E-E-A-T SEO Checklist to Build Trust, Authority & Rankings

Demonstrate Your Experience

Include first-hand experience in content:
Create content that reflects personal, firsthand experience with products, services, or topics instead of depending only on secondary research or theoretical knowledge.

Add personal case studies and examples:
Share real-life examples demonstrating how you've effectively applied the methods and products, highlighting practical experience and real-world usage.

Document your journey and process:
Explain the actual steps, challenges, and results you've achieved when using strategies or products to show your credibility and complete transparency.

Include before-and-after evidence:
Provide concrete proof of results using screenshots, data, photos, or other documentation that verify your claims and tangible outcomes.

Share lessons learned from failures:
Discuss what didn't work and why to demonstrate real experience and help readers avoid common mistakes while building trust through honesty.

Use original research and data:
Perform your experiments, surveys, or analysis to gain unique insights that only come from firsthand experience and investigation

Include real user testimonials and feedback:
Gather and showcase genuine customer experiences and feedback that support your claims and demonstrate the real-world impact of your advice.

Document time spent and depth of involvement:
Mention how long you've been working in the field, using products, or implementing strategies to highlight the depth of your practical experience

Expertise Building & Display

Prove that you have relevant qualifications:
Display your professional credentials, industry certifications, and educational background clearly to showcase your expertise and formal training.

Create a comprehensive author bio page:
Create a detailed author profiles that highlight relevant experience, accomplishments, and expertise in the specific topics they address.

Demonstrate thorough subject knowledge:
Write detailed, nuanced content that surpasses surface-level information to demonstrate mastery of complex topics and industry insights.

Use proper technical terminology:
Use industry-specific language and concepts accurately to show expertise while keeping the content understandable for your target audience.

Reference authoritative sources and research:
Cite reputable studies, reports, and expert opinions to support your points and demonstrate your familiarity with the broader knowledge base in your field.

Create original frameworks and methodologies:
Create unique approaches or systems using your expertise that add value and showcase innovative thinking in your field.

Show continuous learning and development:
Document ongoing education, conference attendance, and skill development to demonstrate that you stay current with industry changes and best practices.

Contribute to industry publications:
Publish your articles in industry publications, speak at conferences, or join expert panels to enhance your reputation within your professional community.

Authoritativeness Establishment

Build a high-quality backlink profile:
Acquire links from reputable websites, industry publications, and authoritative sources that confirm the value of your content and boost your site's reputation.

Get mentioned in industry publications:
Secure mentions, quotes, or features in reputable trade publications, news sites, or industry blogs to establish recognition as a thought leader.

Establish social media thought leadership:
Share valuable insights, participate in industry discussions, and develop a following of professionals who see your expertise and authority.

Create linkable content:
Create comprehensive guides, original research, tools, or resources that other websites naturally want to reference and link to.

Collaborate with other industry experts:
Partner with established authorities on content, projects, or initiatives to build connections with recognized experts and grow your credibility network.

Speak at industry events and conferences:
Present at professional gatherings to establish yourself as a recognized expert and build visibility within your industry community.

Get quoted by journalists and reporters:
Become a go-to source for media quotes and expert commentary to increase your visibility and establish authority with broader audiences.

Build a strong professional network:
Develop relationships with other experts, influencers, and thought leaders who can vouch for your expertise and amplify your authority.

Trustworthiness Signals

Display clear contact details:
Offer multiple contact options such as phone numbers, emails, and physical addresses to show transparency and accessibility.

Create comprehensive About Us pages:
Develop comprehensive company information, including history, mission, team members, and location, to help users understand who they are dealing with.

Add SSL certificates and security badges:
Implement appropriate website security measures and display security certifications to safeguard user data and show a commitment to safety.

Include privacy policy and terms of service:
Implement appropriate website security measures and display security certifications to safeguard user data and show a commitment to safety.

Display customer reviews and testimonials:
Show genuine feedback from real customers or clients, including negative reviews when appropriate, to demonstrate transparency and credibility.

Link to social media profiles:
Link your website to active, professional social media profiles to add extra proof of your identity and continuous business activity.

Show professional affiliations:
Show memberships in industry associations, certifications from recognized organizations, and partnerships with reputable companies.

