Medic Update (2018)

What Was the Google Medic Algorithm Update (2018)?

The Google Medic Update, rolled out in August 2018, was a broad core algorithm update that heavily impacted search rankings, particularly in industries related to health, wellness, and medical sectors. The main goal of this update was to improve the quality, credibility, and trustworthiness of search results by emphasizing websites that demonstrated strong E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness).

Google’s effort was particularly focused on YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) websites, which provide content on sensitive topics, such as health, finances, and legal matters.

While Google didn’t directly confirm that the update specifically targeted health-related websites, many webmasters in the medical industry reported significant ranking fluctuations.

Why Was It Called the “Medic Update”?

The name “Medic Update” was coined by SEO expert Barry Schwartz, as a majority of the websites affected by the update belonged to the health and medical niche. However, Google never officially named the update or stated that it exclusively targeted health-related sites.

Although the update primarily affected health-related websites, it also impacted other YMYL websites (like financial advisory, legal information, and e-commerce sites related to health products), which shows the broader scope of Google’s efforts to improve the reliability and accuracy of information in search results.

Which Types of Websites Were Most Affected?

The Google Medic Update had a broad impact, but certain sectors experienced more significant ranking changes, particularly websites involved in health, finance, well-being, and other sensitive areas.

1. Affected Websites:

Healthcare and Medical Websites:

• Websites providing medical advice, health tips, symptom checkers, or wellness information saw the largest ranking changes.
• Websites lacking medical expert verification and credible sources saw significant drops.

2. Financial Websites:

Sites offering financial advice, investment guidance, and banking services were also hit, as Google wanted to ensure trustworthy and reputable sources ranked well for these critical topics.

3. E-commerce and Affiliate Marketing Sites:

Online stores and affiliate sites selling health supplements, medical devices, and wellness products faced volatility, especially when they relied on unverified health claims or aggressive marketing tactics.

4. Legal and Governmental Websites:

Some websites providing legal advice, law firm directories, and government regulations were also impacted, as accuracy and trustworthiness are critical in these areas.

Non-YMYL websites were affected but to a lesser extent.

What Is YMYL (Your Money or Your Life)?

YMYL is a classification by Google for pages that can significantly impact a person’s health, financial stability, safety, or overall well-being.

Misinformation on these topics can lead to serious real-world consequences, and thus, Google holds them to higher standards of trustworthiness and accuracy.

Key Characteristics of YMYL Pages:

• These pages provide information about medical, financial, legal, or safety-related topics.

• They influence major life decisions, health outcomes, or financial security.

• They require high levels of expertise and trustworthiness.

How the Medic Update Strengthened E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)?

One of the core goals of the Medic Update was to enhance the focus on E-A-T, a critical ranking factor in evaluating the credibility of YMYL sites. This change aimed at ensuring that users receive accurate and reliable information from trusted sources.

Breaking Down E-A-T:

1. Expertise:

• Content should be written or reviewed by subject matter experts (e.g., licensed professionals for medical or financial advice).
• Google favors evidence-based content over speculative or opinion-driven content.

2. Authoritativeness:

• Websites must demonstrate authority in their field through recognition, endorsements, and strong backlinks from reputable sources.
• Sites with endorsements from respected organizations or professionals rank higher.

3. Trustworthiness:

• Websites must be transparent about their authors, sources, and contact details.
• Content should be free from misleading claims, exaggerated promises, or unverified treatments.
• Websites should secure HTTPS for enhanced trust and user security.

How Did the Medic Update Affect Rankings?

Key Ranking Changes:

• Authoritative sites in health and medical industries (like WebMD and Mayo Clinic) saw ranking improvements.

• Sites lacking E-A-T signals, such as those with unverified sources or anonymous authorship, faced ranking declines.

• Affiliate sites promoting alternative medicine or health products with limited scientific backing were penalized.

The update aimed to filter out misinformation and promote reliable, fact-based content.

How to Recover from the Google Medic Update?

Websites affected by the Medic Update can recover by improving content quality and strengthening E-A-T signals.

Steps to Recover:

1. Improve Content Quality:

• Make sure content is written or reviewed by subject matter experts.
• Include scientific references, authoritative citations, and verified information.
• Regularly update outdated content to maintain relevance.

2. Enhance Author Authority:

• Display author credentials, professional bios, and relevant industry recognition.
• Include expert testimonials and authoritative quotes.

3. Boost Website Trustworthiness:

• Use HTTPS for security and trust.
• Make contact information easily accessible and provide full transparency on content sources.

4. Earn High-Quality Backlinks:

• Seek backlinks from reputable sites in your industry.
• Avoid spammy, low-quality backlinks.

5. Improve User Experience (UX):

Ensure fast page speed, mobile-friendly design, and clear navigation.

How Has the Medic Update Influenced SEO Best Practices?

Since the Medic Update, SEO has increasingly focused on content quality, credibility, and user trust.

Key Takeaways:

• E-A-T is now crucial for ranking YMYL content.

• Keyword stuffing and manipulative tactics no longer work — well-researched, expert-driven content prevails.

• Building trust through authorship, citations, and backlinks is essential for ranking.

Final Thoughts on Medic Update

The Medic Update (2018) marked a major shift in Google’s content evaluation, specifically focusing on trust and accuracy. It encouraged website owners to:

• Prioritize factual, well-researched content.

• Ensure credible authorship and authoritative sources.

• Focus on building trust, transparency, and user experience.

The update reinforced Google’s mission to deliver high-quality, reliable search results, particularly for YMYL topics, helping users make informed decisions that affect their health, finances, and safety.