Domain Authority: What is it and how is it calculated
Domain Authority: What is it and how is it calculated?
Domain Authority
What is Domain Authority, and why is it important?
Domain Authority® (DA) is a search engine ranking score developed by Moz that predicts how likely a website will rank in search engine result pages (SERPs). Domain Authority scores range from one to 100, with higher scores corresponding to a greater likelihood of ranking.
Domain Authority is based on robust Link Explorer web index data and uses dozens of factors in its calculations. The Domain Authority calculation uses a machine learning model to predictively find a "best fit" algorithm that most closely correlates our link data with rankings across thousands of actual search results that we use as standards to scale against.
How is Domain Authority calculated?
Domain Authority is calculated by evaluating multiple factors, including linking root domains and the total number of links, into a single DA score. This score can then be used when comparing websites or tracking the "ranking strength" of a website over time. Domain Authority is not a Google ranking factor and does not affect the SERPs.
As of the Domain Authority 2.0 update in early 2019, the calculation of a domain's DA score comes from a machine learning algorithm’s predictions about how often Google is using that domain in its search results. If domain A is more likely to appear in a Google SERP than domain B is, then we would expect domain A's DA to be higher than domain B's DA. Learn more about the Domain Authority update and how to discuss it with your team with this presentation, or explore how to use DA 2.0 metrics with this comprehensive whitepaper.
Since DA is based on machine learning calculations, your site's score will often fluctuate as more, fewer, or different data points become available and are incorporated into those calculations. For instance, if Facebook.com were to acquire a billion new links, every other site’s DA would drop relative to Facebook’s. Because more established and authoritative domains like Facebook will have increasingly larger link profiles, they take up more of the high-DA slots, leaving less room at the higher end of the scale for other domains with less robust link profiles. Therefore, it's significantly easier to grow your score from 20 to 30 than it is to grow it from 70 to 80. For this reason, it’s important to use domain authority as a comparative metric rather than an absolute one.
What is a good or average Domain Authority score?
This is a very common question in the SEO industry. As with any SEO metrics, the first thing you'll want to understand is: "Is a Domain Authority of 30 any good? Or could be better?" And as with every SEO question, there is a suitable SEO answer: it depends. There isn't a single specific number you want to achieve, so being realistic and setting achievable goals based on your resources, your competitors, and specific rankings objectives can help you sustainably grow your authority.
A brand-new website will always start with a Domain Authority score of one, and that score will increase as the site earns more and more authoritative backlinks over time.
Remember that sites with very large numbers of high-quality external links will have a higher Domain Authority, whereas small businesses and websites with fewer inbound links may have much lower DA scores. Exploring Moz's list of the top 500 sites on the web can help you understand the impact that Domain Authority and other link-based metrics have on a site's rankings and popularity.
Because Domain Authority is a predictor of a site's ability to rank within its unique competitive landscape, you shouldn’t choose your target DA in a vacuum. Look at the DA scores for the sites you compete with directly in the SERPs and aim for a higher score than your competitors. DA is best used as a comparative metric when investigating the sites within your target SERPs that may have more powerful link profiles than you do — your true competitors. Because the metric is relative, there is no such thing as an absolutely "good," "average," or "bad" Domain Authority score; there are only scores that are "good," "average," or "bad" within the context of a particular competitive landscape.
How can I increase my Domain Authority?
Increasing your Domain Authority (DA) is crucial for improving your website's visibility and ranking potential. Here are effective strategies to boost your DA:
1High-Quality Content
Create valuable, original content: Consistently publish well-researched, informative, and engaging content that provides real value to your audience. Ensure it's shareable and solves a problem.
Content that attracts backlinks: Write articles, guides, or research that naturally attracts quality backlinks from authoritative sites.
2. On-Page SEO Optimization
Use SEO best practices: Optimize meta titles, descriptions, headers (H1, H2), and include relevant keywords without overstuffing. Ensure your site has a clear structure with internal links.
Improve URL structure: Use clean, descriptive URLs with keywords.
Mobile-friendliness: Ensure your site is responsive and provides a seamless user experience on mobile devices.
3. Backlink Strategy
Earn high-authority backlinks: Focus on getting backlinks from reputable, high-DA websites. Reach out for guest posting opportunities, collaborate with influencers, or be mentioned in industry publications.
Avoid spammy backlinks: Disavow low-quality, spammy links that may harm your domain reputation.
4. Optimize Site Loading Speed
Improve page speed: A faster website improves user experience and SEO. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to optimize your website speed.
Reduce server response time: Use a reliable hosting service and employ caching techniques to reduce load times.
5. Enhance User Experience (UX)
Easy navigation: Make sure users can easily find what they need on your site. Improve the layout, add clear calls-to-action (CTAs), and optimize for conversions.
Engaging design: Provide an aesthetically pleasing and functional design that encourages longer site visits.
6. Increase Social Signals
Promote content on social media: Social shares may not directly influence DA, but they can increase your content's visibility, potentially attracting more backlinks.
Engage with your audience: Encourage comments, shares, and engagement to create a community around your brand.
7. Monitor and Improve Technical SEO
Fix broken links: Regularly check and remove or fix broken links on your site.
Ensure secure site (HTTPS): Google favors secure websites. Ensure your site uses HTTPS to build trust and improve rankings.
Submit XML sitemap: Submit an up-to-date sitemap to Google Search Console for better indexation.
8. Build a Strong Internal Linking Structure
Use internal links wisely: Link between your pages to distribute authority and guide visitors to relevant content.
Anchor text optimization: Use descriptive anchor text to help both users and search engines understand linked content.
9. Regularly Audit Your Website
Conduct SEO audits: Use tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush to identify technical SEO issues and fix them promptly.
Monitor DA metrics: Track your DA progress over time and adjust your strategy based on analytics insights.
By consistently following these steps, your Domain Authority will improve, leading to better search engine rankings and increased organic traffic.
