PILLAR 3, TRUST SIGNALS · 3.1 Authorship & E-E-A-TMediumInferred
Citations to low-quality sources
Citing weak or untrustworthy sources drags down the credibility of the page along with them. I link to primary and authoritative sources, not just anything that agrees.
What it is
Sources are unreliable.
Why it matters
Weakens credibility.
How to fix it
Cite authoritative sources.
How to find it on your site
- Review the sources the page cites.
- Flag low-quality, biased or unreliable ones.
- Replace them with primary or authoritative sources.
- Prefer original research and official documentation.
Cross-reference to ranking and citation factors
The quality of cited sources reflects on the page own trustworthiness. Strong sources lift it, weak ones drag it down.
Impact
Low-medium. Inferred.
Evidence
Reliable sourcing supports trust. Google, Search Quality Rater Guidelines (PDF)