YMYL essentials
- The concept: A Google label for sites that affect people's wallets or health
- The challenge: Google is 10 times more demanding with these sites. Incorrect information can have serious consequences
- The golden rule (E-E-A-T): You must prove your Expertise, Experience, Authority and Reliability
- Profit : By showing your credentials, you become an untouchable reference
In the world of SEOnot all pages are created equal. If you're running a cooking blog, a small mistake in cooking time is nothing to write home about. But if you're giving investment advice or health tips, one mistake can change a life.
This is where the concept of YMYL: "Your Money, Your Life (your money, your life). If your activity falls into this category, Google won't forgive you any amateurism. Conversely, if you play the game of transparency, you'll build a wall of trust.
How Google judges your credibility (E-E-A-T)
Google uses strict criteria for YMYL sites. To move up in the results, you must prove four things:
- Expertise: Is the content written by someone who really knows his stuff?
- Experience : Does the author have any real experience in the field?
- Authority: Is your site recognized as a benchmark by your peers?
- Reliability (Trust) : Is your site secure? Are your legal notices clear?
Is your site YMYL?
Many companies are involved without realizing it. The YMYL label applies as soon as you touch :
Areas concerned
- Finance (banking, insurance, e-commerce)
- Health (medical advice, well-being)
- Legal (rights, legal advice)
- Security (cyber security, protection)
Risks if poorly managed
- Drop in Google results
- Loss of credibility
- Potential legal liability
- User defiance
3 reflexes to reassure Google and your customers
- Sign your content : Stop publishing anonymous articles. Create detailed author pages showing the qualifications and experience of your editors
- Cite your sources: Whenever you put forward a figure or an important piece of advice, link to an official source or a scientific study
- Be transparent: Clearly display your contact details, privacy policy and terms and conditions
Advice : A drop in visibility on a YMYL site may mean that Google doubts your authority. Regularly monitor your positions and the quality of your content.