Author Bio Best Practices: What to Include for E-E-A-T

An effective author bio for E-E-A-T includes six key elements: full name, current title/role, years of experience, specific areas of expertise, at least one credential or achievement, and links to verified profiles. The minimum length is 30 words, with 50-100 words being optimal for AI evaluation. This bio format satisfies checkpoint R02 in the GEO CORE model and signals author expertise to AI systems.
According to Google's helpful content guidelines, author information helps establish the trustworthiness of content, especially for topics where expertise matters (YMYL). A well-crafted bio can increase your reliability score by up to 10 points.
Key Takeaways
- ✓ Minimum 30 words: Required to pass E-E-A-T check
- ✓ 6 Key Elements: Name, title, experience, expertise, credential, links
- ✓ Third Person: Write professionally, not casually
- ✓ Topic Relevant: Expertise should match content topics
The Six Essential Bio Elements #
| Element | What to Include | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Full Name | Complete professional name | Sarah Chen / Dr. Michael Torres |
| 2. Title/Role | Current professional position | SEO Director / Marketing Consultant |
| 3. Experience | Years in field/industry | 10+ years / since 2014 |
| 4. Expertise Areas | Specific specializations | Technical SEO, AI optimization, content strategy |
| 5. Credential | Degree, certification, achievement | MBA, Google certified, published author |
| 6. Verification Links | External profile links | LinkedIn, company page, portfolio |
Author Bio Templates #
Basic Template (30-40 words) #
[Name] is a [title] with [X years] of experience in [field]. They specialize in [expertise areas] and hold [credential/certification]. Connect on LinkedIn.
Example: “Sarah Chen is an SEO Director with 10 years of experience in digital marketing. She specializes in technical SEO and AI search optimization and is Google Analytics certified. Connect on LinkedIn.” (34 words)
Professional Template (50-70 words) #
[Name] is a [title] at [company] with [X years] of experience in [field]. They specialize in [expertise 1], [expertise 2], and [expertise 3]. [Name] has [achievement] and holds [credential]. Their work has been featured in [publications/clients]. Follow on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Expert Template (80-100 words) #
[Name] is a [title] and [additional role] with over [X years] of experience in [field]. As the [role] at [company], they lead [responsibility]. [Name] specializes in [expertise 1], [expertise 2], and [expertise 3], with a focus on [specific focus].
[Name] holds a [degree] from [institution] and is certified in [certifications]. They have [achievement 1] and [achievement 2]. Their insights have been featured in [publications]. Follow [Name] on LinkedIn, Twitter, or visit their portfolio.
Bio Do's and Don'ts #
Do
- Write in third person
- Include specific numbers (10 years, 50 clients)
- Match expertise to content topics
- Link to verified profiles
- Update regularly
- Use professional headshot
Don't
- Use first person (“I am...”)
- Make vague claims (“extensive experience”)
- Include irrelevant personal details
- Leave profile links broken
- Copy/paste generic bios
- Use stock photos or avatars
Real-World Bio Examples #
SEO Professional Bio
“Marcus Johnson is a Senior SEO Strategist at TechGrowth with 8 years of experience in search engine optimization. He specializes in technical SEO audits, AI search optimization, and enterprise-level content strategy. Marcus is Google Search Console certified and has helped 50+ B2B companies increase organic traffic by an average of 156%. His work has been featured in Search Engine Journal and Moz. Connect on LinkedIn.” (68 words)
Content Marketing Bio
“Dr. Emily Rodriguez is a Content Marketing Director and published author with 12 years of experience in digital marketing. She leads content strategy at ContentPro, where she has developed frameworks used by Fortune 500 companies. Emily holds a Ph.D. in Communications from Stanford and is the author of 'Content That Converts' (2024). She writes regularly for HubSpot and Marketing Week.” (61 words)
Summary #
A well-crafted author bio is essential for E-E-A-T and AI reliability scoring. By including all six elements—name, title, experience, expertise, credentials, and verification links—you maximize your author credibility signals and improve your content's likelihood of being cited by AI systems.
Action Items
- 1 Audit your current author bio for all six elements
- 2 Expand bio to minimum 30 words (ideally 50-70)
- 3 Add verified profile links (LinkedIn, company page)
- 4 Match expertise description to your content topics
Frequently Asked Questions #
Should I write my bio in first or third person?
Write in third person for professional content. “Sarah Chen is an SEO Director...” reads more authoritatively than “I am an SEO Director...” Third person is the standard for byline bios and what AI systems expect to find.
How often should I update my author bio?
Update your bio at least annually, or whenever you have significant changes: new role, new certifications, major achievements, or updated expertise areas. Stale bios with outdated information can undermine credibility.
Can I use the same bio across all articles?
You can use a consistent base bio, but consider creating variations that emphasize different expertise areas depending on the article topic. For SEO content, emphasize SEO expertise; for content marketing pieces, highlight content strategy experience.