June 2025 brought us the second confirmed official Google core update of the year, arriving not far behind the Google March 2025 core update. Combined with the continued expansion of AI features, a major Google Cloud outage, and some genuinely eye-opening research on zero-click searches, June 2025 was a month that kept all of us in the SEO world on our toes.
Let’s have a butchers at everything that happened in SEO world and what June’s SEO updates mean for your website and business.
The Google June 2025 Core Update Begins
Only yesterday, June 30th, Google announced the June 2025 core update, so let’s see how long this one takes to roll out. It’s only been three months since the Google March 2025 core update finished, indicating that maybe Google is indeed moving towards more frequent updates as they’d hinted earlier in the year. (Quarterly now?)
Today we released the June 2025 core update. We’ll update our ranking release history page when the rollout is complete: https://t.co/bOclYyVtYH
— Google Search Central (@googlesearchc) June 30, 2025
According to Google’s Search Status Dashboard, the update started at 7:34 AM PDT on 30th June so, whilst it’s going to be rolling out mostly in July, because it launched yesterday, the last day of the month, it is still technically the June core update.
Early reports suggest this could be a significant update. The SEO community is already reporting noticeable SERP volatility affecting rankings across multiple industries, with early indications of particular impacts on news, health, finance, and shopping sectors.
What this means for you: If you’re seeing ranking changes right now, it’s far too early to know quite what’s in this one as it’s just the beginning of the core update. As always, in the words of The Hitch Hikers guide to the Galaxy, Don’t panic! Core updates typically take 2-3 weeks to fully roll out, and rankings can fluctuate considerably during that period. The key is to wait for the dust to settle before assessing the overall impact and deciding on any strategic changes.
I’ll be monitoring this update closely and will add an update to this post once it completes to share what we’ve learned.
[Update note: I’ll add analysis of the full impact once the update completes in mid-July]
Zero-Click Searches Surge to 69% for News Queries
Perhaps the most alarming research to emerge in June came from SimilarWeb, showing that zero-click results on news-related queries have increased from 56% to nearly 69%.
For US news publishers, this means monthly traffic has dropped from over 2.3 billion visits to under 1.7 billion visits (May 2024 to May 2025). That’s a loss of 600 million monthly visits across the industry, driven primarily by users getting their information directly from Google’s AI Overviews and featured snippets without ever clicking through to news sites.
This wasn’t just an abstract statistic; real news publishers were reporting significant revenue impacts. I’ve even found out that education publisher Chegg, in the USA, filed a lawsuit back in Feb claiming that Google’s AI Overview summaries have hurt their organic traffic and revenue!
What this means for you: If you publish news or informational content, you’re facing an existential challenge. Users are increasingly satisfied with Google’s summaries and not clicking through. You need to:
- Create content that demands a click: Original research, detailed analysis, exclusive interviews, multimedia experiences,
- Build direct audience relationships: Email newsletters, social media following, apps,
- Diversify revenue streams: Don’t rely solely on advertising tied to pageviews,
- Optimise to be cited: At least get brand visibility even if clicks decline,
- Consider paywalls or registration: Offer value that can’t be summarised for free.
Google Cloud Suffers Major Outage
On the 12th of June Google Cloud experienced a significant three-hour outage that cascaded across numerous Google services. This affected Google Search, all Workspace apps (Gmail, Docs, Drive, etc.), and over 50 distinct Google Cloud services spanning more than 40 global regions.
For those of us monitoring websites and rankings, it was a tense few hours. Traffic plummeted, Search Console stopped updating, and we couldn’t tell if it was a massive algorithm update or simply a technical failure.
Google apologised and released an incident report on 13th of June explaining that the issue stemmed from a new feature that wasn’t properly tested in real-world scenarios and lacked adequate “feature flags” for controlled rollout. Google wrote:
“We are committed to making improvements to help avoid outages like this moving forward.”
