How does QRIES help you write SEO content that performs?

Quality SEO content keeps readers engaged.

The key?

Creating content that satisfies both search intent and user experience.

But most SEO content falls short. It focuses on on-page optimizations while overlooking what truly keeps readers engaged.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to use my QRIES framework to:

• Produce content that naturally aligns with Google’s quality standards
• Build authority that attracts backlinks naturally.
• Scale content production efficiently

How Google May Evaluate Content Quality?

Google likely evaluates content quality by monitoring user behavior, such as how long visitors stay on a page, how much they scroll, and whether they continue exploring the site.

When users engage with content in these ways, it signals to Google that it is valuable and engaging. This can lead to better rankings, increased traffic, and higher conversions.

But how can you create content that truly resonates with your audience?

A good starting point is to follow Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness.

While not a direct ranking factor, Google uses E-E-A-T as a framework to assess content quality.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the guidelines:

• Experience means content should come from someone with firsthand knowledge of the topic.
• Expertise requires the creator to be a subject matter expert with a deep understanding.
• Authoritativeness measures the reputation and credibility of the creator or website.
• Trustworthiness checks if the information is reliable, accurate, and if the website is secure and reputable.

When users find trustworthy, expert content, they’re more likely to engage with it, which leads to more time spent on the page.

This creates a positive feedback loop.

The more your content aligns with Google’s guidelines, the more likely it is to satisfy users and help you rank higher in search results.

How to Apply the QRIES Framework for Quality SEO Content?
While E-E-A-T outlines what you need in your content to rank well, QRIES shows you how to achieve it.
Think of QRIES as E-E-A-T, transforming general quality guidelines into a practical checklist.
QRIES stands for:

• Quotes
• Research
• Images
• Example
• Statistics

This framework helps ensure consistent content quality and serves as a simple guide for writers to remember the essential elements every piece of content should include.

Q: Incorporate Expert Quotes in Your Content

Adding expert quotes to your content not only aligns it with E-E-A-T guidelines but also enhances the experience for your readers.

First and foremost, expert quotes signal to Google that your content is authoritative and trustworthy, as it’s supported by credible voices.

These quotes also demonstrate that your content is well-researched and that you’ve considered multiple viewpoints. Readers don’t have to take your word alone—now they see respected individuals backing your claims.

Additionally, expert quotes can break up dense text sections, making your content more engaging and easier to digest. This contributes to a better user experience (UX), offering visual breaks that help maintain your reader’s focus.

There are two main ways to source expert quotes:

1. Conducting interviews
2. Finding existing material online

While interviews provide unique insights and tailored responses, they can be time-consuming and challenging to scale, especially when dealing with a high volume.

However, you can strike a balance between one-on-one interviews and online quote searches by using platforms that connect content creators with subject matter experts (SMEs).

Several platforms can help, such as:

• Leaps
• Featured
• Connectively (formerly HARO)

These platforms help scale SME insights, but be cautious. They are often widely used by marketing teams, meaning you might receive numerous responses that require careful filtering to find valuable insights from genuine experts.

R: Ground Your Content in Research

Accurate information is impossible to provide without thorough research, especially if you’re not an expert.

Only through comprehensive research can you truly understand the subject matter, ensuring your article offers more than surface-level content. When you go deep, your content stands out by providing unique, valuable insights that others might miss.

By doing this, you fulfill both the Expertise and Trust aspects of the E-E-A-T guidelines.

To become effective at research, it’s important to understand that there are two primary types: fast and slow.

Knowing when to use each method will save you time and lead to stronger results.

When first exploring a new topic, start with fast research. This approach involves scanning multiple sources quickly to find the pages with the most relevant information. It’s like digging through dirt to find valuable nuggets—expect to sift through a lot of less useful material.

Switch to slow research once you’ve identified key sources worth deeper exploration. This involves carefully reading your selected sources to extract more detailed, insightful information.

This method allows you to cover more ground without feeling overwhelmed.

But don’t limit yourself to one form of research.

Reading blog posts is just the beginning—if possible, seek out interviews, relevant YouTube videos, and books.

Shallow research results in shallow content, which readers and Google can quickly identify. Thorough research adds depth and richness to your content, making it stand out from the generic posts.

Many people think writing is the most challenging part, but the research often takes the most effort.

Why?

Because once you’ve gathered all the information, writing becomes faster and easier. With everything already in your head (or notes), it’s just a matter of organizing and typing it out.

But remember, writing is just one element of high-quality content.

I: Incorporate Engaging Images and Visuals

Many blog posts from subject matter experts don’t perform well on Google, even though they’re packed with valuable insights and meet E-E-A-T guidelines.

Why?

Because quality isn’t just about the content itself—it’s about how you present it.

You can have the most informative article, but if it’s presented in a dry, unengaging way, users won’t stick around long.

The key takeaway: the way you present, structure, and write your content is just as important as the knowledge it contains.

This is where images play a vital role.

Not only do images help users retain information better, but they also capture attention and provide mental breaks from lengthy content, making it easier to digest.

Images can also encourage visitors to stay longer on your page, improving engagement and potentially increasing conversions.

However, this only works if the images truly enhance the content.

There’s a clear distinction between visuals that provide context and those that are merely decorative.

To fully leverage the power of images, ensure they complement your text and illustrate your points. For example:

• Charts to clarify data
• Diagrams to simplify complex ideas
• Screenshots to show how tools work

E: Include Examples and Storytelling

One of the most effective ways to enhance your SEO content is by incorporating real-world examples and storytelling.

By weaving facts into a story or linking them to a practical scenario, you make the content more engaging and memorable for your readers. It’s even better if the example or story comes from your personal experience.

This method can increase users’ time on your page (also known as dwell time) and make your information more impactful.

Connecting facts to real-world examples helps readers see how the information applies to their own lives, making it easier for them to emotionally connect with what you’re saying and understand its relevance.

Real-life examples also build credibility, showing that the concepts you’re discussing are not just theoretical but have been successfully applied in actual situations.

Extra points if you’ve used these examples in your life or work.

This aligns perfectly with Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines, especially the critical Trust factor.

So, where can you find these stories?

With some research, you can discover valuable stories everywhere—from news articles and interviews to social media posts and podcasts.

When using Google, try adding terms like “examples,” “case studies,” “success stories,” or “horror stories” to your search queries to uncover compelling narratives.

S: Support Your Claims with Statistics

While storytelling is impactful, data is equally essential in elevating the quality of your content.

By backing up your claims with statistics, you turn general statements into verifiable facts, boosting your message’s credibility.

This is something both readers and search engines value.

Additionally, by linking to authoritative and relevant websites, you demonstrate to both users and Google that your content is well-researched and trustworthy, which is key to meeting E-E-A-T guidelines.

The best part? Data-rich content naturally attracts backlinks. You don’t have to seek them out actively—others will reference your content as a source of valuable information.

For example, one of our clients’ sites earned numerous backlinks from various statistics mentioned in a single article.

Ultimately, this creates a snowball effect: your content becomes more credible with the data, more engaging with visualizations, and earns more backlinks.

As a result, your content can achieve higher rankings, and the cycle continues.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating high-quality SEO content is multifaceted beyond just writing insightful information. By incorporating the QRIES framework Quotes, Research, Images, Examples, and Statistics), you can ensure that your content is comprehensive, engaging, and aligned with Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines. Remember, it’s not just about the facts you present but how you present them. When you focus on creating well-researched, data-backed, and visually engaging content, you’re more likely to capture the attention of both users and search engines, leading to higher rankings and increased traffic.
Apply these strategies consistently, and you’ll be on the right path to creating content that resonates with your audience and stands out in the search results.