Topical Authority
Topical Authority
used extensively by Jason Barnard since 2021.
Description
Topical Authority is the algorithmic trust granted to a recognized entity (a brand, website, or person), confirming it as an expert and comprehensive source of information on a specific subject.
The Topical Authority definition
Jason Barnard explains that a comprehensive body of work is essential for Topical Authority, but it is meaningless without a critical prerequisite: entity understanding. Before algorithms can evaluate a brand's expertise on a topic, they must first know with confidence who the brand is. Without a clear, understood entity anchor, even the best content is just authorless information in the "mind" of a machine. Therefore, Topical Authority is not a measure of content in isolation; it is the result of a trusted, recognized entity producing a deep and interconnected body of work. The algorithm's confidence in the entity acts as a powerful amplifier, giving significantly more weight to the content and cementing the brand's position as the definitive source.
How Jason Barnard uses Topical Authority definition
At Kalicube, building Topical Authority is a sequential outcome of The Kalicube Process, Kalicube's proprietary methodology for implementing a holistic, brand-first digital marketing strategy. We first dedicate our efforts to Phase 1, Understandability, to ensure machines develop a high-confidence understanding of the client's entity. Only with that foundation in place do we focus on Phase 2, Credibility, where we build the body of work that demonstrates expertise. The confidence established in the first phase acts as a powerful amplifier for the authority generated by the content in the second. This ensures that when we reach the Deliverability phase, AI Assistive Engines don't just find the content; they trust the entity behind it and confidently recommend it.
Why Topical Authority matters to digital marketers
Marcus Sheridan's "They Ask, You Answer" brilliantly teaches businesses what to say to build human trust: answer every customer question. Jason Barnard's work provides the critical next step for the AI era: ensuring the algorithm first trusts who is speaking. Topical Authority is the result of merging these two philosophies. The Kalicube Process provides the technical framework to first establish the brand as an understood and trusted entity, which then amplifies the value of every answer it provides. In a world where AI Assistive Engines act as gatekeepers, they prioritize answers from credible sources; if they don't have confidence in you as the speaker, they will never trust what you have to say.
Posts tagged with Topical Authority
Entitization in SEO: What You Need to Know
What is Entitization in SEO? Entitization in SEO means Google’s Algorithms explicitly understand and recognize an entity as important. When Google recognizes your entity, it lists the entity in its...
How the Kalicube Process Increased Organic Traffic for Merci Facteur by 33%
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Topical Authority in SEO: What You Need To Know
What Is Topical Authority in SEO? Topical authority in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) refers to a demonstrated level of expertise and knowledge in a particular field or topic. It is...
Managing the Elements of a Knowledge Panel – the Evolution of a Knowledge Panel
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The Kalicube Process: The Definitive Digital Marketing Strategy for the AI Era
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How to Change a Subtitle in Google Knowledge Panel – Kalicube Pro SaaS Case Study
Introduction What is a Knowledge Panel? The Knowledge Panel is on the right-hand side of search results pages on Desktop in Google. They appear when you search for entities (people,...
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