Definition
E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) is the framework Google's Quality Raters use to evaluate the credibility and helpfulness of web content. Introduced in the Search Quality Rater Guidelines, it was expanded from E-A-T to E-E-A-T in December 2022 to add "Experience" — first-hand knowledge of a topic.
For AI systems, E-E-A-T signals determine whether content is treated as authoritative enough to cite. Strong E-E-A-T signals include named authors with verified credentials, About and Contact pages, consistent brand identity across platforms, external citations and backlinks, original research, and transparent sourcing.
Why It Matters
AI models trained on quality signals tend to cite sources with demonstrable authority and trustworthiness. A weak E-E-A-T profile makes your content a lower-priority citation target, even if the information itself is accurate.
Examples
- Publishing an author bio with credentials and experience
- Maintaining an accurate About page and Contact information
- Earning high-quality backlinks from authoritative domains
- Including original data, case studies, or first-hand experience
- Being referenced by other reputable sources