{"id":148102,"date":"2022-10-19T00:02:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T05:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/?p=148102"},"modified":"2023-02-20T05:47:56","modified_gmt":"2023-02-20T10:47:56","slug":"topical-authority","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/topical-authority\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Topical Authority in SEO &amp; How to Build&nbsp;It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"intro-txt\">Imagine if your website (or clients) could rank for every single keyword related to a desired niche.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Enter topical authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now imagine that you could even achieve this with no link building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If some people in the SEO world are to be believed, this is achievable by anyone willing to write content about absolutely everything within a&nbsp;topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But realistically, you should still expect to build links and do a lot of other SEO activities. Topical authority is not a silver bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But it\u2019s still worth your&nbsp;time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know about topical authority and how to build it for your&nbsp;sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"intro-tok\" id=\"intro_tok\" style=\"display:none;\"><div class=\"intro-title\">Contents<\/div><a href=\"#\" class=\"expand-dots\"><span><\/span><span><\/span><span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"What is topical authority?\" data-section=\"what-is-topical-authority\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is topical authority?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Topical authority is an SEO concept where a website aims to become the go-to authority on one or more topics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Building topical authority is about helping search engines understand a website\u2019s topic so that it has better potential to rank for topically related keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say you want to rank articles around the topic of protein powder. Writing just the one article targeting \u201cprotein powder\u201d is probably not enough to compete in this&nbsp;niche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why? Because it\u2019s a massive topic and you can\u2019t possibly cover everything about it in one article.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To build topical authority, you need to cover everything related to protein, such&nbsp;as:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cwhat is protein\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cwhat does protein powder do\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cwhat is the best protein powder\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201chow to use protein powder\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201chow long does protein powder last\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201chow to use protein powder for weight loss\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Topical authority is achieved when a site fully covers a topic as a whole rather than focusing on just individual keywords.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve spent any time digging into the SERPs looking for SEO opportunities (and let\u2019s be honest, you have), you\u2019ve probably noticed sites with low <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/domain-rating\/\">Domain Rating (DR) scores<\/a> ranking well\u2014thanks to topical authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, check out the SERPs for the keyword \u201cmountain bike&nbsp;gifts\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1930\" height=\"1238\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/1-mountain-bike-gifts-serps.jpg\" alt=\"SERPs for the keyword &quot;mountain bike gifts&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-148115\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/1-mountain-bike-gifts-serps.jpg 1930w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/1-mountain-bike-gifts-serps-663x425.jpg 663w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/1-mountain-bike-gifts-serps-260x166.jpg 260w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/1-mountain-bike-gifts-serps-768x493.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/1-mountain-bike-gifts-serps-1536x985.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1930px) 100vw, 1930px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>At first glance, you\u2019d expect to see a big e-commerce store like Amazon (DR 96) at the top of the search results for a product-focused keyword like&nbsp;this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, a DR 23 site is ranked in second place, well above Amazon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why is&nbsp;this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Possibly because twowheeledwanderer.com is a site all about the topic of bikes. Whereas Amazon (although much stronger in terms of <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-metrics-to-track\/\">SEO metrics<\/a>) lacks the topical authority for its domain, as it sells more general stuff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Although it should also be noted that <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/search-intent\/\">search intent<\/a> plays a big part here too. Amazon is the only page on these SERPs ranking with a product category page, whereas the rest are articles\/gift guides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is just one example where a website with topical authority has outranked more established players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Why is topical authority important (for SEO)?\" data-section=\"why-is-topical-authority-important-for-seo\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is topical authority important (for&nbsp;SEO)?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Google, as a search engine, works with semantic associations. This means it has to associate a website with a topic in order to rank it as a relevant resource for keywords that are part of that&nbsp;topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a lot of content about a certain topic, this allows for more relevant internal links, which allow Google and users to find your content more easily which, in turn, may land you more natural backlinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you take away nothing else from the concept of building topical authority, take&nbsp;this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you create content pieces around the same subject and interlink them, your topical authority in the eyes of Google increases. This helps to show it that you\u2019re knowledgeable, aka an authority on the topic and a trusted source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we go any further, let\u2019s discuss the elephant in the&nbsp;room:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"How does topical authority work?