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Scoring for content authority is the process of evaluating any piece of content on a 30-point scale across three categories: Who is saying it (0-10), Where it is being said (0-10), and What is being said (0-10). This scoring system is how the Content Factory measures the real-world impact and credibility of content, whether it is a video, article, podcast appearance, or social media mention.
Content authority scoring belongs to the Promote stage—specifically the “Analyze” sub-component. It works alongside positive mentions collection and YouTube channel inventory to give you a complete picture of how your content performs relative to its potential. A high-authority piece of content (25+) from a recognized expert on a top-tier platform with proven frameworks is fundamentally different from a low-authority piece (under 10) from an unknown person on a personal blog making general claims. Understanding this distinction drives every content strategy decision in the Content Factory.
The Three Categories of Content Authority
Category 1: Who Is Saying It (0-10)
This category scores the speaker or author based on their credibility, recognition, and niche relevancy. A well-known industry expert with proven results who appears in major publications scores 9-10. Someone with moderate recognition and niche relevancy scores 7-8. A person with niche relevancy but no broader recognition scores 5-6. Someone with limited authority and partial relevancy scores 2-4. A person with no authority or relevancy scores 0-1. The key question is whether this person’s opinion carries weight in the specific niche being discussed.
Category 2: Where It Is Being Said (0-10)
This category scores the platform or publication where the content appears. Content featured on major publications like Forbes, The New York Times, or CNN scores highest. Content on high-authority niche sites like HubSpot, MarketingLand, or industry-specific publications scores 7-9, especially when the context is niche-relevant. Content on a well-known company blog scores moderately. Content on a random personal blog with low traffic and no domain authority scores at the bottom of the scale.
Category 3: What Is Being Said (0-10)
This category scores the content itself based on its depth, proof, and actionability. Content with detailed checklists, proven processes, step-by-step guides, case studies, and expert tips scores 9-10. Content that demonstrates expertise with some specific examples but lacks full proof scores 6-8. Content that offers general expertise without proof or specific processes scores 4-5. Content with vague general statements about an industry scores 0-2.
Step-by-Step Scoring Process
Step 1: Identify the Content to Score
Gather the list of content pieces that need scoring. This could come from a positive mentions spreadsheet, a YouTube channel inventory, or a content audit. Each piece of content gets its own row in the scoring spreadsheet.
Step 2: Score Each Category
For each piece of content, assign a score from 0-10 for Who, Where, and What. Use the guidelines above and your best judgment. Be consistent—if you score one Forbes article as a 9 for “Where,” all Forbes articles should score similarly unless the context differs significantly.
Step 3: Calculate the Total Score
Add the three category scores to get the total authority score out of 30. Rank all content by total score to identify your highest-authority assets. Content scoring 25-30 is exceptional and should be amplified heavily. Content scoring 15-24 is solid and worth promoting. Content below 15 may need improvement or should be deprioritized.
Verification Checklist
Every piece of content has scores for all three categories. Scores are consistent across similar types of content. The total score is correctly calculated as the sum of all three categories. The scoring follows the guidelines explained in this guide. High-authority content has been flagged for amplification.
Real Examples
A video of Dennis Yu presenting at a major marketing conference, posted on the BlitzMetrics YouTube channel, explaining the Dollar-a-Day strategy with step-by-step proof and case studies would score approximately: Who = 9 (recognized industry expert), Where = 7 (YouTube channel with strong following), What = 9 (proven process with case studies) = 25/30. In contrast, a general social media tip posted on a personal blog by someone without an established track record might score: Who = 2, Where = 2, What = 3 = 7/30.
Related Resources
Authority scoring works alongside positive mentions collection to measure your content’s impact. Use the scores to decide which content to boost with Dollar-a-Day ads and which topics to produce more pillar content about. For the full Content Factory workflow, see The 4 Stages of the Content Factory.
Take the Next Step
Content authority scoring is how you make data-driven decisions about what to promote and what to produce next. To master the full analytics and promotion system, enroll in BlitzMetrics courses. For done-for-you content strategy, explore the Content Engine Package.
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is the CEO of Local Service Spotlight, a platform that amplifies the reputations of contractors and local service businesses using the Content Factory process. He is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other brands.
Dennis has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs by partnering with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Through Local Service Spotlight, he teaches the Dollar a Day strategy and Content Factory training to help local service businesses enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring.
Dennis coaches young adult agency owners serving plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians, and believes there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers must be certified.