News Flash Local SEO New Update for 3-19-2025
Hey, Frank the Local SEO Guy here with a heads up about big changes at Google that could impact your business rankings.
I just got the lowdown on Google’s March 2025 Core Update, and it’s a doozy for local businesses. Let me break it down for you without the fluff.
What Changed & Why You Should Care
Google’s latest update is all about rewarding original, human written content while pushing down AI generated stuff. They’re also putting more weight on user experience, think fast loading pages and mobile friendly design.
For you as a local business owner, the biggest takeaway is this: your business info needs to be consistent and accurate across all platforms. If your phone number, address, or hours are different on your website versus your Google Business Profile, your rankings could take a hit.
Want to check if your site is mobile friendly? Use my free mobile friendly checker tool.
The Freelancer Shakeup
There’s another angle to this update that might affect how you create content. Big publishers like Forbes are cutting back on freelancers and moving content creation in house to better meet Google’s guidelines.
This mostly targets review content and coupon pages, the kind with affiliate links. If you’ve been relying on freelancers for your content, you might want to rethink that strategy.
What I’m Seeing in the Data
According to Search Engine Roundtable, there was ranking volatility before the official update announcement, but Google confirmed these were separate changes.
I’m also noticing Google testing AI Overviews in the middle of search results, and Bing’s Webmaster Tools now include a Copilot feature that lets you compare search performance.
Curious how your business is performing in Google Maps? Check out my guide on how to track your Google Maps SEO performance.
What This Means For Your Business
If you’re running a local business and want to stay visible in search:
- Double check your business information across all platforms
- Focus on creating original, valuable content written by real people
- Make sure your website loads quickly and works well on phones
- Keep your Google Business Profile updated and accurate
- Consider if regular posting on Google Business Profile should be part of your strategy
Need help navigating these changes? That’s what I’m here for. I’ve helped hundreds of local businesses like yours stay ahead of Google’s updates and keep their customers coming through the door.
Want a personalized plan? Book a strategy session with me and we’ll analyze your specific situation.