What is a Credible Source?

A credible source is one that denotes expertise, experience, authority, and trustworthiness by providing information that is backed by facts and strong evidence. Usually, this evidence is extremely difficult to disprove from a scientific standpoint.

Having a “feeling” that the photos from the Artemis II lunar flyby mission are fake is not scientific evidence. And yes, people (who don’t have degrees in math or science, mind you) are trying to claim the photos are fake.

Of course, this is also the basis of Google search (E-E-A-T). That’s because even Google knows the value of having credibility and being trusted to provide actual information.

Being a credible source means that people trust your input in your industry or field. This is especially true if you continue to add more accolades and developments as you continue your work. The more information you can share regarding your industry, field, or niche, the more reputable you become.

A lot of experts will write books to help develop themselves as a credible source. Unfortunately, this also means that pseudoscientists do the same in the hopes of driving sales. Not everyone who writes a book about a given topic is an expert in that field. Some just want to pad their bank accounts. Right, Erich von Däniken?

How Does One Become a Credible Source?

Becoming a credible source takes time, knowledge, and networking. It’s not something that will happen overnight. It’s all about building up your credentials as an expert and keeping up with new information.

There are several things you can do that will improve your reputation over time. These include:

• Building a Blog
  Sharing what you know and what you’re currently learning denotes expertise to both humans and search engine bots.
• Building a YouTube Channel
  Like blogging, YouTube videos can easily improve how others see you as a source. And video content is prominent nowadays.
• Having a Social Media Presence
  Building social media accounts is good, but don’t expect too much from them. A lot of these sites are flooded with bots and AI today.
• Furthering Your Education
  Never be afraid to learn something new or strive for a degree from a reputable source. People trust those initials by your name more than not.
• Being Consistent
  All of the above require a certain level of consistency to remain relevant. Social media sites can bury your post quickly if you’re not posting regularly.
• Always Basing Information On Facts
  Anecdotal evidence isn’t necessarily bad, but always try to base what you share on facts and evidence. And don’t be afraid to look up contradicting studies.
• Citing Your Sources
  Always give credit where credit is due. This shows people and search engines that you’re serious about facts and you’re not just pulling things out of thin air.
• Not Being Afraid to Network
  It’s not just what you know, but also who you know. Networking can go a long way to meet interesting people who can open all kinds of doors.

Technically, you can immediately become a credible source. Just always provide facts, data, validated information, peer-reviewed research, and attend credible schools. Now, whether others will view you as an expert is another story. That can take a considerable amount of time.