An Update Concerning Google and A Lot of Frustration
Last Update: February 26, 2019
I just found out some bad news concerning Google and SEO. And it effects a lot of us. Have you ever heard of Google's "Medic" Update 2018 concerning SEO? If you are in the Health and Wellness niche and the Finance niche, then this effects you!
It seems that people in these niches (including me) will have a serious problems getting their websites ranked high with Google. Google calls these sites, "Your money or your life" websites because it is your money or possibly your life if you rely on these types of websites for help.
Google says that content writers of these type of sites need to be in the category, E.A.T. (Expertise, Authority, and Trust). Meaning people who write content for their websites must be experters in these areas, have Authority, and have Trust. In other words, you must be physicians, nurses, nutritionalist, financial advisors with education and experience in the finance area.
People with these types of qualifications will have top ranking with Google while people who don't have expertise in these areas will be like bottom dwells hoping to get the best rankings.
Please don't message me saying I don't know what I am talking about nor am I ignorant because I am just giving out the info.
I am very pissed because I have been working my butt off writing top-quality content for my weight loss/belly fat website and it seems because of this I am doing it all in vain.
It is suggested that from the beginning we shouldn't have even considered these type of websites/blogs if we are not experts in these niches.
Join the Discussion
kmer6
Premium
Hmmm, does that mean if we had prior experience, say, we lost 56 pounds by doing this xxx, or by taking this xxx, that this doesn’t constitute authority? I believe that Google is looking for websites that are providing real, truthful, information and not regurgitated information.
Thank you for sharing. Your insight is an update to previous operations.
Ken
Thank you for sharing. Your insight is an update to previous operations.
Ken
Reply
Barley1
Premium
Well, I have wrote an article on my own personal experiences about being injured as an Army Ranger, having 16 surgeries and battling my problems with gaining weight and losing 35 lbs. To me that is authority. I also write about reviews and tips on how to lose weight naturally writing by experts and I give them credit.
I guess since Google owns most things they can call all the shots and expect we just take it, which we sometimes don't have a choice in the matter.
Danny
I guess since Google owns most things they can call all the shots and expect we just take it, which we sometimes don't have a choice in the matter.
Danny
Barney44
Premium
To quote a comment from one article discussing this topic: “There’s no “fix” for pages that may perform less well other than to remain focused on building great content. Over time, it may be that your content may rise relative to other pages.”
Best thing I think is to remain focused and roll with the flow many will be able to work through the change.
Barry
Best thing I think is to remain focused and roll with the flow many will be able to work through the change.
Barry
PamC39
Premium
Thank you for sharing this information. That’s not very nice of google. I know that a lot of people on WA post really good content that people are looking for and those qualified professionals sometimes don’t cover these relevant topics most of the time. Also, I know that some content are very popular and so drives traffic which indirectly helps google’s popularity as well. So my question is How are they going to stop people from patronizing those sites if they choose to ? are they planing on putting out a policy update or something? I know you might not know the answer but it’s just something to think about when looking at the big picture.
TeriCalhoun
Premium
Doctors are so busy with sick patients that they really don't have a lot of time to explain anything. Since the Affordable Care Act has become law their patient load has been doubled but their income has remained the same or less because the government will only pay so much for certain procedures. Nurses and doctors are overworked and that puts patients at risk. I actually read that the number one cause of death in this country was due to modern medicine itself. There is a word for it, but I can't recall what it is. I know that two of my friends were given prescriptions that conflicted with each other in spite of the fact that the pharmacists are supposed to catch these things. There is an app called drugs.com that can catch these things. That is how I discovered the errors.
PamC39
Premium
This is so true another great reason why google’s announcement is not in favour of their audience. I mean if people here on WA were not doing their research and putting out low quality work then I can understand but that’s not the case here. It’s absolutely ridiculous! People here do work hard and they put so much research and work towards their content. So not sure why google is putting everyone inside a box.
TeriCalhoun
Premium
Barley1
Premium
Well Teri, I just told Fran that I should or probably know as much as a doctor. I've had 16 different surgeries, fibromyalgia, staff infection that I contracted in a hospital after one surgery, spinal meningitis, died 3 times on the operating table, and a host of other medical problems and I've been on every narcotic pain med and over 25 spinal epiderials, and every muscle relaxer and anti-depressant that I should be a doctor or pharmacist. I told hospital staff one time, that I wanted my own wing to the hospital because between my insurance company and me, I have bought it.
Also my fiance, she asked me what a medicine is or what would be good for her because she says I know as much as a pharmacist.
Danny
Also my fiance, she asked me what a medicine is or what would be good for her because she says I know as much as a pharmacist.
Danny
davemc2019
Premium
No, just keep writing on your niche and give as much information as you can. Even quote health professionals but make sure you credit them with the quote and possibly leave a link to the authors page.
RussellO1
Premium
I thought that quoting and linking to authors was a no, no and guaranteed to push down ranking?
Barley1
Premium
Well Russell, I have a weight loss blog/website and I'm not giving up on it. I'll still put out high-quality content. But I am looking at finding another niche to have a second stream of income.
Stay with it and don't give up because there are many website in the weight loss niche that are on 1st page of Google and these people have no clue.
Just putting out some info.
Danny
Stay with it and don't give up because there are many website in the weight loss niche that are on 1st page of Google and these people have no clue.
Just putting out some info.
Danny
TeriCalhoun
Premium
It would be great if everyone on this platform that posts on health and nutrition could review our posts on these subjects before we actually publish them; but how do we make that happen?
emilyonline
Premium
I have to say that as a dietitian (though my work through WA is totally unrelated to this field), I'm actually glad about that update. It is very scary the amount of bad/wrong advice I've seen or heard about from some websites that look legit. One of our biggest daily struggles in the health profession is trying to undo damage from people reading garbage online.
I'm sorry about your hard work though! As a hard working internet marketer that's really tough to deal with.
I'm sorry about your hard work though! As a hard working internet marketer that's really tough to deal with.
Barley1
Premium
I'm sorry but my website doesn't give out medical advice on the subject of weight loss. What I share is content from experts in the field and I put it in quotes.
emilyonline
Premium
TeriCalhoun
Premium
So what do you think about the issue of how much fat we should eat, from a dietician's point of view?
emilyonline
Premium
TeriCalhoun
Premium
Could you refer me to a piece of literature? Not looking to debate. Just interested in the opinion of someone who makes their living doing this and has probably seen a lot of negative outcomes from people getting irresponsible advice.
emilyonline
Premium
Sure, I'll have a look later. I'm on maternity leave at the moment so don't have my usual access to resources. If I haven't gotten back to you by this time tomorrow please send me a reminder in case I forget!
TeriCalhoun
Premium
Thanks Emily. Good luck with the baby. Wish those little buggers came with instruction manuals, don't you?
emilyonline
Premium
Thank you, and yes a manual would be good haha. Maybe a factory reset option would be good too sometimes!
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