Google described quality raters as researching external credentials, references, reviews, and reputation when judging whether an author has subject-matter expertise.

Cited by documentation

Sources

• Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines (General Guidelines, September 11, 2025)

  Google · primary source · retrieved 2026-08-21

  “While conducting reputation research, you may find information about the expertise of the content creator” — General Guidelines Overview / PQ rating design note

• How insights from people around the world make Google Search better

  Google · primary source · retrieved 2026-08-21

  “author has cooking credentials, has been profiled or referenced on other food websites” — L243-L247

  “positive reviews or ratings” — L247

  “author with a good reputation” — L247

• Quality Rater Guideline: Crib Notes to E-E-A-T

  iPullRank · retrieved 2026-08-21

  “Raters are asked to research the external reputation of a website and the organization behind it.” — Reputation section of crib notes

• Overview of Google's Search Quality Rater Guidelines

  Portent · retrieved 2026-08-21

  “Quality Raters are asked to investigate the website, the author, and their reputation” — E-E-A-T investigation paragraph

• Quality Raters Guidelines: How to Determine Content Writers Expertise

  Hill Web Creations · retrieved 2026-08-21

  “research the reputation of the content creator. Expect to find reputation information on well-known journalists, authors” — QRG section 5.4 quotation and commentary

• Quality Raters Guidelines and Google Ranking Signals

  Search Engine Journal · retrieved 2026-08-21

  “check the author biography to make sure the authors are expert, to verify if they hold credentials or display awards.” — L157-L187