Provide a clear editorial policy:
Establish and communicate standards for content creation, fact-checking, and correction procedures to demonstrate a commitment to accuracy and quality.

Content Quality & Accuracy

Fact-check all claims and statistics:
Verify each factual statement, statistic, and claim using reliable sources to ensure accuracy and uphold credibility with readers and search engines.

Update content regularly for accuracy:
Review and update existing content to ensure information stays current, accurate, and relevant as industries and best practices change.

Use current and relevant examples:
Include recent case studies, up-to-date screenshots, and current industry examples to show that your advice is relevant to today's landscape.

Provide comprehensive topic coverage:
Create detailed content that thoroughly answers user questions and needs instead of providing superficial coverage of complex topics.

Include proper citations and references:
Include links to sources, studies, and authoritative references so readers can verify information and explore topics in more depth.

Implement content review processes:
Establish editorial workflows that include peer review, fact-checking, and accuracy verification before publishing content.

Correct errors promptly and transparently:
When mistakes are found, fix them promptly and acknowledge corrections to maintain trust and show commitment to accuracy.

Avoid outdated or deprecated advice:
Regularly review content to eliminate recommendations that are no longer effective or could harm users following outdated practices.

Author Attribution & Bylines

Include clear author bylines:
Attribute all content to specific authors with clear bylines that link to detailed author profiles and credentials.

Create a detailed author profile page:
Develop comprehensive author bios that showcase relevant expertise, experience, and qualifications for the topics they cover.

Link author profiles to social media:
Connect author pages to professional social media profiles to provide additional verification of identity and expertise.

Show the author's relevant experience:
Highlight specific experience, achievements, and credentials that directly relate to the topics the author writes about.

Include author photos:
Use professional headshots to humanize content and build personal connections between authors and readers.

Display the author's published work:
Showcase other articles, books, or publications by the author to demonstrate established writing and expertise history.

Update author information regularly:
Keep author profiles current with new achievements, credentials, and experience to maintain accuracy and relevance.

Use structured data for authorship:
Implement schema markup for author information to help search engines understand and display author credentials in search results.

Website Technical Trust Factors

Implement HTTPS across the entire site:
Secure all pages with SSL certificates to safeguard user data and demonstrate trustworthiness to both users and search engines.

Optimize site loading speed:
Ensure fast loading times on all pages and devices to provide a positive user experience and demonstrate professional website management.

Fix all 404 errors:
Regularly review and fix broken internal and external links to ensure site quality and enhance user experience.

Ensure mobile responsiveness:
Create seamless experiences across all devices to demonstrate professionalism and attentiveness to user needs in every context.

Implement proper site architecture:
Organize content with clear navigation, logical URL structure, and proper internal linking to help users and search engines understand your site.

Add structured data markup:
Use schema markup to help search engines understand your content, business details, and author information for better search visibility.

Professional Presentation & Design

Monitor site uptime and availability:
Keep your website consistently available so users can always access your content and trust your technical reliability.

Create a comprehensive XML sitemap:
Help search engines find and list all important pages by providing clear sitemaps that support effective crawling and indexing.

Use professional visual design:
Design a clean, modern website that conveys credibility and professionalism, steering clear of amateur or outdated looks.

Maintain consistent branding:
Use consistent colors, fonts, logos, and styles across all pages to build a cohesive brand experience that enhances recognition and trust.

Optimize typography and readability:
Select clear fonts, suitable sizes, and proper spacing to ensure content is easy to read and shows focus on user experience.

Include high-quality images and graphics:
Use professional photography, custom graphics, and high-resolution images that improve content rather than relying on low-quality stock photos.

Ensure proper content formatting:
Organize content with clear headings, bullet points, and visual hierarchy to make information easy to scan and understand.

Create professional email signatures:
Use consistent, professional email signatures that include credentials and contact information to strengthen authority in your communications.

Maintain clean, organized layouts:
Design pages with proper white space, logical structure, and clear visual flow to establish a professional, trustworthy appearance.

Use consistent voice and tone:
Develop and sustain a writing style that shows expertise while staying accessible and suitable for your audience.

