early data from the Local SEO Guide and SISTRIX suggests this may be one of the most impactful updates in recent memory.
“Most Volatile” SERPs in 12 Months
According to tracking data from Local SEO Guide, which monitors 100,000 home services keywords, the week of March 10th showed the highest SERP volatility observed in over a year. This aligns with Google’s official announcement of the March Core Update on March 13th.
SISTRIX data confirms these findings, with its Google Update Radar showing movement beginning March 16th across the UK and US markets. The company monitors one million SERPs daily to track the update’s impact.
See more: SEO Trends 2025
Winners & Losers in Search Rankings
Several websites have emerged as clear winners following the update, gaining substantial visibility:
- ThisOldHouse.com
- Reddit.com
- Yelp.com
- HomeDepot.com
- Quora.com
On the flip side, some domains have experienced significant ranking drops:
- DIYChatroom.com
- GarageJournal.com
- Bluettipower.com
- Everfence.com
- MrHandyMan.com
The UK market has also seen considerable movement, with notable losses for quora.com (-15.76%), vocabulary.com (-10.93%), and expedia.co.uk (-20.60%). Even government websites were impacted, with hmrc.gov.uk suffering a 52.60% decline in visibility.
Retail Sector Impact
The retail industry has seen dramatic shifts due to the update. Sites that experienced notable gains include:
- notonthehighstreet.com (+56.28%)
- uniqlo.com (+76.12%)
Meanwhile, several major retail brands have suffered losses:
- zara.com (-24.00%)
- amazon.com (-13.84%)
- diy.com (-7.75%)
Emerging Trends from the Update
Andrew Shotland, CEO of Local SEO Guide, has identified several potential trends shaping this core update:
1. Forum Content Devaluation
Despite experiencing a surge in rankings over the past year, some online forums, such as DIYChatroom and GarageJournal, are now seeing significant declines. Google appears to prioritize user-generated content from platforms like Reddit while simultaneously emphasizing features like the Discussions and Forums widget and Popular Products grids.
See more: Digital Marketing Agency for Small Businesses: Strategies for Growth
2. Fight Against Programmatic Content
Websites utilizing mass-generated content for SEO, such as Bluettipower.com, have witnessed a sharp decrease in rankings. Sites employing broad, automated content strategies seem to be losing ground, potentially signaling Google’s ongoing effort to refine content quality.
3. Cross Sector Impact
Unlike past updates targeting specific niches, this core update has affected various industries, including retail, government sites, forums, and content-driven platforms.
What’s Next?
Google has not provided specific details about the improvements introduced in this update. The full impact will become more apparent as the rollout progresses.
As Google continues refining its search algorithms, businesses and content creators should focus on high-quality, user-centric content to maintain visibility in search rankings.
Sarosh Khan has been part of CyberX Studio since 2024 as a Content Writer and Strategist. With a degree in Media & Communication Studies, Sarosh is passionate about creating content that is both informative and engaging. She specializes in researching topics and crafting content strategies that help boost engagement and support the studio’s marketing goals.