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Domain Authority
SEO
Backlinks
Website Ranking
Authority Building
ARTICLE #129
Domain authority: What it is and how to increase it
Domain Authority
SEO
Backlinks
Website Ranking
Authority Building
Domain Authority
SEO
Backlinks
Website Ranking
Authority Building
Written by:
5 min read
Updated on: October 28, 2024
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
Toni Hukkanen
Head of Design
Creative Direction, Brand Direction
You might be wondering why one site hogs Google’s limelight while another, perhaps equally brilliant, ends up buried on page two. That’s where Domain Authority (DA) steps in. Created by Moz, DA rates your site on a 1-to-100 scale, and yes—higher numbers typically mean higher ranking potential. It’s primarily influenced by the strength and volume of inbound links (plus the credibility of the sites linking to you). So, if loads of reputable domains consider your content valuable, search engines start to agree.
But why does DA deserve your attention? In simple terms, a site with a solid DA often sees better visibility in search results and more organic traffic rolling in. That’s gold for anyone aiming to outshine the online competition. You can take it as a quick pulse-check on your website’s SEO footing—one that can help you prioritise where to invest your energy and resources for long-term traction.
You might be wondering why one site hogs Google’s limelight while another, perhaps equally brilliant, ends up buried on page two. That’s where Domain Authority (DA) steps in. Created by Moz, DA rates your site on a 1-to-100 scale, and yes—higher numbers typically mean higher ranking potential. It’s primarily influenced by the strength and volume of inbound links (plus the credibility of the sites linking to you). So, if loads of reputable domains consider your content valuable, search engines start to agree.
But why does DA deserve your attention? In simple terms, a site with a solid DA often sees better visibility in search results and more organic traffic rolling in. That’s gold for anyone aiming to outshine the online competition. You can take it as a quick pulse-check on your website’s SEO footing—one that can help you prioritise where to invest your energy and resources for long-term traction.
How is domain authority calculated?
How is domain authority calculated?
Consider Domain Authority as a broad estimate of your website’s ranking strength. It’s not an official Google metric (so there's no need to blame them for a low score), but it does reflect your site’s overall backlink profile and influence. In short, DA can point out your chances of showing up when people type related keywords into a search engine.
Moz crunches a blend of data—like the number and quality of links—using a machine-learning model to generate your DA score. Sites with fewer inbound links or spammy links often end up on the lower end of the scale, while well-established sites with credible backlinks typically push the upper ranges.
How is DA calculated?
It’s no secret—links matter. However, it’s not just how many links you have; it’s who’s linking to you. When big-name, trustworthy sites connect to your content, search engines tend to see you as dependable and relevant. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Root Domains: The number of unique websites linking to your domain. Loads of links from the same site can help, but having lots of different authoritative sites linking to you is even better.
Total Links: The overall sum of backlinks you’ve earned. Yes, quantity still counts, but it’s much stronger when combined with quality.
Link Quality: A single link from a well-regarded news site or popular industry blog can outweigh 50 links from obscure corners of the internet.
Combine these details, feed them into a complex model, and Moz spits out your DA score. A higher DA can indicate a stronger chance of ranking for your target keywords—though it’s no guarantee. It’s more like a helpful forecast than an absolute promise.
Consider Domain Authority as a broad estimate of your website’s ranking strength. It’s not an official Google metric (so there's no need to blame them for a low score), but it does reflect your site’s overall backlink profile and influence. In short, DA can point out your chances of showing up when people type related keywords into a search engine.
Moz crunches a blend of data—like the number and quality of links—using a machine-learning model to generate your DA score. Sites with fewer inbound links or spammy links often end up on the lower end of the scale, while well-established sites with credible backlinks typically push the upper ranges.
How is DA calculated?
It’s no secret—links matter. However, it’s not just how many links you have; it’s who’s linking to you. When big-name, trustworthy sites connect to your content, search engines tend to see you as dependable and relevant. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Root Domains: The number of unique websites linking to your domain. Loads of links from the same site can help, but having lots of different authoritative sites linking to you is even better.
