What the guidelines cover#
- Page Quality (PQ): how well a page achieves its purpose, judged by content quality, reputation and E-E-A-T.
- Needs Met: how well a result satisfies a specific query, especially on mobile.
- YMYL topics: extra scrutiny for health, money, safety and civic information.
- Lowest-quality signals: deceptive pages, scaled low-effort content, harmful misinformation, hacked or spammy sites.
How raters influence search#
When Google tests an algorithm change, raters compare result sets. Their ratings are used as data to evaluate whether the change helps. No rater can lower your site’s ranking, but the guidelines tell you what Google’s systems are trying to reward.
Practical takeaways#
- Make it clear who runs the site and who wrote each page.
- Show first-hand experience and real effort, not rewritten summaries.
- Avoid distracting ads and pop-ups that get in the way of the main content.
- Build an independent reputation — what others say about you counts.
- Hold YMYL content to the highest standard of accuracy and sourcing.
Related: E-E-A-T and YMYL guide, helpful content.