What Is YMYL? + How to Optimize YMYL Content for Google

What Is YMYL?

YMYL stands for Your Money or Your Life. It refers to websites that publish content that could have a real-life impact on a user’s health, financial stability, or well-being.

Because of this, Google holds YMYL websites to strict standards when evaluating content to appear in search results.

Google has identified YMYL as a critical factor in its Search Quality Rater Guidelines.

Human evaluators use these guidelines to assess the quality of web pages and ensure that users receive the most relevant and reliable information.

Why Is YMYL Important for SEO?

YMYL is crucial for SEO because it directly impacts your website’s visibility and ranking in search engine results.

Google’s algorithm is designed to prioritize high-quality, trustworthy content, especially for YMYL topics that can affect a user’s life.

If your website falls under a YMYL category, Google will scrutinize your content more closely.

This means that you need to:

• Prioritize accuracy: Ensure that all information is correct and up-to-date.
• Cite credible sources: Back up your claims with reliable references.
• Maintain a strong website reputation: Avoid publishing misleading or harmful content.

We’ll go into these points in greater detail later in how to optimize YMYL content.

What Are YMYL Topics?

Some common YMYL niches include:

• Healthcare: Medical advice, health information, pharmaceutical products
• Finance: Banking, insurance, investments, taxes
• News: Current events and news reporting
• Law: Legal advice and legal services
• Education: Academic information and educational institutions

If your website falls into one of these categories, it’s essential to pay extra attention to the quality and accuracy of your content.

Let’s see how to do that next.

How to Optimize YMYL Content to Rank in Google

1. Showcase Your Team’s Expertise

YMYL aligns with Google E-E-A-T guidelines, which is another important component for ranking in organic search. It stands for:

• Experience
• Expertise
• Authoritativeness
• Trustworthiness

One effective way of optimizing for both YMYL and E-E-A-T is to showcase your team’s experience and expertise in your content. Here’s how:

• Bylines: Clearly indicate the author’s name and credentials in each article.
• Author Bios: Include detailed author bios on your website, highlighting their qualifications, experience, and relevant certifications.
• Reviewers: Include any reviewers who confirmed the accuracy of a web page.
• Expert Interviews: Feature interviews with industry experts to provide valuable insights and perspectives.
• About Us Page: Detail your team’s qualifications, mission, and values.

MEDvidi, a mental wellness platform, is a great example of highlighting their team’s qualifications in content.

They showcase authors and reviewers at the top of every article.

Users can see their credentials and click on the individual’s name to learn more.

MEDvidi’s author bio pages are well-structured, informative, and just the right amount of personal.

Users can also view the person’s education and experience on these pages.

To learn more about MEDvidi’s optimization strategies, you can check out this SEO case study.

2. Ensure Accurate Information

Accuracy is paramount for YMYL content. Google prioritizes websites that provide reliable and up-to-date information.

Here’s how you can ensure accuracy:

• Fact-Checking: Double-check all facts and figures before publishing.
• Source Verification: Cite credible sources to support your claims.
• Regular Updates: Keep your content fresh by updating it regularly.
• Avoid Misleading Claims: Present information objectively and avoid making exaggerated or unsubstantiated claims.

MEDvidi has a creative way of reassuring their audience that their articles are fact-checked.

They include an Evidence tag on each article that users can open to view the following message:

3. Cite Relevant Sources

Supporting your claims with credible sources is essential for building trust and authority. Here’s how to cite relevant sources effectively:

• Link to Reputable Websites: Link to authoritative websites, research papers, and studies.
• Use In-Text Citations: Cite sources within your text to provide context and credibility.
• Create a Bibliography or References Page: List all cited sources for easy reference.

By citing relevant sources, you can demonstrate to Google that your content is well-researched and accurate.

Here’s an example from MEDvidi:

Readers can click the citation, see where it came from, and go to the source.

It’s a clean and user-friendly way of supporting their content’s trustworthiness.

4. Highlight Industry Expert Opinions

Incorporating expert opinions can add credibility and depth to your YMYL content.

Here’s how to leverage industry experts:

• Conduct Interviews: Interview experts to gain insights and unique perspectives.
• Quote Expert Opinions: Use direct quotes from experts to support your claims.
• Collaborate with Experts: Co-author content with experts to tap into their knowledge and expertise.

By highlighting industry expert opinions, you can build authority with Google and your audience.

In the screenshot below, we see how MEDvidi quotes an industry expert within one of its articles:

5. Keep Your Content Fresh

Search engines love fresh content.

And for YMYL pages, content freshness can make the difference between up-to-date and outdated information that’s no longer correct.

Here’s how to keep your YMYL content relevant and up-to-date:

• Regular Updates: Schedule regular content updates to reflect the latest information.
• Monitor Industry Trends: Stay informed about the latest trends and industry developments.
• Address Evolving Guidelines: Stay updated on Google’s guidelines and algorithm changes.

It’s also helpful to show the updated date on your web page, like in the example below.

6. Get Backlinks From Reputable Sites

Backlinks are links from other websites to yours, but not all backlinks are created equal.

Aim for high-quality backlinks from reputable sites within your industry or niche.

These links can significantly boost your website’s rankings and enhance your domain authority.

Here’s how to get them:

• Create High-Quality Content: This is the foundation of successful link-building. By creating valuable, engaging content, you can naturally attract backlinks from other websites.
• Guest Posting: Write guest posts for reputable websites in your industry.
• Outreach: Reach out to other website owners to request backlinks.

Final Thoughts

Optimizing YMYL content requires a systematic approach.

But the good news is that it’s not hard to do.

By following the strategies outlined in this post, you can improve your YMYL website’s rankings and build trust with your audience.

Remember, quality always trumps quantity.

Aim for accuracy, credibility, and a positive user experience, and your YMYL pages will thrive in Google.

Gabriela Jhean SEO Specialist

Gabriela is a creative and results-driven SEO specialist dedicated to helping small businesses stand out online. She contributes in-depth SEO case studies at AIOSEO Trends to reveal the winning strategies of top-ranking websites. In her downtime, Gabriela enjoys treasure hunting for antique jewelry.

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