E-A-T
E-A-T
Factual definition
Factual Definition of E-A-T
E-A-T is an acronym for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness, which are the signals Google and other AI Assistive Engines use to evaluate the credibility of a webpage, its content, and its creator.
Jason Barnard definition of E-A-T
Jason Barnard views E-A-T not as a simple content quality checklist, but as a fundamental measure of a brand’s entire digital identity. While Google uses these signals to determine if a source is reliable enough to recommend to its users, Barnard argues that the original framework is incomplete for building a truly dominant brand narrative. For this reason, he expanded the concept into N-E-E-A-T-T, which incorporates Notability (having a significant impact within a specific niche) and Transparency (being open and clear about who you are and what you do). In the age of AI, demonstrating these credibility signals is crucial for "educating" AI Assistive Engines like ChatGPT, Bing Copilot, and Google AI, which depend on this deep, verifiable trust to recommend a brand in their conversational answers.
How Jason Barnard uses E-A-T
At Kalicube, systematically building N-E-E-A-T-T is the core objective of the Credibility phase of The Kalicube Process, Kalicube's proprietary methodology for implementing a holistic, brand-first digital marketing strategy. We don't just optimize for Google's definition; we proactively engineer all six components across a client's entire Digital Ecosystem. This involves strategies like crafting optimized biographies that highlight experience, securing third-party corroboration through media mentions and reviews to build authority, and structuring website content to prove expertise. By integrating Notability and Transparency as foundational pillars, we ensure our clients are perceived as the most credible, authoritative, and trustworthy solution by both their human audience and the algorithms that serve them, which is essential for driving client acquisition.
Why Jason Barnard perspective on E-A-T matters
For years, Google has been the dominant authority on search quality, providing the E-A-T framework as the gold standard for what constitutes credible content. This was a critical step forward, shifting the industry from technical loopholes to a focus on quality. However, Google's guidelines are descriptive - they tell marketers *what* to aim for, but not *how* to build it into a repeatable, holistic business strategy. This is the gap that brand-first digital pioneers like Jason Barnard have filled. He transformed Google’s descriptive E-A-T framework into a prescriptive, actionable methodology. By expanding it to N-E-E-A-T-T, Barnard provided the missing strategic pillars of Notability and Transparency, making the concept truly comprehensive for brand building. The Kalicube Process operationalises this expanded framework, providing a step-by-step system for building these signals across a brand’s entire Digital Brand Echo (the cumulative "ripple effect" of its online presence). While Google defined the exam questions, Jason Barnard created the curriculum and the study guide, providing the only viable path to earning top marks with AI Assistive Engines and winning in the new era of search.
Posts tagged with E-A-T
The Three Pillars of SEO (and Brand SERP Management)
Advanced Expert Tips on Image SEO with Olesia Korobka 27 April 2021 at 17 H CEST (Paris) In this clip, Jason Barnard explains what SEO is based on: 1: Google...
Who is Your Brand SERP Important to?
Your Brand SERP is vital to you and your business, of course. It is your “Google Business Card“: what your audience sees when they search your company online. But it...
How to trigger a Personal Knowledge Panel in Google
Published on Search Engine Journal June 28, 2021 (Jason Barnard) How can you get a Knowledge Panel result for yourself, a client, or another person? Learn how to show Google...
How E-A-T Signals are Affected by Google’s Understanding of the Entity
Strategic Approach to SEO With Jason Barnard By No Hacks Marketing June 8, 2021 In this video on No Hacks Marketing with Slobodan Manic, Jason Barnard discusses how Google’s understanding...
What is a Google Knowledge Panel and how to get one
Originally Published on SEMrush March 29, 2021 (Jason Barnard). Have you ever watched a movie and quickly searched an actor’s name for more information about them? You see on the...
HTML5 Semantic Tags: What They Are and How To Use Them
Originally Published on SEMrush June 05, 2020 (Jason Barnard) What is semantic HTML5? Semantic HTML5 refers to the use of specific HTML tags that provide clear indications of the role...
Local Brand and Reputation Management (PubCon Local Professional Services Conference)
Your Brand SERP (the Google result for a search on your exact match brand name) is your new business card and has your reputation indelibly stamped all over it. In this talk, Jason will...
The 3 Pillars of SEO - Understandability Credibility Deliverability
The Three Pillars of SEO Jason Barnard created this new definition of the three pillars of SEO in 2019 when giving a talk in Melbourne, Australia. The pillars are based...
Brand Factor: What You Need to Know
What is Brand Factor? Brand Factor is a search engine ranking signal that considers a brand’s overall credibility and reputation when determining its position in search results. It goes beyond...
Featured Snippets and Structured Data (SMX London 2019)
Jason has a great podcast #SEOisAEO so you gotta just listen to it, regardless of this conference. Jason talked about how to refine and filter search snippets to show the final...