Google’s Guidelines and EEAT

This module will provide details, guidelines and suggestions from Google themselves regarding what is good and bad for SEO. I’ll add some insights and thoughts along the way. Google’s E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) principles are increasingly important for local entertainment, events, and tourism sites like yours.

Google's SEO Guidelines

Google provides their own helpful content to help you understand SEO and what they are looking for. Google doesn’t always provide the full truth and lots of their details may be misunderstood, the basics are great and will help form a foundation for you.

Here are some links to their material:

Google’s E-E-A-T

EEAT is more of a foundation and the overall behind-the-scenes motive on the way they evaluate sites and content and determine if they are worthy of ranking in the search results. It is more of the concept rather than the ‘tasks to do’.

Also note, that not everything is applicable or able to be done with your site. It is not all or nothing, so just get to know the overall concepts and utilize and apply what you can.

Let’s get into it…

What is Google’s E-E-A-T?

E-E-A-T stands for:

Experience – Does the content demonstrate first-hand knowledge or real-world involvement?
Expertise – Is the author or site genuinely knowledgeable about the topic?
Authoritativeness – Does the site or author have a strong reputation and external recognition in that area?
Trustworthiness – Is the site reliable, transparent, and safe for users (accuracy, security, honesty)?

These are not single “ranking factors” but part of Google’s Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines — how human evaluators assess whether a page deserves to rank well. Google’s algorithms aim to reflect those same signals.

Why E-E-A-T Matters for Vegas4Locals

Vegas4Locals.com focuses on local events, entertainment, attractions, and deals, which fall into a “Your Money or Your Life” (YMYL) gray area because users may spend money or plan travel based on your content. That means accuracy, trust, and real local insight are vital.

Search engines look for signals that your content:

Comes from people who actually know Las Vegas
Reflects up-to-date, factual event information
Helps users make decisions safely (accurate prices, legitimate event links, verified venues)

Applying E-E-A-T to Vegas4Locals.com

Here’s how each component can apply specifically to your site:

1) Experience

Demonstrate you’re on the ground in Vegas — not just an aggregator:

Write event previews or reviews from people who attended (photos, quotes, impressions).
Add “Locals’ Tips” or “Our Experience” sections to pages (e.g., best parking for The Colosseum).
Use author bios that highlight local residency or firsthand knowledge of Las Vegas. (We do not display author bios as your content is more a resource than an editorial written by an individual. So we use V4L, the entity, as the author)
Include your own original photos or videos of venues, food, or attractions instead of stock imagery.

Example:
“Last weekend, our Vegas4Locals team caught Tim McGraw’s first night at Caesars — the energy was off the charts. Here’s what to expect…” (Just an example. Don’t Lie)

2) Expertise

Show that your content is written by people who know Vegas inside and out:

Feature named contributors with bios (e.g., “by Sarah Lopez, Las Vegas entertainment reporter since 2010”).
Add a short description on each article: “Reviewed by Vegas4Locals editorial staff for accuracy and updated Oct 2025.”
Provide well-researched details — dates, venue history, seating charts, etc.
For lists or guides, cite reliable sources (Caesars Entertainment, official event pages, or the LVCVA).

✅ Tip:
Create a “Meet Our Team” or “About Vegas4Locals” page explaining who curates the info and their background in the Vegas scene. (I am not sure the Team page has the most accurate and truthful info on it?)

3. Authoritativeness

Build your reputation across the web:

Earn backlinks from official Vegas sites, travel blogs, or event organizers.
Encourage mentions or citations in local media outlets or radio stations.
Be active on platforms like Google Business Profile, Facebook, and Instagram, verifying your brand identity.

4) Trustworthiness

Make your site feel transparent, secure, and reliable:

Keep SSL (HTTPS) active and make sure all event links go to official or verified ticket sellers.
Have clear contact info — a physical address, phone number, and “About” page.
Add disclosure or editorial policies (especially if you include affiliate links).
Regularly update or remove outdated events to maintain content freshness.
Make it easy for users to report errors or broken links.

✅ Trust signal: “Last verified: October 2025 — All showtimes confirmed with Caesars Palace.”

Discussion:

Feel free to drop any comments or questions below.

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