As Google continues to evolve, so too must the websites that hope to rank well on its search engine.
That’s why it’s important to keep up-to-date with the latest Google algorithm changes and ensure that your website is optimized for the new ranking factors. One of the most recent Google algorithm updates is the so-called ‘Medic’ update, which was rolled out in early August 2018.
This update specifically targets ‘Your Money or Your Life’ (YMYL) websites – that is, websites that deal with sensitive topics that could have a direct impact on a person’s health, wealth or happiness. Some examples of YMYL topics include health & fitness, money & finance, relationship advice and political opinions. If your website deals with any of these topics, then it’s especially important to make sure that it’s optimized for the Medic update.
Here are some tips on how to do just that:
- Publish high-quality content.
One of the main goals of the Medic update is to ensure that users are presented with accurate and reliable information when they search for YMYL topics. That’s why it’s crucial that your website only publishes high-quality content that is free from errors, bogged down with fluff or promotional language, or anything else that could be seen as less than trustworthy. To help with this, make sure that all of your content is thoroughly researched and well-written. If you’re not a confident writer yourself, then consider hiring a professional copywriter. It’s also a good idea to have your content reviewed by someone else before you publish it, to get a second pair of eyes on it. - Optimize your website for mobile.
Another key factor that the Medic update is taking into account is whether your website is optimized for mobile devices. With more and more people using smartphones and tablets to access the internet, it’s vital that your website is designed to work well on smaller screens. If it’s not, then you’re likely to be penalized in the search rankings. Fortunately, there are a few easy ways to make your website more mobile-friendly, such as using a responsive design, compressing images and using plenty of white space. - Increase your website’s loading speed.
The speed of your website is also important, both for ranking well in the search results and for providing a good user experience. Ideally, you should aim to have your website load in under 3 seconds. There are a number of ways to improve your website’s speed, such as using a faster web host, compressing images and files, and minimizing the use of plugins and third-party scripts. - Improve your website’s security.
Another important ranking factor that the Medic update is taking into account is the security of your website. If your website is not properly secured, then it could be penalized in the search results. Fortunately, there are a number of easy ways to improve your website’s security, such as using a security plugin, a secure web host and a strong password. - Make sure your website is easy to use.
Finally, it’s important to make sure that your website is easy to use, both for ranking well in the search results and for providing a good user experience. There are several ways to improve your website’s usability, such as using clear and concise text, easy-to-find menu items and contact information, and effective calls to action.
Check our dedicated website of Web Performance Optimization to discover what types of specific characteristics are included in Google’s WPO.