June 2025 Google Core Update: What Changed, Who Got Hit, and What to Do Next

🚨 Google’s June 2025 Core Update Is Here — and It’s Shaking Up the SEO World

If you’ve checked your website traffic this week and thought, “What the heck happened?” — you’re not alone.

Google officially rolled out its June 2025 Core Update, and early data shows major volatility across the board. From local businesses to news sites and even Discover traffic, rankings are fluctuating like crazy.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s going on and how to respond.

🔍 What Changed in the June 2025 Core Update?

This core update is broad, meaning it affects a wide range of content and industries. Some sites have seen significant gains, while others took a nosedive. What’s different this time?

Key Observations:

• Local SEO has been especially impacted, with noticeable shifts in map pack rankings and Google Business Profile visibility.

• News and Discover traffic saw large swings, likely due to algorithmic refinements in freshness and authority signals.

• Google is pushing AI-generated Overviews more aggressively in search — which could lead to fewer clicks, even for sites that rank #1.

🤖 What Are AI Overviews and Why Do They Matter?

AI Overviews (formerly called SGE or Search Generative Experience) are snippets generated by Google’s AI to answer queries directly on the search page. That means even if your content ranks #1, users might get the answer without ever visiting your site.

This trend is reshaping how we think about SEO. Now, ranking well isn’t enough — your content needs to be engaging, unique, and trusted to earn actual clicks.

📉 If Your Rankings Dropped, Don’t Panic

Core updates aren’t penalties — they’re reassessments of relevance. Google isn’t punishing your site; it’s reevaluating content across the web based on new signals and standards.

Here’s what to do instead of hitting the panic button:

• Wait out the update. Google typically takes 2–3 weeks to fully roll out core changes.

• Track your data. Use tools like Google Search Console, GA4, and third-party trackers to monitor changes.

• Audit your content. Focus on E-E-A-T: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.

• Improve helpfulness. Ask: is your content really answering user intent? Is it better than what’s already ranking?

✅ What You Should Focus on Right Now

1. Continue publishing high-quality content that solves real problems.

2. Strengthen your local SEO signals if you’re a local business — update your Google Business Profile, get more reviews, and add location-relevant content.

3. Avoid reactionary changes. Making big edits during a rollout can do more harm than good.

4. Monitor your click-through rates (CTR) — especially with AI Overviews on the rise.

📈 Final Thoughts

The June 2025 Core Update is a reminder that SEO is always evolving. While it’s frustrating to see traffic drop overnight, these updates also create new opportunities for those who adapt quickly and focus on long-term value.