In my early days of exploring SEO, “topical authority” wasn’t on my radar.
That’s because I was focused on keywords, backlinks, and page speed, which are all important factors, but I soon realized that becoming an expert on a topic within a niche could significantly boost any site’s rankings.
That’s when I began my journey into understanding and building topical authority.
And so should you.
So, to help you, I’ve created this blog.
This blog is a comprehensive guide on topical authority, why it matters, and how to build it. I’ll also share my tried-and-tested steps, tools like SEOBoost, and lessons learned.
Let’s start with a definition.
- What is Topical Authority?
- Why Topical Authority Matters for Search Rankings
- 3 Key Factors of Topical Authority
- How Google Understands and Evaluates Topical Authority
- Building Topical Authority: A Step-by-Step Guide
- How to Measure Topical Authority
- Common Mistakes to Avoid in Building Topical Authority
- Final Word
- FAQs
What is Topical Authority?
Topical authority refers to your website’s ability to demonstrate expertise, relevance, and depth within a specific subject area.
Think of it as proving to search engines and users that your content is the go-to resource for information on a topic.
Let’s say your website is a SaaS product, so if it consistently publishes well-researched articles on the product’s use, features, and comparisons, Google will recognize it as authoritative within the niche.
This recognition is what we call topical authority.
Why Topical Authority Matters for Search Rankings
Now that you understand what topical authority is, here’s why topical authority is a game-changer for SEO:
- Improved Keyword Rankings: Search engines rank pages higher when they come from a site with in-depth knowledge and extensive subject coverage.
- Enhanced Trustworthiness: A site with authority on a topic is more likely to gain user trust, resulting in higher engagement and lower bounce rates.
- Competitive Edge: By establishing authority, you can outrank competitors who only scratch the surface of your niche.
When I started applying this approach to my content, I noticed that keywords ranked faster. That’s because Google rewards sites that offer comprehensive answers to user queries, and topical authority is the secret sauce.
3 Key Factors of Topical Authority
Now, let’s look at the 3 most important factors of topical authority.
1. Content Depth and Relevance
When it comes to content, quality always surpasses quantity.
Writing deeply about your subject matter ensures you cover all aspects, making your content a one-stop resource for your audience.
For example, if I’m writing an article on “SEO tools,” I wouldn’t just list the tools. I’ll also discuss the features, pricing, and best use case for each tool to ensure that I’ve created a well-rounded piece of high-quality content.
To do this, I use SEOBoost’s features to create content that is both in-depth and relevant.
I start with the Topic Reports feature to identify competitors’ actions and align the content with search intent.
Then, I write in the content optimization feature’s editor-styled doc to include all the suggestions for better readability and value.
2. Internal Linking
A strong internal linking strategy connects related pieces of content, helping search engines and users navigate your site seamlessly.
But creating a relevant internal linking structure can be challenging too,
This is why, AIOSEO’s Link Assistant is my go-to tool for optimizing internal links.
It highlights linking opportunities I might miss and ensures my site’s structure supports topical relevance.
I’ll discuss this tool in detail in a later section.
3. External Credibility
You have to remember that authority isn’t just about what’s on your site.
It’s about who vouches for you.
This is why, high-quality backlinks from reputable sources strengthen your topical authority.
My advice is to focus on outreach strategies, such as guest posting or collaborating with industry experts, to earn valuable backlinks.
How Google Understands and Evaluates Topical Authority
So, now that you know the factors that impact topical authority, what role does Google play in all of this?
Well, Google’s algorithms are smarter than ever now.
They don’t just match keywords; they evaluate how well your content aligns with user intent and semantic search.
Features like Google Knowledge Graph and advancements in natural language processing allow search engines to assess your content’s relevance within a topic’s broader context.
For me, this means going beyond keywords. I aim to create content that answers real user queries in a comprehensive, conversational tone.
Building Topical Authority: A Step-by-Step Guide
Now, let’s get into my favorite part of this guide: a step-by-step guide on building and increasing your topical authority.
1. Identify Core Topics and Subtopics
Building topical authority starts with identifying the main themes of your niche and breaking them into detailed subtopics.
This step ensures that your content comprehensively addresses all aspects of your chosen topics, making your site a go-to resource for your audience and search engines.
