Topical authority
Definition
Topical authority is the depth and consistency with which a site and its wider web presence cover a subject, so that systems treat it as a reliable source on that topic.
Why it matters
Answers on a topic tend to draw on sources that cover it thoroughly and accurately. Thin, scattered coverage gives systems little to rely on.
Example
A brand publishes a connected set of guides, comparisons and definitions on one topic, each linking to the others.
Related terms
Concepts
Entity
An entity is a distinct thing that search and AI systems recognise, such as a company, product or person, and can link facts to.
Optimization
Answer engine optimization (AEO)
Answer engine optimization is the practice of structuring content so that search engines and AI assistants can extract a direct, accurate answer from it.
Sources
Source gap
A source gap is a domain or page that AI answers cite repeatedly for a topic but that does not mention or link to a brand.
What is Topical authority?
Topical authority is the depth and consistency with which a site and its wider web presence cover a subject, so that systems treat it as a reliable source on that topic.
Why does topical authority matter?
Answers on a topic tend to draw on sources that cover it thoroughly and accurately. Thin, scattered coverage gives systems little to rely on.
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