Why Your Website Traffic Suddenly Changed (And What Google's June 2025 Update Really Means)
Ever check your analytics and think, “What happened here?” If your website traffic took a surprising jump or concerning dip in early July, you’re not imagining things. Google’s June 2025 core update is rolling out right now, and it’s shaking up search results in ways we haven’t seen since March.
Here's what's actually happening to your rankings and what you should do about it.
What’s Different About This Google Update?
Google typically saves major algorithm changes for spring and late summer. However, the June 2025 core update began rolling out on June 30th – breaking Google’s usual summer pattern and catching many website owners off guard.
The timeline matters. This update will take up to three weeks to complete, which means we’re still in the thick of ranking changes. Unlike most updates that settle in two weeks, this extended rollout suggests Google is making particularly significant adjustments to how it evaluates content quality.
Think of it this way: if Google’s algorithm is usually making small daily adjustments (like tuning a radio), core updates are like switching to an entirely different frequency. Everything sounds different for a while.
Is Your Website Actually “Broken” if Rankings Drop?
Short answer: probably not.
Google clarifies that negative ranking impacts don’t necessarily signal anything is wrong with your pages. Sometimes, it simply means that Google has found content it considers more relevant or helpful for a specific search.
But that doesn’t make traffic drops any less frustrating when you’re watching your business metrics.
Here’s what’s really happening behind the scenes:
- Quality recalibration: Google is reassessing what counts as “helpful” content across all industries
- AI Overview integration: More searches now show AI-generated answers directly in results, leading to fewer clicks to websites
- E-E-A-T emphasis: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trust factors are weighing more heavily in rankings

Who’s Seeing the Biggest Changes?
Early reports show some interesting patterns. Many sites are experiencing 40-50% traffic increases compared to last week, while others are seeing significant drops. The volatility isn’t random, though.
Sites gaining traffic often have:
- Recently updated, comprehensive content
- Strong expertise signals in their niche
- Good technical performance and user experience
- Content that directly answers user questions
Sites losing ground typically show:
- Outdated or thin content
- Poor mobile experience
- Weak authority signals
- Content created primarily for search engines rather than people
Small publishers seem to be hit harder than larger sites, particularly in international markets like Germany where “large publishers are dominating and sweeping away small ones”.
Should You Panic and Make Changes to Your Website Strategy?
Here’s where most people get it wrong: they see traffic drop and immediately start changing everything.
Don’t do that.
Google advises against making reactive changes while an update is still rolling out. Rankings often fluctuate multiple times before settling into their final positions.
Instead, do this:
Week 1-2: Document and Observe
- Track which specific pages gained or lost traffic
- Note patterns in the types of content affected
- Keep your regular content publishing schedule
- Resist the urge to make drastic changes
Week 3+: Analyze and Plan
- Review pages that lost rankings honestly: do they truly deserve their previous positions?
- Look for content gaps your competitors might be filling better
- Check if your content still matches what users are actually searching for
What Google’s Focus on AI Overviews Means for Your Strategy
This update coincides with Google’s aggressive push toward AI-generated answers appearing directly in search results. We’re moving toward a “zero-click” search environment, where users get answers without needing to visit websites.
This doesn’t mean SEO is dead. It means your content strategy needs to evolve.
Focus on creating content that:
- Provides depth beyond what AI summaries can offer
- Includes unique insights, case studies, or personal experience
- Encourages engagement and interaction
- Builds brand recognition even when featured in AI overviews
Think about it: if someone sees your expertise quoted in an AI overview, they’re more likely to remember your brand when they need deeper help.
The Real Recovery Strategy (Beyond “Create Quality Content”)
Everyone says “focus on quality,” but what does that actually mean in July 2025?
Update Your Content Architecture
- Review your site’s information hierarchy
- Ensure important pages are easily discoverable
- Improve internal linking between related topics
- Make sure your expertise is clearly demonstrated
Strengthen Your Authority Signals
- Add author bios and credentials to key content
- Include relevant industry certifications or experience
- Link to authoritative external sources
- Showcase legitimate customer results and testimonials
Optimize for User Intent, Not Just Keywords
- Study what questions your audience is actually asking
- Create content that solves complete problems, not just ranks for terms
- Include practical, actionable advice people can use immediately
- Make your content accessible across different reading levels
What Triangle Direct Media Is Watching
As a digital marketing agency, we’re monitoring several key indicators during this rollout:
Ranking volatility tools like SERPWatcher, Rank Ranger, and Accuranker are already showing the update’s impact. But individual site analysis matters more than industry-wide trends.
AI Overview appearances are increasing dramatically. We’re helping clients optimize content to be featured in these summaries while maintaining click-through incentives.
Technical performance is becoming more critical. Sites with poor Core Web Vitals scores are seeing disproportionate ranking drops.
Your Next Steps (The Actually Helpful Ones)
This week:
- Document your current traffic patterns and ranking positions
- Identify your top 10-15 most important pages and monitor them closely
- Continue your regular content calendar – don’t pause or panic
Next 2-3 weeks:
- Analyze which content types are gaining or losing visibility
- Review competitor content that’s performing well during the update
- Plan content improvements based on what you learn, but don’t implement yet
After the rollout completes:
- Compare final rankings to pre-update positions
- Implement strategic improvements to underperforming content
- Double down on content types that gained during the update
The Bottom Line
Google’s June 2025 core update marks a significant shift toward rewarding content that genuinely helps users, while also integrating more AI-powered features into search results.
If your rankings dropped, it doesn’t mean your business is failing. If they improved, it doesn’t mean you can coast. Core updates occur multiple times per year, and the digital landscape continues to evolve.
The websites that thrive long-term focus on serving their audience first and optimizing for search engines second. This update just reinforces that approach.
Need help navigating these changes? Our team at Triangle Direct Media specializes in helping businesses adapt to algorithm updates while building sustainable, long-term growth strategies. We’re tracking this update’s impacts across our client base and can help you understand what these changes mean for your specific industry and goals.
Ready to future-proof your digital presence? Contact Triangle Direct Media to discuss how we can help your business thrive regardless of what Google does next.