Agent Rank Author Audit

Patent: Agent Rank — author authority propagation patent (David Grangier, et al., Google) Source: Bill Slawski, SEO by the Sea

The Agent Rank Concept

Agent Rank is Google's system for associating content with the reputation of its author — and propagating that author's trust score to documents they create.

The core mechanism: when a trusted author (high Agent Rank) publishes content on any site, some of their earned authority propagates to that document. This allows high-authority authors to help lower-authority sites rank better than their link profile would normally suggest.

Inversely, content from low-trust or unknown authors receives no authority boost — the document is evaluated purely on its own signals.

Why this matters: Traditional PageRank is link-based. Agent Rank is author-based. They work in parallel. Ignoring author authority means leaving an algorithmic lever untouched.

The 8 Audit Dimensions

Scoring: 1-10 per dimension. Total: 80 points.

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Dimension 1: Author Identification Signals

Goal: Can Google unambiguously identify which author wrote this content?

If Google cannot identify the author, no Agent Rank signal can be associated with the document. Identification is the prerequisite for all other signals.

Check:

• Is there a byline on the article? (By [Author Name] or equivalent)
• Does the byline link to an author page?
• Is there a rel="author" link or structured data identifying the author?
• Does the page include Person schema markup for the author?
• Is the author's name consistent with how they appear on other platforms?

Person schema (minimal required):

{
  "@type": "Person",
  "name": "Author Full Name",
  "url": "https://authorsite.com/about",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://linkedin.com/in/authorslug",
    "https://twitter.com/authorhandle"
  ]
}

Scoring:

• 10: Byline + author page + Person schema with sameAs links
• 7: Byline + author page, no schema
• 5: Byline only, no link to author page
• 2: Generic "Staff Writer" or "Admin" attribution
• 0: No author attribution

Your score: /10

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Dimension 2: Author Expertise Indicators

Goal: Does the author's content, credentials, and presentation signal genuine expertise in this topic area?

Google's E-E-A-T framework defines Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. For Agent Rank purposes, the most measurable are:

• Experience: First-hand evidence of having done what you're writing about
• Expertise: Formal or demonstrated credentials in the topic field

Check:

• Does the author bio mention specific credentials relevant to the content topic?
• Are credentials verifiable? (LinkedIn profile, professional license, degree institution named)
• Does the author's content history show specialization in this topic area?
• For YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) content: are medical, legal, or financial credentials present?
• Does the author demonstrate first-hand experience through specific examples and personal data?

First-hand experience markers (strong signals):

• "In my 5 years working as..." (career experience)
• "I tested this with 50 clients and found..." (data from direct experience)
• "When I ran this audit on my own site..." (practitioner demonstration)
• Specific case study data, screenshots from real projects

Scoring:

• 10: Relevant professional credentials + demonstrable first-hand experience + topic specialization history
• 7: Strong credentials OR strong experience evidence (not both)
• 5: General expertise signals, topic-adjacent credentials
• 2: Minimal bio, no verifiable credentials
• 0: Anonymous or no bio

Your score: /10

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Dimension 3: Knowledge Graph Entity Establishment

Goal: Is the author established as a named entity in Google's Knowledge Graph?

Authors with Knowledge Graph entity status receive the strongest Agent Rank signals because Google has high confidence in who they are.

How to check:

1. Google the author's full name
2. Look for a Knowledge Panel (the information box that appears on the right side of SERP on desktop, or prominently on mobile)
3. Check Wikidata: does the author have a Wikidata entry?
4. Check Wikipedia: does the author have a Wikipedia page?

Paths to Knowledge Graph establishment:

• Wikipedia page (most reliable KG entry point)
• Wikidata entry
• Repeated co-citation with established entities
• Consistent structured data (Person schema) across multiple authoritative sites
• Google Search Console profile verification

Scoring:

• 10: Knowledge Panel exists with multiple attributes populated
• 7: Partial Knowledge Panel OR strong structured data presence without panel
• 5: No panel but mentioned frequently alongside KG entities (co-citation)
• 2: No KG presence but active on multiple authoritative platforms
• 0: No KG signals at all

Your score: /10

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Dimension 4: Cross-Platform Author Presence

Goal: Is the author's identity consistent and established across multiple relevant platforms?

Agent Rank builds confidence through consistent author identity signals across the web. The sameAs property in schema links an author's on-site identity to their off-site profiles — these are the connection points Google uses to build the author entity.

Priority platforms by relevance:

1. LinkedIn (professional credentials verification)
2. Twitter/X (public figure verification, thought leadership)
3. Industry publications (authoritative third-party presence)
4. GitHub (for technical authors — contribution history)
5. Speaker profiles at industry conferences
6. Wikipedia or Wikidata (if eligible)
7. Author pages at major industry publications (Moz, Search Engine Journal, etc.)

Check:

• Do all platform profiles use the same name format?
• Do profiles link back to the author's main website?
• Does the main website's Person schema include sameAs links to all platforms?
• Are profiles active and updated (not abandoned stubs)?

Scoring:

• 10: 5+ consistent platforms with mutual cross-linking, active presence, same identity across all
• 7: 3-4 platforms, mostly consistent
• 5: 2 platforms, consistent identity
• 2: 1 platform or inconsistent identity across platforms
• 0: No cross-platform presence

Your score: /10

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Dimension 5: Author-Topic Alignment

Goal: Does the author's documented expertise align with the content topic?

