E-E-A-T Checklist: Essential Elements for Better Search Rankings

Creating content that ranks well in Google search requires more than keyword optimization and backlinks. Google's algorithms prioritize websites that demonstrate strong E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) signals.

This comprehensive checklist will help you systematically evaluate your website against E-E-A-T standards and identify areas for improvement. Use it as a practical tool to audit your content and ensure you're meeting Google's quality guidelines.

Check your E-E-A-T signals

Run an automated analysis to quickly identify which checklist items you're missing. Get specific recommendations for improving your Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness signals.

How to Use This Checklist

Perform a site-wide audit: Go through each section for your entire website
Focus on priority pages: Pay extra attention to high-traffic and revenue-generating pages
Regular reviews: Revisit this checklist quarterly to ensure standards are maintained
Track progress: Mark completed items and create action plans for gaps

Experience Checklist

Experience demonstrates first-hand, lived knowledge of your topic. Check off each item that applies to your website:

Personal Experience Indicators

Content includes personal anecdotes and real-world examples
Authors share specific experiences they've had with the topic
Case studies document actual implementations and results
Content references dates, locations, and specific details from real experiences
Authors discuss what they learned from hands-on experience

Visual Experience Signals

Original photos from personal use or visits (not just stock photos)
Screenshots of actual tools or processes being used
Videos demonstrating personal experience with the subject
Original infographics based on personal data or research
Before-and-after examples from real implementations

Practical Experience Evidence

Step-by-step guides based on actual processes completed
Product reviews include photos and videos of actual product use
Testing methodologies are documented with real results
Mistakes and lessons learned from experience are shared
Content mentions specific tools, techniques, or methods used in practice

Content Depth from Experience

Content includes details only someone with experience would know
Authors answer questions that come from real-world practice
Tips and insights are based on actual implementation, not theory
Content discusses real challenges and how they were overcome
Timeframes, costs, and other practical details are included

Expertise Checklist

Expertise shows your depth of knowledge and skill in your field. Evaluate your website against these expertise indicators:

Content Depth and Quality

Articles are comprehensive and cover topics thoroughly
Complex topics are explained clearly and accurately
Content includes supporting data, statistics, and research
Topics are covered from multiple angles and perspectives
Content addresses related subtopics that show deep understanding

Formal Credentials

Author bios include relevant educational qualifications
Professional certifications and licenses are displayed
Industry-specific credentials are prominently featured
Years of experience in the field are clearly stated
Specialized training and professional development are listed

Current Knowledge

Content references recent studies and industry developments
Information is kept up-to-date and regularly reviewed
Emerging trends and their implications are discussed
Outdated information is corrected or updated promptly
Content acknowledges changes in the field over time

Unique Insights

Content provides original analysis and interpretation
Authors offer unique perspectives on common topics
Original frameworks, models, or methodologies are presented
Content goes beyond basic information available elsewhere
Insights are based on professional experience and expertise

Author Bio Quality

Each author has a dedicated bio page with full credentials
Author bios include professional photos
Biographies explain relevant experience and expertise
Author expertise areas are clearly defined
Contact information for authors is provided

Authoritativeness Checklist

Authoritativeness measures recognition as a go-to source in your field. Use this checklist to assess your website's authority signals:

On-Page Authority Signals

Detailed "About Us" page explains company expertise and history
Awards and recognitions are prominently displayed
Industry memberships and certifications are listed
Client testimonials and case studies are featured
Team member credentials and backgrounds are showcased

Author Recognition

Authors have published work in reputable outlets
Speaking engagements and conference appearances are documented
Media appearances and interviews are highlighted
Authors are cited or referenced by other industry sources
Professional associations and memberships are listed

External Authority Indicators

Website has backlinks from authoritative industry sources
Content is cited or referenced by other websites
Guest posts appear on reputable industry blogs
Website is mentioned in industry publications
Positive reviews and recommendations exist from credible sources

Industry Presence

Active participation in industry discussions and forums
Engagement with industry thought leaders on social media
Contributions to industry research or surveys
Collaboration with other experts in the field
Regular publication of high-quality, authoritative content

Client testimonials are displayed prominently
Case studies demonstrate successful implementations
User reviews and ratings are collected and displayed
Media mentions and press coverage are highlighted
Trust badges and certifications are visible

Trustworthiness Checklist

Trustworthiness is the foundation of E-E-A-T. Ensure your website meets these essential trust criteria:

Technical Trust Signals

Website uses HTTPS with valid SSL certificate
Privacy policy is comprehensive and clearly written
Terms of service are transparent and accessible
Cookie policy explains data collection practices
Website loads quickly and performs well

Contact Information

Contact information is prominently displayed
Multiple contact methods are provided (email, phone, address)
Contact forms work and receive prompt responses
Physical address is provided (if applicable)
Support channels are clearly explained and accessible

Content Accuracy

Facts are verified and sourced from reliable references
Statistics and data include sources and dates
Content is regularly reviewed and updated
Errors are corrected promptly and transparently
Disclaimer policies explain content limitations

Transparency

Affiliate relationships are clearly disclosed
Sponsored content is clearly labeled
Content creation and review processes are explained
Correction and update policies are transparent
Any conflicts of interest are disclosed

