E-E-A-T on Google has created a lot of buzz around. If you haven’t come across it yet or looking for full information on what it is, why it is important, or how to improve it for your website, this blog is for you.
What is E-E-A-T?
E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness & Trustworthiness. It is a Google Framework utilized by the search engine’s human reviewers for assessing the quality of content online. The key idea is trustworthiness, as defined in the Search Quality Rater Guidelines by Google. The human reviewers (also called quality raters) follow this handbook to share their genuine feedback on search results.
The concept is to display high-quality search results with strong E-E-A-T signals for the best user experiences and to ensure protection from misinformation/low-quality content. This concept makes sense when it is about YMYL pages (Your Money Your Life). Such sensitive topics can impact an individual’s life by risking their health and finances. Considering this, the quality raters hold the responsibility of finding search results with low E-E-A-T on Google to improve its search ranking algorithms.
Importance of E-E-A-T for SEO, Content & Web Pages
You’ll understand the importance of this framework for SEO, Content & Web Pages while we discuss each E-E-A-T factor.
1. Experience
What it means? It points towards the real-world user experiences with the content accessible online.
Why it is important? Google’s search engine algorithms are designed and updated to value content more when created/reviewed by anyone with firsthand experience. It adds authenticity and credibility to the content above all. For example, a recipe blog shared by a chef is more authentic than those starting afresh.
2. Expertise
What it means? Expertise is all about in-depth knowledge and skills in any particular aspect. Why it is important? When someone says they are an expert at something, they mean they have mastered the specific thing with practice and now hold accuracy and value. This promises reliability in their products or services. It falls true mainly for attorneys, finance, healthcare, or beauty services.
For such search results, fake information can expose users to potential harm. So, Quality Raters are alert for reviewing such content to display results that hold genuineness.
3. Authoritativeness
What it means? Authoritativeness means recognizing the content creator or web source as a former repository in a particular area.
Why it is important? You can surely build authoritativeness for your website among users but it can’t be achieved overnight. It takes consistent efforts, high-quality content, links to reputable web sources, and peers’ acknowledgement to build the same. Some sites may make it in some months while others may take years.
Such search ranking factors prioritize high-authority websites for displaying search results as compared to low-authority ones.
4. Trustworthiness
What it means? Trustworthiness covers all of the above – reliability and transparency of web content as well as website authority as a whole.
Why it is important? Your website can be called trustworthy if it has clear privacy policies, is secured by HTTPS, shares accurate content, and has transparent authorship. Such trustworthy sites are more likely to retain users, decline bounce rates, and enhance user engagement. These are some positive signals that help search engines rank you higher.
Impact of E-E-A-T on SEO, Content & Web Pages
SEO – Google uses EEAT in SEO for evaluating content, specifically in YMYL niches. Sites with stronger EEAT gain the benefit of high rankings and are eligible for driving more traffic organically. It is so important to maintain quality and authoritativeness of content that boosts user experiences and increases conversion rates.
Content – Focus on creating valuable EEAT content and ensure your website has all the information up-to-date. Maintain transparency alongside creating high-authority backlinks to make your link profile more valuable.
Web Page Design – Your website must have a clear, user-friendly structure. Secure it with HTTPS to earn user’s trust and encourage your potential customers to review experiences.
This can help your site get some trust badges which will only boost search engine rankings.
6 Ways to Improve Your E-E-A-T Effectively
These are some much-needed E-E-A-T guidelines if you are struggling to improve your website as per this Google Framework.
1. Create Valuable Content – Content is the kind, they say, and it still falls true today. Your content should be nothing short of excellent. At the end of the day, it should add value to reader’s or user’s lives.
2. Frame and follow your own Editorial Principles Strictly – Never upload content in one shot.
Go for proofreading. The best way is to have your editorial rules that you follow according to your niche and the type of content you create. If you’re clueless regarding this, run a web search and you’ll get tonnes of ideas on how to make your editorial principles.
3. Focus on building a stronger Brand Reputation– Although brand reputation isn’t built overnight, you can try your best to build high-authority backlinks, improve customer relationships on social media, do guest posts, etc. One fine way is to choose influencer marketing for more followers and conversions too.
4. Don’t forget to Credit the Content Creators– You have to build trust with your readers and one simple thing is giving credibility to the real content creators. For instance, a column regarding the writer at the end of the blog adds a sense of connection with the creator himself.
5. Mention Credible Sources Only – Adding third-party links to your content is a great way to build user’s trust. However, make sure these links point towards credible sources only.
6. Share User-Generated Content (UGC) – Always prefer adding UGC-like testimonials, video reviews, and firsthand experiences with images on your website. They are positive E-E-A-T Signals elevating your ranks.
Build your E-E-A-T Stronger with Axcess Web
Building an E-E-A-T strategy and sticking to it for search engine optimization could seem daunting, right? While a lot of tools are available for this, they demand dedication, expertise, and a consistent approach. It seems more possible with the help of a digital marketing agency like Axcess Web.
Let us know how we can help you today.