As the final week of March reaches, Google has completed the rollout of its March 2025 Core Update, which began on March 13 and concluded on March 27, 2025, marking the first major algorithmic adjustment of the year aimed at refining search results for greater accuracy and relevance. At the same time, Google is addressing delays in handling support, reinstatement, and suspension appeals for Google Business Profiles, acknowledging the backlogs that have been a persistent issue since mid-February. Additionally, Google has updated its spam policy guidelines, emphasizing the prohibition of tactics that intentionally mislead users or exploit the search engine’s ranking system to artificially boost content.
The Google Core Update for March 2025 has Completed its Rollout
The initial core update for 2025 has been fully implemented, marking the completion of the March 2025 core update rollout. The process began on March 13, 2025, and was finalized on March 27, 2025, after a two-week period. As part of its ongoing efforts to refine search results, Google utilized this update to refresh its core ranking algorithm, aiming to deliver more accurate and useful search outcomes.
The latest release came after the core update in December 2024. Google took longer than anticipated to roll out a new core update in 2025, even though it was expected to happen more frequently.
The effects of the update began to manifest shortly after its announcement, with some websites experiencing significant fluctuations in their rankings, either rising or falling. However, the scope of this update appeared more contained compared to previous core updates, which of websites. Nevertheless, for those sites that were affected, the update had a profound impact, with many experiencing substantial changes.
Throughout the update process, certain tracking tools were affected by modifications made to Google Search result pages. This could potentially create difficulties in monitoring the effects of the update. However, Google Search Console can be utilized to assess the impact on your website and observe any shifts in rankings for your top keywords.
Google previously announced that a forthcoming update was on the horizon, but sites that suffered losses due to the September 2023 helpful content update should not anticipate significant effects of the November core update remain uncertain at this point.
Google notified us several weeks ago that an update would be rolled out soon, cautioning that websites affected by the September 2023 update focusing on helpful content may not experience significant improvements. The effects of the upcoming November core update are still uncertain at this early stage.
In short, write helpful content for people and not to rank in search engines.
Previous core updates. Here’s a timeline and our coverage of recent core updates:
With the March 2025 core update now complete, it’s time to assess the impact on your website and those of your clients. Take a closer look at Google’s recommendations and use them to refine your site, potentially paving the way for improved search engine rankings down the line. As Google regularly rolls out core updates, it’s essential to maintain a proactive approach to site optimization and content enhancement to stay ahead of the curve.
Make sure to continuously work on enhancing your website for both Google Search and your users, as future updates could positively site’s ranking and increase traffic from Google.
Google Addressing Customer Inquiries via Google My Business Support Channels
Google is currently addressing issues related to support, reinstatement, and suspension appeals for Google Business Profiles. We have previously highlighted the significant delays and backlogs in handling these requests twice – once in mid-February and again recently – and Google has acknowledged these delays.
There are indications that Google is starting to make progress in addressing those support requests.
Mike Blumenthal shared a recent image on X showing a decrease in discussions about this topic in the online forums. According to Mike, Google has implemented a solution that has led to longer wait times for appeals. The number of posts about suspensions seems to be stabilizing and decreasing, which suggests that the information is accurate. However, Mike also warned that it will take several weeks for appeal processing times to go back to their usual speed.
Here is the accompanying data chart below:
Ben Fisher shared on X that he woke up to find that 13 or more locations had been restored. He mentioned that Google must be making progress with the backlog.
It’s unclear what Google’s current backlog looks like and how long it will take to process all the pending requests, but there are indications that some headway is being made.
Online conversation taking place on X.
Google is Targeting Spam Practices Rather than Spam Content in a Doc Change
Google recently updated its spam policy guidelines with a minor but significant spam in the context of Google Search as tactics that intentionally mislead users or exploit the search engine’s ranking system to artificially elevate content.
In the context of Google Search, spam refers to online content that is intentionally crafted to mislead users or exploit our search achieving an artificially high ranking.
The change is subtle but here is a screenshot – so you can see it more clearly:
The reason for the change is that Google has been implementing these gradual modifications in their documents over a period. During the Google Search Central Live NYC event, Glenn Gabe highlighted Danny Sullivan’s statement that Google is revising its guidelines to emphasize that the focus is on identifying “spam practices rather than spam content.”
Glenn Gabe mentioned on X that Sullivan highlighted Google’s focus on preventing harmful behaviors rather than specific types of content with their spam policies. This adjustment to the document aligns with that idea. Check out my picture from the recent Google Search Live event in New York City.
Just one more note, around “intent.”
Therefore, this adjustment is logical given the circumstances, but there isn’t a substantial amount of new information to glean from it.
Forum discussion at X.
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