Currently It’s in trending that some websites are losing traffic in the past few weeks, its obvious. Since Google’s March 2025 Core Update rolled out, a large number of website owners, bloggers, businesses, and creators have seen their traffic numbers dip and for some, the change has been dramatic.
In this article, I’ll break everything down in simple, clear terms so you can understand what happened, why it happened, and how you can fix it.
What Is a Google Core Update?
Before we get into the March 2025 update specifically, let’s talk about core updates in general.
A Google Core Update is a major change to how Google’s search engine understands and ranks content across the web. These updates are meant to help users find the most helpful, relevant, and trustworthy content when they search for something.
Unlike small updates that fix bugs or adjust specific algorithms, a core update is broad and affects websites in almost every niche. Some websites may see their traffic increase, others might lose traffic, and some may stay the same — but the changes are almost always significant.
What Happened in the March 2025 Core Update?
The March 2025 update was especially tough on websites that rely on content for traffic.
Google made some important changes:
- Stronger Focus on Quality
This update sharpened Google’s ability to tell the difference between high-quality, helpful content and content created mainly to rank in search engines. The focus shifted from keyword optimization to value and user experience. - Tightening the Rules on AI-Generated Content
The rise of AI writing tools has flooded the internet with auto-generated articles. Google’s update worked to better filter out AI-written content that lacks human editing, insight, or originality. - Better Recognition of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
Google has used E-E-A-T as a guiding principle for some time, but this update put even more weight on it. Pages that don’t demonstrate real-world experience, clear authorship, or genuine trust signals lost ground. - Cracking Down on Thin Content and Site Quality
Websites with large numbers of low-value pages or duplicated content were hit especially hard. Even if only part of a website was “thin,” it could affect the site’s overall rankings.
Why Did My Website Lose Traffic?
Here are the most common reasons:
1. Low-Quality or Thin Content
If your site has lots of short, shallow pages that don’t offer much value to users beyond basic info or keyword stuffing, Google might have decided to rank it lower. Thin content can hurt your entire site, not just the page where it appears.
2. Overuse of AI-Generated Content Without Human Editing
If you’ve been using AI tools to write your content and publish it without adding personal knowledge, real examples, or meaningful editing, your site might have been flagged as low-value. Google is not against AI, but it is against content that exists only to “game” search rankings without real usefulness.
3. Lack of Author Signals and E-E-A-T
If your site doesn’t clearly show who wrote your content or why you’re a trustworthy source, Google might consider your site less reliable. Adding author bios, experience, and sources can help show your site is created by real people who know the topic.
4. Outdated or Irrelevant Content
Google is now better at figuring out if the content on your website is outdated. If your posts or pages are old and haven’t been updated in a while, especially in fast-changing industries, you may have lost rankings.
5. Technical SEO Issues
Things like slow page speed, mobile-unfriendly design, poor internal linking, or indexing problems can also hurt your search visibility. While content is the biggest factor, technical health matters too.
6. Shifts in User Behavior and Search Intent
Even if your content is solid, search intent might have changed. Google is always learning how people search and adjusting its results to match. If your content doesn’t fit what people expect anymore, it can lose ranking positions.
How Can You Recover Lost Traffic?
Now for the important part: recovery is possible, but it takes time, consistency, and care. Here are the steps you should take:
1. Audit Your Content
Go through your site and ask:
- Does this content help solve a real problem?
- Is it clear, well-written, and easy to read?
- Does it offer more value than similar pages on other websites?
- Does it have personal experience, expert advice, or original data?
If the answer is no, it’s time to update or remove that content.
2. Add E-E-A-T Signals
Make sure every piece of content shows you are a real expert or at least have real experience:
- Add an author bio to each post.
- Mention your background or experience on the topic.
- Link to sources, references, and credible websites.
- Display user reviews, trust badges, or social proof where relevant.
3. Improve Old Content
Updating old posts can breathe new life into them:
- Refresh outdated stats and examples.
- Rewrite weak sections to add more depth.
- Fix broken links.
- Add new images, videos, or supporting resources.
4. Focus on User Experience
Make sure your website:
- Loads fast on all devices.
- Is mobile-friendly.
- Has clear navigation.
- Uses headings and short paragraphs for easy reading.
A good user experience leads to longer visit times, lower bounce rates, and better rankings.
5. Balance AI Tools With Human Insight
AI writing tools are helpful for drafts or ideas, but real content still needs a human touch. Make sure your content feels personal, authentic, and helpful.
6. Watch Google Search Console Closely
Use Google Search Console to:
- Spot which pages lost the most traffic.
- Check for crawl or indexing issues.
- Track which keywords dropped in rankings.
This can help you prioritize which pages to fix first.
My Words
Google’s March 2025 core update is part of a bigger shift: Google is trying to clean up search results and reward websites that create helpful, trustworthy, and user-first content.
If your site lost traffic, it doesn’t mean you did something wrong on purpose. The web is always changing, and so are Google’s systems. The best thing you can do is use this as a chance to review your content, make improvements, and focus on long-term quality.
If you’re not sure where to start, I offer free SEO consultations and audits — just reach out and I’ll be happy to take a look at your website.
The traffic drop might feel discouraging, but it can also be the start of your next big improvement.
Need help understanding your traffic drop?
Let’s talk! I’ll help you figure out what went wrong and what to fix next.
