How to Get a Google Author Knowledge Panel (and Why It Matters in AI Search)

If you're serious about establishing yourself as an authority in your industry, securing a Google Author Knowledge Panel can be a game-changer. This is the information box that sometimes appears in search results when you Google well-known authors, journalists, and thought leaders.

Why does it matter? Because it signals credibility and authority—both to Google and your audience. It also plays an increasingly important role in AI-powered search (AISO), where search engines like Google’s SGE (Search Generative Experience) prioritize trusted sources when generating answers. Having a recognized author profile could improve your visibility in AI-driven results and reinforce your authority across the web.

Ironically, Google actually had official writer profiles about 10 years ago—something we participated in at PlusROI. But, in typical Google fashion, they scrapped the program. Now, they determine author profiles based on credibility signals, which means you have to earn your spot.

I don’t expect to get a Knowledge Panel myself—Google usually reserves them for more well-known writers and professionals—but I’m going through the process below to see how it impacts my SEO and AI Search Optimization (AISO). It’ll be interesting to track how these efforts influence search visibility in both traditional and AI-generated results. I’ll report back on what I learn!

In the meantime, here’s what I’ve found about improving your chances of getting a Knowledge Panel:

1. Establish Your Author Identity

Google values consistency. Make sure your name appears the same way across all platforms, including your website, social media, and bylines on published articles.

? Use a high-quality headshot consistently across your website, social media, and author bios. ? Create an optimized author bio that appears on your personal website, guest posts, and publications. ? Link your profiles together—Google needs to connect the dots between your website, social media, and published content.

2. Build a Strong Website & Author Page

Owning your own website (ideally yourname.com) is one of the best ways to signal credibility.

Your author page should include: ? A professional bio that outlines your expertise ? A list of published articles or books ? Links to your social media and other online profiles ? Contact details (or at least a way to get in touch)

If you want to get technical, implementing structured data markup (schema.org/Person) can help Google understand who you are and what you do.

3. Get Listed on Wikipedia or Wikidata

Wikipedia is one of Google’s most trusted sources for verifying public figures. While getting a full Wikipedia page is tough, getting listed on Wikidata is much easier and still sends strong credibility signals to Google.

4. Optimize Your Google Presence

? Claim your Google Knowledge Panel if it already exists (via Google Search Console). ? If you’re an academic, set up a Google Scholar profile. ? If you’ve published a book, make sure it’s listed in Google Books (having an ISBN helps).

5. Publish on High-Authority Websites

Google takes cues from where you’ve been published. Writing for Forbes, Business Insider, HuffPost, major news sites, or top industry blogs boosts your credibility significantly.

6. Get Verified on Social Media

Google pulls data from social platforms, especially verified profiles on X (Twitter), Facebook, and LinkedIn. Having a well-optimized bio and website link on these platforms helps Google connect the dots.

7. Get Mentioned on High-Authority Websites

Beyond publishing your own content, try to get cited, interviewed, or featured on authoritative sites. This can be through: ?? Podcast interviews ?? Press coverage ?? News articles quoting you

8. Use Schema Markup for Authors

Structured data (Schema markup) helps Google understand who you are. Here’s a simple JSON-LD schema you can use on your website:

json

CopyEdit

{

??"@context": "https://schema.org",

??"@type": "Person",

??"name": "Your Name",

??"url": "https://yourwebsite.com",

??"sameAs": [

????"https://twitter.com/yourprofile",

????"https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/yourprofile",

????"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/your_wikidata_id"

??],

??"jobTitle": "Author & Blogger",

??"worksFor": {

????"@type": "Organization",

????"name": "Your Company or Blog Name"

??}

}

9. Monitor Your Google Presence

Regularly Google yourself to track what’s appearing in search results. ? Use Google Search Console to monitor your name’s search performance. ? If a Knowledge Panel appears, claim it and suggest edits if needed.

10. Be Patient & Stay Persistent

Google doesn’t create Knowledge Panels overnight. It takes time to establish credibility. The key is to keep publishing high-quality content, getting authoritative mentions, and optimizing your online presence.

I’ll be testing this process myself—not because I expect to get a Knowledge Panel, but to see how these credibility signals affect SEO and AI-driven search results. I’ll report back on what I find!

Want to Become a Recognized Thought Leader?

At PlusROI, we’re launching an Authentic Thought Leadership service in March—designed to help professionals establish authority, get published on high-profile sites, and build credibility with Google and AI-powered search.

Interested? Get in touch to find out more! ??