One of the mysteries of Google is the algorithm to page rankings. Over the years and dozens of updates, it is impossible to figure out. The closest we have come is when Google released the 175-page document titled Search Quality Rating. In short, Google wants to know if your content is:
- Has a valid purpose
- E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
- YMYL (Your Money, Your Life)
All searches start with a purpose. Why are you looking up marketing strategies, how to do Facebook ads, buying a home, or best insurance rates. Sounds familiar? We search the web for many things and Google makes it a priority to provide us with the best information possible.
What Does E-A-T Mean?
The tricky thing is many of us have to switch from consumer to content creator. We serve two audiences: Google and the consumer. Therefore, it is important to demonstrate your Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness when creating content.
What Does YMYL Mean?
It contains vital information such that, if misrepresented or contain inaccurate data, then it would negatively impact the reader’s safety, happiness, financial stability, and health.
Moreover, if the readers get the wrong information, that could bring disastrous implications to their life.
It is essential to understand the YMYL page and how the page quality may impact content ranking in the search engine.
The information from Google you expect include:
- Civics, Government, and Law
The websites in this category focus on information designed to educate citizens about local or governmental agencies, voting, legal issues, social services, and more.
- News and Current Events
These are websites containing essential information about a local, state, or government. They focus on current events and news topics such as business science, particular politics, technology, and more.
- Shopping
These sites contain information on where you can buy goods or services, industrial or commercial products, research, and reviews regarding a consumer. It also includes the sites that will allow you to purchase online.
- Finance
The websites offer financial advice regarding retirement planning, tax preparation, investments, credit cards, loans, 401k, insurance, banking, and more. It also includes websites that allow users to transfer money or purchase online.
- Groups of People
These are websites having information about large groups of people. Moreover, they provide demographics and statistics depending on religion, race, disability, gender, nationality, age, veteran status, or sexual orientation.
- Health and Safety
These websites offer hospitals, medical issues, pharmacology, drugs, safety, COVID-19 statistics, etc. Of course this is a very popular topic right now. Highly competitive during this time, but if this is you start now.
- Other Topics
This refers to the remaining large subset of specific niche related websites and includes housing, nutrition, fitness, choosing a college, going for a vacation, finding a job, among others.
Correlation For E-A-T with Page Quality
In 2015, Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines were released by Google. This contained essential information on the ways Google determines the quality of web pages and whether they can qualify in ranking for YMYL content.
At that time, E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) was a golden standard. According to Google, E-A-T usually has a direct impact on the quality of an on-page.
Google also stated that page quality (PQ) is among the chief components to rank YMYL content. Those pages demonstrating E-A-T usually have a higher PQ rating, thus serving essential information to the users.
Tips For Ranking YMYL Content
If you want to rank YMYL content, consider these factors:
- Page quality will determine the purpose of a web page and confirm the user’s search query.
- The page quality will determine whether the webpage was created to help users.
- You have to consider page purposes to establish a higher page quality rating, such as selling products or services, sharing information on a topic, and expressing an opinion.
The Bottom Line
If you are looking to solidify your expertise incorporating E-A-T and YMYL in your blog content is a must. Obtaining a Google ranking is competitive, but make sure you follow the guidelines in order for your content to rank at the top of the search.
