E1008: break down what we’re seeing so far from Google’s March Core Update - and how to interpret the data correctly.
This update is still rolling out, but several patterns are already becoming clear.
There was a reporting issue in Semrush between April 2nd and April 4th that showed large traffic spikes across many sites.
These spikes are not reflected in Google Search Console. I walk through what this means, how to verify performance using first-party data, and why it’s important to be cautious when reacting to third-party tools during active updates.
Beyond that, there are two clear developments from this update so far: - YouTube is gaining more visibility across both search and AI-driven results - A new form of SEO manipulation is emerging, and it is already working
I cover a growing trend where creators are being paid to produce “review” content that ranks for brand queries without actually using the product. These videos are being cited in search results and AI systems, shaping how brands are perceived.
In this episode, I cover: - What we’re seeing so far from the March Core Update - The discrepancy between Semrush data and Google Search Console - How to evaluate performance accurately during an active update - Why YouTube continues to gain ground in search and AI citations - How “review-style” YouTube videos are being used to influence rankings - Why this tactic is currently effective - Ways to defend your brand against this type of content - How LLMs interpret and reinforce brand narratives
If you rely on organic search, this is something to pay attention to. This isn’t just about rankings - it’s about how your brand appears across search, video, and AI systems.
💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/
00:00 March Update Reality Check 01:07 Semrush Spikes Explained 01:41 YouTube Surge Is Real 02:25 Fake Review Video Scam 04:27 Defending Your Brand 05:29 Core Update Winners Losers 07:40 Scaled AI Content Risks 10:37 Wrap Up And Rerecord
