Blog Post: content-quality-signals

What Content Quality Signals Does Google Reward?

E-E-A-T: Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness. Top ranking factor for competitive niches.
Depth: 2000+ words, comprehensive coverage, multiple perspectives. Depth > brevity.
Structure: Clear headings (H2, H3), bullet points, tables. Scannable content ranks better.

Major Quality Signals

1. Expertise signals (author credentials, byline, author bio). 2. Content depth (2000+ words, multiple data sources). 3. Freshness (updated within 3–6 months). 4. User engagement (low bounce rate, high dwell time). 5. Backlinks (editorial links from credible sources). 6. Internal links (topical cluster signals).

AI content scores well on 1, 2, 3 if generated properly. Scores lower on 4, 5, 6 (requires external signals).

Optimization Checklist

Long-form (2K+), expert byline, 10+ citations, FAQ section, internal links to related articles, update date visible, clear structure (H2s + H3s), visuals + alt text, schema markup. Check all boxes = higher ranking likelihood.