The 20-Point EEAT Audit Checklist for Content Creators
This 20-point checklist helps you audit content against Google's E-E-A-T framework. Each checkpoint is based on signals that Google's Quality Raters evaluate. Use it to identify gaps in your content's Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness—then fix them before publishing.
Checkpoint Summary
- • Experience: 5 checkpoints for first-hand involvement
- • Expertise: 5 checkpoints for knowledge and credentials
- • Authority: 4 checkpoints for recognition and reputation
- • Trust: 6 checkpoints for accuracy and transparency
Experience Checkpoints (E01-E05) #
Experience demonstrates first-hand involvement with your topic. These checkpoints verify you've actually done what you're writing about.
Figure 1: The five Experience checkpoints
E01: First-Person Narrative #
What to Check
Does your content include first-person pronouns with action verbs?
- Pass: “I tested this for 3 months” / “We analyzed 500 samples”
- Partial: Some first-person but no specific actions
- Fail: No first-person perspective at all
First-person narrative signals real involvement. “I tested” is more credible than “tests show” because it indicates personal accountability for the claims.
E02: Sensory Details #
What to Check
Does your content include sensory descriptions that demonstrate real interaction?
- Pass: 10+ sensory words (smooth, heavy, bright, clicky, sturdy)
- Partial: 5-9 sensory descriptions
- Fail: Less than 5 sensory details
Sensory details are hard to fake. “The keyboard has a satisfying clicky feel” suggests you've actually typed on it. Generic descriptions don't demonstrate real usage.
E03: Visual Evidence #
What to Check
Does your content include original images that prove real usage?
- Pass: 2+ original photos, screenshots, or taken-by-author images
- Partial: 1 original image
- Fail: Only stock photos or no images
Original images are powerful experience signals. A screenshot of actual test results, a photo of the product on your desk, or a before/after image proves you're not just rewriting the product page.
E04: Exclusive Data Points #
What to Check
Does your content include specific measurements from your own testing?
- Pass: 3+ precise data points (12.5ms response time, 3.2kg weight, 45.7fps)
- Partial: 1-2 specific measurements
- Fail: No original measurements or testing data
Precise measurements demonstrate real testing. “Battery lasted 8 hours 23 minutes” is more credible than “great battery life.”
E05: Critique and Downsides #
What to Check
Does your content honestly discuss limitations, problems, or cons?
- Pass: Clear section on downsides, limitations, or “What I didn't like”
- Partial: Brief mention of limitations without depth
- Fail: All positive with no critique (looks like sponsored content)
Real experience always reveals some negatives. All-positive content raises suspicion of bias. Balanced critique actually increases trust.
Expertise Checkpoints (E01-E05) #
Expertise demonstrates knowledge and competence in your field.
Exp01: Author Identity #
What to Check
Is the author clearly identified with full credentials?
- Pass: Schema Person markup + byline + bio (30+ words)
- Partial: 1-2 of the above elements
- Fail: No author information or “Staff Writer”
Exp02: Credentials #
What to Check
Does the author have relevant qualifications?
- Pass: Relevant credentials displayed (PhD, certification, years of experience)
- Partial: No formal credentials but content demonstrates expertise
- Fail: No credentials and shallow content
Exp03: Vocabulary Depth #
What to Check
Does the content use professional terminology correctly?
- Pass: Technical terms used accurately, high vocabulary sophistication
- Partial: Some technical vocabulary but inconsistent
- Fail: Overly simple language, avoids technical terms
Exp04: Content Depth #
What to Check
Is the topic covered comprehensively?
- Pass: 1200+ words, 3+ heading levels, external citations every 500 words
- Partial: Meets 1-2 criteria
- Fail: Thin content under 500 words
Exp05: Editorial Process #
What to Check
Is there evidence of editorial oversight?
- Pass: “Reviewed by” / “Fact-checked by” / “Edited by” markers
- Fail: No editorial process indicated
Authority Checkpoints (A01-A04) #
A01: Citation Quality #
What to Check
Does content cite authoritative external sources?
- Pass: 3+ links to .gov, .edu, respected publications, no spam links
- Partial: 1-2 quality citations
- Fail: No citations or only affiliate/spam links
A02: Entity Signals #
What to Check
Is there Organization schema or verified social presence?
- Pass: Organization schema or verified social media links
- Fail: No entity signals
A03: Press Mentions #
What to Check
Does the site display third-party recognition?
- Pass: “Featured in” / “As seen on” with recognizable publications
- Fail: No press mentions or recognition
A04: Site Structure #
What to Check
Does the page have breadcrumbs and internal linking?
- Pass: Breadcrumbs present, clear internal link structure
- Fail: Orphaned page with no navigation context
Trust Checkpoints (T01-T06) #
Trust is the foundation of E-E-A-T. These checkpoints are critical—failures here undermine everything else.
T01: Legal Compliance #
What to Check
Are required legal pages present?
- Pass: Privacy Policy + Terms of Service + optional GDPR/Cookie policy
- Partial: Only Privacy Policy
- Fail: No legal pages
T02: Contact Information #
What to Check
Can users easily contact the organization?
- Pass: Physical address + multiple contact methods
- Partial: Email only
- Fail: No contact information
T03: Security #
What to Check
Is the site secure?
- Pass: HTTPS enabled
- Fail: HTTP only (automatic fail)
T04: Ad Density #
What to Check
Is advertising reasonable?
- Pass: Ads under 30% of page, no intrusive popups
- Partial: 30-50% ad density
- Fail: Over 50% ads or full-screen popups
T05: Content Maintenance #
What to Check
Is content current and maintained?
- Pass: Last updated within 1 year, no broken links
- Partial: Updated 1-3 years ago
- Fail: Over 3 years old or many broken links
T06: Disclosure #
What to Check
Are affiliations and potential conflicts disclosed?
- Pass: Affiliate links disclosed, sponsorships declared
- Critical Fail: Affiliate links present but not disclosed (-50 points)
Automate Your E-E-A-T Audit #
Manually checking all 20 points takes time. GEO-Lens (free Chrome extension) automates this audit:
- Analyzes all 20 E-E-A-T checkpoints automatically
- Provides pass/partial/fail status for each
- Generates specific recommendations for improvement
- Calculates an overall E-E-A-T score
Get Your E-E-A-T Score
Install GEO-Lens and audit any page against this complete checklist in seconds. Pro mode uses AI to evaluate semantic quality beyond structural checks.
Product Manager at Seenos.ai. Pioneer in AEO research since 2024, exploring the convergence of SEO and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization). Led multiple AI-powered content optimization projects that achieved 300%+ citation increases in ChatGPT and Perplexity.