Transparency & Disclosure

Disclose conflicts of interest clearly:
Disclose any financial ties, sponsorships, or conflicts that could affect your content to uphold reader trust.

Include affiliate link disclosures:
Clearly label affiliate links and disclose your relationship with recommended products or services following FTC guidelines.

Show editorial independence:
Show that your content suggestions are driven by quality rather than money by having clear editorial policies.

Provide clear correction policies:
Establish and clearly communicate procedures for managing errors, updates, and corrections to demonstrate commitment to accuracy and transparency.

Include detailed methodology sections:
When presenting research or analysis, describe your methods, data sources, and limitations so readers can assess your conclusions.

Disclose sponsored content clearly:
Mark clearly disclosed paid content, sponsored posts, and partnerships to ensure transparency and adhere to advertising rules.

Show the decision-making process:
Explain how you assess products, services, or recommendations to help readers understand the reasoning behind your conclusions and advice.

Provide content update histories:
Track and display when content was last updated or revised to demonstrate ongoing maintenance and commitment to accuracy.

Social Proof & External Validation

Showcase media mentions and press:
Show logos and links to respected publications that have featured your work or quoted you as an expert.

Include client testimonials and case studies:
Share detailed success stories and genuine feedback from clients or customers who have benefited from your expertise.

Display professional awards and recognition:
Highlight industry awards, certifications, and recognition that prove your expertise and professional reputation.

Show speaking engagements and appearances:
List conferences, webinars, podcasts, and other professional speaking engagements that showcase industry recognition.

Include peer endorsements:
Feature recommendations from other respected professionals in your field who can verify your expertise and character.

Display association memberships:
Demonstrate active involvement in professional organizations and industry associations that establish your credibility in the field.

Highlight collaboration with known brands:
Highlight partnerships or collaborate with well-known, reputable companies that enhance your credibility.

Include user-generated content:
Feature genuine content from users or customers that shows real engagement and satisfaction with your expertise.

Your Money Your Life Considerations

Get medical content reviewed by professionals:
Have health-related content reviewed and approved by licensed medical professionals before publishing to ensure safety and accuracy.

Include proper medical disclaimers:
Add clear disclaimers stating that your content is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.

Verify financial advice credentials:
Make sure anyone giving financial advice has the proper licenses, certifications, and experience to do so legally and ethically.

Include legal disclaimers for legal content:
Add suitable legal disclaimers and advise readers to seek qualified attorneys for specific legal issues.

Show relevant professional licenses:
Show your current professional licenses, registrations, and certifications for any regulated advice or services you offer.

Use conservative language for sensitive topics:
Avoid making overly confident claims about outcomes in areas that could greatly affect user health, finances, or safety.

Reference authoritative medical sources:
Cite reputable studies, research papers, and support scientific claims.

Update YMYL content frequently:
Regularly review and update content in sensitive areas to keep advice aligned with the latest research and regulations.

Community & Engagement Building

Respond to comments and questions promptly:
Engage with your audience actively by offering helpful responses to comments and questions to show your ongoing commitment to assisting users.

Build an active social media presence:
Maintain consistent and meaningful social media activity that demonstrates your expertise and strengthens relationships within your professional community.

Create user-generated content opportunities:
Encourage customers and readers to share their experiences and results to foster community and add social proof.

Host webinars and educational events:
Create learning opportunities that showcase your expertise, deliver value to your community, and foster stronger relationships.

Participate in industry forums and discussions:
Share valuable insights on professional forums, comment sections, and industry discussions to increase visibility and establish authority.

Collaborate with other experts:
Collaborate with respected professionals on joint content, research, or projects to build credibility through association and broaden your reach.

Build an email newsletter following:
Create a consistent newsletter that offers continuous value to subscribers and keeps your audience engaged over time.

Create community resources and tools:
Create free resources, calculators, or tools that offer ongoing value and motivate users to return and recommend.

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Maria Harutyunyan

A well-structured approach is the cornerstone of successful SEO. That's why we’ve developed a series of in-depth checklists designed to streamline your SEO strategy. From building high-quality backlinks and optimizing your WordPress site to tackling on-page SEO and technical optimizations, our checklists offer precise, actionable steps to help you confidently navigate every aspect of SEO.

April 3, 2025

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