Google’s June 2025 Core Update Is Complete: Has Your SEO Ranking Been Affected?

Check your website—have you noticed any of the following?

A sudden, sharp drop in overall website traffic?

Core keywords disappearing from the first page of search results?

Unexplained declines in traffic to previously stable content pages?

…

According to Arachne Group Limited, if your site is experiencing any of the above, it may not only be related to daily SEO strategies but could also be the result of Google’s recently completed June 2025 Core Update.

This algorithm update is not merely a technical tweak—it represents Google’s ultimate test of “content value” across the entire internet. It forces website operators to re-evaluate their content quality to ensure their sites remain stable—or even stand out—amid this algorithmic shift.

What exactly changed in the June 2025 Core Update?

On July 17, 2025, Google officially announced the full deployment of this year’s second core update. While the company stated, as always, that this was a routine update aimed at better presenting searchers with relevant and satisfying content from various types of websites, the keyword “satisfying content” hints at a significant shift.

Google’s evaluation standards have moved beyond traditional keyword matching toward a more comprehensive and in-depth “content value assessment.” This is reflected in the following:

A. Many websites experienced significant ranking and traffic fluctuations between July 11 and 14.

B. Nearly all types of websites—news media, e-commerce platforms, and personal blogs—were affected.

C. Some sites that were heavily impacted by the 2023 Helpful Content Update (HCU) saw rankings recover in this update.

Why was my website hit out of nowhere?

Many website owners may be wondering: “My site doesn’t use any black-hat SEO tactics, so why did my rankings and traffic still drop?” Arachne Group Limited suggests this may be related to overreliance on AI-generated content.

Whenever Google releases an algorithm update, it offers the same general advice: sites don’t need to take any specific action—just focus on creating useful content for “people.” But have you ever stopped to think about what “creating useful content for people” really means?

With the rise of AI generation tools, many website owners have grown accustomed to using them to optimize content—or even publishing AI-generated text directly. However, content produced by AI often suffers from templated structures, unnatural language, and inaccurate information—directly contradicting the purpose of Google Search.

Therefore, to provide users with higher-quality and more accurate content and answers, Google has raised the evaluation standards for the four key factors: Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness, and Experience (E-E-A-T).

If you want to know whether your website was affected by this update, ask yourself the following:

Does your content include first-hand data and real-case studies, or does it merely repackage existing online information without unique insights?

Do the authors have professional backgrounds or certifications in relevant fields? Does your site have a clear “About Us” page showcasing the team’s expertise?

Does the content cite reliable sources—such as government reports or research papers? Does your website have clear privacy policies and contact information to avoid being perceived as a “content farm”?

If the answer to all these questions is “no” and your rankings have declined, Google may be sending you a clear message: your content value has fallen behind that of your competitors.

Website rankings plummeted? Three steps to recover your traffic

If your site was negatively impacted by this update, besides continuing to publish high-quality content, try the following three steps to adjust your SEO strategy and recover your rankings:

Step 1: Precisely diagnose the cause of the traffic drop

Use Google Search Console (GSC) to compare performance reports between June 30 and July 17. Identify which keywords and pages experienced sharp ranking declines. Cross-analyze with Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to determine whether it’s an overall organic traffic drop or a failure of topic-specific content. Only by identifying the root cause can you optimize effectively.

Step 2: Conduct an in-depth content quality audit

Perform a comprehensive “content check-up” on affected pages. Review whether headings are accurate and avoid clickbait tactics. Evaluate whether the content fully addresses user search intent and offers unique value compared to competitors. Ensure strong E-E-A-T signals are present—add author bios, professional endorsements, and citations from authoritative sources.

Step 3: Implement targeted optimization measures

Enhance affected pages with the latest data, case studies, and test results to make your content deeper and broader than competing pages. Continuously update website content to attract ongoing user attention and demonstrate site activity and professionalism to search engines.

Use internal linking to connect affected pages with high-authority content, strengthening topical relevance. This signals to search engines that your site offers rich, in-depth content in a specific field—leading to higher weighting and better rankings.

Also, don’t forget to optimize Core Web Vitals (loading speed, interactivity, visual stability) and improve mobile reading experience (avoid intrusive pop-ups). A fast, smooth, and user-friendly page experience significantly enhances user satisfaction and retention.

Future SEO trends based on recent algorithm updates

Based on recent algorithm changes, the future of SEO will likely revolve around the following:

Google will intensify its scrutiny of AI-generated content.

The company already has the ability to identify “low-value AI-generated content.” In the future, it may place even greater emphasis on content created by “real people.” This means content that relies solely on AI—lacking genuine emotion and real experience—will gradually disappear from search results.

Stronger emphasis on user experience signals.

In an age of information overload, both users and search engines prioritize not only content quality but also site speed, interactive design, and reasonable ad placements. Even if your content is highly valuable, poor webpage implementation that hinders user access will harm both returning visitors and search rankings.

Holistic webpage optimization matters more than individual page rankings.

Google no longer focuses solely on individual page performance—it evaluates whether your website demonstrates comprehensive expertise in a specific field. Website owners must plan content holistically and build authoritative, influential sites within their niches.

Google’s core updates are like intense elimination rounds. They don’t eliminate those who aren’t trying—they eliminate those using the wrong methods.Rather than worrying about algorithm changes, return to the essence of SEO: creating content that genuinely solves users’ problems. If your content truly meets user needs, Google will ultimately reward you accordingly.