The June 2025 Google Core Update: Analysis and Findings including HCU(X) surges, AI Overview impact, YMYL volatility, and more

07/21/25
Source: The Internet Marketing Driver by Glenn Gabe. Read the original article

TL;DR Summary of June 2025 Google Core Update: Major Volatility and Recovery Insights

The June 2025 Google Core Update was a significant broad core update causing widespread volatility across various verticals and countries. Sites hit by previous updates, especially the Helpful Content Update (HCU), saw notable surges and drops. The update also impacted AI Overview visibility and highlighted the continued importance of maintaining high-quality content and user experience. Recovery from past updates requires a comprehensive approach addressing multiple quality factors.

Optimixed’s Overview: In-Depth Insights into the June 2025 Broad Core Update and Its Impact on SEO

Overview of the June 2025 Core Update Rollout

The June 2025 Google Core Update, released on June 30th, was a high-impact broad core algorithm change that completed its rollout in 16 days, faster than initially expected. This update caused significant fluctuations in search visibility, affecting numerous websites worldwide across all verticals.

Pre-Update Volatility and Possible Reviews System Changes

  • Heavy volatility was observed in early to mid-June 2025, prior to the official rollout.
  • Evidence suggests Google may have pushed a reviews system update behind the scenes, continuing the ongoing adjustments since April 2023.
  • These smaller updates can cause substantial impact independently from broad core updates.

Surge in Previously Penalized HCU(X) Sites

A notable outcome was the resurgence of many sites previously penalized by the September 2023 Helpful Content Update (HCU(X)). While not all sites fully recovered, some saw near-complete visibility restoration starting in early July, indicating Google refined its evaluation mechanisms for content helpfulness.

Impact on AI Overviews and Other Google Surfaces

  • The update affected not only traditional web search rankings but also AI Overviews, image search, Google News, and Discover.
  • Sites experiencing drops in search visibility similarly saw declines in AI-driven features, underscoring the intertwined nature of Google’s core quality and ranking systems.
  • Some publishers reported significant decreases in Discover traffic, further emphasizing the holistic impact of the core update.

YMYL Website Volatility

Sites covering Your Money or Your Life (YMYL) topics—such as health, finance, and legal—experienced pronounced fluctuations. Google maintains higher standards for these verticals, making quality improvements critical for stability and growth in these sectors.

Decoupling of Clicks and Impressions Not Universal

Contrary to some trends, not all sites experienced the so-called “Great Decoupling” between clicks and impressions. Certain clients saw coupled metrics with simultaneous surges in both, reflecting niche-specific factors and differing AI Overview triggers.

Recovery Strategies Post-March and June 2025 Updates

  • Recovery from core updates often requires long-term, comprehensive efforts beyond content fixes.
  • Site owners should address all quality aspects including user experience, technical SEO, advertising balance, and quality indexing.
  • Performing a detailed delta report helps identify specific issues causing drops.
  • Patience is essential as recovery typically aligns with future core updates.

Final Thoughts

The June 2025 Core Update was a major event with extensive reach, affecting multiple Google surfaces and a broad range of industries. Maintaining consistent quality across all site elements remains the best defense against volatility. Site owners should prepare for further updates in the fall by focusing on thorough quality improvements rather than quick fixes.