Topical Authority Explained: What It Means, and Why It Is Important

Topical authority is a crucial factor in search engine optimization (SEO). This is a crucial ranking factor for search engines, as they want to provide users with high-quality and relevant results. To establish topical authority, a website must demonstrate a deep understanding of the subject, provide valuable and accurate information, and be consistently updated with the latest information.

Websites that have established topical authority are seen as authoritative sources and are often favored by search engines when ranking search results. Additionally, having topical authority can also lead to higher engagement rates, as users are more likely to trust and interact with content from authoritative sources.

The following article delves into the definition of topical authority, its’ importance when it comes to optimizing for search engines, and other related topics.

Topical Authority: A Definition

Topical authority in the context of SEO refers to a domain or webpage’s level of expertise and credibility on a specific subject or topic. It is a measure of how well-informed and authoritative the website is on that topic and its ability to provide valuable and accurate information to users.

Why is Topical Authority Important?

A website being seen as an authority on a specific topic and/or related subtopics is a crucial factor for search engines when ranking search results, as they aim to provide users with high-quality and relevant content. Websites with established topical authority are favored by search engines, as they are seen as trustworthy and authoritative sources of information, which can lead to higher search engine rankings and increased engagement from users.

How Does a Website Achieve or Increase Topical Authority?

To establish topical authority, a website must demonstrate a deep understanding of the subject, provide valuable and accurate information, and be consistently updated with the latest information. Building topical authority requires effort and a consistent approach, as it involves creating high-quality content, engaging with your audience, and establishing links with other authoritative sources in your field.

Topical Authority vs. Domain Authority

Topical authority and domain authority are two distinct but related concepts in the context of search engine optimization (SEO).

Topical authority refers to a website’s or webpage’s level of expertise and credibility on a specific subject or topic. It is a measure of the website’s ability to provide valuable and accurate information on that topic.

Domain authority, on the other hand, refers to the overall strength and credibility of a website in the eyes of search engines. It is a measure of how well a website is likely to rank for various keywords and phrases in search results. Domain authority is determined by factors such as the number and quality of links pointing to a website, its age, and its content quality.

Topical Authority Maps

What is a Topical Authority Map?

A topical authority map is a diagram or visual representation of a website’s topical hierarchy and how its pages and content relate to each other. It is used to help identify the main topics covered on a website and how those topics are organized. The map also highlights the relationships between subtopics and the overall structure of the content.

The Reason Behind Creating a Topical Authority Map

The purpose of a topical authority map is to help optimize a website’s content for search engines and users. It provides a clear picture of the website’s content and helps ensure that the right topics are covered in enough depth and that all content is properly organized and interlinked. By creating a topical authority map, websites can identify opportunities to improve their content, create better user experiences, and improve their search engine rankings.

How to Create a Map for Topical Authority

The process of creating a topical authority map typically involves conducting keyword research, mapping out the content structure, and assessing the interconnections between topics. The resulting map can be used as a guide for creating new content, optimizing existing content, and ensuring that all content is aligned with the website’s overall goals and strategy.

Steps to Build Topical Authority

• Step 1: Research questions and subtopics related to the main topic that you are trying to completely cover. Ways to do this include using Answer The Public, People Also Ask questions in the search results, and keyword research tools.
• Step 2: Create a topical authority map to help generate subtopics and content ideas based on those subtopics
• Step 3: Create well-written content that solves user intent (UI) for each topic and subtopic on your final list of content choices
• Step 4: Publish articles on your website, making sure to use internal links where appropriate
• Step 5: Wait for search engines to crawl your content and reward your rankings accordingly

Services to Help with Topical Authority

Between the topical research involved, mapping out content, and creating content that solves UI, it can be quite overwhelming to assemble a topical authority campaign. Fortunately, there is a service that takes care of all of this for you. Our Topical Authority Service tackles the research, the mapping, the optimization, and the content creation for you so you can focus on less tedious aspects of your SEO campaign. Visit our main page for more info.