Here’s how you can define your core topics:
- Understand Your Niche: Identify the broader industry or subject your website focuses on.
- Break Into Subtopics: Dive deeper into each core topic to identify related areas.
- Analyze Competitor Content: Study top-ranking competitors to identify the subtopics they cover. Look for gaps you can fill to create more comprehensive content.
Here are the 3 tools I use for keyword research and creating topic clusters:
1. SEOBoost’s Topic Reports
This is my go-to tool for identifying high-performing subtopics.
It analyzes top-ranking competitors and breaks down their content into related subtopics, keyword opportunities, and content depth requirements.
The Topic Reports feature also provides content statistics highlighting key metrics for increasing the overall readability and value of the content.
You can also use this report to create a content brief and expose it for external use.
With this data, I ensure my content aligns with user search behavior and fills gaps competitors might overlook.
2. LowFruits
LowFruits specializes in finding low-competition keywords that can drive targeted traffic.
I use this tool to identify niche-specific terms that are easier to rank for.
These keywords enhance my topical authority and allow me to capture untapped audience segments.
3. AIOSEO’s Keyword Tracker
AIOSEO’s Keyword Tracker is invaluable for monitoring the performance of my selected keywords.
It helps me stay updated on trending terms, ensuring my content remains relevant and optimized for search engines.
2. Create Comprehensive, Interlinked Content
Crafting detailed, well-connected content is essential for building topical authority.
Comprehensive content thoroughly explores each subtopic, while strategic interlinking connects these pieces to create a cohesive content cluster.
This helps users navigate your site easily and signals to search engines that your website is an authority on the subject.
Here’s how to create comprehensive content:
- Dive Deep Into Subtopics: Each article should cover all aspects of its subtopic, answering every question your audience might have.
- Use Supporting Data: Include statistics, case studies, and examples to support your points. This adds credibility and depth to your content.
- Include Visuals: Add infographics, charts, or videos to make complex information easier to digest and more engaging for readers.
Remember, internal linking ties all your content together, creating a logical flow that improves user experience and enhances search engine crawlability.
So, here’s how you can do it using my favorite tool.
AIOSEO’s Link Assistant
I use AIOSEO’s Link Assistant to streamline the interlinking process.
It helps with:
- Finding Opportunities: Link Assistant identifies related pages that can be interlinked, saving me time and ensuring I don’t miss any opportunities.
- Enhances User Navigation: I create a seamless experience that keeps readers engaged longer by linking related blogs.
- Boosts SEO Signals: Interlinking strengthens the content cluster, signaling to Google that my site comprehensively covers the topic.
3. Write with EEAT Guidelines
EEAT stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.
It is Google’s framework for evaluating the quality and reliability of content.

Meeting these standards ensures your site not only ranks well but also earns the trust of your audience.
Writing with EEAT in mind shows readers (and Google) that you know your stuff, back it up with evidence, and have their best interests at heart.
Here’s how I approach it:
- Whenever possible, I share personal stories or first-hand experiences in my content. For instance, when writing about SEO tools, I describe how SEOBoost helped me identify content gaps or optimize my site for better rankings.
- I support my arguments with authoritative sources, such as expert opinions, to bring authenticity to it.
- Outdated information erodes trust, so I revisit older articles to ensure accuracy. I update stats, refresh examples, and align content with evolving best practices.
Use SEOBoost’s content audit feature to audit older content, identify content decay, and refresh articles that need updating.
4. Use SEOBoost for Content Optimization
When it comes to creating high-quality content that ranks well, SEOBoost is my go-to tool.
Its Content Optimization feature transforms good content into exceptional, search-friendly material by offering precise, actionable insights.
This ensures my blogs meet search intent, flow seamlessly, and stay ahead of the competition.
You have to remember that Content that isn’t optimized risks missing its audience, no matter how well-written it is.
Proper content optimization ensures:
- Keywords are naturally and strategically placed.
- The structure is easy to navigate for both readers and search engines.
- Readability is high, keeping users engaged.
Here’s how writing using SEOBoost’s content optimization feature helps:
- SEOBoost refines keyword density and placement by highlighting the number of times it should be used.
