What Is Domain Authority?#
Domain Authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score developed by Moz. It predicts how likely a website is to rank in search engine result pages (SERPs).
DA scores range from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater ranking potential. It's calculated by evaluating multiple factors including linking root domains and the total number of links.
Important: Domain Authority is NOT a Google ranking factor. It's a third-party metric created by Moz to help SEOs estimate a site's competitive strength.
Understanding the DA Scale#
Score Ranges#
| Score | Description | |-------|-------------| | 1-10 | New websites with minimal backlink profiles | | 11-20 | Growing sites starting to build authority | | 21-40 | Established sites with solid link profiles | | 41-60 | Well-established sites with strong authority | | 61-80 | Very authoritative sites in their niches | | 81-100 | The most authoritative sites on the web (Wikipedia, Google, etc.) |
Important Notes#
- DA is logarithmic - going from 20 to 30 is easier than 70 to 80
- It's a comparative metric, not an absolute measure
- DA changes as Moz updates their index and algorithm
DA vs DR vs Other Metrics#
Domain Rating (Ahrefs)#
Similar concept but calculated differently. Focuses specifically on the strength of a website's backlink profile.
Trust Flow (Majestic)#
Measures quality of links based on how closely your site is linked to trustworthy "seed" sites. Learn more in our glossary entry on Trust Flow.
Authority Score (SEMrush)#
Combines organic traffic data, backlinks, and other factors into a single score.
Which Metric to Use?#
All are useful as relative indicators. Most SEOs track multiple metrics rather than relying on any single one.
Factors That Affect Domain Authority#
Link Profile (Most Important)#
- Number of linking root domains
- Quality of linking domains
- Relevance of linking sites
- Link diversity
Understanding backlink quality is essential for improving your DA.
Content Quality#
While not directly measured, quality content earns links which boost DA.
Technical SEO#
Site structure, crawlability, and technical health affect how well search engines can evaluate and rank your site.
Age and History#
Older domains with clean histories tend to have higher DA, but new sites can catch up with strong link building.
Strategies to Improve Domain Authority#
1. Build High-Quality Backlinks#
Focus on earning links from authoritative, relevant websites. One link from a DA 70 site is worth more than dozens from DA 10 sites.
Use our proven link building strategies to grow your backlink profile.
2. Create Link-Worthy Content#
Original research, comprehensive guides, and unique tools attract natural links.
3. Remove Toxic Links#
Use Google's Disavow Tool if you have spammy links that could hurt your profile. See our disavow guide for step-by-step instructions.
4. Improve Internal Linking#
Help PageRank flow through your site with strategic internal linking.
5. Be Patient#
DA grows slowly. Focus on consistent, quality link building rather than quick wins.
6. Audit Your Outbound Links#
Linking to spammy sites can hurt your site's perceived quality. Regularly review your outbound links.
Common DA Myths#
Myth 1: DA Directly Affects Rankings#
Reality: DA is Moz's prediction, not a Google ranking factor. Google doesn't use DA.
Myth 2: Higher DA Always Means Better Rankings#
Reality: A relevant DA 30 page can outrank an irrelevant DA 60 page. Context matters.
Myth 3: DA Can Be Quickly Increased#
Reality: Legitimate DA growth takes time. Quick increases usually indicate manipulation (which doesn't help SEO).
Myth 4: All High-DA Links Are Valuable#
Reality: A relevant link from a DA 30 site in your niche often beats an irrelevant DA 70 link.
Myth 5: You Need High DA to Rank#
Reality: Many sites with modest DA rank well for their target keywords by focusing on relevance, content quality, and user experience.
Measuring Progress#
Set Realistic Goals#
- New sites: Focus on reaching DA 20-30 in year one
- Established sites: Aim for steady incremental growth
- All sites: Focus on quality over DA chasing
Track Related Metrics#
- Organic traffic growth
- Ranking improvements
- Referring domain count
- Brand mention increases
Use Google Search Console alongside Moz to get a complete picture of your site's health.
DA and E-E-A-T#
While DA is a Moz metric, Google does evaluate expertise, experience, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). Many of the factors that improve DA also improve E-E-A-T signals:
- Quality backlinks from authoritative sources
- Expert content creation
- Positive brand mentions
- Technical site quality
Conclusion#
Domain Authority is a useful metric for understanding your site's relative strength, but it shouldn't be your only focus. Build genuine authority through quality content and ethical link building, and the metrics will follow.
Ready to start building your authority? Learn what backlinks are and how to earn them effectively.