Over the years, Google has been emphasizing expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) as one of the key pillars when it comes to ranking websites. Here is a look at what E-E-A-T means and how mastering it can enhance your fan website search rankings.
Table of Contents
What is E-E-A-T?
E-E-A-T is part of Google’s framework in evaluating content quality. It is keen on implementing this on websites that are in your money, your life (YMYL) categories or anyone who is looking to build trust with specific audiences. For a niche site, EEAT signals to Google that you have credible, relevant, and valuable content that your audience would be looking for when searching for information online.
It also shows that you are an expert in your field and the content is authentic. If you are a gamer, the next time you check for blackjack games available, the first few results may come from gaming websites that meet EEAT requirements.
Showcase Expertise
Showcasing expertise means demonstrating in-depth knowledge in your niche. It shows you have insider understanding of what happens in the industry. You avoid generic content that has information that relatively everyone knows and get in-depth into some new information that is not readily available.
Another way you can strengthen your expertise is by sharing credentials. Let Google know you have the knowledge of the niche. Also, your content should always be accurate. Take time to verify that your claims and facts are correct and easy to understand. The audience will respond positively to content that meets all these by sharing it widely and engaging with you.
Highlight Firsthand Experience
The second E component is experience. This component showcases involvement in the real-world events of the niche. This gives an image of a user who knows exactly what goes on behind the scenes and some gems that generic content cannot provide. You can achieve this by sharing personal stories, behind-the-scenes information, or live videos of any event that is related to your niches. This approach boosts dwell time and increases social shares, all of which enhance SEO.
Experience should be continuous. So, vary your content by adding pieces of personal experiences in your stories. B2B companies can add case studies and customer testimonials to build experience points.
Establish Authoritativeness
Authoritativeness is that quality of being recognized as a go-to source in your niche. It means that whatever you say on the website is taken as the truth in the industry. You build authoritativeness by securing high-quality backlinks from various reputable sites.
You can employ several means to get authoritative links to your websites. First, you can engage your community in other high-quality websites that they are. For example, a music blog may engage on Discord or Reddit for referral traffic. Second, you may guest articles on niche websites or collaborate with influencers in the area to amplify your reach.
Build Trustworthiness
Trustworthiness is all about transparency and reliability. You want those that visit your website to be sure that you are not trying to manipulate them into buying or taking actions by creating doubtful content.
Start by using an HTTPS certificate for security. It shows that user data is encrypted as it moves to and from the website. Also, have a clear ‘about us’ page that details the mission, contact information, and the team behind your undertaking. Additionally, user reviews and fan testimonies also add a layer of trustworthiness to your contact. Finally, be clear about sponsored content and affiliate links in the content.
EEAT will Fuel Your Growth
EEAT is not about SEO; it is a virtuous cycle of audience growth that keeps attracting high-quality traffic organically. It prevents your website from being hidden in tons of similar content and helps you reach your SEO goals. Check your content strategy to be sure it meets this.