The June 2025 Core Update [Checklist Inside]

Google’s June 2025 Core Update has sent ripples through the SEO world. From June 30 to July 17, this update reshaped search rankings with a laser focus on “relevant, satisfying content.”

At Emplibot, we’ve analyzed the changes and crafted a recovery plan to help websites bounce back. Our 7-day sprint checklist leverages cutting-edge tools to align your content strategy with Google’s new priorities.

What Changed in Google’s June 2025 Core Update?

A Seismic Shift in Search Rankings

Google’s June 2025 Core Update, which rolled out from June 30 to July 17, 2025, marked a significant shift in how the search giant ranks web content. This update caused substantial fluctuations in search rankings across various industries, making it one of the most impactful updates in recent years.

Google’s New Focus: Relevance and User Satisfaction

The core of this update centered on Google’s renewed emphasis on surfacing “relevant, satisfying content.” This shift aimed to reward websites that provide comprehensive, user-focused information that directly addresses searcher intent. The update’s algorithm changes prioritized content depth, expertise, and user engagement metrics.

Key Changes and Their Impact

Boost for Comprehensive Topical Coverage

One of the most notable changes was the boost given to websites with comprehensive topical coverage. Sites that demonstrated in-depth expertise across related subtopics saw significant ranking improvements.

Favor for Established Content Creators

The update also favored content from established creators with a long history of quality publications. Websites known for their authentic, expert-driven content saw substantial visibility increases.

Major Shifts in SERP Landscapes

YouTube’s Unprecedented Rise

Interestingly, the update caused major shifts in traditionally stable sectors. YouTube.com emerged as a big winner, gaining visibility points and reaching one of its highest visibility levels in recent years.

E-commerce Giants Take a Hit

Conversely, e-commerce giant Amazon.com experienced an uncharacteristic drop in visibility, along with other major retailers.

Sector-specific Changes

The Arts & Entertainment sector saw overall growth, driven largely by YouTube’s performance. Meanwhile, the “Internet & Telecom” category benefited from increased visibility for certain platforms.

These changes underscore the importance of creating genuinely helpful, expert-driven content that comprehensively covers topics relevant to your audience. As we move forward, your content strategy must align with these new priorities to maintain and improve your search rankings.

Now that we understand the key changes brought by the June 2025 Core Update, let’s explore how to craft an effective recovery plan that aligns with these new ranking factors.

How to Recover from the June 2025 Core Update

The June 2025 Core Update has reshaped the SEO landscape, but with the right strategy, you can not only recover but thrive. Here’s a practical recovery plan that aligns with Google’s new priorities and harnesses the power of automation.

Expand Your Topical Authority

To boost your rankings post-update, you must expand your topical authority. This means creating a network of interconnected content that thoroughly covers your niche.

Start by identifying gaps in your current content. Use advanced keyword research tools to uncover related subtopics and questions your audience asks. Then, create a content calendar that addresses these gaps systematically.

For example, if you’re in the fitness industry, don’t limit yourself to “weight loss.” Expand to related topics like nutrition, sleep habits, stress management, and workout routines. This comprehensive approach signals to Google that you’re a true authority in your field.

Strengthen Your Internal Linking Structure

Internal linking plays a vital role in establishing topical authority and helping search engines understand your site structure. Automated internal linking features (like those offered by Emplibot) can significantly streamline this process.

Create a hub-and-spoke model where your main topic pages (hubs) link to more specific, related content (spokes). This structure helps distribute link equity and guides users through your content ecosystem.

For instance, your main “weight loss” page should link to specific articles about calorie counting, HIIT workouts, and meal planning. This not only improves SEO but also enhances user experience by providing easy access to relevant information.

Refresh and Upgrade Your Top-Performing Content

Don’t allow your best-performing content to grow stale. Update these pages regularly with fresh statistics, new insights, and improved visuals. Content refresh features can help you identify outdated information and suggest updates.

Set a schedule to review and refresh your top pages at least quarterly.

When updating, focus on adding depth and value. Include new case studies, expert quotes, or data visualizations. This keeps your content relevant and aligns with Google’s emphasis on comprehensive, satisfying content.

Increase Your Publishing Frequency

To build and maintain authority in your niche, you need to publish content consistently. Try to increase your publishing frequency without sacrificing quality. This shows Google that you’re actively contributing valuable information to your field.

Set a realistic publishing schedule based on your resources. Even if you can only manage one high-quality post per week, consistency is key. Use content planning tools to map out your topics in advance and ensure a steady flow of relevant content.

Now that we’ve covered the key strategies for recovery, let’s dive into a practical 7-day sprint checklist that will help you implement these changes efficiently and effectively.

How to Execute a 7-Day Recovery Sprint

Day 1-2: Uncover Content Gaps

Start with a thorough content gap analysis. Use advanced keyword research tools to identify topics your competitors rank for that you’re missing. Focus on long-tail keywords and questions your audience asks.

For example, in the fitness industry, you might discover gaps in content about “post-workout nutrition for vegans” or “best exercises for lower back pain relief.” These insights will guide your content creation strategy.

Day 3-4: Create and Schedule Topical Clusters

With your content gaps identified, create a topical cluster. Choose a main topic (pillar content) and develop several related subtopics (cluster content). Content planners can help you organize and schedule these posts efficiently.

Let’s say your pillar content is about “sustainable weight loss.” Your cluster content might include topics like “metabolic adaptation during weight loss,” “psychological aspects of maintaining weight loss,” and “role of gut bacteria in weight management.”

Day 5: Optimize Internal Linking

On day 5, strengthen your internal linking structure. Automated internal linking features can speed up this process significantly. These tools analyze your content and suggest relevant internal links based on context and keywords.

Your “sustainable weight loss” pillar page should link to all related cluster content, while each cluster page links back to the pillar and other relevant cluster pages. This creates a web of information that search engines love.

Day 6: Refresh Your Top Performers

Dedicate day 6 to updating your best-performing content. Content refresh tools can identify outdated information and suggest updates. Add new statistics, expert quotes, or case studies to enhance the depth and value of your content.

For example, if you have a popular post about “intermittent fasting benefits,” update it with the latest research findings from 2025 studies. Add new sections addressing common questions that have emerged since the original publication.

Day 7: Ramp Up Your Publishing Schedule

On the final day, set up an increased publishing schedule. Content calendar features can help you plan and automate your content creation process. Try to increase your publishing frequency by at least 25% without sacrificing quality.

If you published twice a week before, try to increase it to three times a week. Consistency is key here – it’s better to maintain a steady schedule of high-quality posts than to publish sporadically.

This 7-day sprint will put you on the path to recovery from the June 2025 Core Update. The key lies in creating comprehensive, user-focused content that demonstrates your expertise and authority in your niche.

Final Thoughts

The June 2025 Core Update has transformed the SEO landscape. Google now prioritizes relevant, satisfying content that meets user needs. This update rewards websites with comprehensive topical coverage, expertise, and a history of quality publications.

Our 7-day sprint provides a practical roadmap to align your content strategy with new ranking factors. You will uncover content gaps, create topical clusters, optimize internal linking, refresh top performers, and increase publishing frequency. These steps will help you recover from any negative impacts and position your website for long-term success.

Executing this recovery plan manually can consume time and resources. Emplibot streamlines the entire content creation and optimization process. It helps you produce high-quality, engaging content that aligns with Google’s new priorities (while saving time and boosting online visibility).