Enhance your blog’s trustworthiness and search rankings by adhering to Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines and giving credit to original authors.
Importance of Crediting Original Authors in Your Company Blog – Google’s E-E-A-T Principles
For company blog owners and website managers, it is essential to understand and adhere to Google’s E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) principles, one of the most crucial factors out of 200+ search ranking factors of Google, to ensure high search rankings and maintain a reputable online presence.
One crucial aspect of these principles is giving credit to the original authors of the content featured on your company blog.
Understanding E-E-A-T Principles
Google’s E-E-A-T principles play a significant role in determining the quality of a website’s content, which directly affects its search rankings. Earlier, it was E-A-T, but after rise of AI based writing tools, Google introduced extra E in their E-A-T ranking factors.
Trust is the most critical aspect of E-E-A-T, as untrustworthy pages have low E-E-A-T ratings, regardless of their experience, expertise, or authoritativeness. Let’s break down the E-E-A-T components:
- Experience: The overall experience of the author, including their background, qualifications, and knowledge in the subject matter. A wealth of personal experience can make a content creator more trustworthy.
- Expertise: The depth and accuracy of the knowledge presented in your content, showcasing the author’s qualifications and understanding of the subject matter. Different topics require different levels and types of expertise to be trustworthy.
- Authoritativeness: The credibility of your website, including the use of high-quality sources, positive reputation, and strong inbound links. Authoritative websites or content creators are often considered the most reliable and trustworthy sources on a particular topic.
- Trustworthiness: Demonstrating that your website is a reliable source of information, with secure browsing and transparent practices. Trust also encompasses aspects such as customer service for online stores or peer-reviewed publications for academic authors.
Assessing Trustworthiness
When evaluating a page’s quality, your assessment of E-E-A-T should be informed by one or more of the following:
- What the website or content creators say about themselves: Examine the “About us” page or the content creator’s profile as a starting point.
- What others say about the website or content creators: Look for independent reviews, references, news articles, and other sources of credible information about the website or content creators.
- What is visible on the page, including the main content and sections such as reviews and comments: The level of experience and expertise may be clear from the content itself.
It is essential to consider other aspects of trust, such as conflicts of interest. For example, product reviews by people who own the product and share their experiences can be valuable and trustworthy, but “reviews” by the product manufacturer or influencers paid to promote the product may not be as trustworthy due to the conflict of interest.
Why Crediting Original Authors Matters
Crediting original authors in your company blog is crucial for several reasons:
Boosts E-E-A-T Ratings
Citing the original authors of your content helps demonstrate their experience, enhancing the expertise and authoritativeness of your blog. This, in turn, improves your website’s E-E-A-T ratings, which positively impacts your search rankings.
Enhances Credibility
Acknowledging the original authors and their qualifications showcases your commitment to transparency and gives your content credibility. Readers are more likely to trust and engage with content written by experts in their respective fields.
Encourages Ethical Practices
Crediting original authors promotes ethical practices by respecting the intellectual property rights of content creators. By doing so, you foster a culture of integrity within your company and the larger online community.
Attracts High-Quality Talent
Recognizing the contributions of original authors can help attract high-quality talent to your company. Skilled writers and industry experts are more likely to collaborate with organizations that value their work and give them due credit.
How to Properly Credit Original Authors
To give credit to the original authors on your company blog, follow these best practices:
Include Author Bylines
Always include an author byline at the beginning or end of the article, indicating the author’s name and their qualifications or expertise in the subject matter.
Use Author Bio Sections
Create an author bio section for each contributor, showcasing their experience, expertise, and relevant achievements. This section can also include links to their professional profiles or personal websites.
Link to Original Sources
When referencing or quoting content from external sources, always provide a link to the original source. This not only credits the original author but also strengthens the authoritativeness of your content.
Obtain Permission
If you’re republishing content from another source or using copyrighted material, always obtain permission from the original author or copyright holder. This ensures you’re respecting intellectual property rights and avoiding potential legal issues.
Final Thoughts
Crediting original authors in your company blog is an essential aspect of following Google’s E-E-A-T principles. By recognizing the contributions of authors and showcasing their experience and expertise, you can improve your blog’s credibility, search rankings, and overall online presence.
Adhering to ethical practices, such as crediting original authors, will also enhance your company’s reputation and foster a culture of integrity within the online community.
