How to Become the Topical Authority of Your Niche

Tired of your website getting stuck on page 10 while others dominate the search results? Frustrated by inconsistent traffic and zero visibility?

What if you could position yourself as the go-to source in your niche, trusted by both readers and search engines alike?

This is the power of topical authority.

It's not just about churning out content; it's about becoming the ultimate expert, the one-stop shop where users find accurate, in-depth information and search engines reward your expertise with top rankings.

In this article, you’ll understand what topical authority is, its importance for your website, and specific steps you can take to build topical authority.

What is Topical Authority?

Topical authority refers to the expertise and credibility a website or content creator has on a specific subject.

Think of websites like Moz and Neil Patel for digital marketing, HubSpot for inbound marketing, and WebMD for healthcare. These websites become topical authorities by comprehensively covering relevant topics and consistently offering valuable insights.

Why Aim for Topical Authority?

Topical authority builds audience trust and improves your website's SEO performance.

When search engines view you as a topical authority, your content has a higher chance of ranking well in search results for relevant keywords, leading to increased organic traffic.

How to Build Topical Authority With SurgeGraph

Next, we’ll go over how you can build your topical authority using SurgeGraph.

1. Perform Keyword Research For Topic Discovery

Building topical authority starts with identifying core and related topics in your niche.

There are various ways you can explore to source for topics ideas. The first method would be the traditional keyword research method. You may use a keyword research tool like SurgeGraph’s to discover excellent keywords and vital keyword data.

Read this article for an in-depth guidance on how to perform keyword research: How to Effectively Conduct Keyword Research In 3 Steps

You can also analyze top-ranking pages to identify content opportunities by using a competitor analysis tool. The top pages typically have solid topical authority, so they offer a goldmine of topics you can use. You can also gain insights into what works well in your niche.

Other than that, there are also many effective tools that can help with topic discovery, such as Google search autocomplete and ChatGPT.

Google search autocomplete provides suggestions based on popular searches, giving you an idea of relevant topics.

ChatGPT can generate topic ideas and help expand your content creation possibilities.

2. Build Content Silos Through Keyword Mapping

Once you have a good set of keywords or topics, put them all together into a content silo through keyword mapping.

You can use SurgeGraph’s Keyword Mapping Tool to map keywords, visually organize your content, and plan internal linking strategies. Not only does this help with your topical authority building process, it also helps search engines understand the relevance and structure of your website.

Read this article to learn how to effectively do keyword mapping: How to Successfully Do Keyword Mapping

When building a content silo, you want to focus on identifying pillar pages and building topic clusters. It helps to categorize related topics together under broader umbrella terms.

For example, if you have a website about skincare, you may have categories like "skin types”, or “moisturizer”. Each category will contain subtopics that flow logically from the main theme.

3. Start Writing Content

Now that you have established a solid foundation through keyword research and keyword mapping, it is time to start writing content. Your focus should be writing content that reflects your expertise and establish your authority.

Of course, the best way to write content is by using SurgeGraph’s Longform AI. With automated content writing, you can publish content faster, cover more topic areas, and consequently solidify your topical authority faster.

For even faster content generation and exponential content volume, you can even use the Bulk Generation feature to generate and publish 50 articles in one go!

Continue reading the next steps for more detailed guidance in writing authoritative content using SurgeGraph.

4. Choose a Title That Demonstrates Your Expertise

Your title should clearly showcase your expertise and the depth of your knowledge on the subject matter. If you’re using SurgeGraph, you can use the title input field to specify a title before creating a document.

Here are some key elements of a good title:

1. Clearly captures the essence of your topic.

2. Sparks curiosity and interest, enticing users to click and read the content.

3. Uses language that conveys credibility and signals the content as a trusted source of information. For example: "expert," "ultimate guide," or "proven methods".

4. Specific and not generic, providing a clear indication of what readers can expect from the content.

5. Highlights the value or benefit readers will gain from reading the content, whether it's knowledge, solutions, or insights.

Here are some examples of poor vs. good titles:

 5. Specify Content Goals

Next, clearly specify content goals to define the purpose of your content and ensuring the AI adheres to this when writing your content.

Follow these guideline when inserting your content goals:

1. Define the topic or niche the content should cover.

2. Outline key subtopics that the content should address. This ensures comprehensive coverage of the subject matter and helps establish topical relevance.

3. Specify the purpose or objective – whether it's to inform, educate, entertain, or persuade – to provide clarity on the desired outcome.

