March 2025 Core Algorithm Update Starts Rolling Out To Google Search

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Google has started rolling out the latest major core algorithm update to its search engine, according to an announcement from the company yesterday. This update is expected to take approximately two weeks to fully finish rolling out. 

In a LinkedIn Post from Google Search Central, the company said:

“Today we released the March 2025 core update to Google Search. 

This is a regular update designed to better surface relevant, satisfying content for searchers from all types of sites. We also continue our work to surface more content from creators through a series of improvements throughout this year. Some have already happened; additional ones will come later.”

This is the first core algorithm update of 2025, following the December 2024 core update. 

What To Expect

Unlike the last few core algorithm updates, Google has given very little information about what to expect from the latest rollout. This makes it hard to know what areas of search rankings are likely to be most affected by the algorithm update. 

That said, Google has given broad advice in the future about what to do if your rankings or traffic see a significant decline following a core algorithm update:

Avoid doing “quick fix” changes (like removing some page element because you heard it was bad for SEO). Instead, focus on making changes that make sense for your users and are sustainable in the long term.

Consider how you can improve your content in meaningful ways. For example, it could be that rewriting or restructuring your content makes it easier for your audience to read and navigate the page.

Deleting content is a last resort, and only to be considered if you think the content can’t be salvaged. In fact, if you’re considering deleting entire sections of your site, that’s likely a sign those sections were created for search engines first, and not people. If that’s the case for your site, then deleting the unhelpful content can help the good content on your site perform better.

For more information about recovering from a core algorithm update, Google suggests reviewing its advice for creating content that is reliable and helpful for your users.

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Google Says Audio Versions of Blog Content Won’t Help SEO

After years of speculation and debate among SEO experts, Google has finally clarified that audio versions of blog content are unlikely to help SEO or directly improve search rankings. Despite that, representatives from the search engine suggest it may still be worthwhile to provide audio versions of blog content for users’ sake. 

What Google Says About Audio Versions of Blog Content

In a recent SEO office hours video, Google Developer Advocate Martin Splitt was asked whether providing an audio version of a blog post might improve its search rankings. 

Splitt’s answer was straight to the point; it is very unlikely that audio versions of blog content would help rankings. 

“I don’t think it will… I think it is a good thing for the user, though, so I would definitely do it – but not, for SEO reasons.”

What About Indirect Benefits?

While Splitt states plainly that audio versions of content won’t help existing blog posts’ SEO, they do still provide positive value to your site. 

By providing audio versions of content, you are making your page more accessible to those with visual impairments, providing a secondary way for users to interact with content, and giving users a reason to stay on your pages longer. 

In other words, while audio versions of text blog content don’t improve SEO directly, they DO give good opportunities to indirectly boost your SEO. 

Perhaps more importantly, it also provides a better experience for users, sets you apart, and helps make a lasting impression on those who come to your site. 

Where User Experience and SEO Meet

While audio versions of blog content may not directly improve your rankings, they contribute to providing the best user experience possible—and Google’s rankings consider that. 

If you are considering adding audio versions of your blog content to your website, first ask yourself whether they will be valuable to your visitors and customers. If yes, there is a good chance your website (and your rankings) will benefit.

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New Study Shows Gen Z Leaving Google For Instagram and TikTok

A new survey highlights the growing rift between how older and younger consumers shop online. The study makes it clear that while Millennials and older generations still largely rely on Google for finding and purchasing products, Gen Z and other young consumers are shifting towards relying on Instagram and TikTok. 

About The Study

For https://grin.co/pdf/the-power-of-influence-ebook/the study, researchers from the marketing company GRIN polled over 1,000 US consumers over the age of 18. 

While much of the survey focused on how people engage with influencers and their influence on shopping behavior, it also contained some more broad questions that brands should be aware of. 

The biggest reveal of the survey is that Gen Z shoppers are often making every step of their purchasing journey over social media, from discovering products to researching them and even making purchases directly from social platforms. 

Perhaps most revealing were the responses from 18- to 27-year-old consumers when asked “Where do you most often discover new products online?”

  • Instagram: 30.4%
  • TikTok: 23.2%
  • Google: 18.8%
  • YouTube: 14.5%

Meanwhile, older age groups still largely relied on Google to find products. Google was the top choice for discovering new products among Millennials (42.4%), Gen X (41.1%), and Boomers (55.9%).

Adapt Now To Maintain Reach With Younger Consumers

This is not the first study to suggest that younger consumers are gradually ditching Google in favor of a social media-led shopping process. Gen Z has already made significant moves away from the search engine and even younger generations seem to follow their lead. 

If you want today’s consumers to discover and purchase your products, it is increasingly important to invest in a significant social media presence including a social store, running ads, and engaging directly with consumers.

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Meta Tests Running Ads On Threads

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Meta is gradually introducing the ability for accounts to run ads on its Threads app, allowing brands to reach the app’s 300 million monthly active users with their promotions. 

