Topical Authority Audit — Phase 8

Executive Summary

Topical authority is the long-term competitive moat in local SEO and the primary determinant of AI visibility in 2025–2026. Google's Helpful Content System (integrated March 2024) explicitly rewards depth over breadth — sites that comprehensively cover a narrow topic cluster outrank sites that superficially cover many topics. The measurable threshold: 25+ articles in a cluster begins accumulating topical authority signals in GSC (SEMrush 2024). AI Overviews cite topically authoritative brands 2–3× more than generalist sites. The 58% AIO surge across 9 industries in early 2026 (Amsive) is directly correlated with businesses that achieved complete cluster coverage vs. those with fragmented content. For local businesses, topical authority on 3–5 core service clusters is more valuable than shallow coverage of 15+ topics.

2025–2026 topical authority benchmarks:

• Pillar pages: minimum 3,000 words; competitive 5,000–10,000 words; Surfer Score ≥80; Clearscope A-
• Cluster pages: minimum 1,500 words; target 2,000–3,000 words; Surfer Score ≥70; Clearscope B+
• Article threshold per cluster: 25+ = authority signal building; 50+ = competitive; 100+ = dominant
• Minimum viable cluster for AIO eligibility: 1 pillar + 10–15 cluster pages
• Content decay: >20% YoY click decline = refresh; >50% = rewrite or consolidate + 301
• ChatGPT freshness: 30-day update = 76.4% citation rate; AI Overviews prefer content <3–6 months old
• AIO topical citation: 58% AIO surge for businesses with full cluster coverage (Amsive early 2026)
• Clustered content performance: 30% more organic traffic; holds rankings 2.5× longer (HireGrowth 2025)
• SEMrush Topical Authority score: ≥70 in core topic = competitive; ≥85 = market leader
• First ranking improvements: 2–3 months after cluster launch; significant gains: 6–12 months
• December 2025 Core Update: focused on E-E-A-T depth; June 2025 update targeted link authority — combined enforcement is most aggressive post-HCU cycle

Local business cluster size benchmarks:

Business Type	Minimum Cluster	Growth Target	Notes
Single-location local	10–15 pages	25–30 in 12 months	Service + location pillar structure
Multi-location regional	1 pillar + 5–8 pages/location	25+ pages per core location	Unique content per location required
Enterprise/national	25+ pages per topic cluster	50–100+ per cluster	No duplicate SAP content (HCU risk)

Numbered Action Plan:

Immediate (Week 1)

1. Run Ahrefs Content Gap vs. top 3 competitors — Filter for keywords competitors rank for in top 10 that client doesn't. Export all, sort by traffic value. Identify top 20 cluster gaps to fill first. Effort: 2 hrs.
2. Audit existing pillar pages — Check each pillar page: word count vs. 3,000 minimum, Surfer Score vs. 80 target, last updated date vs. 90-day freshness window. Flag any failing ≥2 criteria as critical refresh. Effort: 1 hr.
3. Fix orphaned cluster pages — Run site_crawler.py → find pages with <3 inbound internal links that should be cluster pages → add links from pillar page and 2 related cluster pages. Effort: 15 min/page. Priority: 20 (5×4).
4. Add FAQPage schema to all cluster pages — 5 FAQ minimum per page, answers ≤50 words. AIO citation 3.2× higher with FAQPage. Effort: 30 min/page.
5. Refresh top content decay pages (>20% YoY decline) — Update statistics, add current year examples, add FAQPage schema, update publish date. Even minor updates reset ChatGPT 30-day freshness. Effort: 1–2 hrs/page.

Short-Term (Month 1)

6. Expand thin pillar pages — Pillar pages <3,000 words: add Surfer-recommended NLP entities, expand subtopic sections, add HowTo schema for process steps, build to 3,000–4,500 words. Effort: 6–10 hrs/pillar.
7. Build next 5 cluster pages — For highest-gap cluster topic identified in step 1: create 1,500-word pages targeting one subtopic each. Link each back to pillar. Effort: 3–5 hrs/page.
8. Add expert author bylines — Every piece of topic content should have a named author with credentials, linked author page, and Person schema. E-E-A-T author entity = measurable trust signal. Effort: 1–2 hrs setup.
9. Add knowsAbout to Organization schema — List 5–7 specific topic entities the business is authoritative on. Directly signals topical domain expertise to Google NLP. Effort: 15 min.
10. Earn topical editorial links — Pitch 2 local publications with topic-specific expert commentary. Each editorial mention from an authority source strengthens topical entity co-citation. Effort: 4–8 hrs/pitch.

