I7 — Chapter 9 - E-E-A-T

Criterion I7 : Cited sources — guide + checklist

PART 1 - Fundamentals Chapter 9 - E-E-A-T Keyword : sources citées

This criterion seems “simple”, but it creates many discrepancies in production.

The **I7 — Cited sources** criterion is part of our SEO checklist (335 criteria). Here, you have a **practical** method to check and fix it — with a concrete example.

What exactly this criterion covers

This criterion seems “simple”, but it creates many discrepancies in production.

**I7 — Cited sources** (Chapter 9 - E-E-A-T): References for factual claims, links to primary sources

Why it matters (SEO + UX)

Why it matters: it is an anti-duplicate / anti-cannibalization safeguard. When poorly applied, we often observe: ambiguity (wrong associated query), duplication between pages, or loss of performance on Core Web Vitals.

On volume-generated sites, this criterion also serves as a **safeguard**: a stable rule avoids 1,000 errors at once.

How to check (step by step)

Approach: tool-assisted test (validator / performance). Recommended tool: **Wayback Machine (landmarks)**.

  1. Check for expected signals on the page (author, evidence, NAP, sources).
  2. Check consistency across the site (same rules everywhere).
  3. Measure via Search Console (indexing, queries, linked pages) if applicable.

Tip: first isolate 10 “representative” URLs (top pages + generated pages) before scaling the fix.

How to fix properly

Strategy: fix + add a safeguard for mass import.

  • Add a real author (or “Published by …”) + profile page.
  • Add 1–3 reliable external sources when stating a fact.
  • Update the page when content changes (date if relevant).

Then: re-crawl 50–200 URLs, then monitor Search Console for 7–14 days (impressions/CTR/indexing).

Concrete example (illustrative)

Example (illustrative):

  • **Context**: FAQ page for a hotel in Lyon
  • **Before**: No evidence: author absent, sources missing, “anonymous” page.
  • **After**: Author + “About” page + external sources + update date (if relevant).
  • **Note**: Goal: credibility + user trust.

Checklist to tick

  • [ ] Clear author/editor
  • [ ] Respects: links to primary sources
  • [ ] Sources when necessary
  • [ ] Contact/About accessible
  • [ ] Consistent updates
FAQ

Frequently asked questions — I7

What is the most common mistake on “Cited sources”?

Applying an automatic pattern that is too generic (same logic on all pages) without adding a differentiating element.

Which tool is the fastest for large-scale checking?

For this type of criterion, a crawl (e.g. Screaming Frog) + targeted verification in Wayback Machine (landmarks) is usually the fastest combo.

How to prevent this from recurring on 10K generated pages?

Freeze an auto-generation rule (title/structure/schema/URLs) + add automatic control (crawl or test) before production import.

Ready to go from theory to action?

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