Every website must prioritize staying at the top of Google’s search results, and the best way to do that is to stay up to date with Google’s algorithm.
One of the latest major updates that Google has released is the E-E-A-T update, which happens to rank websites based on Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.
Over the years Google has released various updates like Panda, Penguin, and BERT, all aimed at refining search results. E-E-A-T has emerged as a cornerstone for content creators and marketers striving to enhance their visibility.
E-E-A-T has now become a major guiding principle that Google uses to evaluate the quality of the content. You can imagine Google’s EEAT update as a litmus test that ensures that the information you are providing through your content is well-researched and meets certain standards.
This framework helps everyone to share the information that is authentic and helps both content creators as well as consumers to have the correct information. You can align your content strategy with E-E-A-T standards to get a higher ranking on Google and build trust amongst your audiences.
In this guide, you’ll learn how E-E-A-T works in practice and what actionable steps you can take to ensure your content meets these benchmarks. Whether you’re an SEO pro or just starting, mastering E-E-A-T will be your gateway to long-term success in the digital landscape.
What is E-E-A-T and Why It Matters for SEO?
Google’s E-E-A-T framework—Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness acts as an evaluating guideline that measures content quality in various aspects.
It originated as an EAT Framework that emphasize Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness but later expanded into “Experience,” to give importance to first-hand knowledge about a topic.
Google is known for providing reliable information and the E-E-A-T algorithm is a powerful addition to Google’s strive for authentic knowledge.
Any website that lacks these attributes is likely to struggle with visibility and ranking, especially in industries like health, finance, or legal topics where misinformation can have serious consequences.
Improving E-E-A-T makes your content align with Google Standards and also serves as an authentic information source for your audience. The more you meet these criteria, the more trust you build with users—and Google.
Experience: The Key to Gaining User Trust
As the name suggest, Experience is something which is about demonstrading that you’ve lived through or directly engaged with the subject matter. For instance, a traveller who is writing a guide on Paris with personal stories will resonate more than generic tips and this type of content would attract more attention and therefore rank.
You can display your experience in the field as follows-
- Share real-life stories or case studies which can include visuals like photos, videos
- You can highlight unique insights that come only from direct involvement
- Display certifications, awards, etc. to showcase that you belong to this field
Google values content tremendously that feel authentic, reliable and well written. So, do not hesitate to weave your personal journey in your content. This makes your content engaging and build a stronger connection with your audience.
Demonstrating Expertise in Your Niche
Expertise goes beyond surface level knowledge which is why Google values it importance. Expertise is about showcase your in-depth knowledge and your ability to provide actionable, accurate information
You can demonstrate your expertise by following this-
- Well researched article which you can back up with data, statistics or credible sources
- You can be source of all potential questions related to the topic and you can achieve that by having a comprehensive coverage about a topic
- Highlight your qualifications and achievement by highlighting your Author profile
Google looks for content that reflects a strong command of the subjects which ensures that you’re through and precise in your approach. This becomes even more important especially for industry like healthcare or finance.
Building Authoritativeness for Long-Term Credibility
Authoritativeness is about how others perceive your credibility. Having a good authority in your field means you are recognized in your field as a leader. If so, search engines are more likely to view your content favorably.
Here’s how you build authoritativeness-
- Get citations from reputable local websites and industry-leading publications
- Collaborate with experts and co-create content which will help you get recognition
- Maintain consistency with your publications especially with high-quality content in your niche
Trustworthiness: The Foundation of Google’s Guidelines
Trustworthiness ties with other pillars together to offer you a trustworthy content. Even the most experienced or authoritative content will fail if users can’t trust it.
You can establish trustworthiness-
- You can clearly disclose affiliations, sponsorships, or conflicts of interest by being transparent
- You can maintain accuracy by fact-checking every piece of information before presenting it online
- You can secure your website from any cyber attack and safeguard user data
Trust is important in any business and when it comes to internet which has huge trust deficit, you can rely on secure transactions and honest product descriptions to make your website trustworthy for your clients. If users feel confident in your content, they’re more likely to engage and convert.
How to Optimize Your Website for E-E-A-T?
Optimizing your website for E-E-A-T is essential and here’s how you can optimize your website for E-E-A-T:
Keep Your Technical Part Right
There are some technical parts that you cannot miss which are as follows-
- Clear About Us Page: Explain who you are, your mission, and your credentials.
- Author Bios: Include detailed bios for every content contributor.
- Contact Information: Make it easy for users to reach you.
- Regular Updates: Keep your content fresh and relevant.
Technical SEO also plays a role. Ensure your site loads quickly, is mobile-friendly, and provides a seamless user experience.
Content Strategies to Showcase E-E-A-T
Content is the most important thing that drives your website’s ranking process and you have to communicate E-E-A-T using that. You can build your E-E-A-T-compliant content strategy as follows-
- You have to write about your audience by addressing their needs, questions, and pain points
- You can use multimedia like videos, infographics, or images to enhance understanding
- You can link to authoritative references to back your claims
Leveraging Social Proof and Reviews to Boost Trust
Social proofs like reviews, testimonials, and case studies help you significantly and can boost your perceived trustworthiness. You can leverage social proof by following these points-
- Ask your customers to leave positive reviews on Google and other platforms to boost your social proof
- You can display client’s testimonials on your website
- Share content created by your audience to build credibility and trust with others
Positive social proof signals to Google that real users find value in your offerings, which can enhance your rankings.
Role of Backlinks in Strengthening E-E-A-T
Backlinks are the cornerstone of SEO and a vital component for building E-E-A-T. They act as an endorsement from other websites, signaling to Google that your content is worth referencing. You can acquire backlinks by following these steps-
- It is very easy to get backlinks but you have to focus on quality not quantity to avoid penalties and getting spammy practices
- Create Link-Worthy Content: Publish resources, guides, or research others want to cite.
- Engage in the outreach campaigns where you reach out to other webmasters to get a link
- Avoid any spammy practices as they can demote your website’s ranking
E-E-A-T Pitfalls to Avoid in 2024
Despite following the above guidelines and your best efforts certain mistakes can happen which can harm your E-E-A-T. compliance. You have to avoid these mistakes which include:
- Low-quality content which is poorly written or contains duplicate content can undermine the trustworthiness of your platform
- Failing to adapt your SEO practices to Google’s algorithm can make your ranking drop
- Making exaggerated claims without evidence and proper citation could damage your credibility
Tracking and Measuring Your E-E-A-T Success
Improving E-E-A-T is a long-term commitment; tracking your progress helps you refine your efforts. The key metrics to monitor are as follows-
- Organic Traffic-Increased traffic shows Google that your content is of good quality and hence more trust is developed
- Engagement Rates- Engagement rate is how long a user stays on the page also if he/she shares the content as it reflects the user’s satisfaction with the content quality
- Ranking- Consistent improvement in your search ranking shows that your E-E-A-T efforts are paying off.
- Tools like Google Analytics and Search Console can provide valuable insights into your performance, helping you identify areas for improvement.
No sure how to start? we at iConnect Solution have worked with both small and large brands. We can help you build authority and gain customer trust. Consult us for website and digital marketing.