\" data-section=\"how-does-topical-authority-work\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does topical authority work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Spoiler for this section: <strong>No one really knows.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With the introduction of Google\u2019s Hummingbird algorithm in 2013, topical authority became increasingly important.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It changed the ranking system for content so that it was determined by relevance to a user\u2019s search query.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prior to Hummingbird, keywords were the main emphasis of Google\u2019s search algorithms. In order for Google to understand what a user was looking for, keywords were&nbsp;used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Google simply couldn\u2019t understand the context behind user searches.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A (very) brief history of Google and authority<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Over the years, Google has moved more toward <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/semantic-search\/\">semantic search<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>2011<\/strong> \u2013 Google announces \u201cStructured Search Engine\u201d for structuring the information on the&nbsp;web.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2012<\/strong> \u2013 Google launches <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/google-knowledge-graph\/\">Knowledge Graph<\/a> for better understanding information about real-world entities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2013<\/strong> \u2013 Hummingbird algorithm ranks sites based on inbound links and keywords. Google can now rank content based on relevancy to a&nbsp;query.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2018<\/strong> \u2013 Google\u2019s Medic update means <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/glossary\/ymyl-pages\">YMYL content<\/a> needs to show expertise, authority, and trustworthiness (E-A-T) in order to&nbsp;rank.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>2019<\/strong> \u2013 BERT is launched. It is a model for better understanding relationships between words, concepts, and entities in human language.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>You can\u2019t really talk about topical authority without mentioning E-A-T at some&nbsp;point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">E-A-T (expertise, authority, and trustworthiness)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Google\u2019s emphasis on \u201cexpertise\u201d and \u201creputable websites\u201d can be seen in its <a href=\"https:\/\/static.googleusercontent.com\/media\/guidelines.raterhub.com\/en\/\/searchqualityevaluatorguidelines.pdf\">Quality Rater Guidelines<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Highest quality pages and websites have a very high level of expertise or are highly authoritative or highly trustworthy.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>This suggests that building a reputation for your website as a \u201csubject matter expert\u201d is likely to contribute to the \u201cauthority\u201d aspect in&nbsp;E-A-T.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While E-A-T is not a direct <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/google-ranking-factors\/\">ranking factor<\/a>, the concept helps to inform the ranking algorithms. So when Google views your website as an expert resource on a topic, it\u2019s more likely to rank your content higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learn more: <\/strong><a href=\"\/blog\/eeat-seo\/\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/eat-seo\/\"><em>What Is E-A-T? Why It\u2019s Important for&nbsp;SEO<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"How to measure topical authority\" data-section=\"how-to-measure-topical-authority\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to measure topical authority&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The lack of clarity around the whole concept of topical authority contributes to having no definitive way to measure it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sure, more rankings and more traffic may be a good sign. But they just as well may be a result of link building or other SEO activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thankfully, there are smart people like Kevin Indig, who devised <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kevin-indig.com\/how-to-measure-topical-authority\/\">a way of roughly calculating topical authority<\/a> using the <strong>Traffic share by domains<\/strong> report in Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keywords-explorer\">Keywords Explorer<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"821\" height=\"672\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2-traffic-share-by-domains-in-ahrefs.png\" alt=\"Traffic share by domains in Ahrefs\n\" class=\"wp-image-148116\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2-traffic-share-by-domains-in-ahrefs.png 821w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2-traffic-share-by-domains-in-ahrefs-519x425.png 519w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/2-traffic-share-by-domains-in-ahrefs-768x629.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 821px) 100vw, 821px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here\u2019s how to calculate the proxy to topical authority in Ahrefs:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Take a head term like \u201c<em>ecommerce<\/em>\u201d and enter it in <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keywords-explorer\">Keywords Explorer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to the <strong>Matching terms<\/strong> report and filter for a minimum volume of&nbsp;10<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Export all keywords and reupload them into Keywords Explorer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to <strong>Traffic share by domains<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Traffic share = topic share aka \u201ctopical authority\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"How to build topical authority in four steps\" data-section=\"how-to-build-topical-authority-in-four-steps\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to build topical authority in four&nbsp;steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>So how do you build topical authority for your&nbsp;site?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, you need to cover all the obvious <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/seo-basics\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-basics\/\">SEO basics<\/a>. Assuming you\u2019ve got the basics covered, building topical research is pretty straightforward.