Domain Authority (DA) is a metric created by Moz to estimate how well a website might perform in search engine result pages (SERPs). The DA score ranges from 1 to 100, with higher numbers indicating a stronger likelihood of ranking higher in search results.
This score is determined using Moz’s extensive Link Explorer web index, which incorporates multiple factors into its calculation. At its core, Domain Authority employs a machine learning model to identify the “best fit” algorithm. This algorithm aligns Moz’s link data with real-world search rankings, ensuring the DA metric remains relevant and predictive.
The process involves assessing a domain’s backlink profile and how frequently it shows up in search results. It’s important to note that DA is a comparative metric, designed to help evaluate the ranking strength of a domain relative to others, rather than a direct ranking factor used by search engines.
With its comprehensive approach, Domain Authority provides valuable insights for understanding website performance in the competitive landscape of search engine rankings.
Based on your needs, you can check Domain Authority using various free or paid tools and API options.
Here are some tools you can use to check Moz Domain Authority (DA):
If you’re new to SEO, the fastest way to check a website’s Domain Authority is by using Moz’s Link Explorer. All you need is a free Moz Community account, which grants you access to a variety of free tools.
While browsing the web, you can use MozBar, a free SEO toolbar, to view essential link metrics such as Domain Authority, the number of backlinks, and the number of root domains. This will help you analyze link data and proprietary Moz metrics without needing a paid account.
Domain Authority metrics are integrated into all Moz Pro campaigns, allowing you to track your performance and pinpoint areas for improvement over time.
Understanding how Domain Authority affects your SEO strategy is crucial. Moz Pro offers detailed metrics in the SERP Analysis section of Keyword Explorer, helping you assess how competitive your site is in search results.
To find your Domain Authority, visit Link Explorer and enter your website’s URL. If you haven’t already, you’ll be prompted to create a free Moz Community account or log in to an existing account to access 10 free searches per month.
Once logged in, you can dive into valuable backlink data for both your website and your competitors, including:
To truly elevate your domain authority, the Moz API is a game-changer. It provides access to essential link metrics, authority metrics, and much more, enabling you to monitor and improve your SEO performance. Whether you’re creating a solution for tracking client performance, developing innovative strategies, or looking to integrate SEO with a wider digital marketing plan, the Moz API offers the data and tools you need to succeed. Start with free starter access and explore affordable plans to scale your efforts.
Domain Authority (DA) is calculated by considering multiple factors such as the number of linking root domains and the overall quantity of links pointing to a website, resulting in a single DA score. This score is generated by a machine learning algorithm that predicts how often a domain is likely to appear in Google’s search results compared to its competitors. Domains with more unique referring domains tend to achieve better DA scores, signifying a stronger backlink profile and higher potential for search engine ranking. This score serves as a useful comparison tool to gauge the “ranking strength” of a website over time. However, it’s important to note that Domain Authority is not a Google ranking factor and doesn’t directly impact your position in search results.
Following the Domain Authority 2.0 update in early 2019, the DA score calculation relies on machine learning predictions about how often a domain is used in Google’s search results. For example, if Domain A is more likely to appear in search results than Domain B, Domain A’s DA will typically be higher. To dive deeper into the DA 2.0 update, you can explore this presentation or review this comprehensive whitepaper on how to leverage DA metrics.
Since DA relies on machine learning, a domain’s score can fluctuate based on new or changing data points. For instance, if Facebook were to gain billions of new links, the DA of other sites would decrease in comparison. As highly authoritative domains like Facebook build bigger link profiles, they dominate the higher DA slots, leaving less room for other sites. Therefore, it’s easier to increase your DA from 20 to 30 than from 70 to 80. Consequently, it’s best to view Domain Authority as a relative metric rather than an absolute one.
A common question in the SEO world is, “What’s a good or average Domain Authority (DA) score?” The truth is, there’s no definitive answer. Your DA score depends on a variety of factors, such as your resources, the competition, and your specific SEO objectives. For instance, is a DA of 30 good? It could be, but it depends on your unique situation.
Every website starts with a DA score of one, and this score increases as the site builds authoritative backlinks. Websites with more high-quality external links typically have a higher DA, while smaller businesses with fewer links may have lower scores. To get a better idea of the impact of DA, check out Moz’s list of the top 500 sites and see how the most successful sites use DA to improve their rankings.
