Google is arguably the biggest search engine in the world. It is estimated that it has a 70% share of the search market. Of course, being the biggest, most popular, and potentially the best is not easy. Google is constantly checking and revising its algorithms to provide the very best results for users.
In 2018 Google made a broad core algorithm update which has since been referred to as the medic update.
It resulted in a big change in rankings, with some businesses moving up the ranks and inevitably some moving down. Naturally, those that moved down the ranks felt they had been unfairly treated. But, what it really proves is that all businesses, even health professionals, need professional assistance when designing and maintaining a website. For example, this medical website design team is essential if you want to secure a top place in the rankings.
How Medic Update Works
The reason this has been called the medic update is the fact that it seems to have had the biggest effect on the health, medical, financial, and legal industries and sites. The algorithm that was updated was supposed to be a broad update designed to improve the collection of data and help to ensure the most authoritative sites get to the top of the search pages.
Although a drop in rankings is disappointing and potentially damaging to business, it is possible to rise back through the rankings. All you have to do is understand how the medic update works and what you can do to fix your ranking.
The key takeaway is that you will have moved down the rankings if Google perceives you have a trust issue.
Here are the most common examples of trust issues and how to fix them:
- Unsafe products
One of the biggest changes Google made was to identify any products that could compromise the safety of individuals. If you are working with those products then your ranking will automatically drop. You’ll need to check your products and remove all references to the unsafe ones before you’ll see a difference in your ranking.
- Bad Reviews
It’s not surprising that bad reviews and a bad reputation negatively affect your ranking. Put simply, Google isn’t sure you have the customer’s best interests at heart and rates you down because of this.
The best thing you can do is focus on building positive reviews and ensuring customer satisfaction.
- No Authority
Authority is generally perceived by the number of backlinks your site has, specifically to other well-known sites. Increase the links on your site and you’ll increase your authority and, therefore, your ranking.
Other Factors
It’s also a good idea to update your website regularly, specifically with new content. Of course, you need to make sure the quality of your content is high and old content that is no longer relevant is removed.
Finally, make sure your site has an author profile. This boosts credibility and shows that your site is genuine. Done together, it won’t take long to rebuild your ranking.
