55 Questions to Ask Yourself to Demonstrate Real Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust in Your Writing.
When most SEO “experts” discuss EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), they typically ramble on about author credentials, fancy bio pages, and professional titles. Let’s set the record straight right now. EEAT isn’t about who you are; it’s primarily about how convincingly, clearly, and authentically you communicate with your readers.
If your writing sounds like it was written by AI robots trying to impress search engine algorithms with keywords, you’re missing the point entirely. Showing EEAT to a reader and search engine demands creating content that connects, informs, and genuinely helps real people. Forget checking boxes and start writing with actual passion, insight, and personality. Your readers deserve better.
This series of essential self-check questions will help you write better content that people will actually read and google will reward. Answering them honestly will ensure your content truly engages your audience, provides real value, and builds the trust that transforms casual readers into loyal fans.
Content Experience & Value: Is Your Content Genuinely Helpful and Insightful?
Great content isn’t just information dumped onto a page. It should actively empower and improve the reader’s knowledge on the subject. Each piece of content you create should leave readers feeling like they’ve genuinely gained something valuable and that they’re now better equipped to achieve their goals. Anything less is just digital noise.
- Have I provided readers enough information to confidently achieve their goal?
- Will my reader feel genuinely satisfied and fulfilled after engaging with this content?
- Did I offer original insights, research, or analysis that can’t be easily found elsewhere?
- Is my description of the topic thorough and comprehensive?
- Am I providing insightful analysis that moves beyond surface-level observations?
- If I’ve referenced other sources, did I add meaningful originality rather than just rephrasing?
- Does my content clearly surpass other pages readers might find in search results?
- Will readers feel confident enough in my content that they won’t need to keep searching?
- Have I clearly demonstrated my real-world expertise and deep knowledge on this topic?
- Is my content sharply focused with an unmistakably clear purpose?
Headings, Trust, and Shareability: Do Your Headlines Build Trust and Invite Engagement?
Your headlines and overall structure should immediately communicate credibility. Avoid exaggeration, sensationalism, or misleading clickbait. Instead, create headings that honestly summarize the content, build immediate trust, and encourage readers to bookmark, share, and recommend your work. Authenticity goes a long way in making your content memorable.
- Does my main heading genuinely and helpfully summarize the essence of the content?
- Have I avoided sensationalism or exaggerated claims in my headings?
- Is my page the kind readers would naturally bookmark, share, or recommend to friends?
- Is the trustworthiness of my content immediately evident, with clear sourcing or author details?
- Would a visitor researching my site recognize its established authority on this topic?
- Does my writing clearly indicate that I am genuinely knowledgeable or passionate about this subject?
- Have I meticulously ensured there are no factual inaccuracies?
- Can visitors easily see who authored this content?
- Do my bylines lead to bios clearly showcasing relevant expertise?
Content Production & Quality: Are You Paying Attention to Every Detail?
Writing that builds trust demands attention to detail. This includes perfect grammar, careful proofreading, a thoughtful structure, and professional formatting. Thrown together “articles” or mass-produced content won’t cut it. Each piece should clearly reflect genuine effort and pride in your work.
- Is my content meticulously free from spelling or stylistic issues?
- Have I clearly shown attention to detail, making it evident this wasn’t rushed?
- Does my content avoid the pitfalls of mass-produced, thinly-spread articles?
- Have I minimized distracting ads that detract from the main content?
- Is my content fully optimized for an excellent mobile reading experience?
- Does my site clearly cater to a specific, defined audience who would genuinely benefit from this content?
SEO & Intent Evaluation: Are You Writing for Humans, Not Just Search Engines?
Writing for EEAT prioritizes the needs and interests of real readers over algorithmic shortcuts. Ensure your content creation strategy is aligned with delivering genuine value rather than simply gaming search engines. Authentic intent always shines through.
- Am I primarily creating this content to serve real users, not just to capture search traffic?
- Have I avoided publishing excessive content on unrelated topics solely for traffic?
- Is my content distinct and valuable, rather than heavily automated or superficial?
- Have I truly added value rather than simply summarizing existing viewpoints?
- Am I genuinely meeting the needs of my audience rather than blindly chasing trends?
- Have I written this content authentically, without artificially inflating word count for SEO?
- Do I possess genuine expertise in the niche areas I’m addressing, rather than chasing topics purely for traffic?
- Am I honest in my promises, avoiding claims of answers or solutions that don’t genuinely exist?
AI & Automation Transparency: Are You Open About How You Use Technology?
Transparency about your use of automation or AI in content production is crucial. Readers appreciate honesty. Clearly explain the role technology plays in your writing process, why you’ve used it, and how it benefits readers. This often looks like citing its use in research. In fact, I’ve used AI to re-write statements from past content into a list of these questions.
- Have I clearly disclosed to readers any use of automation or AI in creating this content?
- Do readers understand why I’ve chosen to incorporate automation or AI?
- Have I transparently explained how automation or AI has contributed specifically to my content’s creation?
Purpose and Audience Alignment: Is Your Content Aligned with Your Readers’ Actual Needs?
Every piece of content should have a clear, user-oriented purpose. It should resonate specifically with your target audience, addressing their needs and solving real problems. Clarity and alignment here are key to genuine EEAT.
- Does my content primarily aim to help users, rather than please search engines?
- Am I consistently offering genuinely helpful experiences tailored specifically to my intended audience?
Product & Review Content Standards: Do Your Reviews Reflect Genuine Expertise and Honesty?
Writing about products demands authenticity, clarity, and deep insight. Your reviews and descriptions should offer substantial, firsthand knowledge, clearly laying out benefits, limitations, comparisons, and practical advice. Readers trust content that feels impartial and thoroughly informed.
- Have I authentically showcased my expert knowledge about the products discussed?
- Do my descriptions go beyond manufacturer information, vividly illustrating product usage and benefits?
- Am I providing clear, quantitative metrics about product performance?
- Have I clearly explained what makes this product stand apart from competitors?
- Do I guide readers by comparing products or suggesting specific uses?
- Am I openly discussing both strengths and weaknesses based on original, unbiased research?
- Have I detailed how this product has evolved over time?
- Did I clearly evaluate the product against crucial decision-making factors?
- Have I described specific design choices and their real-world impact?
- Am I linking to genuinely useful resources that aid informed decisions?
- Have I provided readers with options by linking to multiple sellers or alternatives?
- When recommending a product, am I clearly supporting my recommendation with firsthand evidence?
- Do my ranked lists contain enough standalone value even if detailed reviews exist elsewhere?
Authority & Review Trustworthiness: Is Your Content Undeniably Credible?
Ultimately, content that genuinely embodies EEAT must clearly demonstrate credibility, impartiality, and thoughtful analysis. If your review or recommendation feels like a sales pitch, you’re not fooling anyone.
- Does my review clearly come from a knowledgeable expert or respected merchant?
- Have I completely avoided any suggestion of spammy affiliate marketing?
- Am I consistently linking to helpful external or internal resources?
- Have I ensured my reviews are fair and impartial, avoiding bias or unfair treatment?
If your content passes these tests, congratulations. You’re genuinely writing with EEAT. If not, don’t panic. Step away from the keyword-stuffing and remember: your readers are humans, not search engines. Now try again…
