SEO Mastery in 2026: E-A-T Optimisation and Zero-Click Search Strategies

Step One: Technical SEO Audit (1-2 weeks)

1. Core Web Vitals Optimisation

• □ LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) <2.5s:
  • Optimise server response time (TTFB<600ms)
  • Use CDN for static asset acceleration
  • Image lazy loading + WebP format
  • Preload critical resources
• □ FID (First Input Delay) <100ms:
  • Reduce JavaScript execution time
  • Code splitting
  • Use Web Workers for complex computations
  • Remove unused third-party scripts
• □ CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) <0.1:
  • Set explicit aspect ratios for images and videos
  • Use size-adjust during font loading
  • Reserve space for dynamic content
  • Avoid inserting content above viewport

2. Mobile Optimisation Checklist

• □ Responsive design,适配 all screen sizes
• □ Font size ≥16px, line height ≥1.5
• □ Button size ≥44x44px, sufficient spacing
• □ Avoid horizontal scrolling
• □ Touch element spacing ≥8px
• □ Pop-ups don't obstruct main content browsing
• □ Form fields easy to fill (autofill, correct keyboard type)

3. Structured Data Markup

• □ Article/BlogPosting (blog posts)
• □ Product (ecommerce products)
• □ Review/Rating (reviews and ratings)
• □ FAQPage (frequently asked questions)
• □ HowTo (tutorial steps)
• □ LocalBusiness (local businesses)
• □ Validate using Google Rich Results Test

Step Two: Keyword Research and Content Planning (2-4 weeks)

4. Keyword Classification Strategy

• Informational:
  • Characteristics: Contains "what/how/why/guide"
  • Intent: Learn knowledge, solve problems
  • Content format: Tutorials, guides, encyclopaedias
  • Example: "how to lose weight fast"
• Navigational:
  • Characteristics: Brand name + product/function
  • Intent: Find specific website/page
  • Content format: Brand term optimisation
  • Example: "facebook login"
• Transactional:
  • Characteristics: Contains "buy/order/discount/price"
  • Intent: Purchase immediately
  • Content format: Product pages, pricing pages
  • Example: "iphone 15 pro price"
• Commercial Investigation:
  • Characteristics: Contains "best/review/vs/comparison"
  • Intent: Compare products, prepare to purchase
  • Content format: Reviews, comparisons, rankings
  • Example: "best laptop for programming 2024"

5. Content Cluster Planning Template

• Select Pillar topic:
  • Search volume >10K/month
  • Highly relevant to business
  • Can be broken down into 20+ subtopics
  • You have professional expertise to cover
• Create Pillar page:
  • 5,000-8,000 word comprehensive guide
  • Clear table of contents structure
  • Visual infographics/tables
  • Downloadable PDF/Checklist
• Create Cluster content:
  • Each piece solves one specific problem
  • 2,000-3,000 words deep
  • Internal links to Pillar and other related articles
  • Add 4-8 new pieces monthly

Step Three: E-A-T Building (Ongoing)

6. Author Credential Display

• □ Display author name and avatar on every article
• □ Author page includes:
  • Professional background and qualifications
  • Years of experience and achievements
  • Social media links
  • Other published works
  • Contact information
• □ YMYL content must label "Medical/Legal/Financial Review"
• □ Reviewer credentials also need display

7. Authority Building

• □ Media coverage: Display "Featured in" logo wall on About page
• □ Industry awards: Showcase received recognition and certificates
• □ Client cases: Real success stories and data
• □ Speaking engagements: Industry conference speeches, podcast guest appearances
• □ Publications: Books, white papers, research reports
• □ Academic citations: Paper citation count (suitable for research fields)

8. Trustworthiness Enhancement

• □ Transparency: Public company information, team photos, office environment
• □ Contact information: Address, phone, email, online customer service
• □ Privacy policy: Clear GDPR/CCPA compliance statement
• □ User reviews: Real reviews (with avatars and details)
• □ Security certification: SSL certificate, secure payment badges
• □ Return guarantee: Clear refund policy

Step Four: Content Creation and Optimisation (Weekly)

9. High-Quality Content Creation Checklist

• □ Title optimisation: Include keywords, numbers, emotional words, promise value
• □ Catchy introduction: First 100 words highlight pain points, promise solutions
• □ Clear structure: H2/H3 hierarchy, table of contents navigation, short paragraphs
• □ Rich visuals: Images, charts, infographics, videos
• □ Data support: Cite authoritative research, statistics, cases
• □ Actionability: Specific steps, checklists, template downloads
• □ Internal links: 5-15 related links
• □ Clear CTA: Guide comments, shares, subscriptions, purchases

10. On-Page SEO Optimisation Points

• □ Title Tag: <60 characters, keyword front-loaded, unique appeal
• □ Meta Description: 150-160 characters, include keywords and call-to-action
• □ URL structure: Short, includes keywords, hyphen-separated
• □ H1 tag: Unique, includes primary keyword
• □ Image Alt: Descriptive, includes keywords (naturally)
• □ Keyword density: 1-2%, natural distribution, avoid stuffing
• □ LSI keywords: Synonyms, related terms, semantically associated words

Step Five: Link Building and Promotion (Ongoing)

11. White-Hat Link Building Strategy

• Guest blogging:
  • Target: Industry sites with DA>50
  • Frequency: 2-4 high-quality submissions monthly
  • Content: Exclusive insights, original data, in-depth analysis
  • Anchor text: Brand name为主，avoid over-optimisation
• Resource page links:
  • Search: "keyword" + resources / links / "useful sites"
  • Polite email recommending your quality content
  • Provide genuinely valuable resources
• Broken Link Building:
  • Use tools to find dead links (Check My Links plugin)
  • Find relevant alternative content (yours)
  • Notify webmaster and provide alternatives
• Digital PR:
  • Publish industry research reports
  • Respond to journalist queries (Help a Reporter Out)
  • Create newsworthy topics (controversial insights)