Content Quality & E-E-A-T Analysis

Google's "Who / How / Why" Test (canonical heuristic)

Before scoring E-E-A-T sub-factors, every page audit should pass Google's own three-question heuristic from the helpful-content guide:

Question	What to look for
Who created it?	Visible byline, author bio page, professional credentials. Required where readers expect it; non-negotiable for YMYL.
How was it created?	Process disclosure where readers would reasonably ask, especially for AI-assisted content. Original research / first-hand evidence / lived experience.
Why does it exist?	"To help people" rather than "to attract search clicks." Watch for niche entry without expertise, content churn for freshness signals, content written to a word-count target.

Primary source: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/creating-helpful-content

When all three answers are weak, the page is at risk under the core ranking system's helpfulness signals (formerly the standalone Helpful Content System, merged into core during the March 2024 update).

E-E-A-T Framework (updated Sept 2025 QRG)

Read ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/seo/references/eeat-framework.md for full criteria and ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/skills/seo/references/eeat-scoring-guide.md for score bands.

Experience (first-hand signals)

• Original research, case studies, before/after results
• Personal anecdotes, process documentation
• Unique data, proprietary insights
• Photos/videos from direct experience

Expertise

• Author credentials, certifications, bio
• Professional background relevant to topic
• Technical depth appropriate for audience
• Accurate, well-sourced claims

Authoritativeness

• External citations, backlinks from authoritative sources
• Brand mentions, industry recognition
• Published in recognized outlets
• Cited by other experts