Total Links: The overall sum of backlinks you’ve earned. Yes, quantity still counts, but it’s much stronger when combined with quality.
Link Quality: A single link from a well-regarded news site or popular industry blog can outweigh 50 links from obscure corners of the internet.
Combine these details, feed them into a complex model, and Moz spits out your DA score. A higher DA can indicate a stronger chance of ranking for your target keywords—though it’s no guarantee. It’s more like a helpful forecast than an absolute promise.
Comparing DA to other metrics
While DA remains a widely recognised measure, other tools offer similar snapshots:
Ahrefs’ Domain Rating (DR): Another 0-to-100 scale focusing heavily on your backlink strength.
SEMrush’s Authority Score: Considers organic traffic, inbound link quality, and more, giving you a weighted score.
Remember, each tool relies on unique data and algorithms, so your scores might vary. Rather than getting fixated on one number, think of these metrics as multiple camera angles on your site’s authority. Sometimes, you see something new from a different perspective.
The Logarithmic Scale of DA
One quirk about DA is its logarithmic nature—meaning going from DA 20 to 30 is less strenuous than jumping from 70 to 80. This setup reflects the reality that once you’re well-established, climbing even higher gets tough. It’s like trying to add 10 more floors to an already tall skyscraper. Early gains come quickly, but every additional “floor” at the top requires more investment and effort.
While DA remains a widely recognised measure, other tools offer similar snapshots:
Ahrefs’ Domain Rating (DR): Another 0-to-100 scale focusing heavily on your backlink strength.
SEMrush’s Authority Score: Considers organic traffic, inbound link quality, and more, giving you a weighted score.
Remember, each tool relies on unique data and algorithms, so your scores might vary. Rather than getting fixated on one number, think of these metrics as multiple camera angles on your site’s authority. Sometimes, you see something new from a different perspective.
The Logarithmic Scale of DA
One quirk about DA is its logarithmic nature—meaning going from DA 20 to 30 is less strenuous than jumping from 70 to 80. This setup reflects the reality that once you’re well-established, climbing even higher gets tough. It’s like trying to add 10 more floors to an already tall skyscraper. Early gains come quickly, but every additional “floor” at the top requires more investment and effort.
Why does domain authority matter?
Domain Authority (DA) is an important metric in SEO, as it indicates a website's potential to achieve high rankings in search engine result pages. Here's why DA matters.
1. Strong correlation with SEO and rankings
Moz created DA to mirror the way search engines might view your site’s credibility. While Google doesn’t directly use DA, the elements that go into it—backlinks, site authority, link diversity—often sync with how search engines decide who appears on the first page. So, if your DA is on the rise, chances are your SEO strategies are headed in the right direction.
2. Gauging competition and tracking progress
Want to see how your website stacks up against your closest rivals? DA can be a handy benchmark. Keep tabs on your DA compared to your main competitors—if theirs is 10 points higher, you’ll know you have ground to make up. Tracking DA over time also shows how well your SEO efforts are working. A gradual climb signals that search engines—and, by extension, your users—are finding your site more trustworthy.
Domain Authority (DA) is an important metric in SEO, as it indicates a website's potential to achieve high rankings in search engine result pages. Here's why DA matters.
1. Strong correlation with SEO and rankings
Moz created DA to mirror the way search engines might view your site’s credibility. While Google doesn’t directly use DA, the elements that go into it—backlinks, site authority, link diversity—often sync with how search engines decide who appears on the first page. So, if your DA is on the rise, chances are your SEO strategies are headed in the right direction.
2. Gauging competition and tracking progress
Want to see how your website stacks up against your closest rivals? DA can be a handy benchmark. Keep tabs on your DA compared to your main competitors—if theirs is 10 points higher, you’ll know you have ground to make up. Tracking DA over time also shows how well your SEO efforts are working. A gradual climb signals that search engines—and, by extension, your users—are finding your site more trustworthy.
