Topical authority is the new domain authority
Why Google rewards depth over breadth in 2026.
What changed in the algorithm
Google's helpful content updates over the past 24 months have made one thing crystal clear: surface-level coverage of a topic is no longer enough to rank. You either go deep on a topic cluster, or you don't show up.
Domain authority still matters, but it's a lagging indicator now. Topical authority — proven by 20+ in-depth pages on a single subject, interlinked properly — moves your rankings faster.
How to build a real topic cluster
Pick a pillar page (broad, evergreen, 3,000+ words). Identify 8–15 supporting pages (specific, 1,200–2,000 words each). Interlink all supporting pages back to the pillar with descriptive anchors. Update the cluster every 90 days.
Treat the cluster as a single asset. Track ranking changes for the whole group, not individual pages.
New post every Friday.
One marketing tactic + one client win + one tool, every week. No fluff.
