What is YMYL?
YMYL stands for “Your Money or Your Life”. It refers to content that can significantly affect someone’s health, finances, safety, or overall well-being. Because of the potential impact, Google has very strict rules for YMYL content to ensure people receive trustworthy and accurate information.
Examples of YMYL topics include medical advice, financial guidance, legal help, and safety tips. If the information in these areas is wrong, it could cause real harm, which is why it’s important to approach YMYL content with great care and thorough research.
Why is YMYL Content Challenging?
Accuracy is Everything
YMYL content must be spot-on. Incorrect or outdated information can affect your readers, like poor financial decisions or health risks.
For example, if you run a health blog and give inaccurate advice, you could harm people who rely on your content. Always make sure your information is accurate, and when necessary, get it reviewed by experts.
Strict Google Guidelines
Google holds YMYL content to higher standards than other topics. It uses the E-E-A-T framework: Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.
For a medical website, this means citing peer-reviewed studies or working with certified professionals to ensure the content is trustworthy and reliable.
It Requires Significant Resources
Creating high-quality YMYL content often involves working with experts, editing, and regular updates. This takes time and can be expensive.
For example, hiring a certified financial planner or a qualified doctor to write articles can be costly, but it’s essential for establishing trust. And since information in fields like healthcare and finance is always changing, keeping your content up to date is a continuous process.
Tip: Consider focusing on evergreen topics that don’t need frequent updates. Or, you can include dates in your content to show when it was last verified, allowing readers to check if there’s new information available.
Niches with Less Pressure from YMYL
Not all content falls under YMYL’s strict rules. Some topics are less impacted by these guidelines, such as:
- Entertainment and Lifestyle: Topics like movies, fashion, or hobbies.
- DIY and Home Projects: Activities like gardening or crafts, which have little chance of causing harm.
- Personal Opinions: Content like travel blogs or product reviews, which are based more on personal experiences than hard facts.
- General Interest Topics: Things like news, trends, or fun facts that don’t affect people’s health or safety.
Tip: In these areas, you can focus more on creating engaging and fun content without needing to meet such strict standards of verification.
Breaking Down the E-E-A-T Framework
Experience
Google loves content from people who have direct, first-hand experience. For example, a trained financial expert writing about budgeting is seen as more valuable than someone who simply reads about it. This applies to any field, like travel bloggers who have actually visited the places they write about.
Tip: Use your own experiences and storytelling to make your content stand out. This gives your audience a unique and personal perspective, which is always appreciated.
Expertise
Expertise refers to the depth of knowledge someone has about a topic. It’s especially important for fields like medicine, law, or finance. Make sure your content is well-researched, accurate, and professionally written. If you have qualifications or certifications in the field, make sure to highlight them.
Tip: Collaborate with experts when needed, and make their contributions clear to strengthen your content’s credibility.
Authoritativeness
Authority comes from being recognised as a trusted voice in your industry. This can be achieved through citations, mentions, and contributions to reputable publications. When other trusted websites link to your content, it boosts your authority.
Tip: Work on building relationships with respected websites in your field and look for opportunities to guest post or collaborate.
Trustworthiness
Trustworthiness is about being reliable and transparent. This includes clear communication, secure websites, and following ethical standards. If your audience trusts you, they’re more likely to return and share your content.
Tip: Share your credentials, respond to user comments, and ensure your site is secure to increase your audience’s trust.
How to Create High-Quality YMYL Content
- Do Thorough Research – Start with credible sources. Use industry reports, peer-reviewed studies, and expert opinions. Be sure to cite everything and update your content regularly to keep it accurate.
- Make It Clear and Simple – Complex ideas can confuse readers. Use simple language to explain difficult topics. Transparency is key – always disclose any affiliations or potential conflicts of interest.
- Show Off Your Expertise – Let your readers know who’s behind the content. Include bios with your qualifications, experience, and links to your professional profiles. This helps build trust with your audience.
- Engage with Your Readers – Encourage your readers to interact by leaving comments, asking questions, or running live Q&A sessions. Respond to their feedback quickly to build a stronger, more trusting community.
Building Trust Through Social Media
- Be Consistent – Your brand should look and sound the same on every platform. Consistency in visuals, tone, and messaging helps reinforce trust.
- Engage Actively – Respond to questions and comments on your social media pages. Showing that you care about your audience’s feedback helps build loyalty and trust.
- Share Educational Content – Post valuable information, like tips, insights, or how-to guides. Educational content not only helps your audience but also positions you as a trusted expert in your field.
Improve Your Website’s Presentation
- A Clean, Professional Design – Your website’s design should look modern and professional. A well-designed site increases your credibility and keeps visitors engaged.
- Ensure Website Security – Use SSL certificates to secure your website and protect user data. A site without proper security may lose visitors and even hurt your SEO.
- Easy Navigation – Make it easy for visitors to find what they need. Clear menus and a user-friendly structure will improve the user experience.
Building Quality Backlinks
- Quality Over Quantity – It’s better to have a few high-quality backlinks from respected sites than a lot of links from low-quality ones. These will help boost your site’s authority.
- Guest Posting – Collaborate with trusted websites to publish guest posts. This not only helps improve your authority but also increases your reach.
- Monitor Your Backlinks – Regularly check your backlink profile. If you find links from spammy or low-quality sites, consider removing or disavowing them to protect your reputation.
Tip: Use tools like Connectively, previously known as HARO (Help a Reporter Out) to connect with journalists and get quality backlinks.
Conclusion
Creating high-quality YMYL content is a challenge, but it can also be rewarding because it can help you to find the audience or customers you are looking for. By following the E-E-A-T principles, focusing on clear communication, and engaging with your audience, you can build trust and provide valuable information.