
#138 Optimising Images, Authority in E-E-A-T, AI audio transcription, and Homepages
In this practical and insightful episode of the 90-Day Website Mastery Podcast, Jonny Ross and Pascal Fintoni tackle the third pillar of Google's E-E-A-T framework, Authority, exploring what it really means, why it differs from Expertise and Experience, and the specific steps you can take right now to demonstrate it online.The discussion also unpacks a deceptively simple but high-impact website question: when you upload an image to WordPress, what are all those fields actually for and are you using them to their full SEO and accessibility potential?Jonny and Pascal share their favourite AI-powered audio and transcription tools, and deliver two immediately actionable website calls to action that could transform how your homepage performs and how your best content ranks.If you are responsible for driving visibility, credibility, and growth for your brand online, this episode is essential listening.❓ What Are the WordPress Image Fields For, and How Should I Use Them?This question came directly from a live in-person masterclass, where a delegate admitted they were inconsistent, sometimes completing the fields, sometimes skipping them altogether. Sound familiar?Jonny and Pascal break down every field you'll find when uploading an image to WordPress, and explain exactly why each one matters for SEO, GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation), and Accessibility:File Name: Before you even upload, rename your image file using descriptive words. Don't call it IMG_1234.jpg. A clear, keyword-relevant filename (without stuffing) helps both search engines and AI systems understand what the image depicts.Alt Text: The most critical field for accessibility. This is the text displayed if the image cannot load, and what screen readers announce to visually impaired users. It also carries high SEO and GEO value, giving search engines and AI clear context about your image content.Title: Acts as an internal reference for your media library. Lower SEO value, but hugely useful for finding the right image later when your library grows.Caption: The visible text displayed beneath the image on the page. Medium-to-high SEO value and high GEO value, as it gives AI systems explicit context that connects your image to the surrounding content.Description: A longer explanation of the image. Adds keyword-rich semantic context and is particularly valuable for AI discovery and summarisation.Jonny's SEO priority order: File name → Alt Text → Caption → Description → Title.Pascal's discipline tips:Treat the website itself as where the real work happens, not the Word document. Think of your content ingredients (words, images, files) as preparation, and the CMS as the moment everything comes alive.Start with your image, not your text. Approach it like a film poster: the image should sell the article before a single word is read.Key takeaway: If there's a field to fill in, fill it in. This principle applies everywhere — WordPress, LinkedIn profiles, Google Business listings — and it is more important than ever in an era of AI search and GEO.❓ What Does "Authority" Actually Mean in Google's E-E-A-T Framework?This episode continues Jonny and Pascal's deep-dive series into Google's E-E-A-T guidelines. Having covered Experience and Expertise in previous episodes, the focus here is on the third letter: A for Authority.The definition, drawn from the Ahrefs guide by Mateusz Makosiewicz and Joshua Hardwick, is clear:"Authoritativeness means being recognised by others as a trusted go-to source in your field or industry."The crucial word is others. Unlike Experience and Expertise — which you can demonstrate by publishing great content yourself — Authority requires external validation. It has to be built off your own website. You cannot claim it; others must confer it.How to Build Authority for B2C / Independent Retailers (Jonny's Perspective):Pursue features in gift guides and curated roundupsBuild third-party reviewsSeek press coveragePartner with complementary brandsHow to Build Authority for B2B / Professional Services (Pascal's Perspective):Speak at events AND document it digitallyBe a regular columnist or podcast guestApply for awards and accreditationsEncourage clients to speak publicly on your behalfEmbrace local and regional pressRing-fence your website with external validationPascal's memorable summary of the E-E-A-T journey so far:Experience → "Have you done this before? I don't want to be a guinea pig."Expertise → "How deeply knowledgeable are you, really?"Authority → "Do others recognise that your claims are valid and credible?"🛠️ Website Engine Room: AI Audio & Transcription ToolsIn this week's tool segment, both Jonny and Pascal independently arrived at the same theme — the power of voice and AI transcription for content creation.Jonny's Pick: Granola AI (granola.ai) An AI-powered meeting notetaker that listens to your meetings and automatically formats the transcript into structured, readable notes.Pascal's Pick: Your Native Mobile Phone Audio Recorder Before downloading a new app, check what you already have. All modern smartphones now include a native audio recorder with a built-in AI transcription and summarisation feature, free of charge and requiring no third-party app.Use case ideas:Capture a client conversation and turn it into an anonymised case study or discussion article.Record a series of event takeaways across the year and compile them into a rich annual roundup with links to the authorities referenced.Voice note article and social media ideas on the go, then transcribe and expand with AI assistance.✅ Website Calls to Action: Two Changes to Make This WeekJonny's Call to Action: Review Your Homepage HeadlineYou have three to five seconds to communicate your value to a new visitor. Your homepage headline must answer three questions instantly:What do you do?Who do you help?Why should they choose you?The foundation of a great headline is a clear value statement — a concise, brand-appropriate expression of the transformation or outcome you deliver, written in your customer's language. Jonny has been helping delegates develop these through his Sell Without Being Salesy workshops in Yorkshire, and the results are transformative. Review yours today. Get real human feedback on it — not just AI, which may simply agree you've done a good job.Pascal's Call to Action: Add Citations and External Links to Your Best-Performing ArticlesOpen your website traffic reports and identify your top-performing blog posts and long-form resources. Then, with the help of a good AI search engine, enrich each one by:Adding current statistics and recent data to support your key points.Linking out to authoritative external sources — reports, books, academic papers, reputable publications. (Outbound links to credible sources are a positive E-E-A-T signal.)Adding an "Updated [Month Year]" callout box to show the content is current and your thinking has evolved.Using this as a reason to reshare the content across your channels.This approach breathes new life into existing content, signals freshness to Google, improves your E-E-A-T signals, and gives your audience genuinely more valuable resources — all without creating anything from scratch.🎯 Key Takeaways (with timestamps)00:19 – Welcome and episode introduction01:55 – You Ask, We Answer: WordPress image fields — what are they and why do they matter?03:20 – Why good image SEO is more important than ever in the age of AI visibility05:42 – Pascal's mindset shift: the CMS is where the real work happens09:08 – Jonny's SEO priority order: alt text, caption, description, and title09:53 – Website Stories: introducing A for Authority in Google's E-E-A-T framework11:39 – Authority through PR, press coverage, reviews, and brand collaborations14:51 – Pascal's ring-fence model: surrounding your website with external validation16:53 – Badges, battle scars, and membership organisations as authority signals18:39 – Website Engine Room: Granola AI and your mobile phone's native transcription tool22:38 – Website Call to Action: sharpen your homepage headline and enrich your best articles26:19 – Final reflections and episode wrap-up🔎 SEO Keywords & Tags:Primary Keywords: E-E-A-T authority SEO, Google authority signals, building website authority, WordPress image SEO, alt text best...












