E-E-A-T WordPress Implementation: 7 Steps That Survive Core Updates

December 2025 core update killed 86% of AI content because it lacked E-E-A-T.
WordPress sites with real authors + proof gained 42-67% traffic.

This guide gives you exact code, plugins, schema to implement E-E-A-T properly. No fluff.

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E-E-A-T = Your Survival Kit

Your WordPress edge: Client work = instant experience signals.

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Step 1: Enable Author Archives (RankMath)

RankMath → Titles & Meta → Authors → Enable Author Archives

Test: Visit /author/abinesh/ - must return 200 OK, not 404.

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Step 2: Add Author E-E-A-T Fields (ACF Free)

Install ACF (free) → Tools → Import JSON:

{
  "key": "group_author_eeat",
  "title": "Author E-E-A-T",
  "fields": [
    {"key": "field_eeat_experience", "label": "Experience", "name": "experience"},
    {"key": "field_eeat_certifications", "label": "Certifications", "name": "certifications"},
    {"key": "field_eeat_knows_about", "label": "Expert Topics", "name": "knows_about"}
  ],
  "location": [{"param": "user_form", "operator": "==", "value": "all"}]
}

Fill for each author: Users → Edit → Scroll to E-E-A-T fields.

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Step 3: Create Author Page Template

functions.php (add this):

function custom_author_template($template) {
    if (is_author()) {
        $new_template = locate_template(array('author-eeat.php'));
        if (!empty($new_template)) return $new_template;
    }
    return $template;
}
add_filter('template_include', 'custom_author_template');

author-eeat.php:

get_header();
$user_id = get_queried_object_id();
?>
<div class="author-bio">
  <img src="<?php echo get_avatar_url($user_id); ?>" alt="<?php the_author(); ?>">
  <h1><?php the_author(); ?></h1>
  <p><strong>Role:</strong> <?php echo get_field('job_title', 'user_'.$user_id); ?></p>
  <p><strong>Experience:</strong> <?php echo get_field('experience', 'user_'.$user_id); ?></p>
  <p><strong>Expert in:</strong> <?php echo get_field('knows_about', 'user_'.$user_id); ?></p>
  <h2>Recent Articles</h2>
  <?php if (have_posts()) : while (have_posts()) : the_post(); ?>
    <article><?php the_title(); ?></article>
  <?php endwhile; endif; ?>
</div>
<?php get_footer(); ?>

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Step 4: Schema Templates (RankMath Pro)

RankMath → Schema Templates → Add New (5 templates):

1. Author knowsAbout

{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "knowsAbout": <?php echo get_field('knows_about', 'user_'.get_the_author_meta('ID')); ?>
}

Display: All author archives

2. Organization Publisher

{
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "FUEiNT",
  "url": "https://fueint.com",
  "logo": "https://fueint.com/logo.png",
  "contactPoint": {
    "@type": "ContactPoint",
    "telephone": "+91-XXXX-XXXXXX",
    "contactType": "customer service",
    "email": "[email protected]"
  }
}

Display: Homepage + Contact

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Step 5: Contact Page Proof

Create /contact/ page:

FUEiNT Technologies
[Your Coimbatore Address]
Phone: +91-XXXX-XXXXXX [real number]
Email: [email protected]
Google Maps embed ← Critical

Footer (all pages):

© 2025 FUEiNT Technologies Pvt Ltd. Coimbatore, India. GST: [your GST]

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Step 6: Post-Level E-E-A-T

Every blog post needs:

By Abinesh S
Senior WordPress Developer, 3+ years
[Experience from ACF field]
Last updated: Dec 19, 2025
Sources:[11][12][13]

functions.php auto-add:

add_filter('the_content', 'add_author_box');
function add_author_box($content) {
    if (!is_single()) return $content;
    $author_id = get_post_field('post_author', get_the_ID());
    $experience = get_field('experience', 'user_'.$author_id);
    return $content . '
    <div class="author-box">
      <strong>By ' . get_the_author() . '</strong><br>
      ' . $experience . '
    </div>';
}

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Step 7: Test Everything

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Key Takeaway

Implement today: Author archives + schema + contact proof = core update proof.

Your client work = instant Experience signals. Screenshot projects, link case studies.

AI content dies. Your real WordPress experience wins.

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FAQs

Q: Free plugins only?
A: ACF Free + RankMath Free = 80% E-E-A-T. Pro schema = 100%.

Q: How long to see results?
A: Between core updates. Google said this Dec 11.

Q: Theme breaks author pages?
A: Use author-eeat.php template above. Overrides everything.

Q: Local business in Coimbatore?
A: Add Google Maps + GST + phone = instant Trust signals.