Lucas Abraham
written by
Lucas Abraham
SEO/AI Specialist

SEO Weekly Digest: July 7-13

Written byLucas Abraham|July 14, 2025|4 min
SEO Weekly Digest: July 7-13
TL;DR
This week in SEO: - Google’s June 2025 core update shows partial recoveries. - AI Overviews expand, reshaping search click patterns. - Desktop still dominates AI-driven search traffic. - UX-focused SEO strategies gain traction. - Local SEO and keyword research tools highlighted. - Key WordPress plugins and marketing insights revealed.

Google Core Updates and Impact

Google June 2025 Core Update Recoveries

Source: Search Engine Roundtable

The Google June 2025 core update, which began on June 30th, is showing signs of partial recoveries for some sites previously affected by past core and helpful content updates. While not all sites are experiencing improvements, several are reporting increased visibility and traffic, with some regaining rich and featured snippets. The update has sparked optimism among site owners, although the full rollout is expected to continue for another ten days.

Google June 2025 Core Update Volatility Heated Through Weekend

Source: Search Engine Roundtable

The Google June 2025 core update continues to show significant volatility, with many websites experiencing fluctuating search rankings and traffic. While some sites have seen partial recoveries, others continue to experience declines, and the overall impact of the update remains unpredictable. The update has also influenced Google's search features, including AI Overviews and rich results, further contributing to the dynamic changes observed by webmasters and SEO experts.

Video: Google Helpful Content Recoveries With Core Update, AI Mode Expands, Hidden Ad Terms & Fewer Ad Clicks

Source: Search Engine Roundtable

The article discusses the Google June 2025 core update, which has led to some recoveries from previous helpful content updates. Additionally, Google's AI Mode has expanded in India and is being integrated with Workspace accounts, while Google Ads faces scrutiny over hidden search terms and a decline in ad clicks. There are also updates to Google Search Console and Google Business Profiles, including new features and changes in evidence requirements for appeals.

Google Local & Business Profiles Drops Around June 25th - Reporting Glitch?

Source: Search Engine Roundtable

Starting around June 25, 2025, many users noticed significant declines in impressions and clicks from their Google Business Profiles, which appears to be a reporting glitch rather than a ranking change. This issue, observed across various accounts, was confirmed by a Google Product Expert as a known glitch, with Google working on restoring the data.

SEO Tools and Techniques

Source: Semrush blog

Related keywords are terms that are thematically connected to a webpage's main topic and can be classified into secondary and semantic keywords. Using related keywords enhances topical relevance, aids search engines in understanding content, and can improve search rankings and traffic. To find related keywords, one can use tools like Semrush's Keyword Magic Tool, Google's Autocomplete, People Also Ask and People Also Search For features, competitor analysis, Google Search Console, and AI tools, ensuring to validate their effectiveness with real data.

9 Keyword Research Tools to Try (Free & Paid)

Source: Semrush blog

The article reviews nine keyword research tools, both free and paid, that can enhance SEO strategies. Notable tools include Semrush's Keyword Magic Tool and Keyword Overview, which offer comprehensive keyword insights and personalized data, and ChatGPT, which facilitates keyword discovery through AI-generated prompts. Additionally, Google Keyword Planner and Google Search Console are highlighted for their utility in discovering high-value keywords and analyzing site performance in organic search.

How to Rank Better with User Experience Marketing

Source: Search Engine Journal

The article emphasizes the importance of user experience in modern SEO strategies, highlighting that traditional keyword-focused approaches are outdated. It discusses how user behavior signals, such as those used by Google's algorithms, play a crucial role in search rankings and suggests that creating meaningful, engaging content that resonates with users can lead to higher rankings and more organic links. The article advises focusing on clear communication, understanding audience interests, and crafting content that provides positive experiences to encourage sharing and returning visitors.

