How Does Google Determine Authority in Search Results?

November 11, 2021


Authority plays a major role in the success of your website. Google uses it to determine the value of your site and how it ranks in search engine results. As a result, authority should be an important part of your SEO strategy. To build your website’s authority, you need to understand how Google measures it and factors that can improve it.    

What is authority?

In a nutshell, authority refers to a website’s reliability, credibility, popularity, and engagement. This is often a cyclical analysis that is hard to break into. The more authority you have, the more online users you are likely to reach through Google, and so the more authority you gain. Therefore, constantly producing quality content that provides insightful and reliable information is key when you are starting out. If Google does not think your site has much authority from the start, it will not give you a high SEO ranking.

How can you improve a website’s authority?

Authority can be measured by multiple facets. Google frequently uses backlinks to determine a website’s credibility. Other sites backlink to your content because they find it useful and credible, thereby proving the importance of quality content. Quality, backlinks, age, and usability all affect each other, and improving one can often boost another.

Publish quality content

Quality content establishes trust with readers, which in turn brings more traffic to your site. Make sure that your content is useful (for example, answering popular questions or addressing common issues) and applicable to your business. In addition to publishing content on your own website, network with authoritative websites by being a guest writer. Sites usually include links back to the guest writer’s own site, which helps you with the next way to improve your authority: backlinking.

Include backlinks to sites with authority

Backlinking (simply including links in your content to other websites) is key for good authority. To make vast improvements, link to sites that already have solid authority. By forging a connection between your site and one of authority, you increase your own chances of success.

Create an established base

Older websites tend to rank better on Google. These sites have had more time to build up credibility, establish backlinks to and from other websites, and garner a larger audience. If you are a new business, it naturally takes time to generate content and create a solid foundation of authority. As long as you keep publishing quality work and including backlinks, you are investing in your website’s long-term success.

Make a user-friendly site

No one likes to struggle to find information on a website. Menus and links should make it easy for visitors to get to the information they want quickly. Make sure your website is engaging but simple and that navigation is a breeze. A website that is difficult to use can discourage visitors from staying longer, which negatively impacts your SEO.

Discover more effective SEO strategies

Marketing for SEO can be challenging, but Doctor Genius can help you identify your website’s strengths and pave a path toward stronger authority. There is no reason to stumble blindly through online marketing plans trying to find something that works. Contact us to learn about our services.   

Doctor Genius, located at 16800 Aston Street, Suite 270, Irvine, CA 92606, provides a range of services for practice success. We seek to meet our clients’ needs by providing a variety of marketing, SEO, practice optimization tools, and coaching to transform the healthcare experience. Though we work to provide the most accurate information, the content found on this website is solely intended for entertainment purposes. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that the information provided is entirely correct. You may not use the information on this site to cure, prevent, or diagnose a perceived medical issue. If you have healthcare-related needs, please speak directly to a healthcare professional. Never self-perform medical treatments discussed on this website. All images displayed are also for entertainment purposes only, and personal experiences may differ. Please note that the business tactics mentioned on this site might not be applicable to your industry or practice.

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