Google Rolls Out March 2026 Core Update — Active Business Profiles Holding Steady
Google's first core update of 2026 started rolling out on 10 March. Early data shows businesses with complete, active Google Business Profiles are weathering the changes better than those with thin online presence.
What happened
Google confirmed on 10 March that it has begun rolling out its first broad core update of 2026. The update is expected to take up to two weeks to fully roll out, meaning most businesses should see the effects settle by late March.
Core updates change how Google evaluates content quality and relevance across the board. Unlike targeted updates that address specific issues like spam or link manipulation, this update reassesses Google's overall ranking approach.
Early data from SEO industry trackers shows significant ranking movement in local search results. Businesses maintaining complete, up-to-date Google Business Profiles with consistent local citations are weathering the update better than those with minimal online presence. Sites with original, expert-written content and strong first-party authority are holding steady or gaining visibility, while those relying on generic, templated content are losing ground.
The update also appears to increase the weighting on what Google calls Information Gain — meaning pages that add genuinely new information to a topic are being rewarded, while pages that simply reword existing content are losing positions.
What this means for tradespeople
If you're a plumber, electrician, or builder with a verified Google Business Profile, recent reviews, and accurate business information, this update is unlikely to hurt you. In fact, it could help — especially if your competitors have neglected their profiles.
The update rewards businesses that show real activity. That means recent photos, up-to-date opening hours, responses to reviews, and a steady stream of new reviews all send positive signals to Google. If your last review was from 2024 and your profile still shows your old phone number, this is the kind of update where you might slip down the rankings.
For tradespeople who've been consistently collecting reviews and keeping their profile current, this is exactly the kind of change that widens the gap between you and competitors who've done nothing.
What to do about it
Don't panic or make sudden changes — Google advises waiting until the rollout is complete before drawing conclusions. In the meantime, focus on the fundamentals:
- Make sure your Google Business Profile is complete and verified — hours, services, description, and photos should all be current
- Keep collecting reviews. Fresh reviews from the last 90 days matter more than ever for local rankings
- Respond to recent reviews — it shows Google (and customers) that your business is active
TapReview is a £9/month tool that helps UK tradespeople get more Google reviews by sending automated review requests via WhatsApp and SMS after every job.
Source: The SMB Hub