Surge V3.6 Framework — Distribution Strategy

The Trust Neighborhood Model

Purpose This artifact exists to show how to identify and classify trust tiers (S0→S3+) for any vertical — so practitioners can prioritize distribution targets by trust distance.
Document Type Decision Tree + Reference
Framework Version 3.6 Beta
Architect Daryl Osborne
Documentation Lead Russell Wright
Core Principle
Trust flows through the web graph from authoritative "seed sites" outward. The closer your entity is to these seeds (measured in hops), the more trust you inherit. Prioritize distribution targets that reduce hop distance from the trust core.

Trust Tier Hierarchy

PURSUE RARELY
TIER S0
Seeds
Maximum trust anchors. Manually verified as highest authority. The origin points of trust in the web graph.
Hops 0 (origin)
Examples
.gov sites .edu sites Wikipedia Major news (NYT, WSJ)
Action Identify for your vertical. Rarely directly attainable.
PURSUE FIRST
TIER S1
Hubs
One hop from seeds. Directly endorsed by or linked from S0 sources. High trust inheritance.
Hops 1 (from seed)
Examples
Industry associations Trade publications Wikidata Established directories
Action Map these first. Highest ROI distribution targets.
TIER S2
Validators
Two hops from seeds. Linked by S1 hubs. Meaningful trust inheritance, more accessible than S1.
Hops 2 (from seed)
Examples
Niche directories Regional publications Industry blogs Curated platforms
Action Pursue after S1 coverage. Build breadth.
TIER S3+
Standard
Three or more hops from seeds. Lower trust inheritance but often easy to obtain. Use for volume after core tiers.
Hops 3+ (from seed)
Examples
General web 2.0 New sites Unverified directories Social bookmarks
Action Use for corroboration volume. Don't prioritize over S1/S2.

How to Classify: The Mapping Process

Trust Neighborhood Mapping (3 Steps)
1

Identify Vertical Seed Sites (S0)

Every industry has its own trust core. Find the 3-5 sources that function as ultimate authorities for your vertical.

Questions to ask:
  • What .gov or .edu sites regulate or educate in this space?
  • What does Wikipedia cite for this topic?
  • What sources would a journalist verify facts against?
  • What licenses, certifications, or registrations are required?
2

Map Primary Hubs (S1)

Find sites one hop from your identified seeds. These are your highest-value distribution targets.

Methods to find S1 hubs:
  • Backlink analysis: Which sites do S0 seeds link to?
  • Resource pages: Which sites appear on .gov/.edu resource lists?
  • Wikipedia sources: Which sites are cited in relevant articles?
  • Industry recognition: What associations or publications are universally referenced?
3

Identify S2 Validators

Find sites commonly linked by your S1 hubs. These provide breadth and accessibility.

Methods to find S2 validators:
  • Outbound links from S1: What do trade publications link to?
  • Industry blog rolls: Who do authoritative bloggers recommend?
  • Directory submissions: What directories do S1 sources list on?
  • Regional presence: What local sources serve the same audience?

Quick Classification Tests

When evaluating a potential distribution target, ask these tier-specific questions:

S0 TEST
"Is this a .gov, .edu, Wikipedia, or major news outlet?"
S1 TEST
"Do S0 seeds link to or cite this source?"
S2 TEST
"Do S1 hubs link to or reference this source?"
S3+ TEST
"Is this easily accessible but not linked by S1/S2?"

Vertical-Specific Examples

Legal Services
S0: State bar associations, law school sites, court databases
S1: ABA publications, legal journals, Martindale-Hubbell
S2: Avvo, FindLaw, legal blogs, regional legal publications
Healthcare
S0: NIH, CDC, medical schools, state health departments
S1: Medical associations, peer-reviewed journals, WebMD
S2: Healthgrades, Vitals, regional health publications
Finance / Investing
S0: SEC, Federal Reserve, Treasury, major business schools
S1: WSJ, Bloomberg, CFA Institute, FINRA
S2: Investopedia, Morningstar, financial advisor directories
Local Services
S0: City .gov sites, state licensing boards, regional .edu
S1: Chamber of Commerce, BBB, local news outlets
S2: Yelp, Angi, Nextdoor, neighborhood publications

Distribution Priority Order

Priority Tier Action Trust Value
1st S1 Hubs Get mentioned/linked from S1 hubs in your vertical Very High
2nd S2 Validators Build citations on platforms that S1 hubs reference High
3rd S3+ Standard Standard Surge properties for corroboration volume Moderate
4th New/Unverified New or unestablished platforms (use cautiously) Lower
Local Entity: Geographic Trust Checklist

For local businesses, add spatial trust verification alongside vertical trust: