Google’s EAT Principle: Defining What it Takes for SEO Success

For business owners outside of the marketing world, Google’s EAT Principle defines what it takes to achieve success with search engine optimization (SEO). To some, getting your website to rank highly on a Google search engine results page compares with throwing darts in the dark.

For many, Google validates this fear with its jaw-dropping 200 factors for SEO ranking. However, Google threw SEO experts and business owners a few bones when it comes to its handy acronym, EAT. Here’s how to use it to improve your business’ SEO standing.

What is Google’s EAT Principle?

First, Google’s EAT principle entails a set of guidelines showing how the search giant ranks results. Embracing EAT helps to improve a web page’s competitiveness when it comes to the billions of results popping up in a single search.

Though EAT is a mere sample of Google’s algorithm, it does reflect a good rule of thumb for those starting out. Additionally, Google’s human search evaluators use EAT when searching for the highest quality web pages.

What Does EAT Stand For?

As mentioned, Google’s EAT principle is an acronym, standing for Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Here’s how to satiate each of those categories:

Expertise: Google wants to know that you’re an expert in your space. What credentials do you have? Google always wants to provide relevant and factually correct information, meaning it needs to decide if you are an expert who has the qualifications to write about your topics.

Authoritativeness: Next, Google looks into how authoritative you are in your space or industry on the content topic. Are you trusted by other business and industry professionals? Google wants to show content from leaders.

Trustworthiness: Finally, Google must decide if you are a trustworthy expert who will provide an honest, accurate piece of information without slanting it too far into sales territory or giving a biased account. When “fake news” runs rampant in 2022, credibility is king.

Employing Google’s EAT Principle for SEO

Though it’s not an exact showing of ranking factors, Google’s EAT principle displays what Google is looking for when ranking sites. Specifically, these guidelines ensures high-quality content, provided by experts, and trusted by everyday users.

For SEO experts, take EAT with a grain of salt. Google harnesses 200 criteria in total, not just three words. That said, EAT offers a friendly entry point to the world of SEO, and still provides great value when building a site’s search presence.

To launch your SEO strategy in 2022, schedule an Intro Conversation with the digital advertising and branding specialists and Rizzo Young Marketing LLC.