Google Quality Guidelines Stricter for Specific Page Types

We've explained the finer details of Google's Search Quality Guidelines, which is the document that Googlers use when they're tasked with manually reviewing and rating the quality of a Web site.

The latest changes to these guidelines have put a spotlight on a specific classification of Web sites that Google calls Your Money or Your Life, which are described as:

"There are some pages for which PQ (Page Quality) is particularly important. We call these pages 'Your Money or Your Life' (YMYL) pages. They are pages that can have an impact on your current or future well being (physical, financial, safety, etc.). YMYL pages should come from reputable websites and the content should be created with a high level of expertise and authority."

Your Money or Your Life Examples

So what does that mean? Well, some solid examples of Your Money or Your Life pages that are held to a higher standard at Google would be:

• Pages asking for personal information, such as personal identification numbers, bank account numbers, drivers license numbers, etc., which could be used for identify theft.
• Pages used for monetary transactions, on which users might give their credit account or bank account information; for example any page that allows you to buy something.
• Pages offering medical or health information that could impact your physical well being.
• Pages offering advice on major life decisions, such as pages on parenting, purchasing a home, a vehicle, etc.
• Pages offering advice on major life issues that could impact your future happiness and finances, such as pages giving legal or financial advice.

Your Money or Your Life Page Requirements

If you have a site or pages that can be categorized as Your Money or Your Life - listen up! Google expects quality in the following areas:

• Clearly visible contact information. Google says, "Websites that require a high level of user trust...require very helpful contact information."
• Good reputation. "The reputation of a website should be judged by what expert opinions have to say. For ...