C
Content SOPKnowledge Base
Search
← All topics

E-E-A-T Content Standards & Quality Checklist

Google E-E-A-T framework applied to content creation: experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trust signals with a complete pre-publication quality checklist and YMYL guidelines.

eeatseoqualitygoogle-standards
Agent trigger phrases: eeat content · google quality guidelines · content quality score · experience expertise authority trust · people-first content · google quality rater

E-E-A-T Content Standards & Quality Checklist

Core Framework

  • Experience — First-hand, real-world experience with the topic
  • Expertise — Demonstrable knowledge and skill
  • Authoritativeness — Recognized as a go-to source
  • Trust — Legitimate, accurate, safe

Content Quality Questions

Original Information

  • Does the content provide original information, reporting, research, or analysis?
  • Does it provide a substantial, complete, or comprehensive description of the topic?
  • Does it provide insightful analysis beyond the obvious?
  • If it draws on other sources, does it add substantial value and originality?

Presentation

  • Does the main heading provide a descriptive, helpful summary?
  • Does it avoid exaggerating or being shocking?
  • Is the content produced well, or does it appear sloppy?
  • Is this the sort of page you'd want to bookmark or recommend?

Trust Signals Checklist

  • Clear sourcing present
  • Evidence of expertise involved
  • Background about the author
  • Content fact-checked and accurate
  • Well-trusted or widely-recognized source
  • No easily-verified factual errors

People-First Content Test

Pass all of these:

  • [ ] Do you have an existing or intended audience that would find this useful if they came to you directly?
  • [ ] Does your content clearly demonstrate first-hand expertise and depth of knowledge?
  • [ ] Will someone reading this leave feeling like they've learned enough to achieve their goal?
  • [ ] Will they leave feeling like they've had a satisfying experience?

Fail any of these (search-engine-first content):

  • Content primarily made to attract search traffic, not help people
  • Producing lots of content on many topics hoping some performs
  • Summarizing what others say without adding value
  • Writing about trending topics you have no expertise in
  • Writing to a word count you've heard Google prefers
  • Changing dates without substantially updating content

WHO, HOW, WHY Framework

WHO created it:

  • Is it evident who authored the content?
  • Do pages carry a byline where expected?
  • Do bylines lead to further information about the author?

HOW it was created:

  • Is AI-generation disclosed where used?
  • Is the use of automation explained?

WHY it was created:

  • Is the content created primarily to help people?
  • Is it useful to visitors who come directly to the site?

YMYL (Your Money or Your Life)

Apply higher E-E-A-T standards for content that could impact:

  • Health or Safety
  • Financial Security
  • Society

YMYL Requires:

  • Expert authorship
  • Clear sourcing
  • Medical/legal disclaimers where applicable
  • Regular updates
  • Fact-checking

Page Quality Scale

Lowest:  Harmful, deceptive, or spammy content
Low:     Lacking E-E-A-T, low quality main content
Medium:  Adequate quality, nothing special but not harmful
High:    High quality content, positive reputation, high E-E-A-T
Highest: Very high quality, very positive reputation, very high E-E-A-T

Hidden Intent Framework

Beyond observable search intent (the keywords) lies hidden intent — the emotional and functional motivations beneath:

Observable Intent: The explicit search query Inferred Intent: Informational / Navigational / Transactional / Commercial Hidden Intent: Underlying emotional drivers — fear, hope, ambition, uncertainty, urgency, aspiration

Rule: Functional drivers open the door. Emotional drivers close the deal. Content must solve problems AND satisfy emotional outcomes.

Lead with functional promise, weave emotional fulfillment into the body.

#content-sop #eeat #quality #seo

View raw JSON →Back to index