The move lets select advertisers easily bring ads from other Meta-owned platforms like Instagram and Facebook over to the newer Threads platform. The limited test is the first step towards fully introducing ads to the app. 

How It Works

Selected advertisers in the US and Japan can now start running ads on Threads using Ads Manager by simply checking a box in their campaign. 

Those with access are currently limited to promoting image ads within users’ home feeds. 

You can see what this looks like below:

According to a support page, the ads will be targeted based on user activity across Threads and Instagram, including the posts you interact with, data related to your email address, and “your data from off Meta technologies.” 

Why You Should Care

While this is limited to a select number of advertisers, it is the first step towards full ad offerings for Threads as it cements itself as a viable alternative to X. 

In its announcement. Meta said, “As we learn from this test, we will monitor to see how it’s going before filling out more broadly.”

Meta also says that its internal data shows that three out of four users on Threads are already following at least one business. This indicates that they are receptive to branded content and discovering new brands on social media.

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Google Shopping Study Shows How To Rank Your Products Higher

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A new study has revealed the factors that Google Shopping uses to rank products.

By assessing over 5,000 Google Shopping keywords, Jeff Oxford from 180 Marketing showed what factors matter the most to the e-commerce search engine and how brands can improve their own rankings. 

Website Authority Matters

The study found that website authority strongly correlates to higher rankings in shopping results. This contributes to major brands having a significant presence, with Amazon dominating top results. More than half (52%) of the studied keywords had Amazon listings at the top. 

Reviews and Pricing Drive High Rankings

Google considers product prices and user reviews heavily when ranking products. 

Products priced at or below the average for a category and query were most likely to appear in top results.

Similarly, products with high reviews consistently filled the top shopping results, while stores with a rating below 3.5 stars tended to languish further down the listings. 

Backlinks are Rare but Have a Big Impact

The study made the shocking discovery that the vast majority of product pages (98%) seem to have no backlinks whatsoever. Despite this, the few pages that did have backlinks seem to rank higher than those without. This presents a major opportunity for e-commerce brands looking for a leg up.

Pair Meta Descriptions With The Right Keywords

While meta descriptions were largely tied to improved rankings, the researchers noted that pages with exact-match keywords in their descriptions consistently saw the best results. 

The report indicates these meta descriptions were the most impactful on-page product ranking signal, however, it mentions that title tags and H1 headers with similar keywords also had a positive effect on rankings. 

Shipping and Return Scores Affect Rankings

Google Shopping keeps track of stores’ shipping, returns, and website quality metrics and uses them to rank websites. 

The report says that stores need “Exceptional” or “Great” scores for their shipping and returns performance or they are unlikely to appear in the top 10 product results. 

The Takeaway

Google has not commented on the study and is unlikely to provide details about how it ranks products any time soon. Until they do, the study from 180 Marketing gives the best guidance available for e-commerce retailers wanting their products to rank better in Google Shopping.

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Google Ads Exec Talks AI and Major Developments Coming in 2025

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According to Brendon Kraham, the vice president of global search ads and commerce, Google Ads is gearing up for an AI-led “seismic shift” in how people use the internet. 

In an interview with MediaPost, Kraham recently discussed Google Ads’ plans for 2025 including how it plans to adapt to the growing integration of AI in nearly every facet of technology. 

Why AI Is The Focus In 2025

Kraham says we are in the middle of a transformation in discovering information and interacting with businesses that is even bigger than the mobile revolution. 

As he said:

“We’re in the midst of a massive shift toward AI, and frankly, it’s even bigger than the mobile revolution was. It’s about using AI to fundamentally improve how people search for information and connect with businesses.”

Google has to adapt to this on multiple fronts.

“For users, this means getting better answers to their questions, whether they’re simple or complex. From a business perspective, this AI-powered approach is going to drive a significantly better ROI for advertisers.”

How Kraham Sees 2025

When asked about his predictions for the new year, Kraham lays out three main areas that Google is focused on moving forward.

The evolution of search behavior beyond traditional keywords

“This means moving beyond simple keywords and embracing a multimodal search landscape where visuals, context, and even our surroundings play a crucial role in how we find what we need. For marketers, this means adapting to a more nuanced understanding of consumer behavior, where capturing attention and fostering genuine engagement will be paramount.”

The development of AI-powered creative tools for marketers

“This new era of search and ads means we will witness a surge in marketers embracing AI-powered tools — not to replace their creative spark, but to amplify it. Imagine personalized creative solutions that scale effortlessly, unlocking new avenues for expression and delivering measurable results.”

Integrating enhanced measurement capabilities across all digital channels

“Third, in 2025, measurement will be everything. Marketers will need to get laser-focused on their data, figuring out how to connect the dots as users move between searching, streaming, scrolling, and all those different ways of interacting online.”

Google has already been aggressively pursuing the development of AI tools in every area of its platform. Kraham indicates this is only going to accelerate further in the coming year, with new AI developments coming for Performance Max ads, Demand Gen ads, and Google Search products.

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