If you’re a B2B business owner, you’ve probably heard about EEAT—Google’s framework for judging the quality of content: Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. While it may sound like something only giant brands can achieve, it’s actually one of the biggest advantages small and mid-sized companies can leverage, especially when you're the real expert in your field.
Here’s why EEAT is so important—and how your business can build it into your marketing strategy.
What Is EEAT, and Why Should You Care?
EEAT is not a single ranking factor—it’s a framework Google uses to evaluate whether your website (and business) deserves to be recommended to users in search results.
For B2B companies, this is crucial. Your potential customers often:
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Are researching before they ever speak to sales,
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Are choosing vendors based on perceived credibility and knowledge,
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Want proof that you actually know what you’re talking about.
Google wants to show users the most reliable answers from trustworthy sources, not the flashiest marketing. That’s great news for companies that truly understand their industry.
How EEAT Levels the Playing Field for Small Businesses
Big companies might have larger marketing budgets, but small B2B businesses often have something they don’t: true subject-matter expertise and years of hands-on experience.
Here’s how you can use EEAT to your advantage:
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Expertise:
Publish high-quality, practical content that solves real problems. Utilize blog posts, whitepapers, and guides to demonstrate your expertise. -
Experience:
Share real examples. Talk about past projects, customer challenges, and how your team solved them. Case studies and testimonials work wonders. -
Authoritativeness:
Get featured on industry sites, local publications, or trade groups. Contribute guest content, answer questions on forums, and build digital authority. -
Trustworthiness:
Make sure your website reflects professionalism. Include your name, business address, secure (HTTPS) browsing, privacy policies, and honest sales practices.
EEAT in Action: A Simple Example
Let’s say you run a commercial HVAC company that specializes in hospitals. A competitor has a prettier website, but you have 20 years of experience and deep knowledge of healthcare building codes.
If you consistently publish articles like:
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“5 HVAC Design Flaws to Avoid in Medical Facilities”
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“What ASHRAE Guidelines Mean for Operating Rooms”
…and those articles include insights from real projects, photos, customer quotes, and your credentials—Google sees your site as more trustworthy and authoritative. So do your future clients.
How to Start Building EEAT Right Now
You don’t need to overhaul your entire marketing system overnight. Start here:
✅ Add author bios to your blog content (with credentials).
✅ Write about what you do best—don’t chase random topics.
✅ Link to and from reputable sources, including industry associations.
✅ Ask satisfied customers for testimonials and display them.
✅ Stay active on your website and social channels. Update often.
Over time, these efforts help your company stand out—not just in Google—but in the minds of real buyers.
Final Thoughts
EEAT isn’t just an SEO trick. It’s a strategy for building long-term credibility, inbound traffic, and B2B leads.
And for small businesses with real-world knowledge and a track record of doing things right—it’s the fastest path to outranking the competition.
Author Bio:
Matt Banes is the founder of GBM Marketing, Inc., a B2B marketing consultancy that specializes in helping niche businesses generate leads and build authority online. He also leads the strategy behind iModular.com, a top-ranking knowledge hub in the modular construction space.