E-E-A-T (Affiliate Content)

Google's content quality evaluation framework — Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness — as applied specifically to affiliate content. Google applies heightened E-E-A-T scrutiny to affiliate content because the financial incentive to recommend products could bias recommendations. High E-E-A-T affiliate content signals: Experience: first-hand use of recommended products (author bought and used the product, not just reviewed spec sheets); specific, verifiable details (test conditions, duration of use, specific measurements); real photos from actual use, not manufacturer-supplied images. Expertise: author credentials in the product category (a registered dietitian reviewing nutrition supplements; a licensed electrician reviewing smart home products); depth of product knowledge demonstrated in the review. Authoritativeness: site-level reputation in the category (built through consistent, high-quality coverage of the niche over time); citations from authoritative external sources; coverage of the topic beyond just affiliate-linked products. Trustworthiness: clear affiliate disclosure; honest assessment of both strengths and weaknesses; updating content when information becomes outdated; transparency about the author's identity and qualifications. Practical implication: affiliate publishers who demonstrate genuine personal experience (E), category expertise (E), site authority (A), and honest disclosure (T) consistently outrank affiliate sites that produce generic promotional content with no demonstrated first-hand knowledge.