From algorithmic shake-ups to AI-driven breakthroughs, March has seen new technology and significant changes to the way we work with visibility and digital presence. Whether you work with local SEO, content or visual communication, there’s news you should know.
Here are the most important news to include in your strategy:
- New Core Update creates big fluctuations in search results
- OpenAI takes image generation to the next level with GPT-4o
- Google launches QR code feature for reviews in Business Profile
- Google and Claude turn up the AI in search results
- ChatGPT’s search power proves to be greatly exaggerated
1. Google rolls out March 2025 Core Update with big ranking changes
Google’s latest Core Update is in full swing – and it’s already shaking up the search results. If you work with SEO, now is the time to pay attention.
Highest volatility in over a year – and it shows
Google’s March 2025 Core Update was launched mid-month and has already triggered major changes in visibility and rankings across many industries. According to several analytics tools, this is the most volatile update since 2023, with home services and e-commerce sites in particular seeing large fluctuations in their organic performance.
Several experts point to the update adjusting the emphasis on signals related to user quality, authority and page experience – without Google confirming exactly which factors have changed. This means that pages with thin content or low engagement risk losing visibility, while pages with high relevance and strong UX may see a boost.
SEO strategy needs an overhaul
Core Updates fundamentally affect how Google evaluates and ranks content. It’s not a matter of small tweaks – it’s about whether your page gets shown at all.
For those of you working in SEO, this is a reminder to:
- Keep an eye on your most important keywords and traffic sources
- Review your key landing pages and their performance
- Ensure your content is valuable, up-to-date and targeted to user needs
In a landscape where AI and user signals play an increasingly important role, it’s even more important to think holistically and quality assure your digital presence.
2. OpenAI unveils new image model – and it understands you (literally)
OpenAI has just launched their latest image generation model and it sets new standards for what AI can do visually. GPT-4o is now fully integrated into ChatGPT and available to both free and paid users – and it’s much more than just pretty pictures.
Here are four reasons why it’s relevant for those working with visual content and brand identity:
- Built-in text rendering: Forget blurry letters and quirky slogans – GPT-4o accurately renders text in images and you can now create visual elements that also communicate with words.
- Upload and adjust your own images: The model understands your images and suggests adjustments to style, color and composition based on your input.
- Iterative design dialog: You can have a conversation with the model and get adjustments over several rounds – ideal for concept development and creative processes.
- Complex prompts – no problem: The model can handle many objects, styles and details in one image without losing the overview.
This is not only relevant for graphic designers – but also for content creators, SEO specialists and brand managers who work with visual communication and want more control and creative freedom in their work.
3. Google Business Profile updated with QR codes and new features
Google has introduced a new feature in Google Business Profile that allows businesses to generate QR codes that lead customers directly to their review page. This initiative simplifies the process of collecting customer reviews, which can improve a business’ online reputation and visibility in local search results.
Benefits of using QR codes for reviews:
- Increased accessibility: Customers can easily scan the QR code with their smartphones and be taken directly to the review page, eliminating the need to manually search for the business online.
- Improved customer feedback: A simpler review process can lead to a higher response rate, giving businesses valuable insights into customer satisfaction and areas for improvement.
- Strengthened online presence: More positive reviews can increase company credibility and attract new customers.
How to create a QR code for your review page:
- Log in to your Google Business Profile.
- Select your business and navigate to the “Get more reviews” section
- Click “Share review form” to copy the link to your review page.
- Use a QR code generator to create a QR code based on the copied link.
By integrating this feature into your marketing strategy, you can effectively increase the number of customer reviews and boost your business’ online reputation.
4. AI Mode and web search are changing the game for search results
AI is becoming an increasingly important part of the search experience – and Google is stepping up its visibility. With the introduction of AI Mode, Google is starting to display banner ads directly in search results, encouraging users to explore the new AI-powered search function.
At the same time, Anthropic has given their language model Claude access to the web, enabling the chatbot to retrieve and quote information in real-time. This puts Claude in direct competition with both Google and ChatGPT – but it also expands how we should think about visibility.
From click to context
Common to both AI Mode and Claude is that search results are becoming more contextual and less click-based. It’s no longer enough to rank high – you need to be the source the AI chooses to cite.
How to adapt your SEO strategy
To ensure visibility in AI-powered search results, you should
- Write clearly and structured with a focus on facts and authority
- Create content that can be easily summarized by AI
- Ensure your expertise and citation of sources are clear
AI search is not the future. It’s here now – and it requires us to rethink how content is found and used.
5. New study: ChatGPT lags far behind Google in search behavior
Did you think AI chatbots like ChatGPT were taking over search? Not quite. New figures show that in 2024, Google Search handled over 5 trillion searches – 373 times more than ChatGPT. Despite all the hype around AI assistants, ChatGPT’s market share is less than 1%, far behind Bing, Yahoo and even DuckDuckGo.
Reality check for the AI hype
The SparkToro report shows that even if all ChatGPT prompts were used as search queries (spoiler: they’re not), ChatGPT would still only have 0.25% of the global search market. At the same time, Google Search grew by over 21% last year – not exactly a sign of declining dominance. Google remains the primary channel for organic visibility. That doesn’t mean AI doesn’t play a role – but it does mean that your efforts still need to be put where the majority of traffic is.
Stand out in the age of AI-powered search. Schedule a free, no-strings-attached consultation and let us review your SEO strategy based on the latest digital developments. Get in touch straight away via the link below.