Checking your domain authority
Knowing your website's Domain Authority helps you understand its ranking potential. Here are some tools and ways to check and track DA with ease.
Tools and methods
A few free and paid solutions are out there if you’re curious about your DA:
Moz Link Explorer: Paste in your URL to get details on linking domains, total links, and your site’s DA score.
MozBar: A free browser extension that displays DA for any page you visit, handy for quick checks.
Moz alternatives
Ahrefs Website Authority Checker: Offers an overview of your backlinks and an overall authority rating.
SEMrush Authority Score: Ties together traffic data and link quality to judge your domain’s influence.
Majestic: Looks at “Trust Flow” and “Citation Flow,” useful for another angle on your site’s credibility.
Try more than one to confirm you’ve got a complete picture of your site’s performance. Each platform might reveal something different.
Knowing your website's Domain Authority helps you understand its ranking potential. Here are some tools and ways to check and track DA with ease.
Tools and methods
A few free and paid solutions are out there if you’re curious about your DA:
Moz Link Explorer: Paste in your URL to get details on linking domains, total links, and your site’s DA score.
MozBar: A free browser extension that displays DA for any page you visit, handy for quick checks.
Moz alternatives
Ahrefs Website Authority Checker: Offers an overview of your backlinks and an overall authority rating.
SEMrush Authority Score: Ties together traffic data and link quality to judge your domain’s influence.
Majestic: Looks at “Trust Flow” and “Citation Flow,” useful for another angle on your site’s credibility.
Try more than one to confirm you’ve got a complete picture of your site’s performance. Each platform might reveal something different.
How to improve your domain authority
If you’re aiming to inch up (or leap up) that 0-to-100 scale, here are some practical steps.
Build high-quality backlinks
Quality beats quantity, but both matter. Credible, relevant links make your site look impressive to search engines—and to your audience. Consider:
Guest posting: Write valuable articles for well-respected sites, linking back to your own.
Broken link replacement: Spot broken links on high-profile pages, then offer your content as a substitute.
Linkable assets: Original research, case studies, or interactive tools that people naturally want to reference or share.
2. Create valuable content
Think of your content as a magnet pulling in readers and potential backlinks. Comprehensive guides, unique insights, or entertaining stories encourage others to cite or share your work. The more you become a trusted source, the more organic links you earn.
3. Optimise on-page SEO
Yes, keywords in meta titles and headings do help but don’t forget internal linking. Pointing readers from one relevant piece of your content to another aids both user experience and search engine indexing. Proper headings, descriptive URLs, and snappy meta descriptions also make your pages more inviting in search results.
4. Improve technical SEO
Site speed, mobile-friendliness, and security (HTTPS) are vital. Slow loading times frustrate users, pushing them elsewhere, and Google’s bots aren’t fans either. Make sure your site is fully responsive, loads swiftly, and doesn’t bombard users with errors or broken links.
5. Engage in social media and PR
Social visibility can amplify everything else you’re doing, bringing in fresh visitors and potential backlinks. Building relationships with influencers or industry leaders can also expand your reach. Whether it’s sharing your latest blog posts or collaborating on a case study, a little networking can pay off in domain authority gains.
If you’re aiming to inch up (or leap up) that 0-to-100 scale, here are some practical steps.
Build high-quality backlinks
Quality beats quantity, but both matter. Credible, relevant links make your site look impressive to search engines—and to your audience. Consider:
Guest posting: Write valuable articles for well-respected sites, linking back to your own.
Broken link replacement: Spot broken links on high-profile pages, then offer your content as a substitute.
Linkable assets: Original research, case studies, or interactive tools that people naturally want to reference or share.
2. Create valuable content
Think of your content as a magnet pulling in readers and potential backlinks. Comprehensive guides, unique insights, or entertaining stories encourage others to cite or share your work. The more you become a trusted source, the more organic links you earn.