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In very simple terms, you need&nbsp;to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do keyword research to find all the talking points within a&nbsp;topic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Organize that data into topic clusters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Produce content that meets the search intent of those topic keywords.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Build relevant internal and external links to your content.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>At the risk of becoming an authority on the topic of <em>wasting time by rambling on about things no one really knows other than Google\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s crack on and learn how to build some topical authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Do topic-based keyword research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It should come as no surprise that the starting point for building topical authority is <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/keyword-research\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/keyword-research\/\">keyword research<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Identifying queries that users are searching for and topics of interest is the beginning of most SEO projects, and building topical authority is no different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To be considered a \u201ctopical authority\u201d by Google, you need to find and write about all the talking points within a&nbsp;topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"sidenote\"><div class=\"sidenote-title\">Sidenote.<\/div> Google\u2019s main goal is to give people the most relevant answers to their search queries as quickly as possible. Your focus should be the same. Instead of thinking about an article as focused on a single keyword, think of them in terms of topics and subtopics. You\u2019ll want to try and cover everything in your content that Google expects to&nbsp;see.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Choosing a good <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seed-keywords\/\">seed keyword<\/a> is the foundation of your topical research.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Identifying a seed term that is relevant to your topic is key. Here\u2019s how to approach picking a good seed keyword for doing topical keyword research:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-159\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-159 tablepress-responsive tablepress-ahrefs-width-720px\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1 odd\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Topic<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Good seed keywords<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Bad seed keywords<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">coffee roasting process<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">coffee roasting<br>\ncoffee roasters<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">coffee <br>\nroasting<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">taking care of&nbsp;dogs<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">dog care<br>\ndog health<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">animals<br>\ndogs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4 even\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">all kinds of mountain biking<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">mountain bikes<br>\nmountain bikers<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">bicycles<br>\nbikes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5 odd\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><b>Why are they good\/bad?<\/b><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Clearly focus on the&nbsp;topic<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Too vague\/specific; potential for lots of irrelevant KWs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-159 from cache -->\n\n\n\n<p>Struggling to think of useful seed&nbsp;terms?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Try and pick seed keywords that represent an entity in <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/google-knowledge-graph\/\">Google\u2019s Knowledge Graph<\/a>. Entities in SEO are a complex subject and far beyond the scope of this article and my soft monkey brain to tackle right&nbsp;now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So for the purpose of speeding up seed keyword selection, I\u2019ll use entities straight from the horse\u2019s mouth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to Google Images<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Drop in my broad&nbsp;topic&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check out the image filters (these are the entities that Google associates with the&nbsp;topic)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"572\" height=\"202\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/3-entities-in-google-images-1.png\" alt=\"Entities in Google Images\n\" class=\"wp-image-148121\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have selected a seed keyword, it\u2019s time to expand the&nbsp;list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, let\u2019s say you want to build topical authority around the topic \u201cproject management software.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll want to create content around keywords like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\u201cproject management software benefits\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cproject management software for students\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cproject management software definition and examples\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cbest project management software\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\u201cproject management software for business\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To get to this point is relatively simple, although it can be time consuming.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Drop a broad seed term in <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keywords-explorer\">Keywords Explorer<\/a>. The overview acts as a good starting point for understanding the&nbsp;topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Continuing with the topic of \u201cproject management,\u201d here\u2019s what you want to pay attention to:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top-ranking result<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>As the name suggests, this is the top-ranking page for the target keyword:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1008\" height=\"371\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/4-top-ranking-page-metrics-for-target-keyword.png\" alt=\"Top-ranking page metrics for target keyword in Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer\n\" class=\"wp-image-148119\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/4-top-ranking-page-metrics-for-target-keyword.png 1008w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/4-top-ranking-page-metrics-for-target-keyword-680x250.