Health, Finance, Safety, Government, News. Each has extra SEO scrutiny for accuracy & reliability.
Are you confused why Google seems to treat some of your informational pages as extremely important while others are ignored? It feels like they have a secret checklist for certain sensitive topics that you just cannot find.
I know the key to this strict sorting comes from understanding that not all sensitive topics are the same; they are grouped into specific, high-stakes areas.
I will explain What is YMYL Subcategories? and show you how to apply their rules to prove the highest level of trust and expertise on your website.
What is YMYL Subcategories?
What is YMYL Subcategories? refers to the different groups of sensitive content that fall under the general Your Money or Your Life (YMYL) umbrella.
The main categories include Financial Security, Health and Safety, Legal Information, and Public Interest/Civic Content.
I use these subcategories to focus my efforts, knowing that a financial site needs to prove formal expertise, while a health site needs to prove medical authority.
Impact on CMS Platforms
Since the subcategories are so specific, I use my CMS features to showcase the exact type of expertise needed for each one.
WordPress
In WordPress, I use an author bio box to display the specific credentials for the subcategory, like a CPA or a medical license.
For health content, I ensure the post has a clearly visible “Medically Reviewed By” date and name.
This is crucial for signaling the required Expertise to meet the YMYL standard.
Shopify
For Shopify, which falls under the Financial Security subcategory, I prioritize displaying transparent business information.
I clearly link to policies like the Refund Guarantee, Shipping Information, and Terms of Service from every page.
This visible commitment to customer safety builds the necessary Trustworthiness for transactions.
Wix and Webflow
These builders allow me to create dedicated landing pages for complex topics like Legal Information or investment advice.
I use the design flexibility to embed badges, awards, or links to external licensing bodies.
This easy-to-read validation helps confirm the page’s Authority to the search engine.
Custom CMS
With a custom system, I implement specific schema markup (structured data) that directly tags the content as a Medical Web Page or Financial Service.
I ensure that all articles include a “Last Updated” field to signal freshness, a key factor in Health and Safety subcategories.
This technical rigor guarantees that the machine understands the sensitive nature of the content.
YMYL Subcategories in Various Industries
I tailor the content and proof of authority based on which subcategory the business operates within.
Ecommerce
If I sell health supplements or baby products, my site falls under the Health and Safety subcategory.
I must provide clear warnings, link to certified studies, and ensure my product claims are scientifically accurate.
I use high-quality imagery to show compliance and safety in packaging and usage.
Local Businesses
A lawyer’s website falls under Legal Information, while a dentist falls under Health and Safety.
The lawyer must display bar memberships, and the dentist must show clinic certifications and patient testimonials.
I focus on providing the specific, verifiable credentials required for their YMYL subcategory.
SaaS (Software as a Service)
SaaS products handling investments or medical records are in the Financial/Health subcategories.
I ensure my privacy policies are extensive, clearly state data security measures, and list all compliance certifications.
This focus on Trustworthiness and security is the most critical signal for these software types.
Blogs
If my blog publishes political commentary or news, it falls under Public Interest/Civic Content.
I emphasize the author’s journalistic experience and follow strict editorial guidelines for accuracy and fact-checking.
I use clear citations and links to original sources to prove the content is authoritative and trustworthy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most regulated YMYL subcategory?
The Health and Safety and Financial Security subcategories are the most heavily scrutinized by Google.
In these areas, the risk of harm from misinformation is highest, leading to the strictest E-E-A-T requirements.
I must ensure that all claims are backed by scientific consensus or legal/financial fact.
How can I find out if my content is YMYL?
Ask yourself if bad information on your page could lead to the user losing money, getting injured, or making a dangerous legal decision.
If the answer is yes, treat it as YMYL and dedicate significant resources to proving E-E-A-T.
Content is generally not YMYL if it is about hobbies, fashion, or entertainment.
Does YMYL apply to my entire website?
No, YMYL typically applies only to the pages that cover sensitive topics, such as a health article or a financial calculator.
However, the required Trustworthiness applies to the whole domain, so your entire site must be secure and professional.
I ensure my core pages are secure and my sensitive pages feature expert authorship.
