{"id":2523,"date":"2025-07-02T19:46:49","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T18:46:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2523"},"modified":"2025-07-21T10:41:33","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T09:41:33","slug":"googles-june-2025-core-update-what-small-businesses-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/07\/googles-june-2025-core-update-what-small-businesses-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Google&#8217;s June 2025 Core Update: What Small Businesses Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes : <\/span><\/span><h1>Google&#8217;s June 2025 Core Update: What Small Businesses Need to Know<\/h1>\n<p>On 30th June 2025, Google started rolling out another one of its big core updates that&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/status.search.google.com\/incidents\/riq1AuqETW46NfBCe5NT\">scheduled to last for three weeks<\/a>. **UPDATE &#8211; it ended on the 17th of July**<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;ve got a small business website, you might\u2019ve noticed some changes already. Maybe your traffic&#8217;s dropped, or maybe you&#8217;ve gone up a bit in the rankings. Either way, this update could affect your site \u2014 and your business \u2014 so let\u2019s have a proper look at what\u2019s going on and what you can do about it.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>What Is a Google Core Update?<\/h2>\n<p>First off, let\u2019s keep it simple. A core update is when Google changes how it decides which pages show up first in its search results. It&#8217;s like Google saying, &#8220;We\u2019ve thought about it, and now we\u2019re going to rank websites a bit differently.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This will be the second core update in 2025 and there were four in 2024 and four in 2023 to give an idea of how frequently they happen.<\/p>\n<p>These updates don\u2019t target specific websites. They\u2019re more about improving how search works overall. But if Google\u2019s new system doesn\u2019t think your site\u2019s as useful as it did before, or it thinks that other sites are more useful, you might drop down in search results \u2014 and that\u2019s not great for business if you are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/07\/seo-isnt-just-about-google-rankings-and-it-never-really-was\/\">relying on the rankings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>What Happened in the June 2025 Core Update?<\/h2>\n<p>Google hasn\u2019t shared all the nitty-gritty details of the update (they never do), but here\u2019s what people have noticed in previous updates :<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Websites with low-quality or thin content dropped down in rankings.<\/li>\n<li>Sites that gave real value to readers seemed to go up.<\/li>\n<li>AI-written pages that didn\u2019t offer anything new have been hit hard.<\/li>\n<li>Google\u2019s clearly favouring helpful, original content from real people.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Basically, if your website just repeats stuff from elsewhere or doesn\u2019t seem useful, you might be in trouble. But if you\u2019ve got real, useful info written for real people, you\u2019re probably alright \u2014 or even doing better.<\/p>\n<h2>How Do I Know If My Website Was Affected?<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s not always obvious straight away. These updates can take a couple of weeks or so to fully roll out, as mentioned above this update is scheduled to take three weeks.\u00a0 I&#8217;d suggest waiting until it&#8217;s finished as checking part way through can be misleading. But here\u2019s what you can check:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Website traffic:<\/strong> Use Google Analytics or similar tools. Has your traffic gone up or down?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Search rankings:<\/strong> Are you still showing up on Google for the keywords your customers search for?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Sales or enquiries:<\/strong> If fewer people are calling, buying or emailing, your visibility might have taken a hit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you\u2019ve seen a sudden drop, this update could be the reason.<\/p>\n<h2>What Should Small Businesses Do About It?<\/h2>\n<p>First, don\u2019t panic. Core updates happen several times a year, and rankings can bounce back if you make the right changes. Here&#8217;s a step-by-step guide to help you out after it&#8217;s finished.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Look at Your Content<\/h3>\n<p>Go through your main pages \u2014 home page, services, blog posts, etc. Ask yourself:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Is this content actually useful?<\/li>\n<li>Does it sound like a real human wrote it?<\/li>\n<li>Is it saying something original or just copying others?<\/li>\n<li>Would I trust this info if I landed on the page?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If it\u2019s thin, outdated or sounds robotic, it\u2019s time to give it a refresh. Add more detail. Make it easier to read. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/2024\/08\/why-your-content-should-sound-like-you-in-a-small-business\/\">Talk like you would in person<\/a> \u2014 like we are right now.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Show Your Expertise<\/h3>\n<p>Google wants to see that you know what you\u2019re talking about. Add a bit about your experience. Share real examples. If you\u2019re a plumber, talk about common problems you fix. If you run a bakery, show behind-the-scenes photos or recipes you use (unless the recipes are secret obviously).