YMYL Pages
YMYL stands for “Your Money or Your Life”, referring to any page whose content could affect a person’s future happiness, health, financial stability, or safety. Because search engines treat these topics with extra caution, YMYL pages must be created with accurate, authoritative, and well-researched information.
Why YMYL Matters in SEO
Search engines want to deliver only the most reliable information when users seek advice on critical topics. If a page about medical treatments, legal guidance, or financial planning is misleading or incorrect, it can cause real harm. That’s why Google’s quality raters look for:
- Expertise (the author’s credentials)
- Experience (first-hand, real-world knowledge)
- Authoritativeness (reputation of the website or author)
- Trustworthiness (accuracy, transparency, and ethics)
Together, this is often called E-E-A-T.
Common YMYL Categories
| Category | Examples of Pages |
|---|---|
| Health & Safety | Medical advice, mental health resources |
| Finance & Shopping | Investment tips, loan applications, tax calculators |
| Legal & Government | Legal advice articles, official forms download |
| News & Current Events | Reports on crises, political analysis |
| Public Policy | Regulatory updates, civic participation guides |
How to Optimize YMYL Pages
- Show Credentials
- Display author bios with relevant qualifications (e.g., MD, CPA).
- Link to author’s professional profiles or publications.
- Cite Reliable Sources
- Reference peer-reviewed studies, government websites, or industry standards.
- Use clear anchor text and bibliography lists.
- Maintain Accuracy
- Fact-check all claims and update content regularly.
- Date-stamp your content and note revisions.
- Improve Readability
- Break content into short paragraphs and bullet points.
- Use headings (H2, H3) to structure complex information.
- Secure & Transparent
- Use HTTPS and display trust signals (privacy policy, contact info).
- Clearly disclose affiliate links or sponsored content.
Example: Citing a Reliable Source
<p>According to the World Health Organization, <a href="https://www.who.int/">handwashing</a> reduces respiratory infections by up to 23%.</p>
This HTML snippet shows how to link to a trusted authority. In your markdown, you would follow it with an explanation that highlights why the source is credible and how it supports your content.
In summary, YMYL pages cover topics where quality and credibility are non-negotiable. By following E-E-A-T best practices, showing clear author expertise, and citing authoritative sources, you help both users and search engines trust your content—leading to better visibility and stronger user satisfaction.