- The tool evaluates the clarity of my content and recommends adjustments, such as shortening paragraphs, simplifying language, or adding bullet points to make it scannable.
- SEOBoost analyzes headings and subheadings to ensure a logical hierarchy, making it easier for search engines and users to understand my content.
- It also assigns an SEO content score based on the content’s quality as compared to the competitors.
How to Measure Topical Authority
Evaluating your topical authority is essential to understanding how well your content resonates within your niche and ranks on search engines.
Here’s a detailed approach to measuring topical authority effectively:
1. Track Keyword Rankings Within Your Niche
Keyword rankings directly indicate how well your content performs for specific search terms.
By monitoring your rankings:
- Identify Growth Areas: Look for steady improvement in your target keywords’ rankings.
- Spot Weaknesses: Pinpoint keywords where your content isn’t ranking as expected and identify gaps.
- Use Tools: Platforms like Google Search Console and third-party tools provide detailed keyword ranking data. You can also use SEOBoost’s Topic Reports to discover additional keyword opportunities and track performance over time.
2. Monitor Organic Traffic and Engagement Metrics
Traffic and engagement metrics reveal how well your content attracts and retains your audience.
- Metrics to Watch: Focus on organic traffic, bounce rates, and average time on the page. High engagement signals that your content aligns with user expectations.
- Behavior Analysis: Use tools like Google Analytics to track how visitors interact with your content. For instance, a high bounce rate on a key topic page might indicate gaps in coverage or relevance.
- Adjust Accordingly: If engagement is low, revisit your content to ensure it addresses user intent comprehensively.
3. Analyze Content Depth and Topical Relevance Through SEOBoost
SEOBoost is a powerful tool for assessing how well your content aligns with topical authority standards:
- Content Depth Analysis: The Content Optimization feature evaluates how thoroughly your content covers a subject. It identifies areas for improvement, such as missing content or underutilized keywords.
- Topical Relevance: Topic Reports provide insights into trending keywords and related subtopics, ensuring your content aligns with what users search for in your niche.
- Actionable Suggestions: SEOBoost doesn’t just identify problems. It offers tailored recommendations to enhance content depth, keyword placement, and readability.
4. Review Backlink Quality and Authority
Backlinks play a significant role in building topical authority by signaling credibility to search engines.
- Assess Link Quality: Focus on earning high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites within your niche. Use tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to evaluate your backlink profile.
- Spot Opportunities: Identify gaps in your backlink strategy by analyzing where your competitors earn links.
- Improve Link Building: Proactively contact industry blogs, news outlets, or collaborators to build relevant links that bolster your authority.
Common Mistakes to Avoid in Building Topical Authority
Now that you know how to build and measure topical authority, here are some of the common mistakes you should avoid:
1. Neglecting Content Quality in Favor of Quantity
Publishing a large volume of shallow content will do more harm than good.
That is why, you should always prioritize depth and relevance.
2. Poor Internal Linking Structure and Navigation
I think we can all agree that as SEO experts one of our biggest nightmares is poor navigation.
This is why, a scattered site structure confuses search engines and users.
So, to avoid poor navigation or linking structure, use tools like Link Assistant to build a cohesive internal linking strategy.
3. Ignoring Updates and Trends
You have to remember that SEO is a dynamic field.
This means that the algorithms and trends are ever-changing and so it is imperative to modify your SEO strategy accordingly.
Failing to update older content or address new trends can hurt your authority.
Final Word
Building topical authority takes time, effort, and a strategic approach.
And with tools like SEOBoost, LowFruits, and AIOSEO, you can streamline the process and create content that resonates with users and search engines alike.
Remember, the goal isn’t just to rank – it’s to become the go-to resource in your niche.
FAQs
1. What is a topical authority?
Topical authority refers to a site’s ability to demonstrate expertise and depth within a specific subject area, making it a trusted source in its niche.
2. What are the tools for topical authority?
Tools like SEOBoost, AIOSEO, and LowFruits help identify core topics, optimize content, and build internal linking strategies to enhance topical authority.
3. What is a topic authority?
Topic authority is another term for topical authority and measures how well your site covers and ranks within a particular subject area.
4. What is topical relevance in SEO?
Topical relevance assesses how closely your content aligns with the user’s search intent and the broader context of a specific topic.