4. Encourage the AI to clearly communicate your expertise and knowledge level on the topic.

Here's a content goal example that incorporates these elements:

"Generate a comprehensive article on sustainable gardening techniques for urban environments. Break down the main topic into subtopics such as container gardening, vertical gardening, and soil conservation methods. The objective is to inform and educate readers about sustainable gardening practices while showcasing expertise through practical tips, backed by credentials in horticulture and personal experiences cultivating urban gardens."

6. Generate A Solid Outline

The next step is generating a solid outline that sets up your content for success:

1. Word Count

Choose a realistic content length that is suitable based on the depth and complexity of your topic. If it’s a smaller topic, opt for the least amount of word count – choosing a higher word count will just dilute the message with fluff words and repetitive content. Refer to the top ranking pages through the SERP settings and try to achieve the same ballpark. 

2. SERP Settings

Just because a page ranks high, doesn’t mean it’s great. Hence, ensure to filter out irrelevant or low-quality sources to prevent skewed influences on your content. 

3. Point of View

Choosing the point of view depends on the nature of your content, your niche, and your target audience. Refer to tip #11 below for more guidance on choosing the most effective perspective.

4. Custom Outline or Generate a completely customized outline

This is optional, but you may also insert a custom outline (your own outline). Use this if you believe you can come up with a better set of outline and topics or you have fresh ideas not covered by top ranking pages.

 You can also check the “Generate a completely customized outline” box to get the AI the generate a fresh outline from scratch instead of relying on top ranking pages. Checking this box also ensures the AI will adhere strongly to your content goals.

 

5. Additional Information

For topical authority, you want to aim for content that is comprehensive and packed with information readers are seeking for.

Hence, consider enriching your outline with diverse elements like questions, introductions, tables of contents, talking points, contextual terms, conclusions, and FAQs.

7. Customize the Introduction Section

When editing the outline, customize the introduction section to create a compelling and authoritative introduction that captures the reader's interest and sets the stage for the rest of the content.

Of course, you don’t have to write it from scratch (you can if you want too, though). Simply list the key points, and the AI will take care of the writing for you.

Here are some elements of a strong introduction section:

1. Begins with an attention-grabbing hook or question that intrigues the reader and encourages them to continue reading.

2. Clearly articulates the relevance and importance of the topic to the audience, highlighting any current trends, challenges, or concerns.

3. Mentions the author’s credentials, experience, or expertise in the subject area to establish credibility and authority from the outset.

4. References authoritative sources, statistics, or studies to support key points and demonstrate thorough research on the topic.

 

8. Monitor the Topic Coverage Meter

Next, you can use the topic coverage meter to evaluate how comprehensive your content is compared to top-ranking pages. The tool assesses the topics covered in your content and compares them with those addressed by the top 10 pages. The more topics you cover, the higher your score will be.

To enhance your topic coverage score, you can add topics in the designated “Topic” tab. Because the suggested topics are extracted from top-ranking pages, incorporating them can boost your content’s relevance and depth, ultimately improving your topical authority.

9. Infuse Content with Unique Perspectives & Insights

If you check out top sites that are recognized as the topical authority of their niche, their content are typically full of thought leadership and personal insights or experience.

They offer fresh ideas and provide ample examples to illustrate their points. These elements are what makes these websites exude authoritativeness.

So the next step involves utilizing Context Infuser in the Outline Editing stage to incorporate unique perspectives and insights.

To use Context Infuser, in a specific heading section, locate the orange icon that looks like a mortarboard, click on it, and insert any extra information, example, or personal insights.

For reference, below are some examples of context that can be infused:

1. Incorporate your personalized knowledge, insights, or experiences that the AI does not cover or know about.

Example: “In my own garden, I've found that interplanting marigolds with my tomatoes not only adds a pop of color but also helps deter pests like aphids and nematodes, resulting in healthier plants and higher yields.”

2. Include information about relevant current trends, developments, or events.

Example: "Vertical gardening is becoming super popular especially among city folks because it's a clever way to grow veggies in tight city spots without taking up much space.”

3. Integrate real-world examples, case studies, or success stories.

Example: "One of my gardening friends recently shared how incorporating a diverse range of pollinator-friendly plants in her garden attracted beneficial insects like bees and butterflies, resulting in improved pollination and a bountiful harvest."

4. Emphasize your expertise, credentials, or relevant experience in the specific subject area.

Example: “I'm a certified permaculture designer with years of experience in organic gardening. I've helped hundreds of gardeners make landscapes that are resilient and eco-friendly, working well with nature.”

5. Provide practical tips, recommendations, or actionable steps that readers can implement.

Example: "To conserve water in your garden, consider installing a drip irrigation system or using soaker hoses to deliver water directly to plant roots, minimizing evaporation and ensuring efficient water usage, especially during hot summer months."

