Local SEO Newsflash for March 17 2025

Hi, this is Frank, the Local SEO Guy with your local SEO newsflash for today, March 17, 2025. Big changes are happening in the world of search, and if you rely on Google for traffic, you need to pay attention.

Google just rolled out its March 2025 Core Update, a massive change aimed at improving search quality and relevance. Here’s the catch, this update isn’t instant. It’s rolling out over the next two weeks, meaning rankings will be all over the place. And yes, that means your traffic could see some wild swings.

I’ve seen this pattern many times over my decades in the SEO business. SEO experts are already reporting big shifts in rankings. Some sites are seeing a surge in traffic, while others? Not so lucky. If your site took a hit, don’t panic just yet. It takes time for things to settle, so watch your analytics and adjust accordingly. Want to make sure your site is ready? Check out my free website SEO audit tool to spot potential issues.

Meanwhile, Google is making another huge move, Google Assistant is out, and Gemini is in. That’s right, Google is replacing its Assistant with a new AI assistant called Gemini. The goal? To give users a smarter, more intuitive AI experience. It’s clear that Google is doubling down on AI driven interactions, and that could mean big changes for voice search and SEO. This is especially important for your Google Business Profile, which plays a crucial role in local search visibility.

And speaking of search engines, Bing is sending a clear message to SEOs: stop chasing traffic and start focusing on conversions. Microsoft’s Bing team is pushing for a shift in mindset, emphasizing that clicks mean nothing if they don’t lead to real engagement. In other words, stop obsessing over rankings and start optimizing for value. Not sure how your site is converting? Try my SEO conversion rate calculator to see where you stand.

Finally, a small but important tweak from Google, Googlebot’s IP address updates are now happening daily instead of weekly. Why does this matter? Because if you’re filtering traffic by IP, or trying to track Google’s crawlers, you’ll need to stay on top of these changes.

So, whether you’re dealing with ranking chaos from the core update, planning for the switch to Gemini, or rethinking your SEO strategy for conversions, there’s a lot happening in the search world. My years in the trenches have taught me that staying sharp, adapting quickly, and keeping an eye on these trends is the key to success. For more practical advice, book a strategy session to see how I can help your specific business.