Professional Design

Website design is professional and polished
Mobile experience is optimized and user-friendly
Navigation is intuitive and easy to use
Content is well-organized and easy to find
Website appears reliable and well-maintained

Content Quality

Information is balanced and fair
Opinions are clearly distinguished from facts
Controversial topics acknowledge different perspectives
Content avoids misleading or deceptive claims
Sources are properly cited and credited

Structured Data Checklist

Structured data helps search engines understand your E-E-A-T signals. Verify your technical implementation:

Schema Markup Implementation

Person schema is implemented for all authors
Organization schema is added to main pages
Article schema includes author and publisher information
BlogPosting schema is used for blog content
Review schema is implemented where applicable

Author Schema Details

Author name, job title, and description are included
Author's social profiles are linked via sameAs
Author's image or photo is included
Author's contact information is provided
Author's expertise areas are marked up

Organization Schema Details

Organization name and URL are specified
Logo is included and properly sized
Contact information is marked up
Social media profiles are linked
Industry or business type is specified

Content Schema

Publication dates are included
Modification dates are updated when content changes
Images are properly marked up with alt text
Article descriptions accurately summarize content
Content type and categories are specified

YMYL-Specific Checklist

If your website covers YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) topics, these additional requirements apply:

Health and Medical Content

Authors have appropriate medical credentials
Content is reviewed by qualified medical professionals
Medical advice includes appropriate disclaimers
Sources are from reputable medical institutions
Content distinguishes between general information and medical advice

Financial Content

Authors have relevant financial credentials or licenses
Financial advice includes appropriate risk warnings
Content is reviewed by qualified financial professionals
Sources are from reputable financial institutions
Conflicts of interest are clearly disclosed

Legal Content

Authors are licensed attorneys or legal professionals
Content is reviewed by qualified legal professionals
Legal disclaimers are prominently displayed
Content distinguishes between general information and legal advice
Sources are from reputable legal institutions

News and Current Events

Authors are experienced journalists or subject matter experts
News content is fact-checked and verified
Sources are credible and cited
Editorial standards and processes are transparent
Corrections are published promptly when errors occur

Priority Pages Checklist

For your most important pages, ensure these additional elements:

High-Priority Page Elements

Author information is prominently displayed
Publication and update dates are visible
Sources and references are clearly cited
Contact information is easily accessible
Related content and internal links support authority

Implementation Priority Guide

Use this guide to prioritize improvements based on impact:

High Priority (Do First)

Technical security (HTTPS, SSL)
Contact information visibility
Privacy policy and legal pages
Author bios with credentials
Basic structured data implementation

Medium Priority (Do Next)

Content depth and comprehensiveness
Original visual content
Social proof and testimonials
Advanced structured data
External authority building

Lower Priority (Ongoing)

Regular content updates
Relationship building
Industry participation
Unique insights development
Long-term authority building

Regular Maintenance Checklist

Perform these checks regularly to maintain E-E-A-T standards:

Monthly Checks

Review top 10 pages for content freshness
Verify all links and contact information work
Check for broken images or technical issues
Review user feedback and address concerns

Quarterly Checks

Complete full E-E-A-T audit using this checklist
Update outdated information and statistics
Review and refresh author bios
Assess competitor improvements and adjust strategy

Annual Checks

Comprehensive site-wide E-E-A-T evaluation
Major content refresh for key pages
Review and update all policies and disclaimers
Assess overall authority position in your niche

Automate your E-E-A-T audit

Combine this manual checklist with our automated E-E-A-T checker to get objective scores, identify structured data gaps, and track improvements over time.

Using an E-E-A-T Checker

While this checklist provides a manual review process, using an automated E-E-A-T checker can help you:

Get objective scores for each E-E-A-T component
Identify specific gaps in structured data
Compare your scores against competitors
Track improvements over time
Receive actionable recommendations

Combine manual checklist reviews with automated E-E-A-T checker analysis for the most comprehensive approach to improving your website's trust signals.

Common Gaps to Address

Based on E-E-A-T checker analyses, these are the most common issues websites face:

Missing Author Information: Many sites don't clearly identify content creators
Lack of Structured Data: Schema markup is incomplete or missing
Insufficient Credentials: Author bios lack relevant qualifications
Weak Experience Signals: Content lacks personal experience indicators
Incomplete Policies: Privacy and terms pages are missing or incomplete

Address these common gaps first for quick wins in improving your E-E-A-T scores.

Conclusion

This E-E-A-T checklist provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating and improving your website's trust signals. Regular use of this checklist, combined with E-E-A-T checker tools, will help you systematically enhance your website's credibility and search rankings.

Remember that E-E-A-T improvement is an ongoing process. Start with high-priority items that provide immediate value, then work through medium and lower-priority improvements over time. Consistent effort in demonstrating experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness will pay dividends in improved search visibility and user trust.

Ready to evaluate your website? Run an E-E-A-T analysis to see where you currently stand, then use this checklist to create your improvement roadmap.

Related resources:

Content Quality Check Guide - Comprehensive guide to content quality evaluation
E-E-A-T Checker vs Content Quality Audit - Understand different evaluation approaches
How to Improve Your E-E-A-T Score - Practical strategies for improvement
Understanding Your E-E-A-T Score - Learn how to interpret your E-E-A-T scores
Quality Signals and E-E-A-T - Complete guide to quality signals and E-E-A-T