3. Optimise on-page SEO
Yes, keywords in meta titles and headings do help but don’t forget internal linking. Pointing readers from one relevant piece of your content to another aids both user experience and search engine indexing. Proper headings, descriptive URLs, and snappy meta descriptions also make your pages more inviting in search results.
4. Improve technical SEO
Site speed, mobile-friendliness, and security (HTTPS) are vital. Slow loading times frustrate users, pushing them elsewhere, and Google’s bots aren’t fans either. Make sure your site is fully responsive, loads swiftly, and doesn’t bombard users with errors or broken links.
5. Engage in social media and PR
Social visibility can amplify everything else you’re doing, bringing in fresh visitors and potential backlinks. Building relationships with influencers or industry leaders can also expand your reach. Whether it’s sharing your latest blog posts or collaborating on a case study, a little networking can pay off in domain authority gains.
Common misconceptions about DA
Some folks assume a high DA automatically places you at the top of Google results. However, DA isn’t a magic bullet. It’s a reflection of attributes that can boost your SEO, but it’s not a direct ranking factor in Google’s algorithm.
Another pitfall is treating DA as an absolute quality measure. A DA of 40 might be stellar in a certain niche, while a DA of 60 might be modest in a super-competitive field. Keep your niche context in mind—and focus on consistent improvement rather than chasing an abstract number.
Some folks assume a high DA automatically places you at the top of Google results. However, DA isn’t a magic bullet. It’s a reflection of attributes that can boost your SEO, but it’s not a direct ranking factor in Google’s algorithm.
Another pitfall is treating DA as an absolute quality measure. A DA of 40 might be stellar in a certain niche, while a DA of 60 might be modest in a super-competitive field. Keep your niche context in mind—and focus on consistent improvement rather than chasing an abstract number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does domain authority affect SEO?
Not directly. Google doesn’t use DA for rankings. Still, a high DA often goes hand-in-hand with strong backlink profiles and valuable content, which does help you rank higher.
What factors affect domain authority?
Key elements include backlink quantity and quality, plus referring domains. Good site usability—like fast speeds and logical structure—helps too.
Is 20 domain authority good?
It depends on your industry. If you’re in a niche where rivals have DA 10–15, you’re doing well. If they’re at 40–50, there’s room to climb.
Conclusion
Your domain authority offers a snapshot of your site’s ranking potential—covering everything from how many unique domains link to you to the total backlink count you’ve built. Focus on bringing in quality links, creating content that’s genuinely useful, and polishing both on-page and technical SEO. Sure, it takes persistence to see results, but the reward is a greater online presence and authority that resonates with both search engines and real readers. Consider it as an upgrade from a cameo role to a starring feature in the search results—because when you invest in a solid DA, you set the stage for better rankings and more eyes on your content.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does domain authority affect SEO?
Not directly. Google doesn’t use DA for rankings. Still, a high DA often goes hand-in-hand with strong backlink profiles and valuable content, which does help you rank higher.
What factors affect domain authority?
Key elements include backlink quantity and quality, plus referring domains. Good site usability—like fast speeds and logical structure—helps too.
Is 20 domain authority good?
It depends on your industry. If you’re in a niche where rivals have DA 10–15, you’re doing well. If they’re at 40–50, there’s room to climb.
Conclusion
Your domain authority offers a snapshot of your site’s ranking potential—covering everything from how many unique domains link to you to the total backlink count you’ve built. Focus on bringing in quality links, creating content that’s genuinely useful, and polishing both on-page and technical SEO. Sure, it takes persistence to see results, but the reward is a greater online presence and authority that resonates with both search engines and real readers. Consider it as an upgrade from a cameo role to a starring feature in the search results—because when you invest in a solid DA, you set the stage for better rankings and more eyes on your content.
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We’re remote-first — with strategic global hubs
Click to copy
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Click to copy
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Click to copy
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Click to copy
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Copyright © 2024 FOR®