EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) is a set of quality criteria used by Google to evaluate web content and determine its value to users, particularly for topics that can impact a person’s health, financial stability, or safety.
What is EEAT?
EEAT is an expansion of the earlier EAT concept, adding “Experience” to the mix. It’s a framework Google uses to assess content quality, especially for YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) pages.
The four components of EEAT are:
- Experience: First-hand or life experience with the topic.
- Expertise: The creator’s skills and knowledge in the subject area.
- Authoritativeness: The content’s or creator’s reputation and recognition in their field.
- Trustworthiness: The overall credibility and transparency of the content and website.
How Does EEAT Work?
Google’s algorithms and human quality raters use EEAT as a guideline to evaluate content quality. While it’s not a direct ranking factor, it influences how Google perceives your content’s value.
To improve your EEAT:
- Showcase author credentials and expertise
- Provide detailed “About Us” and author bio pages
- Cite reputable sources and keep content up-to-date
- Gather positive reviews and testimonials
- Maintain a secure website with clear contact information
Why is EEAT Important?
- Quality Assessment: EEAT helps Google identify high-quality content that deserves higher rankings.
- User Trust: Websites demonstrating strong EEAT are more likely to gain user trust and engagement.
- Competitive Edge: In competitive niches, strong EEAT can differentiate your content from others.
Best Practices for EEAT
1 – Showcase Expertise
Highlight your team’s qualifications, certifications, and experience. Create detailed author bios that emphasize relevant expertise.
For example, if you’re running a health website, ensure your content is written or reviewed by medical professionals. Include their credentials prominently.
2 – Build Authority
Focus on link building from reputable sources in your industry. Participate in industry events, contribute to respected publications, and seek mentions from authoritative websites.
Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to track your website’s authority metrics and identify link-building opportunities.
3 – Ensure Trustworthiness
Implement HTTPS security, display clear privacy policies, and provide easy access to customer support. Regularly update your content to ensure accuracy.
Consider obtaining relevant industry certifications or memberships to further establish trust.
Expert Tip
Leverage schema markup to help search engines better understand your content’s context and authorship. This can indirectly boost your EEAT signals by clearly defining your expertise and authority to search engines.
Key Takeaways
EEAT is crucial for content quality assessment in Google’s eyes. It’s particularly important for YMYL topics but beneficial for all types of content.
Focus on demonstrating your experience, showcasing expertise, building authority, and ensuring trustworthiness throughout your website. Remember, improving EEAT is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and updates.
Related Terms
- YMYL: Closely related concept often evaluated alongside EEAT
- Ranking Factors: While not a direct factor, EEAT influences overall rankings
- Google Algorithm: EEAT is part of Google’s complex ranking system
- User Experience: EEAT contributes to overall user satisfaction and trust