What Are Authoritative Sources & How to Find Them

Conducting research is one of the most essential parts of the content writing process. The internet is full of false claims, and consumers are acutely aware of this fact.

According to a study by the Center for the Digital Future, only 25% of people trust the majority of the information on the internet, 51% of people trust about half of the information available online, and 24% of people believe that only a small portion of online information is accurate.

Because people are rightfully skeptical about misleading information online, it’s up to you as a writer to gain the trust of your audience by using authoritative, reputable sources to back up your ideas.

Basing your work on respected sources is important for Google EEAT, helping your content rank higher in search engines due to its value, authority, and legitimacy. Finding and validating authoritative sources are the first steps toward producing well-researched, trustworthy content that provides true value to your readers.

What Is an Authoritative Source?

An authoritative source is an entity that experts and professionals recognize as trustworthy and reliable. Authoritative sources often have high standards for the type of information they share, such as thorough fact-checking procedures and strict ethical guidelines for original research.

Industry experts thoroughly vet these sources for accuracy so readers can feel confident that the information they’re getting is factual and accurate.

An authoritative source in research will likely fall into one of these categories:

• Widely recognized sources: These refer to recognized professional publications where industry experts can lend their expertise in their specific fields and subjects. For example, Content Marketing Institute is the “leading global content marketing education and training organization.”
• Archival sources and databases: Publicly accessible databases, such as the United States Census and LexisNexis, are among the most reputable sources.
• Peer-reviewed sources and scholarly articles: Articles in academic journals go through a peer review process, where other experts thoroughly assess research methods and determine the legitimacy of the work. They often include a thorough bibliography with citations for any claims.

Non-authoritative Source Definition

It’s also important to understand non-authoritative sources when looking for trustworthy sources. These websites can have accurate information, but they might not be the best place to get your research.

If you find information on a website that isn’t well-established and known for being trustworthy, try to trace the details back to the original source. If you can’t find where a piece of information originated, it’s best to find a different source to reference.

Where to Find Authoritative Sources

Understanding the importance of research is just the first step to creating great content; you also need to know where to start your research process. When looking online for an authoritative source of information on a specific topic, be strategic with your search habits.

One option is to head directly to well-known digital libraries. For example, JSTOR is an established database that includes scholarly journals, primary source documents, and books. The National Library of Medicine is another massive digital library that provides a plethora of scientific trials, studies, and papers.

You can also find authoritative sources using a general search engine by adding specific keywords to your search terms. Including words like “studies,” “statistics,” and “research” can guide you toward well-respected, factual sources.

For example, you might search “green energy studies” or “green energy research” instead of just “green energy” to narrow down your results. Another strategy is to filter out unhelpful results by restricting your results to “.gov” or “.edu” websites.

How Do You Know if a Source Is Authoritative?

Once you identify a potential source, you must ensure it’s authoritative. Even if a source appears professional at first glance, it may not meet your standards. Here are a few tips:

• Research the author: See if the writer has expertise on the topic.
• Check the publisher: Are they a government agency or a professional institution? What are their editorial standards or policies?
• Look at the citations: Does the source say where it’s getting its facts? If possible, go back to the original source for any facts you want to use.

What Is The CRAAP test?

The CRAAP test is a quick assessment you can use to identify quality sources. It’s an acronym that stands for:

• Currency: Is the information up-to-date?
• Relevance: Does the source provide valuable information for your project?
• Authority: Where is the information coming from?
• Accuracy: Is the content truthful?
• Purpose: Why was the source created? To market a product? To inform the public?

This is a great mindset when researching for your content. While reviewing your sources and facts make sure you avoid common writer mistakes.

Biggest Mistakes Writers Make

When starting an assignment, whether it’s a research-intensive white paper or blog post, you’ll want to be careful about making these critical errors:

1. Zero authoritative sources: Avoid adding the first source you come across rather than spending time searching. This often results in linking to a less reputable site, which harms the credibility of the piece.
2. Linking to the wrong source: You may need to investigate the original source of information. For instance, a commonly cited statistic may be used on a variety of websites, but you don’t want to cite just any site. The original source or an authoritative domain will be the most valuable.
3. Forgetting to attribute: It’s okay to use the information you find online, as long as you attribute it properly. The best approach is to mention the name of the source, while also including a link. Some publications or businesses may have more specific citation guidelines.
4. Making assumptions: You assume that a website is an authoritative source because you recognize the brand. You assume that another writer did their homework in regards to the sources they used, so you can piggyback off of their work. These assumptions are natural, but you can’t let them guide your decision-making. Every time you add a source to your content, make sure you’ve first double-checked it yourself for accuracy and relevancy.

These aren’t the only potential mistakes lurking, but they are among the most common. If you keep these in mind when writing, you’re more likely to avoid a slip-up that impacts the quality of your content.

Authoritative Source Examples

You can find authoritative sources for almost every niche and industry imaginable. While it’s impossible to include a list of every authoritative website, here are some well-respective, authoritative sources:

• Gartner
• Pew Research Center
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
• World Bank
• Mayo Clinic

You can also search for these general categories to find more examples of trusted sources:

• Research & educational institutions
• Government (.gov) websites
• Fact-checked news domains
• Industry-leading blogs and publishers

For example, if you’re writing an article about a specific medical condition, look for websites connected to research websites that include medical publications.

Building Your Credibility

The sources you use when researching a topic can directly impact the success of your content. When you proactively choose authoritative sources, you can capitalize on the value of authoritative content, build trust with your audience, and promote your reputation as a writer.

Well-researched articles with links to authoritative sources can enhance the SEO value of your work. Check out the ContentWriters blog to learn more about how to produce high-value content that your readers can trust.

An earlier version of this post was published in June, 2019 by Chris B.

Wilhemina W.

Wilhemina has years of experience writing in the tech and business space.