Adding Editorial Credibility: Review and Fact-Check Badges

2026-01-21•7 min read

Editorial badges—visual indicators showing content has been reviewed or expert-verified—strengthen Authority in EEAT. Effective badges are visible (placed near the byline), specific (naming the reviewer and their credentials), and honest (backed by actual review processes). This guide covers design principles, placement strategies, and Schema markup for editorial credibility indicators.

Key Takeaways

• Place badges near byline for immediate visibility
• Be specific: Name, credentials, and review date
• Use consistent design across your site
• Link to reviewer profiles for verification
• Only use badges when earned—fake signals backfire

Types of Editorial Badges #

Fact-Checked

Claims and data verified for accuracy. Best for news, research, statistics-heavy content.

Expert Reviewed

Subject matter expert verified content accuracy. Best for technical, specialized topics.

Medically Reviewed

Healthcare professional verified medical accuracy. Required for health content.

Editorially Reviewed

General quality and accuracy review. Good for all content types.

Badge Design Principles #

Visibility #

Badges should be noticeable without overwhelming the content:

Clear iconography (checkmark, shield, medical cross)
Sufficient contrast with background
Readable text size (don't sacrifice legibility for subtlety)

Specificity #

Generic badges (“Verified”) are less effective than specific ones:

Include reviewer name
Show relevant credentials
Display review date

Consistency #

Use the same badge design across all content:

Same colors and iconography
Same placement pattern
Same information structure

Placement Options #

Near Byline (Recommended) #

Place immediately after or below the author byline for maximum visibility:

By John Doe

✓ Medically reviewed by Dr. Sarah Chen, MD

January 21, 2026

Article Header #

As a banner or indicator in the article header area, visible before reading begins.

Sticky sidebar badge that remains visible while scrolling (for longer content).

Article Footer #

Detailed review information in the author/review box at article end.

Badge Information Structure #

Effective badges include:

1Review type: Fact-checked, Medically reviewed, Expert reviewed
2Reviewer name: Full name of the person who reviewed
3Credentials: MD, PhD, CPA, or relevant title
4Date: When the review occurred
5Link: To reviewer's profile or bio (optional but valuable)

✓ Fact-Checked

Reviewed by Jane Smith, Senior Editor

Last reviewed: January 21, 2026 | View editorial policy

Schema Markup for Editorial Signals #

Add structured data to help AI systems recognize editorial oversight:

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Article",
  "headline": "Article Title",
  "author": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "John Doe"
  },
  "reviewedBy": {
    "@type": "Person",
    "name": "Dr. Sarah Chen",
    "jobTitle": "Board-Certified Internist",
    "url": "https://example.com/authors/dr-sarah-chen"
  },
  "lastReviewed": "2026-01-21"
}

For ClaimReview (fact-checking specific claims):

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "ClaimReview",
  "reviewRating": {
    "@type": "Rating",
    "ratingValue": "5",
    "bestRating": "5",
    "alternateName": "True"
  },
  "author": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Your Site Name"
  }
}

Implementation Checklist #

Choose appropriate badge type for content category
Design consistent badge styling
Place badges near byline for visibility
Include reviewer name and credentials
Add review dates and update them
Link to reviewer profiles when possible
Implement corresponding Schema markup
Create editorial policy page explaining your process
Only use badges for actually reviewed content

Common Mistakes #

Generic “Verified” Badges #

“Verified” without saying by whom or how means nothing. Be specific.

Hidden or Tiny Badges #

If users can't easily see the badge, it provides minimal trust benefit.

Fake Badges #

Adding “Fact-Checked” labels without actual fact-checking is deceptive and damages trust when discovered.

Outdated Review Dates #

A badge showing “Reviewed 2021” on 2026 content suggests neglect. Implement regular review schedules.

Summary #

Effective editorial badges:

Are visible and specific
Name real reviewers with credentials
Include review dates
Are backed by actual review processes
Use consistent design site-wide

Only implement badges when you have real editorial processes to back them. Credibility signals without credibility substance backfire.

About the Author

Yue Zhu@Seenos.ai

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.