---

Step 1: Read Project Context

Read {AUDIT_DIR}/intake-data.md — business name, URL, services, location. Read {AUDIT_DIR}/topical-gaps.md — topical coverage map and identified gaps. Read {AUDIT_DIR}/competitor-profiles.md — competitor authority signals. Read {AUDIT_DIR}/content-inventory.md — content quality baseline.

Tools for this phase:

Tool	Purpose	Cost
Ahrefs	Topical authority via Domain Rating, organic traffic per topic cluster, content gap vs. competitors	Paid
SEMrush	Topic Research, Topical Authority score (0–100 per domain per topic), Keyword Gap	Paid
Surfer SEO	Content Score per page (target: 80+ for pillar, 70+ for cluster), NLP entity coverage	Paid
Clearscope	Content grade per page (target: A- for pillar, B+ for cluster), entity density analysis	Paid
MarketMuse	Topic model completeness, content brief generation, competitive content gap	Paid
Google Search Console	Which topics drive clicks — existing authority signals (free, requires access)	Free
AlsoAsked.com	PAA topic mapping — identify question clusters per topic pillar	Freemium
Google Trends	Topic momentum — rising vs. declining topics in the niche	Free

2025–2026 Topical Authority Context:

• Google's AI Overviews (AIO) cite topically authoritative brands 2–3× more than generalist sites
• Businesses that publish a minimum of 25 articles on a topic cluster begin accumulating topical authority signals measurable in GSC (early 2026 observation)
• 58% AI Overview surge across 9 industries in early 2026 — topical authority now directly determines AI citation rate
• ChatGPT cites content updated within last 30 days at 76.4% vs. 23.6% for older content — freshness is a citation factor
• Content decay: >20% YoY decline in clicks or impressions on a page signals topical authority loss on that cluster

---

Section 1: Topical Authority Score (Per Core Topic)

For each main service/topic the business should own, score 5 dimensions:

Scoring Dimensions

Dimension	1 (Weak)	5 (Leader)	Assessment Method
Depth	Surface 500-word overview	3,000+ word expert pillar with unique data/case studies	Screaming Frog word count + manual quality check
Breadth	<5 subtopics covered	20+ subtopics with dedicated pages	Ahrefs → Site Explorer → Organic Keywords → filter by topic
Freshness	Last updated 2+ years ago	Updated within 90 days, current-year stats	GSC → Performance → filter by page, check impressions trend
Quality	Generic AI-generated content	Unique expert insights, original data, proprietary methods	Manual review vs. Surfer Content Score ≥80
Recognition	No featured snippets or PAA	Owns 5+ snippets, cited in AIO, topic entity in Knowledge Panel	Ahrefs → SERP Features filter; manual AIO search

Authority Matrix

Core Topic	Depth /10	Breadth /10	Freshness /10	Quality /10	Recognition /10	Total /50	Grade
[service 1]
[service 2]
[local topic]

Grade: 45–50 = A (Market Leader) | 35–44 = B (Competitive) | 25–34 = C (Developing) | <25 = D/F (Weak)

Article count per cluster (2025 threshold):

Cluster	Articles Published	Status
[topic]	[X]	<25 = below threshold / 25–50 = building / 50+ = authority

---

Section 2: Content Depth Standards (2025 Benchmarks)

Page Type	Minimum Words	Surfer Target Score	Clearscope Grade	Internal Links
Pillar page	3,000	80+	A- or higher	8–15 cluster links out
Cluster page	1,500	70+	B+	1 pillar + 3–5 cluster links
Supporting page	900	65+	B	1 cluster or pillar link
FAQ entry	250	N/A	N/A	1 service/pillar link

Pages failing these thresholds are topical authority liabilities — they signal low expertise to Google's Helpful Content System.

