Content Quality & E-E-A-T Analysis
When to Use
- Use when auditing content quality, readability, thin content risk, or E-E-A-T signals.
- Use when the user wants a content-focused SEO review rather than a full technical audit.
- Use when checking whether content is structured and trustworthy enough for search and AI citation.
E-E-A-T Framework (updated Sept 2025 QRG)
Read seo/references/eeat-framework.md for full criteria.
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
Trustworthiness
- Contact information, physical address
- Privacy policy, terms of service
- Customer testimonials, reviews
- Date stamps, transparent corrections
- Secure site (HTTPS)
Content Metrics
Word Count Analysis
Compare against page type minimums:
| Page Type | Minimum |
|---|
| Homepage | 500 |
| Service page | 800 |
| Blog post | 1,500 |
| Product page | 300+ (400+ for complex products) |
| Location page | 500-600 |
Important: These are topical coverage floors, not targets. Google has confirmed word count is NOT a direct ranking factor. The goal is comprehensive topical coverage; a 500-word page that thoroughly answers the query will outrank a 2,000-word page that doesn't. Use these as guidelines for adequate coverage depth, not rigid requirements.
Readability
- Flesch Reading Ease: target 60-70 for general audience
Note: Flesch Reading Ease is a useful proxy for content accessibility but is NOT a direct Google ranking factor. John Mueller has confirmed Google does not use basic readability scores for ranking. Yoast deprioritized Flesch scores in v19.3. Use readability analysis as a content quality indicator, not as an SEO metric to optimize directly.
- Grade level: match target audience
- Sentence length: average 15-20 words
- Paragraph length: 2-4 sentences
Keyword Optimization
- Primary keyword in title, H1, first 100 words
- Natural density (1-3%)
- Semantic variations present
- No keyword stuffing
Content Structure
- Logical heading hierarchy (H1 -> H2 -> H3)
- Scannable sections with descriptive headings
- Bullet/numbered lists where appropriate
- Table of contents for long-form content
Multimedia
- Relevant images with proper alt text
- Videos where appropriate
- Infographics for complex data
- Charts/graphs for statistics
Internal Linking
- 3-5 relevant internal links per 1000 words
- Descriptive anchor text
- Links to related content
- No orphan pages
External Linking
- Cite authoritative sources
- Open in new tab for user experience
- Reasonable count (not excessive)
AI Content Assessment (Sept 2025 QRG addition)
Google's raters now formally assess whether content appears AI-generated.
Acceptable AI Content
- Demonstrates genuine E-E-A-T
- Provides unique value
- Has human oversight and editing
- Contains original insights
Low-Quality AI Content Markers
- Generic phrasing, lack of specificity
- No original insight
- Repetitive structure across pages
- No author attribution
- Factual inaccuracies
Helpful Content System (March 2024): The Helpful Content System was merged into Google's core ranking algorithm during the March 2024 core update. It no longer operates as a standalone classifier. Helpfulness signals are now weighted within every core update. The same principles apply (people-first content, demonstrating E-E-A-T, satisfying user intent), but enforcement is continuous rather than through separate HCU updates.
AI Citation Readiness (GEO signals)
Optimize for AI search engines (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews):
- Clear, quotable statements with statistics/facts
- Structured data (especially for data points)
- Strong heading hierarchy (H1->H2->H3 flow)
- Answer-first formatting for key questions
- Tables and lists for comparative data
- Clear attribution and source citations
AI Search Visibility & GEO (2025-2026)
Google AI Mode launched publicly in May 2025 as a separate tab in Google Search, available in 180+ countries. Unlike AI Overviews (which appear above organic results), AI Mode provides a fully conversational search experience with zero organic blue links, making AI citation the only visibility mechanism.
Key optimization strategies for AI citation:
- Structured answers: Clear question-answer formats, definition patterns, and step-by-step instructions that AI systems can extract and cite
- First-party data: Original research, statistics, case studies, and unique datasets are highly cited by AI systems
- Schema markup: Article, FAQ (for non-Google AI platforms), and structured content schemas help AI systems parse and attribute content
- Topical authority: AI systems preferentially cite sources that demonstrate deep expertise. Build content clusters, not isolated pages
- Entity clarity: Ensure brand, authors, and key concepts are clearly defined with structured data (Organization, Person schema)
- Multi-platform tracking: Monitor visibility across Google AI Overviews, AI Mode, ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Bing Copilot, not just traditional rankings. Treat AI citation as a standalone KPI alongside organic rankings and traffic.
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO):
GEO is the emerging discipline of optimizing content specifically for AI-generated answers. Key GEO signals include: quotability (clear, concise extractable facts), attribution (source citations within your content), structure (well-organized heading hierarchy), and freshness (regularly updated data). Cross-reference the seo-geo skill for detailed GEO workflows.
Content Freshness
- Publication date visible
- Last updated date if content has been revised
- Flag content older than 12 months without update for fast-changing topics
Output
Content Quality Score: XX/100
E-E-A-T Breakdown
| Factor | Score | Key Signals |
|---|
| Experience | XX/25 | ... |
| Expertise | XX/25 | ... |
| Authoritativeness | XX/25 | ... |
| Trustworthiness | XX/25 | ... |
AI Citation Readiness: XX/100
Issues Found
Recommendations
DataForSEO Integration (Optional)
If DataForSEO MCP tools are available, use kw_data_google_ads_search_volume for real keyword volume data, dataforseo_labs_bulk_keyword_difficulty for difficulty scores, dataforseo_labs_search_intent for intent classification, and content_analysis_summary for content quality analysis.
Error Handling
| Scenario | Action |
|---|
| URL unreachable (DNS failure, connection refused) | Report the error clearly. Do not guess page content. Suggest the user verify the URL and try again. |
| Content behind paywall (402/403, login wall) | Report that the content is not publicly accessible. Analyze only the visible portion (meta tags, headers) and note the limitation. |
| Thin content (fewer than 100 words retrievable) | Report the findings as-is rather than guessing. Flag the page as potentially JavaScript-rendered or gated, and suggest the user provide the full text directly. |
Limitations
- Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
- Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
- Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.