Why Local SEO Is Essential for Small Businesses

Source: SEM Updates

Local SEO is crucial for small businesses, especially those with physical locations, as it helps target relevant regional audiences and reduces unnecessary traffic from non-potential customers. By focusing on geo-targeted keywords, localized content, and local citations, businesses can enhance their visibility in specific areas and improve conversion rates. Common mistakes in local SEO include neglecting customer reviews, overly broad targeting, poor mobile optimization, and relying on intuition rather than data-driven decisions.

Blog Writing and Content Creation

How to Write a Blog Post: A 12-Step Guide

Source: Semrush blog

The article provides a comprehensive 12-step guide on writing effective blog posts that attract and engage the right audience while achieving marketing goals. Key steps include choosing relevant topics through audience research, performing keyword research using tools like Google's Keyword Planner and Semrush, conducting thorough SERP analysis to understand search intent, and creating structured content outlines. The guide emphasizes the importance of clear headlines, original research, and expert interviews to enhance content quality and credibility.

What in the World Is API, and How Do I Use It?

Source: Semrush blog

The article explains that an API (Application Programming Interface) allows users to gather extensive data from Semrush efficiently, bypassing the standard website interface. APIs are particularly useful for digital agencies, data scientists, and developers who need to integrate large datasets into dashboards and software. Semrush offers various API packages, including Analytics, Projects, and Trends APIs, which require a subscription and can be customized through API calls to retrieve specific data sets for competitive and market analysis.

Marketing Strategies and Challenges

7 of the Biggest Marketing Problems & How to Solve Them

Source: Semrush blog

The article outlines seven common marketing problems and provides solutions for each, focusing on the importance of developing a clear marketing strategy to avoid wasted resources and misaligned campaigns. Key steps include setting SMART goals, conducting market and audience research, determining strategic direction, developing brand messaging, selecting appropriate marketing tactics and channels, defining a budget, and regularly monitoring progress with tools like Google Analytics and Semrush. Additionally, addressing marketing and sales misalignment is emphasized as crucial for achieving cohesive business goals.

The AI Desktop/Mobile Divide: 90% Of AI Search Traffic Ignores Mobile Strategy

Source: Search Engine Journal

Despite the widespread adoption of mobile devices, over 90% of AI-powered search referrals originate from desktop devices, with platforms like ChatGPT and Perplexity showing a significant skew towards desktop usage. This trend presents a notable opportunity for marketers to develop device-specific AI content strategies, as desktop users tend to engage in comprehensive research while mobile users favor quick discovery and shopping queries. The current dominance of desktop in AI search referrals may change as mobile AI platforms evolve, suggesting that marketers should prepare for a shift in the landscape.

WordPress and Plugins

Essential WordPress Plugins Every Site Should Have

Source: Search Engine Journal

The article highlights essential WordPress plugins that enhance website functionality, focusing on three main categories: SEO, security, and performance. It recommends widely trusted SEO plugins like Yoast SEO and All-in-One SEO, security plugins such as Wordfence and Sucuri for protecting against vulnerabilities, and performance plugins like WP Rocket and Performance Lab to optimize site speed. The article emphasizes the importance of choosing plugins based not only on popularity but also on their security track record and ongoing support.

29 Eye-Opening Google Search Statistics for 2025

Source: Semrush blog

Google remains a dominant force in the search engine market, processing 9.5 million searches per minute and holding an 89.66% global market share despite competition from AI tools like ChatGPT. Mobile searches now account for over 60% of all U.S. queries, prompting Google to complete its mobile-first indexing strategy. Additionally, AI Overviews now appear in 13.14% of searches, reflecting an increased integration of AI in search results.

Daily Search Forum Recap: July 10, 2025

Source: Search Engine Roundtable

The July 10, 2025, Search Forum Recap highlights several key updates in the search marketing industry. The Google June 2025 core update is showing signs of partial recovery for some sites affected by previous updates, and a potential bug in Google Search Console's performance report is causing discrepancies in average position data. Additionally, Google is testing a carousel format for "people also consider" ads and has removed the utility bill option for appeals in Google Business Profiles.

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