What this means for you: If you saw unusual traffic drops or Search Console anomalies around the 12th of June, this was the cause, not an algorithm change. More broadly, it’s a reminder that not every traffic drop is SEO-related. Before panicking about rankings, check:
- Google’s Status Dashboard for known issues,
- Your server logs to ensure your site is accessible,
- Social media to see if others are reporting problems,
- Multiple analytics sources to verify data accuracy.
AI Mode Continues Rolling Out
Following the May announcement, AI Mode continued its rollout across the United States throughout June. The feature was now accessible via a new tab on the Google Search home page for most US users. However, we’re still not seeing it here in the UK.
AI Mode supposedly runs on Gemini 2.5 and provides a more conversational, in-depth search experience. It supports text, voice, and image queries, and allows for follow-up questions similar to chatting with ChatGPT or Claude. For a taste of how that works, you can obviously access Google Gemini directly before AI Mode in Google Search comes out over here.
What’s particularly interesting from what I’m hearing is that AI Mode appears to favour deeper, more comprehensive content. Yes! Rather than pulling quick snippets, it seemed to synthesise information from longer, more authoritative sources.
What this means for you: AI Mode represents yet another interface where your content needs to be visible. The optimisation principles remain consistent, structured data, clear expertise, authoritative content, but with an emphasis on depth and comprehensiveness. Surface-level, thin content seems less likely to be cited in AI Mode responses.
Early Signs of Movement for Previously Hit Sites
One thing I’m watching closely as this update rolls out is whether sites negatively impacted by last year’s August 2024 Helpful Content Update might see any recovery.
This could be significant because Google has previously downplayed the possibility of recovery through core updates, suggesting that sites hit by the Helpful Content Update would need to wait for changes to that specific system. If we do see recoveries during this June update, it might suggest either a recalibration of that system or a broader reassessment of content quality.
It’s too early to say definitively, but I’ll be monitoring this closely over the coming weeks.
What this means for you: If your site was hammered by the Helpful Content Update in 2024 and you’re still working to improve quality, keep an eye on your rankings over the next few weeks. Continue focusing on:
- Creating genuinely helpful, original content,
- Demonstrating clear expertise and experience,
- Removing thin or low-value pages,
- Improving user experience and engagement,
- Building topical authority through comprehensive coverage.
Recovery may take time and multiple updates, but keep at it.
Local Pack and AI Overview Volatility
Local businesses saw particular volatility in June, with local pack rankings fluctuating and AI Overviews increasingly appearing for local queries. Some local businesses reported steady or improved rankings but saw decreased traffic because AI Overviews were answering user questions directly.
This creates a frustrating situation: you could be ranking well but still losing traffic because users never clicked through. The traditional metrics we’ve relied on – rankings and impressions – were becoming less directly correlated with actual clicks and conversions.
What this means for you: For local businesses, you need a multi-faceted approach:
- Optimise your Google Business Profile – Complete information, regular posts, respond to reviews,
- Build citations – Ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) across directories,
- Create location-specific content – Go beyond basic location pages to offer genuine local value,
- Encourage direct visits – Build brand recognition so people search for you by name,
- Track conversions, not just traffic – Focus on leads and sales, not just pageviews.
Search Console Insights Fully Integrated
Search Console Insights, which had been around for a while, became fully integrated into the main Search Console platform in June. This feature provides a top-level view of clicks and impressions, aimed at less data-oriented users who find the standard Performance report overwhelming.
For more seasoned SEOs, it provides a useful starting point for quick trend analysis before diving into the detailed data. The rollout started at the end of May but most users gained access throughout June.
What this means for you: If you find Google Search Console (GSC) intimidating, check out Search Console Insights. It provides a simplified view of:
- Your top-performing content,
- How people are finding your site,
- New content performance,
- Traffic trends over time.
It’s not a replacement for the detailed GSC Performance report, but it’s a good dashboard for quick health checks.
Web Guide Search Labs Experiment
Google launched a new Search Labs experiment called “Web Guide,” which uses AI in an interesting way. Rather than generating summaries, Web Guide conducts multiple related searches simultaneously, then groups results by topic.
