What is Domain Authority (DA)?
Domain Authority (DA) is a proprietary SEO score developed by Moz that predicts how well a website is likely to rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). Scored on a scale from 1 to 100, websites with higher DA are considered more authoritative and are generally more competitive in search visibility.
Domain Authority is widely used by marketers and SEO professionals to benchmark websites, track SEO progress, and analyze competition.
How Does Domain Authority Work?
Not a Google Metric: DA is not used by Google for ranking but is based on Moz’s analysis of link data and ranking signals.
Link-Based Score: The score is largely influenced by the quantity and quality of backlinks pointing to a domain.
Comparative Metric: DA is best used comparatively—e.g., to compare your site’s authority to your competitors’.
A new blog: DA = 3
An active niche website: DA = 35
A major brand like Wikipedia: DA = 95+
Key Factors That Influence DA
| Factor | Impact on DA |
|---|---|
| Backlink Profile | The more high-quality domains linking to your site, the better. |
| Site Structure | A clear, crawlable architecture with internal linking helps. |
| Domain Age | Older domains tend to have higher DA (with consistent upkeep). |
| Content Quality | Valuable content earns natural backlinks and signals authority. |
| Spam Score | A high number of spammy links can negatively impact DA. |
How to Check Domain Authority?
You can check a website’s DA using:
MozBar (Chrome Extension)
Ubersuggest
Ahrefs (uses Domain Rating, a similar metric)
SEMrush (uses Authority Score)
Why Domain Authority Matters (Even If Google Doesn’t Use It)!
| Benefit | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Track SEO Progress | Monitor how your SEO efforts improve domain strength over time. |
| Competitive Benchmarking | Compare your DA with competitors to assess ranking potential. |
| Link-Building Strategy | Target high-DA websites for backlinks to pass more link equity. |
| Client Reporting | DA provides a tangible way to report SEO progress and authority growth. |
Misconceptions About DA
DA is Not a Ranking Factor: Google does not use DA in its algorithm.
DA Fluctuates: Changes in the broader Moz index or competitor growth can affect your DA—even if your site hasn’t changed.
Focus on Value, Not Just Score: Improving DA should be a byproduct of good SEO practices, not the sole goal.
Tips to Improve Domain Authority
Earn High-Quality Backlinks: Focus on guest posts, outreach, and editorial mentions.
Fix Technical SEO Issues: Improve crawlability, mobile usability, and site speed.
Create Link-Worthy Content: Publish original research, infographics, tools, and ultimate guides.
Disavow Toxic Links: Use Google Search Console’s disavow tool to clean up spammy backlinks.
Build Internal Links: Help search engines discover and rank pages by interlinking strategically.
Final Thoughts
While Domain Authority isn’t part of Google’s ranking algorithm, it’s still a powerful SEO metric for evaluating site strength, setting goals, and benchmarking against competitors. The best way to increase your DA is to consistently build great content, earn high-quality links, and maintain technical SEO health.
Think of DA not as the goal, but as a scorecard that reflects the success of your SEO foundation.
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▪️ Search Engine Semantics Hub — A resource on entities, meaning, and search intent
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