Content decay detection (using GSC):

• Export GSC Performance data → compare this 90 days vs. same period last year
• Flag any page with >20% YoY decline in clicks or impressions → add to refresh queue
• Flag any page with >50% YoY decline → prioritize for full rewrite or consolidation

---

Section 3: Competitor Authority Comparison

Use Ahrefs (Domain Rating + organic traffic per cluster) and SEMrush Topical Authority score:

Topic	Client Pages	Client TA Score	Comp 1 Pages	Comp 1 TA	Comp 2 Pages	Comp 2 TA	Gap	Priority
[topic 1]								H/M/L
[topic 2]								H/M/L

Authority Leader Analysis:

• Who leads for each topic? What content volume/depth gives them the edge?
• Use Ahrefs Content Gap: enter client domain vs. top 2 competitors → identify which topic clusters competitors rank for that client doesn't
• What is the page-count gap to match the leader per cluster?
• Which competitor has the highest Surfer Content Score on their pillar pages?

Topical Dominance Opportunities: Topics where competitors have only 1–3 thin pages that client could dominate with a strong cluster:

Topic	Competitor Coverage	Client Coverage	Opportunity Score
[topic]	[X thin pages]	[Y pages]	High/Med/Low

---

Section 4: Authority Signals Assessment

Content Authority Signals (E-E-A-T)

• Expert author bylines with credentials on all topic-relevant content?
• Author pages: professional background, certifications, years of experience?
• Original research, local data, or client case studies published?
• Content citing authoritative sources (government, research, trade associations)?
• Unique perspectives not found elsewhere (proprietary methods, real project outcomes)?
• Real-world examples from actual client work (photos, outcomes, specifics)?

Structural Authority Signals

• Complete topic clusters: pillar + cluster + supporting content (25+ articles per main cluster)?
• Internal links consistently reinforcing topic hierarchy (all cluster pages link to pillar)?
• All related subtopics covered — no significant gaps vs. AlsoAsked/PAA?
• Content comprehensiveness exceeds top competitor on Surfer side-by-side comparison?

AI Visibility Authority Signals (2025 Critical)

• AIO appears for core topic queries? (best [service] in [city] — does client appear?)
• ChatGPT/Perplexity mentions client for core topic queries?
• Content updated within last 30 days on key pillar pages (freshness = AI citation factor)?
• FAQPage schema on all pillar pages (primary AIO trigger)?
• HowTo schema on service/tutorial pages?

Recognition Authority Signals

• Featured snippets owned for core topic keywords? (Check Ahrefs → SERP Features)
• PAA boxes answered by site content? (Use AlsoAsked.com to map PAA questions)
• AI Overviews citing site for core topics? (Manual test: search 5 core queries)
• Google Knowledge Graph associating brand with topics?

External Authority Signals

• Cited by other authoritative sites in the niche (editorial links, not paid)?
• Quoted in local news or industry publications?
• Industry association membership + content contribution?
• Speaking mentions or expert features in media?

---

Section 5: Knowledge Graph Topic Association

Does Google associate this business with its core topics?

Tests to Run

1. Search [business name] → does Knowledge Panel show core topics/services?
2. Search [business name] [core topic] → does Google show topic association in results?
3. Search [core topic] [city] → does Knowledge Panel or AIO mention this business?
4. Ask ChatGPT: Who are the top [service] providers in [city]? → is business mentioned?

Measuring Topical Authority (Tool Methods)

Ahrefs — Traffic Share Proxy (manual formula):

Topical Authority Proxy = Traffic Share for Target Topic ÷ Total Traffic from Topic Keywords

• Ahrefs → Keyword Explorer → enter seed keyword → "Traffic Share by Domains" → compare your share vs. top 3 competitors
• Use Competing Domains report to find true topical competitors (not just DR-similar sites)
• Content Gap: Competitive Analysis → Content Gap → export → cluster by topic → gaps where all competitors rank but you don't = highest-priority content needs

SEMrush — Topical Authority Score:

• Keyword Gap → sort by "Missing" (full cluster gaps) vs. "Weak" (depth gaps, positions 11–50)
• Apply Intent filter: "Informational" = missing educational content; "Commercial" = missing comparison content
• Focus: KD ≤40 + Volume ≥100/month = quick-win cluster gaps
• AI Visibility Toolkit: identify LLM prompts where competitors are cited but client isn't

