Topical Authority in SEO: What Is & How to Build It Properly

Search engine optimization (SEO) professionals often speak of “authority,” yet its exact meaning remains elusive. Perhaps you already understand its meaning; perhaps your website could benefit from more topical authority SEO to increase its rankings?

As such, authority refers to the impact or influence a specific piece of content has in the vast universe of the internet. From an SEO standpoint, higher perceived authority increases your chances of ranking well in organic search results.

If your goal is for your content to rank highly on Google, crafting authoritative pieces is absolutely crucial. Thus, you demonstrate credibility and build trust among both site visitors and Google’s algorithms.

Content that stands out is key to building your online reputation and increasing the chance that search engine results pages (SERPs) will notice you.

This article will delve deep into all aspects of topical authority, providing you with a complete understanding. Let’s start by breaking down the definition of topical authority used in SEO.

Why Should You Care About topical authority SEO?

Content creators should recognize the significance of topical authority SEO because it directly impacts their online visibility, credibility, and audience engagement. Here are several compelling arguments in support of prioritizing topical authority:

• Improved Search Engine Rankings: Search engines like Google place greater value on websites and content creators that demonstrate expertise and authority in certain topics, increasing organic traffic and visibility for such content creators. This could translate to improved search engine rankings for content creators with high subject matter authority who rank higher in search results, increasing organic traffic by an extended presence online.
• Trust and Credibility: Content creators who successfully establish topical authority with their audiences can build both trust and credibility with them. When readers or viewers perceive them as experts in a niche or industry, they’re more likely to trust their recommendations and content.
• Audience Engagement: Well-informed and authoritative content tends to connect better with audiences, leading to higher engagement, more shares, and increased user interaction that ultimately helps content creators expand their audiences and communities.
• Competitive Edge: Content creators who develop strong topical authorities stand out in an overcrowded digital landscape by offering unique insights, valuable information, and quality content that other competing creators cannot match.
• Long-Term Sustainability: Establishing topical authority can be seen as an investment for long-term success, helping content creators remain relevant as their industry or niche evolves over time. This strategy can enable content producers to maintain relevance while responding quickly to changes.

4 Tactics to Build Your Topical Authority SEO

How can you establish and sustain topical expertise on a brand’s website? Regrettably, there are no shortcuts to achieving topical authority. It requires a dedicated content strategist who is willing to embark on thorough research and writing to establish a solid presence on a brand’s website.

Fortunately, we have compiled some strategies to assist in building topical authority.

1. Content Strategy

Developing a robust content strategy is vital for establishing topical authority. This strategy should outline a consistent flow of authoritative content, integrating relevant keywords and topics your audience desires.

Focus on assisting your readers and sharing your expertise. Engage with industry discussions and express your insights on topics you’re knowledgeable about.

Use these initial subjects as a starting point to delve deeper into industry-leading topics. You can also investigate the questions users have about specific subjects to spark content ideas.

Plan the optimal release times for each piece of content to guide your followers and customers through your brand’s website, leading them to more content or potential purchase points.

Lastly, consider how you’ll promote this content on your website, listings, and social media channels.

2. Topic Cluster

When selecting topics, concentrate on a few key ones to establish them as the foundation of your website and position yourself as a leading authority.

Collecting content for a topic is essential for building SEO-friendly topic clusters. These clusters signal search engines that your site offers valuable, authoritative content on specific subjects.

Remember that Google values synonyms, subtopics, and answers to common industry questions, not just keywords.

Topic clusters consist of related content assets centered around a broad theme. They enable you to address all of your audience’s inquiries about a particular subject.

Each topic cluster comprises a pillar page and cluster content. The pillar page covers the overarching subject and targets more general keywords, while cluster content delves into subtopics and addresses common questions, targeting less competitive keywords that relate to the main topic.

When working with topic clusters, focus on these three elements:

• Determine the central topic.
• Create a pillar page.
• Use backlinks strategically.

3. User Intent

Many content marketers employ a topical authority strategy that aligns with user intent.

Google and other search engines utilize sophisticated algorithms to decipher user intent. When a user enters keywords or information about a subject, these algorithms aim to discern the user’s purpose behind the query.

These algorithms can distinguish between various interpretations of a user’s question. To illustrate, we can explore the “Do, Know, Go” theory of how users pose questions on search engines:

• A “do” question indicates a desire for a specific answer that leads to action, such as making a purchase or booking a service.
• A “know” question reflects a quest for knowledge about a topic, whether it’s a simple or complex inquiry.
• Lastly, a “go” question signifies a navigational query where the user seeks to locate a specific website or place online.

4. Site Structure

Another approach to enhancing topical authority is optimizing a site’s metadata, which improves rankings.

A well-structured site should integrate SEO elements, including strategically using keywords that accurately represent your content. Extensive research is crucial to identify the most effective keywords for different topic clusters and individual content pieces.

Content marketers should incorporate these keywords into each brand’s content titles and meta descriptions.

Incorporating relevant internal links to other pages within your site is another effective strategy for building authority.

Lastly, brands should develop a user-friendly sitemap to ensure that landing pages and content align cohesively with the customer’s journey.

Final Thoughts on Topical Authority SEO

Recognizing and prioritizing topical authority is essential for content creators in today’s digital landscape. It directly impacts search engine rankings, trust, audience engagement, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability. To build and sustain topical authority, content creators must focus on a well-defined content strategy, topic clusters, aligning with user intent, and optimizing site structure. These strategies, though requiring dedication and effort, are crucial for establishing credibility, expanding reach, and achieving lasting success in the online sphere.

Outreach Bee can help you achieve topical authority with manual outreach link building campaigns. We use strategies that are up to date with Google’s guidelines to ensure your campaign’s success. Contact our team today to learn more.