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/4-top-ranking-page-metrics-for-target-keyword-768x283.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1008px) 100vw, 1008px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a great starting point for research. At a glance, you can see how many keywords this single page is ranking for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"344\" height=\"398\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/5-traffic-potential-for-ranking-page.png\" alt=\"Traffic potential in Ahrefs\n\" class=\"wp-image-148123\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Given that this is the top-ranking result, the keywords here are usually key subtopics you\u2019ll want to cover\u2014or at least provide an indication of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keyword ideas and questions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Still on the \u201cOverview\u201d panel, you can quickly see the top questions being asked around the&nbsp;topic:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"734\" height=\"309\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/6-keyword-ideas-in-ahrefs.png\" alt=\"Keyword ideas in Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer\n\" class=\"wp-image-148125\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/6-keyword-ideas-in-ahrefs.png 734w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/6-keyword-ideas-in-ahrefs-680x286.png 680w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 734px) 100vw, 734px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SERPs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the best places to get more SEO data is on the SERPs, and topical keyword research is no different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1072\" height=\"477\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/7-serps-overview-in-ahrefs.png\" alt=\"Overview of the SERPs in Ahrefs\n\" class=\"wp-image-148127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/7-serps-overview-in-ahrefs.png 1072w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/7-serps-overview-in-ahrefs-680x303.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/7-serps-overview-in-ahrefs-768x342.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1072px) 100vw, 1072px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>What I like to do here is expand the list to show the top 100 ranking pages (click <strong>Show more<\/strong>) and then cherry-pick low-DR sites that are ranking for a good number of keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This site stood out to me because it is DR 32 with a little over 200 keywords and ranking in a sea of DR 70+&nbsp;sites.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"925\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/8-low-dr-site-ranking-in-serps.png\" alt=\"Example of a site with a lower Domain Rating on the SERPs\n\" class=\"wp-image-148128\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/8-low-dr-site-ranking-in-serps.png 925w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/8-low-dr-site-ranking-in-serps-680x110.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/8-low-dr-site-ranking-in-serps-768x125.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 925px) 100vw, 925px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a good sign that this site has a good amount of topical authority for me to leverage in my own research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Traffic share by domains<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s also worth hopping over into the <strong>Traffic share by domains<\/strong> report. This report shows the domains that get the most organic traffic based on your seed keyword input:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"464\" height=\"433\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/9-traffic-share-by-domains-from-seed-keyword.png\" alt=\"Traffic share by domains from a seed keyword\n\" class=\"wp-image-148130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/9-traffic-share-by-domains-from-seed-keyword.png 464w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/9-traffic-share-by-domains-from-seed-keyword-455x425.png 455w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 464px) 100vw, 464px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This is useful for seeing who are your major competitors, which you can use as sources of more keywords. Cherry-pick domains and drop them into the <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/content-gap\">Content Gap tool<\/a> to uncover more keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how to uncover more terms from competing domains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Run your site through <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/site-explorer\">Site Explorer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to the <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/content-gap\">Content Gap&nbsp;tool<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pick suitable domains from the <strong>Traffic share by domains<\/strong> report<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apply some filters (if you&nbsp;want)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>My preference: filter by keyword\u2014in this example, \u201cproject management\u201d\u2014and some minimum volume and KD scores&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"954\" height=\"511\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/10-content-gap-for-project-management-keywords.png\" alt=\"Ahrefs' Content Gap tool showing results around the topic of &quot;project management&quot;\n\" class=\"wp-image-148131\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/10-content-gap-for-project-management-keywords.png 954w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/10-content-gap-for-project-management-keywords-680x364.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/10-content-gap-for-project-management-keywords-768x411.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 954px) 100vw, 954px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you have a list of keywords for topics (that get searched), it\u2019s time to make sense of the keyword data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Create topic clusters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/topic-clusters\/\">Topic clusters<\/a> are interlinked pages about the same subject. The purpose of them is to group relevant content together so that it is easier to find by both users and Google.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Armed with your keyword research, you\u2019ll want to organize your list of terms into clusters based on search intent while also considering traffic potential.