There has been much discussion about YMYL sites; do you know what they are and why Google is paying specific attention to them?
Google is firmly committed to generating relevant content for users, and nothing is more relevant than topics that are fundamental in people's lives, such as their money, social issues, health, and legal problems.
YMYL sites are those that deal with your life or your money, but they are not limited to these subjects; sites with relevance in the daily lives of all internet users and with fundamental social importance fall within this category.
They are basically divided into the following categories:
Sites that enable financial transactions
This category includes bank websites as well as online store sites, and in this context, e-commerce is beginning to demand even more attention. Building stores with a sales flow that provides a good user experience will be viewed more carefully by Google.
Financial information and Investment Index sites
These sites that provide information about investment funds and currency quotes are fundamental in users' lives; however, in Brazil, they are a classic case of low-quality sites. Over time, we will observe a significant change regarding these sites.
Medical information and health tips sites
These sites have made millions of reais in Brazil with information of all types, and most of the time, they have low-quality information or content references (facts in reliable links that support the information, which is another requirement for content on Google).
Legal information and legal tips sites
These sites serve as support for legal information, and the reliability of this information is vital for most users; therefore, reliability requirements will increasingly be demanded by Google.
Other sites of social interest
Sites about safe driving, adoption, and other social interests are of great importance to users; therefore, there will be a greater demand regarding content quality.
It is essential in your SEO strategy to consider the best practices in content construction, as content marketing for such sites should be supported by valid information and not just assumptions.
Google has provided a specific topic on this subject within its Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines. Evaluators are encouraged to assess content according to certain parameters, such as "Is this article about cancer treatment really from an oncologist researcher?" and "Does this divorce tip come from a family law specialist?".
Google also states unequivocally in this document:
"We have high standards regarding YMYL sites because low-quality sites can negatively impact people's happiness, health, and financial stability.".
This alone makes the topic an excellent area for discussion regarding SEO, as low-quality sites will be scrutinized more closely by Google.