What is Domain Authority (DA)?

Full Definition

Domain Authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score developed by Moz that predicts how well a website will rank in search results. Scores range from 1 to 100—the higher the score, the greater the predicted ranking ability. DA is calculated using multiple factors, including the total number of links, the quality of those links, the MozRank, and other metrics. Note: DA is a third-party metric created by Moz, not Google. Google uses its own proprietary signals including PageRank, which is not publicly disclosed.

Why It Matters

While Google doesn't use Domain Authority directly, the underlying factors that influence DA—quantity and quality of backlinks, content quality, site age—do impact Google rankings. A site with DA 60+ has proven link-building history and will generally outrank a DA 20 site for competitive keywords, all else being equal. Checking competitor DA helps set realistic expectations for how long it will take to compete for specific keywords.

How to Improve Your Domain Authority

1. 1

   Build high-quality backlinks from authoritative sites in your niche through digital PR, guest posting, and linkable asset creation

2. 2

   Fix and redirect broken backlinks—lost links reduce DA over time

3. 3

   Remove or disavow toxic backlinks from spammy sources that can drag your score down

4. 4

   Create content other sites want to reference and link to: original research, comprehensive guides, industry statistics

5. 5

   Improve internal linking to distribute link equity throughout your domain effectively

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