9 Best Practices For Google Authorship

As a freelancer, blogger, or entrepreneur, writing content and getting it published is the lifeblood of your business. Not only do you want your content to be seen by as many people as possible, but you also want to establish yourself as an authority in your field. 

For example, if you’re a personal finance expert, you’ll want your name to be synonymous with best practices for paying down debt and saving for retirement. This will help ensure that readers will come back to your blog again and again. 

One way to do this is through Google Authorship: a tool that lets Google users easily find content from their favorite writers. In this post, we’ll show you how to set up authorship on Google so everyone can see the face behind the words.

Google Author Rank: Understanding Google Authorship
Takeaways
1. Implement rel=”author” markup on your content.
2. Ensure your Google+ profile is complete and accurate.
3. Use a recognizable headshot as your profile picture.
4. Write high-quality, authoritative content.
5. Consistently use the same byline for your content.
6. Link your content to your Google+ profile.
7. Interact on Google+ to build your author reputation.
8. Leverage Author Rank for better search visibility.
9. Regularly monitor your Authorship markup.

1. Use The Author’s Name Each Time They Post

In the post, you should use the author’s name in the headline. The reason this is important is that it helps Google to recognize the author and make them more prominent.

In the content, you should also use the author’s name at least once per paragraph. This will help ensure that Google understands who wrote what on your website and can identify them as an authority on your topic or subject matter.

When optimizing for search engines in general, it’s also a good idea to make sure you are including keywords in every page title (h1 tag).

Meta description and meta keyword tags so that we can rank well for those terms on both desktop and mobile devices especially if those are terms your audience uses frequently when searching for information related to topics covered by posts published within our blog!

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2. Add The Author’s Name To The Title

Adding the author’s name to the title of a post is an easy way to let Google know who authored it. When you do this, Google will be able to associate that author with your blog, which helps build your brand and can increase traffic to your site.

If you’re using WordPress, then you’ll need to head over here and add this code snippet into Custom Fields under “Title” (you’ll have to create a custom field first). Then just enter in their name as they’d like it displayed:

3. Choose A Photo For The Author And Use It On Their Profile Page

The photo you choose to represent your author should be professional and representative of the person who writes for your website. Make sure that it is at least 200 pixels wide, 100 pixels tall, 300 pixels wide, or 400 pixels tall.

You can upload photos directly from your computer using the “Add pictures” button in the toolkit tab. You may also choose to use an image from one of your social profiles if it fits with the rest of your site’s branding.

4. Make Sure That The Author Has A Google+ Account With A Good About Page

Google Authorship isn’t dead. It’s still important, and it will continue to be important in the future. You can still get some benefit from using it with your content marketing strategy. 

The most obvious way is by showing off the fact that you’re an expert on your topic and that you’ve written articles like these before, but there are other benefits too:

  • Readers find authors who write for their favorite publications more credible than those who don’t (source).
  • Readers expect authors of their favorite publications to have high standards for writing quality, so they’ll be more likely to read every word of your article when they see it’s from one of those sources (source).

If you’d like to know more about how Google Authorship works or learn how we can help you set up a system for achieving these benefits with your brand, please contact us today!

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5. Link Your Content To The Author Google+ Page With A Rel=Author Tag In Each Post

The rel=author tag allows you to link your content to your Google+ page. This helps people discover more of what they love from you and makes it easier for them to connect with you in other places on the web, like on Facebook or Twitter.

The rel=author tag should be placed at the bottom of the page and look something like this: Google Authorship. The link should be marked up as an HTML link so that it’s clear for search engines what it does (i.e., clicking on it will take users directly to their Google+ profile).

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6. Make Sure Your About Page Is Filled Out

Google Authorship is about the author, and your about page should reflect that. Your bio should be short, and sweet, and include links where readers can find more of your work.

Include a photo of the author: Google needs to see that it’s you posting these articles. A nice headshot will help make them feel connected with your brand.

Include a short bio: This could be as simple as “I’m an author who writes about social media.” Keep it succinct so it doesn’t distract from the main point that you’re an expert in this field!

Add links to social media profiles: Let readers follow you on other platforms so they’ll get notifications when new articles are published (and re-share them!). 

Also, consider adding links to online portfolios or blogs where they can dive deeper into specific topics related to yours the world needs more than one perspective!

7. Consider Linking To Your Authors’ Other Profiles Such As Linkedin And Twitter

Linking to your authors’ other profiles such as LinkedIn and Twitter is a good idea. You can do this by using the author’s name as the link text, but in most cases, you’ll want to make sure that these links go to their Google+ profile.

To do this, make sure that you are using the rel=author tag on all content that you publish on your site and use it correctly!

Backlinks are the building blocks of online authority and visibility. Dive into the comprehensive guide on building backlinks that can elevate your website’s presence and strengthen your authorship: The Definitive Guide to Building Backlinks.

8. Use Target Keywords In Your Title, Headings And Copy When Possible

Add a meta description to each of your pages. The meta description is the snippet of text that will show up below your link on search results pages, so it’s really important to make sure it’s compelling and relevant.

Optimize for mobile devices by using responsive design techniques (i.e., making sure your site looks good on all screen sizes). Google has stated that if you don’t optimize for mobile users, you can expect ranking penalties for both desktop and mobile versions of the page.

9. Create An About The Author Section At The End Of Each Post

You may have heard that Google Authorship is dead. But it’s alive and well and a good way to improve your search rankings. You just need to know how to use it properly.

Let’s start with one of the most important things: creating an About the Author section at the end of each post. This page should include links back to your Google+ profile, website, and other social media profiles.

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Conclusion

We hope this has helped you and given you some ideas. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, just leave a comment below or contact us. Thanks

Further Reading

Explore more resources to enhance your understanding and skills:

14 Tips to Make Google Authorship Work for You: Discover actionable tips to troubleshoot and optimize your Google Authorship implementation.

Best Practices for Google Authorship: Learn about the recommended practices for leveraging Google Authorship effectively and boosting your online presence.

Mastering Google Ranking: Tips for Higher Visibility: Dive into valuable insights on improving your website’s Google ranking and achieving better visibility.

FAQs

How does Google Authorship enhance my online presence?

Google Authorship associates your content with your online profile, increasing your credibility and visibility in search results.

What steps can I take if my Google Authorship is not showing up?

If you’re facing issues with Google Authorship display, consider reviewing your markup, ensuring proper linking, and verifying your profile setup.

Is Google Authorship still relevant in modern SEO?

While Google Authorship as a standalone feature has been deprecated, the concept of author authority and credibility remains important for SEO.

Can Google Authorship impact my content’s click-through rates?

Yes, having a clear authorship connection can lead to higher click-through rates as users recognize credible authors and engage with their content.

How can I optimize my content to rank higher on Google?

Optimizing content for higher Google rankings involves strategic keyword usage, high-quality backlinks, optimizing page speed, and creating valuable content.