Google "Your Money or Your Life" for Attorneys

"Your Money or Your Life" is a Google guideline that classifies website content by its portential impact on a user's life, finances or safety. Legal content specifically is subject to this guideline because it can influence critical life decisions and potentially lead to financial loss and criminal or civil penalties.

Why attorneys need to pay attention to YMYL

• Google applies its strictest standards to YMYL content when evaluating your website information on criteria of Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) - a related Google quality guideline.
• Legal content that Google finds to fall short of its YMYL standards will rank poorly in search.
• Potential clients as well as Google will sense a shortfall in the critical YMYL dimension of your content, costing you business.

How to demonstrate that users' money and lives can safely be entrusted to your firm

• Publish attorney biographies that stress credentials, experience and specializations
• Publish specific case studies
• Publish articles that demonstrate your understanding of legal topics
• Tell users about your perticipation in the legal community: association memberships, publications, committees.
• Link to, and get links from, high-authority legal websites.
• Mention any professional recognitions you have received.
• Get listed in legal directories.
• Mention and link to media and blog articles about your firm.
• Make sure your firm name, address and phone number are consistent internet-wide.
• Use secure HTTPS website hosting and password-protected client forms.
• Use a disclaimer that distinguishes information from legal advice.
• Go easy on legal jargon - talk to users as you would to friends.
• Update content regularly - Google especially likes that.
• Make sure your website works correctly - no broken links - loads fast and is mobile-friendly.

Go here to read about how Google Search is a critical marketing channel for attorneys and many other local busineses, and follow this link for more information on optimizing your website for Google search.

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