Quality Raters Evaluate The New Google E-E-A-T
Google is consistently updating its algorithms and quality guidelines to ensure users get relevant and reliable search results. One such update occurred in the Google Search Quality Rater’s Guidelines, where a new ‘E’ was added to the existing E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) acronym. Now, with the inclusion of Experience, Google further emphasizes content creators’ need for first-hand knowledge on their subject matter.
How Google Quality Rater’s evaluate website content based on the updated E-E-A-T criteria, highlighting the importance of Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.
The Significance of E-E-A-T in Google Quality Ratings
With millions of people relying on Google search every day, it is crucial that the information they find is accurate and reliable. This is particularly important when searching for sensitive topics, such as legal matters, medical conditions, and tax codes. As a result, Google Quality Raters assess websites and their content based on the E-E-A-T criteria to help improve search results and create a better online experience for users.
Breaking Down the E-E-A-T Criteria
To better understand how Google evaluates content, let’s take a closer look at each aspect of the E-E-A-T acronym:
Experience
The recent addition of Experience to the E-A-T criteria highlights the importance of content creators possessing first-hand knowledge or life experience related to the topics they cover. Demonstrating personal experience adds credibility and authority to the content, making it more valuable for users seeking accurate information.
Expertise
Google’s Quality Raters also assess content creators’ expertise in their specific field, considering factors such as credentials, education, and professional experience. This ensures that the information provided is accurate and based on up-to-date knowledge.
Authoritativeness
To be considered authoritative, a website should demonstrate itself as a respected source of information within its niche. Quality Raters may look at factors such as the number of backlinks from reputable websites, references to experts, or citations to credible sources. Authoritative content instills trust and confidence in users, ensuring they receive accurate and reliable information.
Trustworthiness
Google considers Trustworthiness to be the most important element among the E-E-A-T criteria, stressing the need for websites to convey a sense of security and reliability. This can be achieved through transparent authorship, clear contact information, user reviews, and secure browsing features.
Key Changes in Google's Quality Rater Guidelines
The updated guidelines have seen several changes with the addition of Experience to the E-A-T framework. The document now spans 176 pages compared to its previous length of 167 pages in July 2022. Some notable changes include:
- A stronger emphasis on first-hand knowledge and personal experience from content creators
- Greater focus on assessing content quality, relevance, and accuracy
- Increased importance placed on Trustworthiness and its role in evaluating search results
How Content Creators Can Improve Their E-E-A-T Ratings
With an understanding of the E-E-A-T criteria, content creators should focus on improving their Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness to rank higher in Google search results. Here are some tips for achieving this:
- Share personal experiences: Incorporate first-hand knowledge or life experience into your content to add authenticity and credibility.
- Display qualifications: Show off relevant credentials, education, or professional achievements that demonstrate your expertise in a given field.
- Build authority: Seek backlinks from reputable websites, collaborate with experts, and cite credible sources to establish your website as an authoritative resource within your niche.
- Ensure trustworthiness: Provide clear authorship information, contact details, user reviews, and secure browsing features to convey a sense of reliability and security.
In conclusion, Google’s updated Quality Rater Guidelines emphasize the importance of Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness when evaluating website content. By focusing on these four criteria, content creators can improve their E-E-A-T ratings and increase their chances of ranking higher in Google search results.