Google Just Released Another Update:

Learn How It Will Affect Your Ranking, SEO, and the Role of AI

Brace Yourself for Google’s Latest Algorithm Update

If you’ve noticed a dip or spike in your website traffic recently, you’re not alone. Google officially rolled out its March 2025 Core Update on March 13, 2025, and completed it by March 27, 2025. Whether you’re a content creator, marketer, or business owner, understanding the impact of these updates is crucial to maintaining or improving your search engine rankings.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• What the new Google update involves
• How it will impact SEO rankings
• The increasing role of AI in SEO
• What you can do to adapt and thrive
• How long the impact might last and what to expect moving forward

Let’s dive in and break down what you need to know—in plain English, with a little WGSD snark.

What is Google’s Latest Update All About?

Core Update Details

The March 2025 Core Update is all about refining how Google identifies quality content and matches it to user intent. And spoiler alert: it doesn’t care how hard you worked on that 800-word fluff piece from 2021.

Key Focus Areas

✅ Content Originality: Pages with regurgitated, thin, or duplicate content are being penalized. Because yes, Google can tell if you copy-pasted from someone else’s blog.
✅ Helpful Content: Google is emphasizing “Helpful Content” signals—is your content genuinely useful to users, or are you just talking to yourself on the internet?
✅ User Intent Matching: Search intent alignment is more critical than ever. Give the people what they came for.
✅ AI & Automation: AI-generated content isn’t banned, but it must be useful, accurate, and high-quality. Translation: don’t let your robot write garbage.

How Will This Update Affect Your Rankings?

Winners and Losers

As always, some sites will rise, and others will fall. Sites that prioritize:

• High-quality, original content
• User-centric UX
• Proper SEO optimization

…are likely to benefit from this update.

On the flip side, sites relying on outdated keyword stuffing, content farms, or shallow AI content may take a hit. (RIP to those still using “best plumber + city” in every sentence.)

What the Data Says

Preliminary analysis shows:

✅ Medical, legal, and finance niches were most impacted.
✅ Product review sites with thin content have lost visibility.
✅ Niche blogs with strong E-E-A-T signals have gained traction.

The Growing Role of AI in SEO

Can AI Help or Hurt Your SEO?

AI is a double-edged sword. Tools like ChatGPT, Jasper, and others make content production faster. But if you let AI go rogue without a human in the loop, don’t be surprised when Google tosses your rankings in the digital trash.

When AI Helps

• Generating content briefs
• Outlining or brainstorming blog posts
• Creating meta descriptions or FAQs

When AI Hurts

• Mass-producing articles with no added value
• Relying solely on AI for fact-based content
• Skipping human review and optimization (aka, “Publish and pray”)

Google’s Stance on AI Content

According to Google: “AI-generated content is not inherently bad as long as it demonstrates value, originality, and reliability.” That means human oversight is critical. (Yes, you still need to edit.)

How Long Will This Update Affect You?

The Stabilization Timeline

While the March 2025 update wrapped up on March 27, the aftereffects will continue for several weeks to months. Google itself notes that ranking fluctuations may continue and that recovery from a drop might not be seen until the next core update unless substantial improvements are made.

If you’ve seen sudden dips or jumps, it may take time for your site to stabilize. Or in plain speak: don’t panic, but don’t sit on your hands either.

(Source: Google Search Central, Search Engine Land)

What You Can Do to Protect (and Improve) Your SEO

Actionable Steps for Website Owners

1. Audit Your Content

Use tools like Screaming Frog or Surfer SEO to:

✅ Find low-quality or outdated pages
✅ Improve internal linking
✅ Refresh old posts with new data

Related – Check out our SEO For YouTube for more guidance.

2. Improve E-E-A-T Signals

E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. You can boost it by:

✅ Including author bios (because “Written by Admin” isn’t doing you any favors)
✅ Citing reputable sources
✅ Earning quality backlinks

Want to boost trust and authority? Hire a tech-savvy VA who can help.

3. Use AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch

Leverage AI to assist, but always:

✅ Fact-check content
✅ Edit for tone, flow, and value
✅ Optimize for search intent

(Would you trust a robot with your wedding vows? No? Then don’t trust it with your homepage.)

4. Match User Intent

Google is obsessed with understanding why someone searches. Align your content with:

✅ Informational intent (“how to” guides)
✅ Transactional intent (product pages)
✅ Navigational intent (brand searches)

Case Studies: Real-World Impact of the Update

Case Study 1: A Health Blog

After the March 2025 update, a holistic health blog saw a 30% drop in traffic. Why? Too many generalized posts with no medical sourcing or author credibility.

Fix: They added licensed contributor bios, improved citations, and traffic began to recover.

Case Study 2: An AI Content Site

One tech blog was producing 50+ AI articles weekly. Post-update, rankings tanked.

Fix: They switched to publishing 3 human-edited, value-driven posts per week—and now rank for double the keywords.

FAQs About Google Updates and AI in SEO

Does Google punish AI content?

No—but only if it’s helpful and accurate. Sloppy, automated content will likely get buried.

How often does Google update its algorithm?

Several times a year. Core updates are significant and usually announced.

How can I stay ahead of updates?

Follow official channels like Google Search Central and SEO leaders such as Moz and Search Engine Journal.

Pros & Cons of AI in SEO

Conclusion: Your SEO Game Plan Moving Forward

Google’s newest update serves as a reminder: the search landscape is constantly evolving. To stay ahead, focus on:

✅ High-quality, user-first content
✅ Smart, responsible AI integration
✅ Continuous SEO optimization and updates

By embracing change and prioritizing helpful, valuable content, you’ll not only survive Google’s updates—you’ll thrive.

Have Questions?

Have questions about your site’s performance since the March update? Let’s talk. Schedule a strategy call with WGSD and get expert help tailored to your biz goals.

Or dive into more SEO tips over on our blog 📈. Because unlike Google—we actually want you to win.

About the Author
Lisa Spampinato is the founder of WGSD Marketing Solutions, where she helps small businesses master digital marketing, SEO, and systems with sass and strategy. Connect with Lisa →

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