Domain Authority
What is Domain Authority (DA)?
Important: DA is NOT a Google ranking factor. It is a metric created by third-party tools (Moz, Ahrefs, Semrush) to simulate Google's internal ranking logic.
Google does not use Domain Authority in its algorithm. However, DA is a useful benchmark to compare your site against competitors and track your link-building progress over time.
How is Domain Authority Calculated?
Moz's DA aggregates roughly 40 signals, primarily focused on links:
- Number of linking root domains: How many unique websites link to you
- Total number of links: The overall count of inbound links
- Quality of those links: Links from high-DA sites carry more weight
- Link diversity: Natural link profiles have varied sources
The score uses a logarithmic scale from 1 to 100. This means moving from 20 to 30 is much easier than moving from 70 to 80.
Understanding the Scale
DA 1-10: New or Neglected Sites
Brand new domains or sites with almost no backlinks. Most websites start here.
DA 10-30: Small Businesses and Blogs
Sites with some backlinks but limited authority. Most small businesses and personal blogs fall in this range.
DA 30-60: Established Brands
Companies with consistent content marketing and link building. Competitive in most niches.
DA 60-90: Industry Leaders
Major publications, large enterprises, and well-known brands. Very difficult to achieve without significant resources.
DA 90+: Internet Giants
Wikipedia, Google, Facebook, major news outlets. Only a handful of sites reach this level.
How to Use Domain Authority
Don't Obsess Over Absolute Numbers
DA is relative, not absolute. A DA of 30 might be excellent in a small niche but weak in a competitive industry.
Compare Against Competitors
The real value of DA is competitive analysis:
- Identify who outranks you and check their DA
- Find competitors with similar DA — you can likely outrank them with better content
- Look for backlink opportunities from sites linking to competitors
Track Progress Over Time
DA changes slowly. Check it monthly, not daily. Look for trends rather than small fluctuations.
Set Realistic Goals
Bad goal: "I want a DA of 80." (Very hard without massive resources)
Good goal: "My competitor has a DA of 40, and I have 30. I want to reach 42 in 6 months."
How to Improve Domain Authority
1. Earn Quality Backlinks
DA is primarily driven by links. Focus on:
- Guest posting on relevant industry sites
- Creating linkable assets (original research, tools, guides)
- Digital PR and earned media
- Building relationships with other site owners
2. Remove Toxic Backlinks
Low-quality or spammy links can hurt your profile. Use Google's disavow tool for truly harmful links.
3. Improve Internal Linking
A strong internal link structure helps distribute authority throughout your site.
4. Be Patient
DA improves slowly. Expect months or years of consistent effort, not overnight gains.
Related Metrics from Other Tools
Different SEO tools have their own versions of domain-level authority:
| Tool | Metric Name | Scale |
|------|-------------|-------|
| Moz | Domain Authority (DA) | 1-100 |
| Ahrefs | Domain Rating (DR) | 1-100 |
| Semrush | Authority Score (AS) | 1-100 |
| Majestic | Trust Flow / Citation Flow | 1-100 |
These metrics are similar but not identical. They use different algorithms and data sources.
Common Misconceptions
"High DA = High Rankings"
Not directly. DA predicts ranking potential, but individual pages rank, not domains. A low-DA site can outrank a high-DA site with better content for specific queries.
"I Need to Buy DA"
There is no legitimate way to buy DA. Services selling "DA boosting" typically use spammy link schemes that can harm your site.
"DA Drops Mean Penalties"
DA fluctuates as Moz updates its index. A drop does not mean a Google penalty. Check your actual organic traffic, not just DA.