Agent Rank is topic-specific. An author with high authority in finance doesn't automatically receive authority for medical content. The system evaluates whether the content topic matches the author's demonstrated expertise area.

Check:

• What topics has this author published about historically?
• Does the topic cluster align with the current content's topic?
• Does the author's bio and credentials align with the specific sub-topic of this piece?
• For technical topics: does the author's professional background match the technical domain?

Misalignment red flags:

• SEO author writing medical advice without medical credentials
• Finance author publishing legal guidance without legal background
• Technology author covering scientific research claims without relevant background

Scoring:

• 10: Author's documented expertise directly matches the content topic AND sub-topic
• 7: Author has relevant expertise with some topic stretch
• 5: General expertise in the broader category (e.g., "digital marketing" when the article is about SEO specifically)
• 2: Weak alignment — author's background is adjacent but not directly relevant
• 0: No alignment — author expertise does not match content topic

Your score: /10

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Dimension 6: Author Page Quality

Goal: Does the author have a high-quality author page that serves as an entity hub?

The author page is the central node in the author entity graph. It should:

• Establish the author's credentials clearly
• Link out to their best work
• Include Person schema with complete attributes
• Be linked to from all of the author's published content

Author page requirements:

• Full name + professional photo
• Bio with verifiable credentials
• Topic specializations stated explicitly
• Links to 5-10 best published pieces
• Social profile links
• Publications, speaking engagements, awards
• Person schema with sameAs to all platforms

What's missing from most author pages:

• No schema markup
• Bio is generic ("John is passionate about digital marketing")
• No links to specific published works
• Photo absent or unprofessional
• No verifiable credentials stated

Scoring:

• 10: Complete author page with photo, credentials, publications, schema, cross-platform links
• 7: Good bio and schema but missing some elements
• 5: Basic author page with bio, no schema or publications
• 2: Minimal author page — just name and brief bio
• 0: No author page — byline links to homepage or nothing

Your score: /10

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Dimension 7: Site-Level Author Strategy

Goal: Does the site's overall author strategy reinforce individual author authority, or dilute it?

Check:

• How many authors publish on this site?
• Do authors have clear topical specializations, or do all authors write about everything?
• Is there an editorial standards page that establishes how content is reviewed?
• Is there an expert review process (third-party reviewer with credentials cited)?
• For single-author sites: is the author's identity central to the site's brand?

Strong site-level author signals:

• Each author has a defined topic area — readers know what to expect from each byline
• Editorial review process documented for sensitive topics
• Guest authors clearly labeled with credentials and disclosure
• Multiple authors add diversity of expertise

Weak site-level author signals:

• One author writes about 20 unrelated topics
• No bylines on any content ("staff writer")
• Guest posts without author vetting
• Generic "blog" label without author branding

Scoring:

• 10: Clear author specialization, editorial process documented, diverse expert authors
• 7: Some specialization, basic author pages for all contributors
• 5: Most content attributed, but no consistent specialization
• 2: Inconsistent attribution, no clear strategy
• 0: No author strategy — anonymous or generic attribution site-wide

Your score: /10

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Dimension 8: Authority Signal Scoring

Goal: What external recognition validates the author's claimed authority?

Check:

• Is the author cited by other authoritative sources?
• Are there links pointing to the author's page from authoritative sites in the niche?
• Has the author been featured in industry publications (not just guest-posted)?
• Does the author have a media/press mention history?
• Has the author spoken at relevant industry conferences?
• Are there published research papers, whitepapers, or books?

External authority signals (ranked by strength):

1. Published peer-reviewed research
2. Industry book authorship (major publisher)
3. Keynote speaking at major industry conferences
4. Citations in major industry publications
5. Featured expert quotes in reputable journalism
6. Guest posts on authoritative industry sites
7. Active community participation (high-reputation Stack Overflow, etc.)

Scoring:

• 10: Multiple forms of external recognition (publication + speaking + media citations)
• 7: 2 strong external authority signals
• 5: 1 strong external authority signal
• 2: Moderate external presence but no strong authority markers
• 0: No external authority signals

Your score: /10

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Scoring Summary

Dimension	Score
Author Identification Signals	/10
Author Expertise Indicators	/10
Knowledge Graph Entity Status	/10
Cross-Platform Presence	/10
Author-Topic Alignment	/10
Author Page Quality	/10
Site-Level Author Strategy	/10
Authority Signal Scoring	/10
TOTAL	/80

Score Interpretation

Score	Verdict
64-80	Strong Author Authority — Agent Rank signals are working
48-63	Moderate — establish KG entity and improve author page
32-47	Weak — priority: bylines, author pages, credentials visible
Below 32	No Author Authority — Google cannot associate trust with author

Priority Actions by Score Range

Score below 32 (Foundation Missing):

1. Add bylines to all content immediately
2. Create a proper author page for each author
3. Add Person schema with sameAs links
4. Establish LinkedIn profile and link to it

Score 32-48 (Building Phase):

1. Improve credentials visibility in bio
2. Publish on 1-2 authoritative external sites to build cross-site presence
3. Target a Wikidata entry if eligible (public figure, notable work)
4. Document editorial review process on the site

Score 48-64 (Strengthening Phase):

1. Target Knowledge Graph establishment via consistent entity signals
2. Build external authority signals (speaking, media citations, research)
3. Ensure topic alignment — consider restricting author scope to core expertise area

Score 64+ (Maintaining Phase):

1. Monitor Knowledge Panel for accuracy
2. Keep all cross-platform profiles active and updated
3. Build additional external authority signals in the strongest expertise areas