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Topical authority

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Topical authority is the idea that sites covering a subject in depth are treated as more relevant for it. Google has documented a topic authority system for news (May 2023) that helps surface expert local and niche publications, signaled partly by original reporting cited by others. For other sites, the term describes coverage depth, not a confirmed signal.

What did Google announce?

In May 2023 Google explained a topic authority system for news that considers how notable a source is for a topic or location, influence such as original reporting cited by other publishers, and reputation.[1]

How do you build topical depth?

  1. Map the subject: core pages, subtopics and questions.
  2. Link pages logically (hub and spoke).
  3. Add original information; see information gain.
  4. Keep pages current.

AI features rely on core ranking systems,[2] and broad coverage helps match fan-out queries.

Frequently asked questions

Is topical authority a Google ranking factor?

Google documents topic authority for news; it has not confirmed a general sitewide score.

What is a topical map?

A plan of the pages needed to cover a subject and how they link.

How many articles do I need?

Enough to cover the subject’s real questions; there is no set number.

References

Sources accessed October 14, 2026 unless another date is given. See all sources.

  1. “Understanding news topic authority”. Google Search Central Blog. May 2023.
  2. “Optimizing your website for generative AI features on Google Search”. Google Search Central. accessed October 14, 2026.
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