Should you still use rel=author markup to attribute content to its writer?

What was the initial goal of rel=author markup?

The rel=author markup aimed to create a clear technical link between published content and its writer. Google wanted to explicitly identify who writes what, with the idea that the author's reputation could influence the perceived quality of the content.

In practice, this markup allowed a page to connect to a Google+ profile (now defunct). The author would create an account, link their site through this HTML markup, and Google would display their photo in search results. The stated goal was to humanize the SERPs and highlight recognized experts.

Why was this system abandoned?

Google ceased displaying author photos in search results as of June 2014. The official reasons were: minimal impact on CTR, implementation complexity for publishers, and difficulties in maintaining data quality (fake profiles, abuse).

More fundamentally, the link with Google+ posed problems. When the social network shut down, the entire technical infrastructure collapsed. Google opted to turn towards more indirect authorship signals that were less dependent on rigid markup.

What alternative does Google use today to identify authors?

Google now relies on structured data JSON-LD of type Person, combined with contextual information present on the page: visible byline, detailed author page, biographical mentions. The engine also analyzes entities and their recurrence to understand who regularly writes on what topic.

E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) partially replaces the technical mechanism. Google wants to know who is speaking, but without imposing specific markup. Trust signals come from concrete evidence: external publications, citations, cross-platform presence, and editorial consistency.

• The rel=author markup was an experiment abandoned in 2014, without a direct successor.
• Google now favors structured data JSON-LD and semantic analysis of author pages.
• E-E-A-T remains the conceptual framework to assess an author's credibility.
• No HTML markup guarantees enriched display related to the author in current SERPs.
• Author attribution remains important, but it relies on multiple and indirect signals.

Is this statement still relevant on the ground?

No, this recommendation from Google is completely outdated. The rel=author markup has had no visible effect in search results for a decade. Field tests show that its presence or absence does not influence snippet display or ranking.

Many publishers have retained this markup out of inertia or confusion with other attribution tags. In practice, Google ignores it. There is no SEO benefit to keeping it, and no risk either to remove it. It’s dead code.

Does author attribution still have a real SEO impact?

Yes, but through other means. Google assesses the author's credibility through contextual signals: byline consistency, richness of the author page, mentions in other content, and presence on LinkedIn or recognized professional platforms. The engine seeks to understand if the author has thematic legitimacy.

On YMYL topics (health, finance, legal), the identity and qualifications of the author carry weight. [To be verified]: Google claims to use authorship signals in its algorithms, but remains vague about their exact weight. Field observations suggest a moderate impact, more pronounced on sensitive queries than on generic content.

Should you invest time in author attribution in 2025?

Yes, but wisely. Instead of wasting time on outdated tags, focus on building tangible reputation for your writers. Create detailed author pages with bios, lists of published articles, and links to verifiable external profiles (LinkedIn, ResearchGate for researchers, professional portfolios).

The real SEO lever is editorial consistency. An author who regularly publishes on a specific topic, with a recognizable tone and expertise, sends strong signals to Google. Pair this with well-configured structured data JSON-LD and visible bylines. Avoid generic authors like "Editorial Team" on topics that require identifiable expertise.

What should you actually do with the existing rel=author markup?

If your site still uses rel=author, you can remove it without consequence. Google no longer utilizes it, so deleting this markup will not affect your visibility. It’s a technical cleanup, not an SEO priority, but better to avoid unnecessary code.

Replace this outdated approach with structured data JSON-LD of type Article with the "author" property correctly filled out. Combine it with a detailed Person entity. This allows Google to understand who is writing without relying on abandoned HTML markup.

How can you optimize author attribution to maximize E-E-A-T?

Create rich author pages: substantial bio (200+ words), professional photo, list of articles published on the site, links to external profiles (LinkedIn, Twitter, professional sites). Each byline should point to this page, creating an internal authority hub.

Ensure consistency: same author name everywhere, same photo, same bio. Avoid variations (Jean Dupont / J. Dupont / Jean D.) that dilute signals. On YMYL topics, explicitly mention qualifications: degrees, certifications, years of experience, professional affiliations. Google looks for these indicators to assess legitimacy.

What mistakes should be avoided in managing authors?

Do not create generic authors for all content ("Writing", "Admin"). Google loses track of who is actually writing, especially if these ghost authors publish on heterogeneous themes. Result: no expertise signals are built.

Avoid also multiplying pseudonyms without logic. An author who changes their name every six months or publishes simultaneously under multiple identities creates confusion. Worse: using fictitious authors on sensitive topics (health, finance) risks discrediting you if Google cross-checks data and finds no external trace of these individuals.

• Remove the rel=author markup from your HTML code (optional, not urgent).
• Implement structured data JSON-LD of type Article with the "author" property filled out.
• Create or enrich author pages: detailed bio, photo, list of publications, external links.
• Ensure strict consistency of the author name across the site and external platforms.
• Explicitly mention qualifications on YMYL topics (degrees, certifications).
• Avoid generic or ghost authors, especially on topics requiring identifiable expertise.