Google’s March 2025 Core Update – What We Know So Far

On March 13, 2025, Google initiated the rollout of its latest core algorithm update, officially named the March 2025 Broad Core Update. This update is part of Google’s ongoing efforts to enhance the relevance and quality of search results for users worldwide. The rollout is expected to take up to two weeks to complete, but what can we expect? Let’s dig into Google’s March 2025 Core update to see what might be in store for marketers.

Understanding Google’s Core Updates

Google’s core updates are significant changes to its search algorithms, designed to improve the system’s ability to understand and rank content. These updates aim to ensure users receive the best results for their queries. Unlike specific updates targeting particular issues, core updates can impact a wide range of factors, including content relevance, quality, and user experience. According to Google’s announcement, the March 2025 update is a “regular update designed to better surface relevant, satisfying content for searchers from all types of sites.” The company also noted its ongoing efforts to “surface more content from creators through a series of improvements throughout this year.”

image from igamingtoday

Interesting Facts About Google Core Updates

• Google typically releases 3-4 broad core updates per year, but the frequency can vary.
• Recent updates include the March 2024 Core Update and November 2023 Core Update.
• Google provides general guidance but never discloses the exact tweaks to its ranking algorithm. SEO experts must analyse ranking fluctuations to figure out what changed.
• Pages related to finance, health, and legal topics (YMYL content) are scrutinised more because they impact users’ well-being.
• Unlike manual penalties, a ranking drop from a core update requires long-term SEO improvements to recover. Recovery often happens after another core update but not instantly.
• Websites that regularly update, improve, and optimise content tend to perform better in the long run.
• A drop in rankings doesn’t mean a penalty. It just means Google found other pages more relevant.

Anticipated Impacts of Google’s March 2025 Core Update 

For industries like financial services, where trust and accuracy are key, Google’s core updates can have pronounced effects. Financial SEO strategies must adapt to these changes to maintain or improve search rankings.

#1 Content Quality and Relevance

Financial institutions should focus on producing high-quality, relevant content that addresses the specific needs and concerns of their audience. This includes providing up-to-date information on financial products, market trends, and regulatory changes. Content should be well-researched, accurate, and presented in a user-friendly format. Speak to the Contentworks Agency team about financial SEO and financial services content marketing.

#2 Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-A-T)

Google places significant emphasis on the E-A-T principles, especially for “Your Money or Your Life” (YMYL) pages, which include financial content. Our director Charlotte recently spoke with Semrush about this. To align with these principles, financial websites should be showcasing the following:

• Expertise: Ensure content is created or reviewed by financial experts with relevant credentials. If your team is small, speak to financial marketing experts to help boost your expertise.
• Authority: Highlight industry recognition, affiliations, and endorsements to establish authority.
• Trust: Provide transparent information about the organisation, including clear contact details, directorships, risk warnings and regulatory policies.

#3 Technical SEO and User Experience

Technical aspects of a website like mobile-friendliness, page load speed, and secure connections (HTTPS), play a crucial role in SEO performance. Financial websites should ensure seamless navigation, fast load times, and a responsive design to enhance user experience.

#4 Reputable Backlinks

Earning backlinks from reputable sources within the financial industry can significantly boost a site’s authority. Engaging in ethical link-building practices, such as contributing to reputable financial publications or collaborating with industry associations, can enhance a site’s backlink profile. Google has stated that backlinks are less of a ranking factor than they used to be however.

What Marketers Should Do For The March 2025 Core Update 

Last year’s core update had some catastrophic results for financial services businesses. Some are still trying to recover their original ranking and understand what went wrong. Marketers in the financial sector should consider the following actions:

1. Conduct a Content Audit: Review existing content to ensure it meets current quality standards and addresses user intent effectively.
2. Enhance E-A-T Signals: Showcase the qualifications of content creators, obtain relevant certifications, and maintain transparency in business practices. Including trusted sources adds trust and improves your SEO ranking.
3. Optimise Technical SEO: Improve site speed, ensure mobile compatibility, and fix any technical issues that could hinder user experience.
4. Monitor Performance Metrics: Utilise tools like Google Search Console to track changes in rankings, traffic patterns, and user engagement metrics.
5. Stay Ahead: Keep on top of updates from authoritative SEO sources and Google’s official communications to adapt strategies promptly.

What Marketers Should Avoid

To maintain compliance with financial services regulators and Google’s guidelines, marketers should steer clear of certain marketing tactics. These financial SEO tricks have been around a long time and Google is aware of them.

• Black Hat SEO Techniques: Avoid manipulative tactics like keyword stuffing, cloaking, or using private blog networks (PBNs) for link building.
• Low-Quality Content: Don’t publish shallow or duplicated content that adds little value to users. This might also include AI generated content which is often unoriginal in origin.
• Ignoring User Experience: Neglecting site usability, slow load times, or intrusive popups can lead to higher bounce rates and lower rankings.

Google’s general advice to marketers remains consistent. Focus on creating valuable, user-centric content that is beneficial to people searching. As stated in their core update guidelines, “Pages that drop after a core update don’t have anything wrong to fix. Instead, they should remain focused on building great content.”

The March 2025 core update will soon reveal its impact whether that’s good or bad. Speak to Contentworks Agency about creating unique, valuable financial content for your audience.