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your topics should have good traffic potential and typically be informational in intent, like&nbsp;this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1005\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/11-keyword-overview-for-topics.png\" alt=\"Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer overview for subtopics\n\" class=\"wp-image-148133\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/11-keyword-overview-for-topics.png 1005w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/11-keyword-overview-for-topics-680x254.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/11-keyword-overview-for-topics-768x287.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1005px) 100vw, 1005px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Pick a topic for your cluster (or <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/pillar-page-examples\/\">pillar page<\/a>) that is relevant for your site to target and has enough depth that you will have subtopics to explore.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, you\u2019ll want to pick the most appropriate content format to create for the cluster:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Guides <\/strong>\u2013 An evergreen content format that fully covers a specific topic.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What is X<\/strong> \u2013 A deep-dive definition or answer to a question.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>How to X <\/strong>\u2013 A step-by-step tutorial detailing how to do a specific task.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These pages should be well structured with enough content to be useful as stand-alone articles but also link to more in-depth articles within the&nbsp;topic.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have your topic pillar nailed down, you\u2019ll want to go \u201cmore&nbsp;niche.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just taking a quick look at the \u201chow to get into project management\u201d example, we can see more potential subtopics to target:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"614\" height=\"389\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/12-keyword-explorer-for-subtopics.png\" alt=\"Example keywords for doing topic-based keyword research in Ahrefs\n\" class=\"wp-image-148135\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/12-keyword-explorer-for-subtopics.png 614w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/12-keyword-explorer-for-subtopics-260x166.png 260w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>These pages should be fairly comprehensive and link to other topic pages and cluster content.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Linking between your pages is vital for topical authority. Doing so helps build a semantic relationship between those URLs, telling Google that these pages are topically related.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Write authority content<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now it\u2019s time to take your keyword research and topic clusters and <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/content-creation\/\">create some content<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The way to establish topical authority that most people are familiar with is by creating in-depth content.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start with your main pillar content pieces. Generally, you will want to have a pillar page for every type of product or service you provide or the main area of the subject you want to be seen as an authority on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These focus topics should be broad enough that they have subcategories to target but also specific enough that a searcher landing on your page will find them relevant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\">beginner\u2019s guide to SEO<\/a> does a good job of acting as an overview of the topic, and then directing users to more specific parts of the topic (in the stand-alone chapters):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"896\" height=\"737\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/13-beginners-guide-to-seo-example.png\" alt=\"Example of a topic overview page: Beginner's Guide to SEO by Ahrefs\n\" class=\"wp-image-148137\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/13-beginners-guide-to-seo-example.png 896w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/13-beginners-guide-to-seo-example-517x425.png 517w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/13-beginners-guide-to-seo-example-768x632.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 896px) 100vw, 896px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, you\u2019ll need to write supporting content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of writing about a topic in general, be more specific. Supporting pages should match user intent and are where you can gain more content depth.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll typically find that these pages are the ones where you will target <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/long-tail-keywords\/\">long-tail keywords<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For each piece of content you create to help build your topical authority, you\u2019ll want&nbsp;to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Write quality content that aligns with your topic and what your audience actually wants to&nbsp;read.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep E-A-T in&nbsp;mind.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cover as many topics and subtopics as you&nbsp;can.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Match search intent (e.g., write a how-to guide for the [how to X] keywords, a list of benefits for [benefits of X],&nbsp;etc.).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Internally link to different relevant topics.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Continually update your content as it&nbsp;ages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Build relevant links<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Even the best content <em>sometimes<\/em> needs links to rank better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/link-building\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/link-building\/\">link building<\/a> for topical authority, you need to make sure that the websites that link to you are relevant.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1310\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/14-relevant-pages-cast-a-stronger-vote.png\" alt=\"Link building for topical authority\u2014relevant pages cast a stronger vote\n\" class=\"wp-image-148139\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/14-relevant-pages-cast-a-stronger-vote.png 1800w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/14-relevant-pages-cast-a-stronger-vote-584x425.png 584w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/14-relevant-pages-cast-a-stronger-vote-768x559.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/14-relevant-pages-cast-a-stronger-vote-1536x1118.