Understanding the Google Medic Update
A significant component that has cemented Google’s status as a preeminent search engine is its commitment to refining and improving its algorithms. These algorithm updates aim to improve the quality of the search results, and one of its latest updates, known as the ‘Google Medic Update,’ stirred quite a buzz when it was introduced in August 2018.
The Google Medic Update got its colloquial name from Barry Schwartz of SERoundtable because of its apparent impact on health and wellness websites. Google’s primary intention with this update was not exclusively targeted at medical or health-related websites. Instead, it was part of their broad core algorithm changes aimed at understanding search queries and webpage content better.
Why the Google Medic Update Matters
Google develops and uses a variety of algorithms and calculations, assembling them into a complex system to generate search engine results. Each individual algorithm focuses on different aspects like relevance, usability, content completeness, and many others. When Google updates its algorithms, it’s to refine this process further, seeking to provide the best possible results for any given query.
The Medic Update was one of these significant updates, but what set it apart was its focus on what Google refers to as ‘Your Money or Your Life’ (YMYL) pages. YMYL pages are those that could potentially affect a person’s current or future well-being, happiness, health, financial stability etc. These could range from pages that give medical or legal information to those that request personal identification information.
Because of the potential impact these pages can have on a person’s life, Google prioritizes high page quality and very compelling Main Content (MC), among others, in its page quality rating for YMYL pages. So the Medic Update was essentially Google’s way of ensuring that when people interact with content that could significantly impact their lives, they’re interacting with the best, most reliable content possible.
The Impact of the Google Medic Update and Navigating It
While the original communication from Google stated this was a broad, core update, many sites, especially those related to health and wellness, reported significant changes in website traffic post-update. Some witnessed a serious drop in organic search rankings and traffic, which led to the assumption that health and medical sites were specifically targeted in this update. But Google clarified its stance stating it wasn’t maligning or favoring any specific industries with this update, instead, the update was about promoting high-quality content.
One key point to remember is that Google’s updates are not penalties. They might feel like hits if you see your traffic drop, but Google is never out to get specific sites. It’s all about ensuring search result quality.
To navigate the impact of Google Medic Update, focus on creating high-quality, valuable content. Websites should meet the E-A-T guidelines, which stands for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Expertise relates to the content creator’s qualifications, authoritativeness speaks to the credibility and reviews, while trustworthiness involves website security and the accuracy of the content.
Also, it is essential to focus on the overall user experience. Unresolved technical SEO issues or a poor mobile experience can affect your website’s ranking. It’s worth it to take time and invest resources to provide a positive and seamless user experience, from fast page load times to intuitive navigation.
In conclusion, while the Google Medic Update initially seemed to fearfully target personal health and finance websites, it is part of Google’s broader goal to provide a better search experience. Understanding these updates, including the Medic Update, can help website owners and operators create higher quality content, offer a better user experience, and ultimately, achieve higher search rankings. Google’s ultimate goal isn’t to penalize, but to reward top-quality content that is beneficial for users, and that’s a goal worth working towards.
Remember, when you focus on creating valuable, high-quality content and a better user experience, you’re aligning yourself with Google’s goal – to be on users’ side and provide them with the best possible answers to their queries.