Knowledge Graph / Entity Authority:

• Create or claim Wikidata Q-ID entry — directly recognized by Google Knowledge Graph (54 billion+ entities indexed)
• Wikidata Q-ID URL → add to sameAs in Organization schema → directly feeds entity resolution
• NAP citation consistency across Yelp, BBB, industry associations, Chamber of Commerce → entity authority signal
• Co-citation pattern: earn mentions on authoritative third-party domains with consistent entity terminology

Building Topic Association (Sequence)

1. Publish minimum 25 articles on target topic cluster (threshold for authority accumulation)
2. Create or claim Wikidata entry with Q-ID → add Q-ID URL to Organization schema sameAs
3. Add Schema.org knowsAbout to Organization schema with 5–7 core topic entities
4. Earn editorial links from authoritative sites mentioning business in topic context
5. Submit updated sitemap after publishing cluster content
6. Ensure all cluster pages link to pillar with descriptive anchor text (varied, not exact-match on all — avoid repetitive anchor text to same page)

---

Section 6: Content Quality Standard (2025–2026)

For topical authority in 2025–2026, content must clear this bar:

• ✅ Written or reviewed by a genuine subject matter expert (named, credentialed)
• ✅ Contains specific, verifiable details competitors don't mention
• ✅ Includes original data, local examples, or proprietary perspectives
• ✅ Structured for both human readers and AI extraction (H2 hierarchy, FAQ, tables)
• ✅ Updated within 90 days — current-year statistics cited
• ✅ Demonstrates experience: real photos, case outcomes, specific project details
• ✅ Surfer Content Score ≥70 (cluster) or ≥80 (pillar)
• ❌ NOT bulk AI-generated without expert review (Helpful Content penalty risk)
• ❌ NOT generic "Here are 5 tips..." without depth and specifics
• ❌ NOT padded with filler to hit word count without adding information value
• ❌ NOT a content page with >20% YoY traffic decline left unrefreshed

---

Section 7: Authority Building Roadmap

Priority Matrix (Impact × Feasibility)

Gap Type	Impact (1–5)	Feasibility (1–5)	Priority Score	Effort
Thin pillar page (<1,500 words) → expand to 3,000+	5	4	20	6–10 hrs
Cluster below 25-article threshold	5	3	15	4 hrs/article
Content decay: page losing >20% YoY clicks	4	4	16	3–5 hrs/page
Missing FAQPage schema on pillars	4	5	20	30 min/page
Expert author bylines missing	4	5	20	1–2 hrs/page
Orphaned cluster pages (no link to pillar)	4	5	20	15 min/page
Low Surfer Content Score (<65)	4	4	16	2–4 hrs/page
AIO not appearing for core queries	5	3	15	4–8 hrs (cluster expansion)

Immediate Priority (Next 30 Days)

1. Add FAQPage schema to all pillar pages — triggers AIO — Effort: 30 min/page — Priority: 20
2. Fix all orphaned cluster pages — add internal links to pillar — Effort: 15 min each — Priority: 20
3. Expand thin pillar pages to 3,000+ words with Surfer optimization — Effort: 6–10 hrs each
4. Refresh top 5 content decay pages (>20% YoY decline) — update stats, examples, schema

Medium-Term (Days 31–90)

1. Build each cluster to 25+ articles (threshold for Google authority accumulation)
2. Add expert author bylines with credentials to all existing topic content
3. Commission original local study or data piece per pillar (primary AI citation trigger)
4. Use Ahrefs Content Gap to fill cluster pages competitors rank for that client doesn't

Long-Term (Months 3–6)

1. Achieve 50+ article coverage on primary topic clusters
2. Build Clearscope grade A- on all pillar pages and B+ on all cluster pages
3. Earn 5+ editorial links from authoritative sites per core topic
4. Establish author entity associations in Google Knowledge Graph

---

Output

Write to {AUDIT_DIR}/topical-authority.md with YAML frontmatter:

