I spent a week recovering from Google's Core update 😵‍💫

Hello, my friend!

Have you noticed how unstable rankings have been lately?

Google announced that its June core update officially wrapped up on July 17th.

However, according to the Semrush Sensor, it looks like we’re in the middle of another Googlequake 🌍⚡and it’s hitting all kinds of industries.

If the June 2025 Core Update is done... then what is going on? 🤔

Honestly, it feels like they’re still tweaking things behind the scenes because rankings have been all over the place this week.

I’ve seen a drop myself!

This is actually the first time my site has taken a hit from an algorithm update.

Tracking rankings right now is a nightmare since every SEO tool is showing something completely different. 😵‍💫

So far, the drop hasn’t been huge, but this “Googlequake” isn’t over yet. I’ll have a clearer picture once things settle down.

In the meantime, I’m focusing on updating my best-performing pages. That’s always been my go-to approach when rankings dip.

✅ I just rewrote my Ahrefs alternatives post, which is one of my top three pages for affiliate income.

It’s currently sitting at #3, but I’m aiming for the top spot once the dust settles. I went through every tool, updated the descriptions, and also compared Ahrefs’ data to other tools. (Spoiler: Ahrefs’ metrics are way off!)

I made some updates to the article earlier this week, and it looks like the results are already kicking in with more impressions and clicks.

✅ My Semrush review used to rank 1st, but now it’s dropped to somewhere between positions 8 and 10, depending on the SEO tool I check.

Not great. 😅

I went through all the top-ranking posts of my competitors to create a more helpful content piece with unique insights for readers.

I’ve talked about Semrush’s new design and new toolkits, and I also compared its metrics with three other tools I actively use — Ahrefs, Search Atlas, and SE Ranking. This way, readers get a real-user perspective from someone with first-hand experience.

✅ I also revamped one of my top-performing posts, the AI SEO tools article, which brought in over $10,000 this year. 💰

Even though it’s been live for 3 years, this was the first major update. I rewrote the tool descriptions, added fresh custom visuals, updated the case study, and polished the FAQ section.

For months, this post outranked heavyweights like Backlinko, Semrush, and Hubspot, and I intend to keep it that way. 👊

How the changes affected my clients

I think the June 2025 Core update is affecting every website, but in different ways.

Take, for example, one of my clients.

I’ve been helping them with SEO content since November 2024. Their traffic appears to be increasing after the update, which is great

At the same time, the number of their ranking keywords is slowly decreasing.

Ahrefs data isn’t 100% reliable (just my take), but it still does a good job showing overall trends.

That’s why I’m keeping a close eye on things, because this could just be a temporary dip.

This is my second client, with whom I’ve worked for over 1.5 years, helping with SEO content writing.

Super happy to see their website is growing. 🤩 

If you wonder how to create quality content that aligns with users’ search intent and can hit the Google front page, I’ve shared my SEO and content writing approach in my SEO ebook.

The 4th ebook of my SEO ebook with 110 pages includes:

• A case study on how my content outranked industry giants and ranked in the top 3 for multiple keywords

• A case study on what I do when my website rankings drop

• A step-by-step guide to finding, analyzing, and prioritizing primary & secondary keywords

• How to create a solid content writing plan

• How to craft SEO-friendly outlines

• My best writing tips to make sure your content meets Google’s expectations

• And more!

For the Premium members: 👋

More highlights from the content library:

• June Affiliate report, where I break down exactly how my website made $2,827.07 last month.

• $12,000+ from my website in 5 months: I’m sharing my top-performing affiliate programs and landing pages that generate the most revenue.

• Optimize like a Pro: Here's what I do: I use these 9 content optimization strategies to rank on page one.

• April Affiliate Report, where I break down exactly how my website made $4,465.53.

• My Approach to Affiliate Marketing: Mistakes, learnings & new strategy

• How I ranked #8 on Google in just 6 days: The SEO strategy that got me on Google in a few days.

Want in?

You can become a Premium member for just $7 one-time payment. You’ll get behind-the-scenes tips, real strategies I use to grow my site, and answers to your questions. 🧠💡

Have a great weekend!

Victoria

P.S. If you missed my previous newsletter, you can check it out here.