Google June 2025 Core Update Hits Local Businesses hard

Strange Glitches and Profile Edits

We noticed that many businesses faced massive automated profile edits right before the update rolled out. Google began pushing sudden updates to business names, payment methods, and social media links. Some owners even saw strange warnings about map pins being too far from their listed addresses.

In one unusual case, a business owner reported that Google suddenly rejected all of their live photos except for one team member photo. Experts note that core updates target websites rather than Google Business Profiles directly. However, these massive profile edits seem to consistently happen right alongside major core updates.

We suspect these coincidental bugs are linked to Google cleaning up its database in preparation for the algorithm shift. While these edits do not directly change rankings, they can certainly cause a headache for Local Business owners. Have you seen any strange edits on your own profile recently?

Organic Rankings Take a Hit

We are seeing a clear divide between local map packs and standard organic search results. While local map pack positions remained stable for most, organic rankings on the web tell a completely different story. Some businesses saw their top keywords drop from the first page straight to the fourth page.

One trade business owner shared that their core keywords had been stable for 5 years before suddenly plummeting. Experts suggest that these major drops in organic rankings often point toward link-building issues or content quality gaps. Google designed this update to reward helpful websites that offer real value and genuine social proof.

We highly recommend auditing your site if your organic positions took a dive this month. Focus on building real reviews, writing case studies, and cleaning up your backlink profile. It is time to ditch any low-quality blog posts that do not serve your readers.

The Rise of AI Overviews

We also need to talk about how AI Overviews are changing the search landscape. Some trackers show a drop in average search positions alongside an increase in impressions but fewer clicks. This pattern often happens when AI results start taking up valuable real estate at the top of search pages.

Currently, Google Search Console does not show direct metrics for AI Overviews on its dashboard. You will need to use third-party tools like Ahrefs to see when these AI answers started showing up for your target terms. Comparing these screenshots with your console data can help you solve the traffic mystery.

We must adapt our strategies as search engines become more interactive and AI-driven. Keep an eye on how your site displays in these quick AI answers. Navigating these changes is much easier when we share our experiences and learn together.