Google’s March Core Update has sent ripples across the SEO landscape, and early data suggests it’s one of the most impactful updates in recent times. As webmasters and SEO professionals scramble to analyze its effects, we’re diving into the key trends, winners, losers, and what this update signals for the future of search rankings.

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“Most Volatile” SERPs in 12 Months

If you’ve noticed massive ranking fluctuations, you’re not alone! Early reports indicate that this core update has triggered the most volatile SERPs in the past year. SEO tracking tools like SEMrush, MozCast, and Rank Ranger have recorded unprecedented spikes in ranking turbulence across multiple industries.

  • High-domain authority websites have seen stability, while smaller, niche sites have faced more ranking fluctuations.
  • E-commerce and affiliate sites are experiencing significant ranking shifts.
  • User experience and content quality are the focal points of this update.

Pros and Cons

As with every Google core update, some websites benefit while others take a hit. Here’s a snapshot of the early winners and losers:

Pros

Authoritative websites with original, well-researched content

Websites demonstrating E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)

Brands with strong organic engagement and user interaction

Websites providing valuable, human-written content

Cons

Sites relying heavily on AI-generated, low-quality content

Thin affiliate websites with weak user engagement

Forums and user-generated content platforms (more on this below)

Websites with aggressive ad placements and poor UX

Retail Sector Impact

The March Core Update has heavily affected e-commerce and retail websites, with both positive and negative impacts.

  • Large retail brands with well-structured content and robust product descriptions have seen ranking boosts.
  • Dropshipping and low-value affiliate sites, particularly those with thin or duplicate content, have been hit hard.
  • Local businesses with well-optimized Google Business Profiles and localized content are benefiting.

Key Trends Emerging

Key Trend google march core update

1. Forum Content Devaluation

A notable trend from the March Core Update is the devaluation of forum and user-generated content. While Google values community discussions, low-moderation forums with spammy, misleading, or outdated content are losing visibility.

What this means is that if your website relies on forum-style content, you’ll need to focus on improving content quality, moderation, and ensuring discussions are valuable and informative.

2. Fight Against AI-Generated Content

Google has intensified its battle against low-quality AI-generated content. While AI-assisted content creation isn’t entirely penalized, content that lacks originality, insight, and human oversight is dropping in rankings.

What this means is that AI can still be useful, but it should assist, not replace, human expertise. Websites relying on mass AI-generated articles without proper fact-checking or value addition will likely struggle.

3. Cross-Sector Impact

Unlike previous updates that targeted specific niches, the March Core Update has a broad impact across multiple industries. Whether you run a news site, an e-commerce store, or a health and finance blog, the update affects rankings across the board.

What’s Next

Google’s core updates typically take weeks to fully roll out, meaning we could see continued ranking shifts. To stay ahead:

  • Monitor your site’s performance using Google Search Console and analytics tools.
  • Double down on E-E-A-T—publish high-quality, expert-driven content.
  • Reduce reliance on AI-generated text and add human insights where possible.
  • Optimize UX and technical SEO to ensure your website remains in Google’s graces.

This update underscores Google’s ongoing commitment to serving high-quality, reliable content to users. As the dust settles, staying adaptable and prioritizing user experience, trustworthiness, and content excellence will be the best strategy moving forward.