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If you run a blog about coffee, getting a link from another bigger coffee website in your niche will be perfect. Whereas getting a link from a finance blog will be less relevant and, therefore, carry less weight. Relevance is the&nbsp;key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are a few topical backlink tactics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/guest-blogging\/\"><strong>Guest blogging<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Create useful content for topically related websites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/skyscraper-technique\/\"><strong>Skyscraper Technique<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Create the go-to resource on the&nbsp;topic.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.searchenginejournal.com\/link-building-guide\/ego-bait-content\/\"><strong>Ego bait<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Mention key players in your niche and reach out to&nbsp;them.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/haro-link-building\/\"><strong>HARO<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Get \u201cexpert quotes\u201d for your article.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, it\u2019s not just links on external sites you should be building but <em>internal links<\/em> on your own site too. In fact, these are pivotal for building topical authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Google uses internal links to help discover new content (<a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/docs\/advanced\/guidelines\/how-search-works?hl=en&amp;visit_id=637979855633134457-2640808939&amp;rd=1\">source<\/a>):<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Some pages are known because Google has already crawled them before. Other pages are discovered when Google follows a link from a known page to a new&nbsp;page.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Each pillar page should be treated as a hub for that topic. <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/internal-links-for-seo\/\">Use internal linking<\/a> to connect it to every piece of supporting content.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For instance, using the \u201cmountain bike\u201d example again, all your pages on tires, helmets, tools, etc., should link back to your pillar page on mountain bike accessories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still have questions about building topical authority? You\u2019ll like the final section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Topical authority FAQs\" data-section=\"topical-authority-faqs\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Topical authority FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are answers to a few common questions you may have about topical authority:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is topical relevance?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Topical relevance is the relevance that the content on a website has in relation to a particular topic. Search engines use it to determine how relevant a page is to a user\u2019s search query based on factors like content, backlinks, and keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is semantic SEO?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Semantic SEO is the process of building more meaning and topical depth with content. This is used by search engines to return the most relevant search results. Semantic search focuses on the meaning behind search queries instead of traditional keyword matching.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learn more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/semantic-search\/\"><em>What Is Semantic Search? How It Impacts SEO<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is website authority?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Website authority is a metric created by SEO tool providers to measure the strength of a site\u2019s backlink profile compared to other sites in their&nbsp;index.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learn more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-increase-website-authority\/\"><em>How to Increase Website Authority (Domain Rating)<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are there any data-backed topical authority case studies?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m glad you&nbsp;asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Topical authority is a massive subject. There\u2019s a lot of work out there done by people smarter than me in this field. Here are some case studies you should check&nbsp;out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.holisticseo.digital\/theoretical-seo\/topical-authority\/\">Topical Authority and Coverage<\/a> (full case&nbsp;study)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oncrawl.com\/technical-seo\/importance-topical-authority-semantic-seo\/\">Importance of Topical Authority: A Semantic SEO Case Study<\/a> (condensed case&nbsp;study)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/diggitymarketing.com\/marketing-services-seo-case-study\/\">Growing Monthly Website Traffic By 3012%<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although it can be a powerful tool for ranking on Google, topical authority is not a magic fix for all of your SEO&nbsp;needs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It requires a lot of work and can take some time to kick in, but it\u2019s worth pursuing if you want to rank for all the keywords in your&nbsp;niche.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just keep this in mind and you can\u2019t go&nbsp;wrong:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Write about everything your audience wants to know\u2014even better if the keywords align with your product\/service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Got a question on topical authority? <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jsvxc\">Tweet me<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Enter topical authority. Now imagine that you could even achieve this with no link building. If some people in the SEO world are to be believed, this is achievable by anyone willing to write content about absolutely everything within a&nbsp;topic.<span class=\"ellipsis\">\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\">Read more \u203a<\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140,"featured_media":148142,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,335],"tags":[],"coauthors":[391],"class_list":["post-148102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-content-marketing","category-general-seo","odd"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Is Topical Authority in SEO &amp; How to Build It<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Topical authority is an SEO concept where a site aims to be the go-to authority on one or more topics. 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