What Is Topical Authority & How Does It Work

Topical authority in the realm of digital marketing and SEO is a concept that revolves around a website’s perceived expertise and credibility on a specific subject or range of topics. Unlike traditional authority, which might be gauged by metrics like domain age or overall backlink profile, topical authority is more focused. It assesses how well a site covers a particular topic, the depth and breadth of the content provided, and the relevance and quality of the information. A website with high topical authority is seen by both users and search engines as a go-to resource for a specific subject area, leading to better search rankings and user trust.

Internal vs. External Topical Authority

Topical authority can be bifurcated into two types: internal and external. Internal topical authority is cultivated within the website itself. It involves creating comprehensive, in-depth content that thoroughly covers a topic. This type of authority is built by developing a robust internal linking structure that connects related content, thereby helping search engines understand the site’s knowledge scope and depth on a subject.

On the other hand, external topical authority is influenced by how other websites perceive and interact with your content. It’s established through backlinks from reputable sites within the same niche, social media shares, and mentions across various online platforms. External authority is a testament to the content’s value in the wider online community and plays a crucial role in reinforcing a site’s standing as an authoritative source.

How Does Topical Authority Help Build Your Marketing Strategy?

More Organic Traffic

Establishing topical authority is pivotal for driving more organic traffic to your website. When search engines recognize a site as a reliable source of information on a particular topic, they are more likely to rank its pages higher in search results. Higher rankings typically translate to increased visibility and, consequently, more organic traffic. Users tend to click on top-ranking sites, trusting that they will find comprehensive and authoritative content there.

More Backlinks to Your Website

A website recognized for its topical authority naturally attracts more backlinks. Other sites, including industry blogs, news outlets, and forums, are more inclined to reference and link back to a site seen as an expert in its field. These backlinks not only drive direct traffic but also enhance the site’s overall SEO performance, as backlinks are a key ranking factor for most search engines.

Increased Brand Reputation

A strong topical authority not only improves a website’s performance in search engines but also elevates its brand reputation. When users consistently find high-quality, reliable information on a site, they begin to view the brand behind it as trustworthy and authoritative. This enhanced reputation can lead to increased customer loyalty, higher conversion rates, and even opportunities for industry partnerships and collaborations. In the digital age, where credibility is paramount, establishing topical authority can significantly impact a brand’s perception and success.

How to Build Topical Authority (7 Easy Steps)

Establishing topical authority is a strategic process that involves creating and curating content that showcases your expertise in a specific area. Here are seven easy steps to help you build topical authority:

1. Pick a Topic to Focus Your Expertise

The first step is to identify and select a topic or a set of related topics that align with your brand, interests, or business objectives. This should be an area where you either already have expertise or are willing to invest time and resources to develop it. The key is to choose a topic that you can consistently create content about and one that resonates with your target audience.

2. Do Keyword Research to Find Topics

Once you have your main topic, the next step is to conduct thorough keyword research. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush to discover what your target audience is searching for regarding your chosen topic. Look for keywords with high search volumes and low to medium competition. This will help you understand the specific aspects of the topic that interest your audience and guide your content creation.

3. Cover a Wide Breadth of Topics

To establish yourself as an authority, it’s important to cover a wide range of subtopics within your main area of focus. This demonstrates comprehensive knowledge and ensures that your content appeals to a broader audience. It also helps search engines understand that your site is a valuable resource on the topic, which can positively impact your search rankings.

4. Use Relevant Subtopics to Build Content Depth

In addition to covering a wide range of topics, delve deep into each subtopic. Provide detailed, in-depth information that answers specific questions and covers various aspects of the subject. This approach helps in building content depth, which is crucial for establishing topical authority. It shows that you not only know about a wide range of related topics but also have a deep understanding of each.

5. Write High-Quality Content That Meets Search Intent

The cornerstone of building topical authority is to produce high-quality content that aligns with the search intent of your audience. Your content should be well-researched, accurate, and offer valuable insights or solutions. Ensure that it is engaging, easy to read, and provides a unique perspective or information that is not readily available elsewhere. Meeting the search intent increases user engagement, reduces bounce rates, and enhances your site’s reputation with both users and search engines.

6. Build Content Clusters with Internal Linking

Content clusters involve creating a series of interlinked articles or pages around a central theme. Start by identifying a broad topic and then create content on various subtopics related to it. These subtopics should be interlinked in a way that allows easy navigation for both users and search engines. Internal linking helps distribute page authority across the cluster, boosting the visibility of individual pieces. It also aids search engines in understanding the contextual relationship between different pieces of content, reinforcing your site’s topical authority.

7. Update Content Regularly to Maintain Freshness

To maintain topical authority, it’s crucial to keep your content up-to-date. Regularly revisiting and updating your content ensures that it remains relevant, accurate, and useful for your audience. Updating content can involve adding new information, refining existing points, or incorporating recent trends and data. Fresh content is favored by search engines and can lead to better rankings and increased traffic.

How to Measure Topical Authority

Measuring topical authority involves evaluating how your content performs in terms of relevance, depth, and audience engagement. Key metrics include search engine rankings for relevant keywords, backlink profiles, page views, time spent on site, and social shares. Tools like Google Analytics and Ahrefs can provide insights into these metrics. Additionally, tracking changes in these metrics over time can help gauge improvements in your topical authority.

5 Topic Research Tools

1. Keyword Research Tools

Keyword research tools are essential for identifying what your target audience is searching for. Tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz Keyword Explorer offer insights into search volumes, keyword difficulty, and related queries. They help in finding niche topics and understanding the language your audience uses, allowing you to tailor your content strategy effectively.

2. Google People Also Ask

Google’s “People Also Ask” feature is a valuable tool for topic research. It provides common questions related to your search query, offering a window into the queries and concerns of your audience. By addressing these questions in your content, you can directly meet the search intent of users and cover a broader range of subtopics, enhancing your topical authority.

3. Google Related Searches

Google Related Searches appear at the bottom of the search results page and provide insights into related topics that users are searching for. These suggestions are based on common search patterns and user queries. Incorporating these related searches into your content strategy can help you address a wider array of user interests and questions, further expanding your topic coverage and reinforcing your topical authority.

4. AlsoAsked

AlsoAsked is a tool that maps out the questions people ask related to a particular keyword or topic, based on Google’s People Also Ask data. This tool visualizes how different questions branch out from an initial query, offering a clear picture of related subtopics. By integrating these questions into your content, you can create a comprehensive resource that addresses multiple aspects of a topic, enhancing the depth and breadth of your content.

5. Answer the Public

Answer the Public is a tool that provides visualizations of search questions and suggested autocomplete searches from Google and Bing. It generates a web of questions, prepositions, and comparisons related to your keyword, offering a wealth of ideas for content creation. This tool is invaluable for uncovering long-tail keywords and understanding the specific concerns and interests of your audience, aiding in the creation of highly targeted and relevant content.

Conclusion

Building topical authority is a multifaceted process that involves careful topic selection, comprehensive research, strategic content creation, and continuous updates. By following the outlined steps and utilizing the recommended tools, you can establish your website as a trusted source of information in your chosen area. This not only enhances your SEO and drives more traffic but also boosts your brand’s credibility and reputation in your field. Remember, topical authority is about being the best resource for your audience on a specific subject, and achieving this requires dedication, consistency, and a commitment to quality.