March’s second week is packed with the following news. Google has launched its March 2025 core update, the first of the year, which will take about two weeks to fully implement. Despite the rise of AI alternatives like ChatGPT, Google’s search dominance remains strong, with its search volume increasing. Additionally, Google Merchant Center has introduced a feature to challenge or request reviews for multiple items at once, simplifying the process for handling repeated disapprovals across multiple products.
Latest Core Update is being Released in March 2025
Google has just launched the March 2025 core update, which they mentioned could take about two weeks to be fully implemented. This update marks the first core update of the year and the first one since December. The rollout process is expected to last up to two weeks.
Google’s additional statement:
“Today we released the March 2025 core update to Google Search. This is a regular update designed to better surface relevant, satisfying content for searchers from all types of sites. We also continue our work to surface more content from creators through a series of improvements throughout this year. Some have already happened; additional ones will come later.”
Google releases major updates to its search engine several times a year. These updates often involve substantial and far-reaching changes to the underlying algorithms and systems that power search results. As a result, Google publicly announces these updates to keep users informed. The latest update marks the first core update of 2025, coming just three months after the previous update in December 2024.
Google did not offer any fresh guidance regarding the March 2025 core update. Nonetheless, previously, Google has given recommendations on factors to take into account if you experience negative effects from a core update:
No particular steps are required to regain lost ground necessarily indicate a problem with your website’s content. In response to core updates, Google has provided a set of questions to help you assess your site’s performance. Additionally, Google notes that some improvement may be seen between updates, but the most significant changes are likely to occur after the next core update.
In summary, focus on creating valuable content for users rather than aiming to boost your search engine rankings.
“There’s nothing new or special that creators need to do for this update as long as they’ve been making satisfying content meant for people. For those that might not be ranking as well, we strongly encourage reading our creating helpful, reliable, people-first content help page,” Google said previously.
For more details on Google core updates, you can read Google’s documentation.
Previous core updates. The first core update of 2024 – the March 2024 core update – was the largest core update ever, according to Google. It started March 5 and completed 45 days later on April 19.
Here’s a timeline and our coverage of recent core updates:
Following a core update, significant fluctuations in Google search results and rankings are common. Ideally, these updates will enhance the visibility of your website or your clients’ websites, leading to improved rankings. However, it’s possible that some sites may experience temporary instability or even a decline in Google rankings and organic traffic.
We’re excited to bring you this update, which we believe will drive significant engagement, attract more visitors
It’s uncertain whether this latest update will bring any benefits to the content creators with whom Google had previously collaborated and gathered feedback.
Google Search Handles 373x More Searches than ChatGPT Search
Contrary to popular opinion, Google’s dominance in the search engine market remains unshaken. In fact, Google’s search volume has increased, while ChatGPT and other AI-powered alternatives have barely made a dent, accounting for less than 1% of the market share. Despite the hype surrounding AI chatbots, users have not yet defected from Google Search in significant numbers.
According to a recent study by Rand Fishkin, co-founder of SparkToro, Google Search processes a staggering 373 times more queries than ChatGPT, with Google’s search volume continuing to rise annually.
Numerous individuals involved in search marketing, users, and analysts have suggested that AI tools are weakening Google’s position in search. Nonetheless, this study does not uncover any proof that large groups of searchers are switching from Google to ChatGPT and other AI search engines and chatbot interactions.
Assuming every one of ChatGPT’s 1 billion daily interactions were search-based, it would still account for a mere fraction of the overall search market – less than 1%. This is supported by a Semrush study, which found that ChatGPT relied on search to answer just 46% of queries, and that only a third of its prompts exhibited behaviors similar to traditional search.
Google searches increased by 21.64% in 2024 when compared to the previous year, as reported by Datos data.
Just because people are searching more doesn’t necessarily mean Google is sending as many clicks or as much traffic to websites. As a reminder, an estimated 60% of Google searches ended without a click in 2024. That means more than 3 trillion searches in 2024 ended without a click.
Increased search activity does not always equate to Google directing a proportional amount of clicks or traffic to websites. To illustrate, around 60% of Google searches in 2024 concluded without generating a click, amounting to over 3 trillion searches without clicks that year.
Google Merchant Center Introduces Mass Request Approval Feature
Google Merchant Center has introduced a new feature that allows users to challenge or request a review for multiple items at once. Although this functionality is not applicable to all notifications, it is available for certain cases and can significantly streamline the process when dealing with repeated disapprovals across multiple products or issues.
Flossie noticed the shift and shared his thoughts on LinkedIn, stating:
The screenshot he posted is shown below:
LinkedIn discussion thread.
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