This makes it easier for users to explore a subject from different angles. Unlike the still illusive (at least here in the UK) AI Mode, there are no AI-generated summaries, just smart organisation of traditional search results with links to actual websites.
If you have access to Goole Search Labs, this experiment is worth watching because it shows Google exploring ways to use AI that actually help users find websites rather than replacing them with summaries.
What this means for your website: If Web Guide or similar features become mainstream, having strong topical authority becomes even more important. Websites that cover topics comprehensively from multiple angles are more likely to appear across the various topic clusters these features create.
Structured Data Importance Reinforced
Throughout June, multiple Google representatives continued emphasising the importance of structured data. It’s not just about rich snippets anymore – structured data helps AI systems understand your content and is increasingly critical for appearing in AI Overviews and other AI-powered features.
What this means for you: If you haven’t implemented structured data yet, make it a priority. Focus on:
- Article schema for blog posts and news articles,
- FAQ schema for Q&A content,
- HowTo schema for instructional guides,
- Local Business schema for local companies,
- Product schema for e-commerce items,
- Review schema for ratings and testimonials.
Tools like Google’s Rich Results Test can help you validate your implementation.
The Big Picture: Adapting to the New Reality
June 2025 reinforced several critical trends that are defining SEO in the mid-2020s:
- Core updates seem to be becoming more frequent. We had two in the first half of 2025 (March and now June), and Google has hinted at more coming. Build resilience, not dependence on specific rankings.
- Zero-click searches are the new normal. With 69% of news queries resulting in no clicks, you must adapt your content and business model accordingly.
- Recovery is possible but requires patience. Sites hit by previous updates can recover, but it takes time, consistent improvement, and multiple algorithm iterations.
- AI is everywhere. From AI Mode to AI Overviews to AI-organised results, artificial intelligence is now integral to search. You just can’t ignore it any longer.
- Local search is complex. Rankings don’t equal traffic anymore when AI Overviews answer questions directly. Focus on conversions, not just visibility metrics.
What You Should Do Now
Based on everything that’s happened in June, here are some concrete actions you can take:
As the June core update rolls out:
- Monitor your rankings daily but don’t make major changes yet,
- Document what’s changing and for which keywords,
- Review pages that are fluctuating for quality and user experience issues,
- Wait for the update to complete before implementing significant changes,
- Remember that rankings can swing multiple times during a rollout.
For all websites:
- Implement comprehensive structured data if you haven’t already,
- Audit your content; remove thin pages, improve valuable ones,
- Build direct audience relationships (email, social, brand searches),
- Create content that requires a click to get full value,
- Monitor your visibility in AI Overviews and AI Mode.
For news publishers and content sites:
- Develop strategies beyond pageview-dependent advertising,
- Create exclusive, in-depth content that can’t be summarised,
- Build loyal audiences through newsletters and communities,
- Consider registration walls or tiered content access.
For local businesses:
- Optimise your Google Business Profile completely,
- Create genuinely helpful local content,
- Build strong review profiles,
- Focus on conversions and phone calls, not just website traffic.
Concerned About Your Rankings?
Google’s June 2025 core update and the continued expansion of AI features represent significant challenges for businesses relying on organic search traffic. The SEO strategies that worked even a year ago may not be sufficient anymore.
If you’re a local business in Farnborough, Hampshire, or the surrounding towns of Aldershot, Camberley, and Fleet, and you’re concerned about how the Google June 2025 core update will affect your website, or if you’re seeing declining traffic despite steady rankings (hello, AI Overviews!), I’m here to help.
I can conduct a comprehensive audit of your website, analyse your competitive landscape, and develop a strategy tailored to your specific situation and business goals. Whether you need one-off consulting or ongoing SEO management, give me a ring on 01252 692 765 or leave me a message through my contact form.
The search landscape is more challenging than ever, but with the right approach and expert guidance, your business can still succeed online.
Paul Mackenzie-Ross is an SEO consultant based in Farnborough, Hampshire, specialising in helping local businesses improve their online visibility and attract more customers through search engines and AI platforms.