Medic
In the SEO industry, 'Medic' refers to a significant Google algorithm update that primarily impacted websites related to health, wellness, and medical fields.
Description
The 'Medic' update, rolled out by Google in August 2018, was a core algorithm update that substantially affected search rankings for a wide range of websites. Although it is known as 'Medic,' this update didn't exclusively target health-related sites. However, many health, wellness, and medical websites experienced noticeable changes in their search engine rankings. The update emphasized the importance of E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) criteria, which are critical for sites offering advice or information on matters that could impact users' well-being. Sites that did not sufficiently meet these criteria saw drops in rankings, prompting many webmasters to improve content quality, author credentials, and site trust indicators.
Examples
- A well-known health blog providing medical advice saw a significant drop in its Google rankings due to the 'Medic' update. The site later improved its rankings by adding more detailed author bios, sourcing all medical claims, and improving overall content quality.
- A local wellness center’s website experienced an increase in traffic after the 'Medic' update. The site had high-quality content written by certified professionals, detailed service pages, and numerous positive customer reviews, all contributing to its higher ranking.
Additional Information
- The update highlighted the importance of E-A-T, particularly for YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) sites.
- Site owners should regularly audit their content and author credentials to ensure compliance with E-A-T standards.