---
skill: strategy/topical-authority
phase: 8
date: [YYYY-MM-DD]
business: [Business Name]
url: [URL]
score: [X/100]
status: [leader|competitive|developing|weak]
topics_assessed: [X]
avg_cluster_article_count: [X]
---

Include:

• Score X/100 with per-topic breakdown
• Topic authority matrix (5 dimensions per core topic)
• Content depth table with Surfer Score targets
• Competitor authority comparison (TA score, page count, content quality)
• Authority signals checklist (content, structural, AI visibility, recognition, external)
• Content decay report (pages with >20% YoY decline)
• Knowledge Graph association status
• Priority authority building roadmap (Impact × Feasibility scored)
• 30/90/180-day content plan

Key consumers:

• research/topical-gaps — gap analysis informs authority building priorities
• research/keyword-gaps — keyword opportunities mapped to authority clusters
• output/report-generation — topical authority score in master report section 8

Output files:

• {AUDIT_DIR}/topical-authority.md — primary findings with score, matrix, roadmap
• {REPORTS_DIR}/phase-8-topical-authority.pdf — auto-generated PDF after phase completes

---

Recommendations Checklist

Quick Wins (Week 1, <2 hrs each)

• Add FAQPage schema to all pillar pages — AIO citation 3.2× higher — Effort: 30 min/page
• Fix orphaned cluster pages (no link to pillar) — Effort: 15 min/page — Priority: 20
• Add knowsAbout to Organization schema (5–7 topic entities) — Effort: 15 min
• Update publish date + add current-year stat to top 3 decay pages — Effort: 30 min/page
• Add HowTo schema to all service/process pages — Effort: 30 min/page

Topical Authority by Cluster Stage

Cluster Stage	Article Count	Actions Needed	Timeline
Not started	0	Build pillar + 5 cluster pages	Month 1
Below threshold	1–24	Reach 25-article minimum	Month 1–3
Building	25–49	Add depth, fix orphans, refresh decay	Month 2–4
Authority	50+	Lateral linking, original data, AI citation optimization	Ongoing

E-E-A-T Implementation Table

Signal	How to Implement	Effort	Impact
Expert author bylines	Named author + credentials on all content	1–2 hrs setup	High
Author schema	author property linking to author entity page	30 min/page	High
Original research	Local survey, proprietary pricing data, case studies	8–16 hrs/piece	Very High
Wikidata entity	Create Q-ID entry → add to Organization sameAs	1–2 hrs	Medium
Expert source citations	Link to government, research, trade association data	30 min/page	Medium
Real project photos	Before/after, on-site images with schema	1 hr/gallery	High

Topical Authority Specific Thresholds Table

Metric	Below Threshold	Competitive	Market Leader	Tool to Measure
Pillar page word count	<2,000 words	3,000–5,000 words	5,000–10,000 words	Screaming Frog word count
Surfer Content Score (pillar)	<65	70–79	≥80	Surfer SEO Content Editor
Clearscope grade (pillar)	C or lower	B+	A- or higher	Clearscope
Articles per cluster	<10	10–24	25+ (authority threshold)	Ahrefs Site Explorer
Internal links (cluster → pillar)	0	1	2–3 (varied anchors)	Screaming Frog inlinks
Content freshness	>12 months old	3–12 months	Updated within 90 days	GSC Performance filter
Featured snippets owned (per cluster)	0	1–3	5+	Ahrefs SERP Features filter
AIO citations (manual test)	0/5 queries	1–2/5 queries	3+/5 queries	Manual search + incognito
SEMrush Topical Authority score	<50	50–69	≥70 (competitive); ≥85 (leader)	SEMrush Domain Overview
INP (Core Web Vital)	>500ms Poor	200–500ms Needs Work	<200ms Good	PageSpeed Insights

GBP Integration with Topical Authority (2025)

GBP service listings directly feed AI Overviews for local topical queries. For each topic cluster:

• Add matching services to GBP service menu (name + description keyword-rich)
• Seed GBP Q&A with topical questions from AlsoAsked.com PAA research
• Ensure GBP business description mentions core topic clusters (first 150 chars indexed)
• Review responses: naturally incorporate service keywords (e.g., "Thank you for choosing us for your emergency plumbing repair in [city]")