10. Include Data, Statistics, or Facts

Incorporating relevant data, statistics, and facts can significantly boost the credibility of your information. By integrating factual information sourced from reputable websites or studies into your content, you not only enhance its reliability but also strengthen its overall authority on the subject matter.

But you don’t have to purposely scour the web looking for facts. You can easily incorporate facts at the click of a button through SurgeGraph’s SERP Facts feature that serves you facts found on the top ranking pages.

11. Select the Optimal Tone, Point of View, Creativity, and Readability Levels

To achieve topical authority, it's essential to select settings that align with the tone, point of view, creativity, and readability level appropriate for your audience and content.

For instance, if you are creating content aimed at a professional audience in a formal industry such as finance or law, you want to opt for settings that exude professionalism.

On the other hand, if you are targeting a younger demographic or creating content related to lifestyle topics like fashion or travel blogs, go for more casual settings that capture their attention effectively.

Here are some recommended combinations of settings to consider based on specific content objectives:

Note on readability score: You may notice a higher readability score than initially selected after generating your content. While the AI strives to use your chosen level, the final score depends on various factors like the general readability of the top-ranking pages and the topic complexity.

12. Optimize For SEO

Having great content is awesome, but it’s useless if doesn’t show up on the SERP.

So the next step is optimizing your content for SEO by using SurgeGraph’s SEO features to ensure search engines understand your content better, increasing the chances of ranking higher in search results.

To optimize your on-page SEO effectively using SurgeGraph, start by looking at your SEO score analysis. SurgeGraph evaluates various important on-page SEO metrics and provides a score ranging from 0 to 100.

Aim for a well-optimized range rather than striving for a perfect score of 100.

To boost your SEO score, you can use the Auto Optimizer to automate the optimization tasks and get them done in minutes (instead of hours!).

The Auto Optimizer analyzes your content for optimization opportunities based on best SEO practices, and with your confirmation, will apply the improvements to your content instantly.

While the Auto Optimizer can automate some aspects of SEO optimization, you may need to manually address other areas not covered by this tool.

To assist you further, utilize the SEO suggestion checklist available under the "SEO" tab. The more items you check off from the list, the higher your SEO score will be.

Finally, make sure to craft a compelling meta description using SurgeGraph's Meta Description Generator feature. Your meta description serves as a brief preview of what readers can expect from your content and plays a vital role in enticing them to click through to read more.

Note: the meta description is not exported with your content to WordPress. You would need to manually copy paste the meta description into your WordPress.

13. Add Internal Links

Next, you want to add internal links in your content to ensure all of your content are strategically  interconnected. This demonstrates to search engines that your website has comprehensive coverage of a particular subject area. It also helps readers easily discover more information, further establishing your website as a topical authority.

Other than that, internal links distribute "link juice" throughout your website. When authoritative pages link to other relevant pages within your site, they pass on some of their authority. This helps to elevate the visibility and ranking potential of linked pages, reinforcing your authority on the linked topics.

You can easily add internal links by using the “Auto-optimize for custom terms and links” feature in SurgeGraph.

After clicking on the “Add Items” Button, you’ll see an input field where you can insert links that you want you to be automatically inserted into your content. Note that this feature works for both external and internal links. You can also specify the anchor texts for each URL.

14. Rinse & Repeat

Becoming the topical authority doesn’t happen overnight. It it a gradual process that requires perseverance and consistency from you. 

So make sure to apply the strategies covered in this article by continuously publishing content that cover diverse topics of your niche.

While this would have taken months (or even years!) to achieve with traditional writing, the whole process can be accelerated with SurgeGraph.

With SurgeGraph’s automated content writing, you can streamline the process of generating content across multiple topics efficiently.

Summary

The key to establishing topical authority is by consistently covering a wide range of topics within your niche. Not only will it help solidify you as go-to resource of information for your audience, it also boost your credibility and chances of ranking higher on search results.

Become the topical authority of your niche with SurgeGraph today: https://surgegraph.io

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Topical Authority?

Topical authority is an SEO concept that refers to a website's expertise and credibility on a specific subject matter. In simple words, you can think of it as being recognized as an industry leader in that particular topic.

2. Why is Topical Authority important for SEO?

Having strong topical authority signals to search engines that your website is a reliable source of information in a specific field. This can lead to higher rankings in search results and increased organic traffic.

3. How does SurgeGraph help in building Topical Authority?

SurgeGraph provides the necessary tools to help build topical authority. From keyword research and keyword mapping, to content writing and optimization, SurgeGraph offers a comprehensive approach to building topical authority effectively.

4. I have more questions about Topical Authority.

Write in to our support team at help@surgegraph.io.