Google June 2025 Core Update
Website traffic issues are a common concern many businesses are facing these days. Earlier today, Google announced the implementation of the Google June 2025 Core Update. As an SEO consultant and site owner, I could observe the changes happening in real-time, and it was quite evident that some shifts were taking place.
So, what parameters should you keep track of? What metrics will help you figure out if your website has been impacted? And perhaps most importantly, what action should you take as a site owner?
To bring it down to the bare minimum: the answer should satisfy you as a human being.
🔍 What Is the Google June 2025 Core Update?
Google conducts a so-called “Core Update” at least twice a year. These are fundamental changes in the way their systems assess and rank content on the web.
Core updates are not done just for the sake of it. Unlike spam patches or product reviews, these are minor updates that tend to skew balanced visibility on search engines. Core updates, on the other hand, usually work to change the overall search visibility and tend to work in favour of quality content by recalibrating past rankings.
The commencement date for this update’s rollout was early June, and by mid-July 2025 it was fully completed. Many industry observers labelled it as one of the most aggressive updates since March 2024.
As with most updates, Google, as is its practice, continues revising the algorithms regarding content which this time focuses more on practical experience, originality, and trust when evaluating content for the June 2025 update.
The specific objectives set forth to be achieved with this update are as follows:
- Improving the usefulness and originality of information provided.
- Trust signals like Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust (E-E-A-T) reduced dependability on backlinks.
- Eliminating AI-spammy, weak, and low-value pages.
To summarize, this shift motivates the internet as a whole towards material that serves humans, not algorithms, concentrating on E-E-A-T principles which call for earnest insight and transparency from content providers, especially regarding sensitive topics such as health, finance, news, and reviews.
My Observational Analysis on the Effects of the Update (FPE + ET)
I manage websites in the health, finance, and technology domains. As the update was commencing, I noticed an anomalous trend: older affiliate-marketed pages were losing traffic, while newer comprehensive guides were gaining traction.
To be honest, it was annoying at first. One of my best converting pages dropped from position #2 to page two overnight. However, when I started correlating data and gathering perspective from fellow webmasters, the pattern that emerged was quite clear: this update favours content that assists real users, as opposed to content crafted to merely placate algorithmic patterns of search engines.
The update brought forth a peculiar mix of emotions. I was panicked because of the need to radically rewrite entire pages, but there was some relief in the fact that Google seems to be making attempts to truly address how they value content.
Which Websites Stood Out the Most? (SEUC + AV)
Let’s dive into some actual case studies.
Categories That Experienced a Decline:
- Websites posting hundreds of mediocre generic posts a day – Polished derivative AI created articles.
- Content laden with excessive affiliates – “Best of” compilations with minimal or no engagement with the identified products or services.
- Abuse of Redirection from an Expired Domain: Aggressive redirection from an expired domain suffered considerable drops.
Beneficial Categories:
- Personal narrative blogs centred around a particular topic: These comprise travel diaries or health guides detailing a particular procedure based on personal experience.
- Legal and financial documentation such as contracts prepared by recognised authorities: Particularly those who possess relevant credentials and demonstrate professional authority to a layman.
- Sites addressing real users’ needs: Content that answers, responds, or attends to direct queries without unnecessary elaboration.
Example:
One of my clients owns a niche gardening blog. One of her articles, “How I Treated My Tomato Blight Organically,” detailed a very personal struggle she endured with her tomatoes, complete with detailed instructions and photos on how she won the battle. Because users resonated with this content, this guide shot from position 8 to 1.
Warning: If You Noticed a Ranking Drop (HAW), There Is No Need to Freak Out
To start, remember to relax. Some fluctuation is expected during core updates and not all changes are lasting.
The following is a list of actions to refrain from:
- Avoid responding to triggers of panic by changing every piece of text on your website.
- Avoid randomly deleting pages that are underperforming.
- Avoid thinking of it as a penalty – Google’s position is clear, “there is not a penalty”, but rather a reevaluation of the site. Hence, one should not think that it is a ‘penalty’, as Google stated “there is no penalty, only site reevaluation.”
Instead…
What Steps Should Be Taken If SSF And HAW Have Influenced You
If you were affected by the June 2025 Core Update, strategically consider employing the following techniques:
Data Evaluation
Look for the following analytics on your metrics:
- What pages saw a drop in traffic?
- What type of content is on the decline?
- Some topics or styles are more often affected by decline; are there recurring themes?
Assessing Content Quality
To rate the content quality, answer the following queries:
- Is this piece the result of genuine subject matter expertise?
- Does this work lack true evaluative critical thought and simply rephrase other works?
- Is this document something that might be considered a trustworthy source, in your opinion?
Use Google’s Helpful Content Guidelines to standardise your content, thereby providing balance.
Fill The Identified Gaps
- Add your ideas along with relevant imagery.
- Respond to queries using keyword appropriate answers.
- Claim authorship with relevant institutional attribution if possible.
Thinking About Users, Not Algorithms
Consider someone looking for “how to repair a leaking pipe.” That individual certainly wouldn’t care whether on-page optimisation is perfect. They want:
- Instant answer
- Step-by-step guide
- Efficient solution
Focus on these things rather than adjusting to algorithms.
Original Insight (OI): Strategy Experience-Based Redefine SEO
Google has made significant changes to how they rank content and this is my most important takeaway:
Search engines have shifted their focus from prioritising information-based content to emphasising experiential content.
Instead of a stale, a friend’s nuanced advice generously shared over coffee, posing as a “John Doe” and posing as the paid expert in your content, “samples” would allow you to stay way ahead of the game.
This aligns very well and bluntly with Google’s E-E-A-T framework. It is not only about claiming authority. Showing that you have actually been there matters just as much.
Quick Self Assessment Questions (QBE)
- Am I providing a practical application for my content or am I just summarizing what others have done?
- Does this content provide value to the audience such that they would feel enlightened after reading it?
- Does the content I created rank higher than other content that is available on the webpage’s first page?
- Am I allowed to say, without any hesitance, that my site has earned the right to rank?
Concluding Remarks: Signals this update communicates
The disruption presented by Google’s June 2025 Core Update should not be viewed merely as a disruption; rather, it should be viewed as a singular signal that prioritises empathy, experience, and helpfulness in evaluating search results.
If you happen to be a creator, as long as you recount genuine encounters, utilise straightforward language, and make an effort to guide your readers, you’ll be alright.
If your strategy relies on mass production, algorithm bypassing techniques, or any form of simplistically defined tricks, rethink your approach.
FAQ’s:
Q1: What is the June 2025 Core Update?
A: A major update focused on experience and satisfaction of the content along with the help that can be provided to the users by the content.
Q2: When was it completed?
A: 17th July 2025
Q3: Why do you think my site experienced a ranking drop?
A: Most likely, a large volume of low-quality content—which also happens to be outdated or derivative—superficially chronicled topics without a real in-depth analysis, expertise, or meaningful evaluation.
Q4: Which of the content is ranking higher now?
A: More helpful content, along with experience-based writings authored by experts, rank better now.
Q5: Will content from artificial intelligence be punished in any way?
A: While not directly, pages consisting solely of low-value AI text may face penalties.
Q6: What steps should I take to recover?
A: Make genuine insights, improve problem pages, and apply the principles of E-E-A-T to strengthen content.
Q7: Are the changes made on the site permanent?
A: Yes, core updates are permanent adjustments reflecting changes made to Google’s ranking system.
