How Google may identify and evaluate authors through E
Peeling Back the Layers
Google’s algorithm is a complex mechanism that is always on its toes when it comes to identifying and evaluating authors. It has to process millions of authors, their credibility, and content quality across the vast online platform. However, this doesn’t take place in isolation. Google utilizes several signals, such as E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).
To dive deeper into this, it is important to understand what E-A-T means in SEO language. Expertise is about showcasing deep knowledge in a specific field; authoritativeness pertains to the recognition received from peers and readers, while trustworthiness reflects the honesty and transparency of the content.
Let’s illustrate this with an instance. Consider a health blog written by Dr. John Doe, a certified medical practitioner specializing in cardiology. If his articles consistently present accurate and detailed information, they reflect his expertise. If these articles are widely shared and cited by other reputed medical entities, this demonstrates the authoritativeness. Finally, disclosure of all sources, no hidden affiliations, and precise language will display trustworthiness.
- Article provides complete information on heart diseases
- Articles are recognized by leading medical journals
- Sources of information disclosed
- No hidden agendas or commercial biases
- Factual, clear and understandable language used
- Responding to comments or inquiries appropriately
Diving Deeper into Evaluation Process
The next step towards understanding Google’s modus operandi is figuring out how Google evaluates an author’s E-A-T score. This could be done through various ways including analysing backlinks, scrutinizing user engagement, and assessing the overall online footprint of the author.
For instance, to evaluate an author’s expertise, Google may look at their educational background, work experience, and accolades won in their field. This information could be fetched from a variety of resources from Linked profile, author bio on various platforms, recognitions, etc.
- Education details from LinkedIn
- Job roles and experiences obtained from company pages or resumes online
- Awards or recognitions achieved given by esteemed organizations
- Speaking engagements or seminars attended as guest expert
- Acknowledgment from high authority sources
- Social media followership and engagement rate
Significance of Backlinks
Backlinks are like the ‘street credibility’ of the digital world. A wealth of quality backlinks pointing to the author’s content implies that they are considered authoritative and reputable by others in the industry. Hence, Google heavily weighs this factor in its calculations.
Suppose our Dr. John Doe has written numerous articles which are referenced and linked by prestigious health institutes, medical journals, or other renowned doctors. These backlinks add up to create a powerful portfolio that persuades Google about his authoritativeness.
- Backlink from top-tier health institute
- Reference link from a reputed medical journal
- Citation in another prominent doctor’s blog
- Affiliation with well recognized hospital or institution
- Collaborative research works cited in respected forums
- Social mentions or shares by influential figures
Inference from User Engagement
Reactions, comments and shares are testament to how readers interact with the content. High user engagement not only exhibits that the audience finds the content valuable but also signals Google that the author generates interest and holds authority.
Think, if Dr. John Doe’s article on heart health tips received numerous positive comments, thousands of shares across social platforms, and an increase in his followership. All these become signals for Google to affirm the doctor’s expertise and his content’s worthiness.
- High number of positive comments
- Frequent sharing of posts on social media
- Increasing followers or subscribers count
- Positive reviews or ratings on other platforms
- Recurring visits to the author’s blog or website
- Interaction with audience through Q&A sections, open forums etc.
The Role of Footprint Across Platforms
Having a broad but credible online presence can greatly help boost an author’s E-A-T score. This means being consistently present with high quality content on reputable websites, having a solid social media game, contributing as guest experts or coaches on known platforms and showcasing fluency in their field regardless of the platform they are on.
For instance, if Dr. Doe routinely contributes well-received articles to renowned health sites like Healthline or WebMD, this not only enhances his reputation but also helps Google recognize him as an authoritative figure.
- Being a regular contributor to top-ranked health sites
- Maintaining active professional profiles on social networking sites
- Featured as expert panelist in popular medical podcasts or web chats
- Well-maintained personal blog or website
- Consistent posting of insightful content on various platforms
- Earned badges or recognitions from community-led platforms
Breaking Down the Misconceptions
Despite a clear understanding of how Google might assess an author’s E-A-T score, it’s crucial to address the misinformation that often floats around SEO community. The most fundamental to understand is this – No, Google does not employ a singular metric called “Author Rank” or similar frameworks for evaluation.
Consider this scenario: Even if Dr. Doe possesses impressive credentials and experiences, he might not necessarily rank above another author with lesser qualifications but higher engagement rate and readership. This is because Google uses a multi-dimensional approach towards determining E-A-T, there are numerous equally important factors at play.
- No exclusive ‘Author Rank’ for content ranking
- Ranking doesn’t solely depend on qualifications or experiences
- User engagement plays a pivotal role
- Requirement of proven online authority across platforms
- Influence of consistent and quality content generation
- Importance of trust signals like disclosure, transparency etc.
Evolving with Google
As we have seen, Google’s assessment method involves myriad factors and levels. It’s dynamic, complex, and continuously evolving. Embracing these changes by continually learning and adapting is the key to maintaining high E-A-T standards for authors.
For instance, even a decorated academic like Dr. Doe must ensure that his online activities reflect his E-A-T credentials correctly. Keeping contents updated, engaging with audience, acquiescing new acknowledgments, and showcasing these appropriately will make certain his online presence continues to earn Google’s trust.
- Regularly updating content based on freshest data and research findings
- Maintaining positive and active audience interactions
- Gaining new recognitions and highlighting them judiciously
- Continued collaboration with peers to expand online reach
- Actively avoiding misleading information or harmful practices
- Ongoing learning and adoption of new SEO practices
Bringing it All Together
Building a strong E-A-T is a long-term endeavor, irrespective of the field one belongs to. It’s more than just writing quality content. It involves establishing a robust online presence, demonstrating subject-matter knowledge, earning user trust and staying on top of evolving Google algorithms.
In our constant example, Dr. Doe must not rest on his laurels. Even after achieving high status, he needs to keep enhancing his skills, disseminating valuable information, connecting with his audience, and maintaining transparent practices to continually establish his stature as an expert.
- E-A-T requires holistic approach
- Continuous efforts needed despite achieving authority status
- Frequent skill enhancement and knowledge updating is essential
- Necessity of sincerity in imparting value-added information
- Clarity and transparency for increasing trustworthiness
- Keeping up with changes in algorithm and SEO trends
Here’s a tidy summary table to encapsulate all of this information:
| Farthest Parameter | E (Expertise) | A (Authoritativeness) | T (Trustworthiness) |
|——————-|————-|——————–|—————-|
| Identification & Evaluation | Education details, work experience, recognitions| Quality Backlinks, Acknowledgment from high authority resources | Disclosure of sources, use of clear, factual language |
| Enhancement Strategy | Regularly update content with fresh data and findings | Increase reach by expanding presense across platforms | Maintain transparency, avoid misleading information |