<\/p>\n<p>This makes your content feel more real, shows you know what you are talking about \u2014 and is more helpful to your visitors.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Improve Your Website Experience<\/h3>\n<p>Google also looks at how easy your website is to use. Here are some quick wins:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Make sure your site works on mobile phones.<\/li>\n<li>Speed things up \u2014 slow pages are a problem.\u00a0 We&#8217;ve listed many <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/?s=speed\">ways to speed up your website<\/a> that may be worth looking at.<\/li>\n<li>Fix any broken links or pages that don\u2019t load.\u00a0 I&#8217;ve used a free programe called Xenu Link Sluth for, probably, 20+ years and it&#8217;s useful at finding broken links.<\/li>\n<li>Use clear headings and short paragraphs \u2014 don\u2019t waffle!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If your site\u2019s clunky or confusing, visitors won\u2019t stay long \u2014 and Google notices that.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Don\u2019t Rely on AI Content Alone<\/h3>\n<p>AI tools can be really handy, but if you\u2019re just copying and pasting AI-written stuff without checking it (especially the technical side or other details) or making it your own, Google might flag it as low-quality.<\/p>\n<p>By all means, use AI to help you come up with ideas or drafts, but make sure the final version is yours. Add your voice, your story, and your knowledge.\u00a0 Make sure it says what you want it to say and that you would stand by the information &#8211; if you are not sure, check it as you would if you were writing it without any help.\u00a0 \u00a0That\u2019s what stands out.<\/p>\n<h3>5. Keep Updating<\/h3>\n<p>Websites that sit there untouched for years tend to fall behind. Keep things fresh:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Update old blog posts with new info.<\/li>\n<li>Add new photos, offers, or case studies.<\/li>\n<li>Post news or tips for your customers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Even a small update every month helps Google see you\u2019re active and still useful.\u00a0 There&#8217;s no real need to post daily like we do, but if you update every month make sure you do it every month.<\/p>\n<h2>What If I\u2019m Still Not Sure What to Do?<\/h2>\n<p>If all this sounds a bit much, don\u2019t worry. Here are some options:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Hire a freelance SEO expert \u2014 even just for a one-off check-up (ask about their experience first though).<\/li>\n<li>Ask your web designer to help improve speed and design.<\/li>\n<li>Use free tools like Google Search Console to see where issues might be.<\/li>\n<li>Join small business groups or forums online and see what others are doing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You don\u2019t need to spend loads, but sometimes a fresh pair of eyes can spot things you\u2019ve missed.<\/p>\n<h2>What Not to Do<\/h2>\n<p>When rankings drop, it\u2019s tempting to panic and make big changes. But that can do more harm than good. Avoid doing these:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Deleting loads of content<\/strong> \u2014 it might just need improving, not binning.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Stuffing pages with keywords<\/strong> \u2014 that old trick doesn\u2019t work anymore and hasn&#8217;t for many, many years.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Buying dodgy backlinks<\/strong> \u2014 Google will catch you out eventually.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Copying your competitors<\/strong> \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/2024\/12\/does-your-small-business-stand-out-in-the-sea-of-sameness\/\">your business is unique<\/a>, and your site should be too.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Redesign\u00a0 your site<\/strong> &#8211; unless you have a good reason, don&#8217;t <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/04\/can-the-design-of-your-small-business-website-mess-with-your-search-rankings\/\">change the structure and navigation<\/a> on the site.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Take your time, make smart improvements, and focus on helping your visitors. That\u2019s what Google wants too.<\/p>\n<h2>Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n<p>Google\u2019s June 2025 core update might feel like a headache, but it&#8217;s also a chance to make your website better. If you focus on quality, honesty, and making things easy for your customers, you&#8217;re already on the right track.<\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t panic, and wait for it to finish &#8211; the first link in this article should update when it&#8217;s finished.\u00a0 Keep an eye on your stats, tidy up your site, and stay consistent. These updates won\u2019t stop, but you can stay ready for them \u2014 and maybe even come out on top.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes : <\/span><\/span>Google&#8217;s June 2025 Core Update: What Small Businesses Need to Know On 30th June 2025, Google started rolling out another one of its big core updates that&#8217;s scheduled to last for three weeks. **UPDATE &#8211; it ended on the 17th of July** If you&#8217;ve got a small business website, you might\u2019ve noticed some changes already. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,10,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-advice","category-marketing-2","category-seo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2523"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2523\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}