An SEO guide to understanding E
1. Introduction to SEO
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a term that may sound intricate to some, but it’s quite straightforward upon understanding its core elements. Simply broken down, SEO involves the range of strategies and actions taken to increase a website’s visibility on search engine result pages, with the broader aim being to drive more organic (unpaid) traffics and hype engagement by potential users or customers.
To comprehend how SEO works, it’s essential first to understand how search engines themselves function. Search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, use robots known as ‘spiders’ to crawl webpages from across the internet, collecting and indexing information about them. The indexed pages are then served up to users through the search engine results page (SERP) according to their relevancy and quality.
Although the process might seem cut-and-dried at first glance, the back-end details encompass numerous algorithms and ranking factors used to ascertain relevance and quality. Is there an easy way to manage all these? Evidently yes! E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) is one of those elements you can tackle effectively.
A newbie blogger starting to put initial mark in digital writing domain, considers E-A-T as a crucial factor. Her blog posts are well-researched, fact-checked, referenced from authority sources, and engaging while providing real value to the readers – a perfect adherence to ‘Expertise’.
- Thorough knowledge about a particular field backed by suitable qualifications.
- Ability to provide original content reflecting expertise.
- Involvement in industry forums, discussion panels, or publications to support authoritativeness.
- Maintaining transparency about who the authors and editors are.
- Clarifying the ownership of the site to uphold trustworthiness.
- Avoiding misleading ads or suspicious links on the webpage.
2. Understanding E-A-T concepts
Google’s E-A-T concept stands for Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness – three critical measurements used by Google’s algorithms to rank websites. Expertise implies demonstrating deep knowledge in the subject matter presented on a webpage. Authoritativeness represents the recognition by others of your expertise, and Trustworthiness relates to presenting accurate information in a transparent and honest manner that fosters trust among users.
The foundation of E-A-T is deeply rooted in YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) pages where low-quality content could harm readers financially, physically, or emotionally. However, over time, it has eventually become applicable to all content types aiming to secure top SERP ranks. Google’s human evaluators assess a page based on E-A-T, influencing the way algorithms rank websites.
Google indicates that E-A-T is among its top considerations when evaluating a page’s quality. Therefore understanding and abiding by the E-A-T criteria can significantly enhance your SEO prospects and place your website favourably on search engine results pages.
Taking the instance of a law firm’s website. They have detailed profiles about the lawyers working, successfully handled cases, client testimonials, etc. — a demonstration of ‘Authoritativeness’.
- All content is created or reviewed by individuals with relevant legal degrees and adequate industry exposure.
- They regularly publish insightful blogs about the legal changes and case studies.
- The website includes positive testimonials from satisfied clients.
- There are mentions and reviews about the firm on reputable legal review sites.
- The ‘About Us’ page mandates lawyer credentials.
- Links are transparent and free from spam, enhancing ‘Trustworthiness’.
3. Importance of E-A-T in SEO
Implementing E-A-T principles into your SEO efforts can be highly beneficial. It not only enhances SERP rankings but also uplifts the reputation among users. Higher E-A-T scores mean better user experience and loyalty, thereby broadening your website’s reach and impact.
Every page of your website should exhibit Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness – whether it’s a blog post, product page, contact form, or a privacy policy. A high-quality website maintains its focus on its audience’s needs above everything else, which leads directly to superior E-A-T rating and vice-versa.
Ignoring E-A-T can land your business in troubled waters, particularly for YMYL pages where users’ money or life is involved. Remember, the search engine’s primary job is to serve its users best; slipping on E-A-T ranks will only push your webpage down in the results page, impacting your views and conversions drastically.
Say a pharmaceutical company prioritizes sharing accurate and easily understandable medical content concerning various diseases, medications and therapies on the website. Mention of FDA approvals, patents, doctors’ board verifying the contents would reflect high ‘Trustworthiness’.
- The content is created or examined by qualified medical professionals.
- Provides accessible resources for additional reading and gaining deeper insights.
- Details about drug composition, side effects, preventative measures are shared transparently.
- A system for public queries and responses by experts is integrated on the page.
- The articles cite research from credited medical journals.
- The checkout process for buying medications is secure with licensed pharmacists’ online consultation.
Summary Table: Understanding E.A.T
| Concept | Detailed Explanation |
| — | — |
| **E – Expertise** | The thoroughness of the knowledge displayed within your website content. This mainly relates to the author’s qualification and practical experience on the topic.|
| **A – Authoritativeness** | Backing up this expertise by external recognitions such as awards or testimonials, essentially proving you are an expert in your industry. |
| **T – Trustworthiness** | How much confidence visitors have in your website, based on your transparency about your identity and your efforts to provide correct, updated information. |
