Among the many factors that search engines consider when determining the relevancy of a website, E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) stands out as a powerful ranking signal. Its importance is evident in the fact that in recent years, it has been subject to several discussions. Google has even introduced E-A-T concepts in the 2014 edition of its Search Quality Guidelines.
As with any other ranking signal, E-A-T has various components. Some of the key ones include content, backlinks, and user experience. However, you can’t simply add more backlinks and have your content improve your E-A-T score. Instead, you have to carefully plan your internal-external association. This is a complex and multi-layered process.
While there are many nuances involved, the three E-A-T metrics that you need to pay attention to are as follows: expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness. The first is a measure of your site’s ability to produce high-quality content. The second relates to your brand’s reputation. The third is a signal from an external source, such as a search query. The best way to demonstrate a good E-A-T score is to provide as much information as possible to search engines.
Aside from the above mentioned metrics, you should also make sure that your website is fast. This will help you gain favor with users. A site that takes a long time to load will have a lower E-A-T score. In addition, you should keep in mind that out-of-date content can actually have a negative impact on your SERP ratings.
You may not be able to make all of these improvements on your own, but you should be doing everything you can to enhance your E-A-T. For example, adding a personal outreach campaign is a great way to show your authority. You can use this strategy to send links and articles to authoritative leaders in your niche. The downside is that this is a very labor-intensive and time-consuming approach.
Having good E-A-T is important because it helps your content to be viewed as more valuable. It also helps you build a strong base of long-term returning visitors. It also shows search engines that you are a credible figure in your field. Increasing your E-A-T can have a major impact on your SEO efforts.
The old saying goes, “quality over quantity” is a popular maxim for evaluating a website’s performance in the search engine results page. This concept is even more applicable when it comes to assessing the quality of E-A-T.
For websites with a relatively short history, you can still do your part to improve your E-A-T by implementing a strategic internal-external association. In other words, you have to carefully think about the way you can link your internal content to external properties such as blog posts, media files, and social media. You also have to make sure that your external connections are reliable.
You should also remember to update your content and expert information to make sure that you are providing the most accurate and up-to-date information possible. While it is possible to add a superficial E-A-T, this is ineffective unless you take the time to update your content.