Because Domain Authority is a predictor of a site’s ranking potential in a given competitive environment, you shouldn’t set your DA target in isolation. Look at the DA scores of your direct competitors in the search engine results pages (SERPs). Your goal should be to surpass their DA scores. Since DA is a relative metric, there’s no universally “good” or “bad” DA. Instead, what matters is how your DA compares to others within your niche.
To boost your Domain Authority (DA), focus on improving your site’s overall SEO health, with a special emphasis on acquiring high-quality external links.
Domain Authority is influenced by numerous factors, so it may seem challenging to directly control. This metric is designed to predict how competitive a website will be in Google’s search results, considering that Google’s ranking system evaluates many different factors. Therefore, any metric attempting to predict Google’s rankings must reflect this complexity and include a wide range of elements.
Linking root domains is essential when it comes to determining a website’s Domain Authority (DA) score. A linking root domain is a unique domain that directs a link to a website, and the total number of these domains plays a key role in calculating DA. In simple terms, it reflects the variety and quality of a website’s backlink profile.
When a website has a higher number of linking root domains, its DA score tends to rise, showing that the website is well-recognized and trustworthy within its field. On the other hand, a website with fewer linking root domains may see a drop in its DA score, potentially signaling a lack of credibility.
To boost the number of linking root domains, website owners should focus on creating valuable, high-quality content that naturally attracts backlinks from other reputable sites. Implementing link-building strategies such as guest blogging, broken link building, and reaching out to resource pages can also drive more links. By diversifying and improving your backlink profile, you can elevate your DA and enhance your website’s overall SEO performance.
There are many myths surrounding Domain Authority (DA) that can cause confusion and lead to misunderstandings. Here are a few key ones to keep in mind:
By clearing up these misconceptions, you can more effectively leverage Domain Authority in your SEO strategy and avoid common pitfalls.
To boost your website’s Domain Authority and achieve better search engine visibility, it’s essential to implement key SEO best practices. Follow these actionable tips to get started:
By consistently implementing these best practices, you can significantly improve your website’s Domain Authority and visibility in search results.
Domain Authority (DA) plays a critical role in shaping your SEO strategy, offering insights into your website’s potential ranking and competitiveness. Here’s how you can effectively use DA to enhance your SEO efforts:
By integrating DA into your SEO strategy, you gain valuable insights into your website’s competitive standing and can make data-driven decisions to boost SEO performance. This approach ensures more targeted efforts and better rankings.
Improving your website’s Domain Authority (DA) is essential for enhancing your online visibility, but several common mistakes can hinder your progress. Here’s how to avoid the most frequent errors:
By following these guidelines and avoiding these common pitfalls, you’ll be on the path to improving your website’s Domain Authority and boosting your online presence.
Domain Authority (DA) is a dynamic metric, influenced by several factors, which makes it challenging to pinpoint the exact cause of a change in your score. If you’ve noticed fluctuations, whether positive or negative, here are some common reasons:
It’s essential to understand that Domain Authority is a comparative metric. This means that your score is relative to the entire domain ecosystem. So, even if you improve your SEO efforts and link profile, your DA may not always reflect these improvements. Think of it like rankings on a “best of” list — even if you improve, the ranking could change based on how other sites or countries perform.
For instance, if Singapore improved its air quality in 2021, it might not stay at #1 if other countries, like Denmark or New Zealand, also improved or joined the rankings. In this case, the scale itself is adjusting, which could cause Singapore’s rank to drop even though its air quality improved.
Domain Authority works in a similar way. It’s based on machine learning and continuous comparisons with other websites. After each recalculation, your score might decrease even if your link profile has improved. This is because it’s a relative metric, and scores are affected by the performance of other domains, not just your own improvements.
In conclusion, understanding DA fluctuations requires a shift in perspective: it’s about comparison, not absolutes.
Page Authority, Domain Authority, and Brand Authority™ are key metrics in SEO that determine how well your website can rank on search engines. Each authority score gives you insight into various aspects of your website’s performance and online influence. Page Authority measures the potential ranking strength of a single page, Domain Authority evaluates the overall power of your entire website, and Brand Authority™ tracks how well your brand is recognized and trusted. Together, these scores provide a comprehensive view of your site’s SEO potential and ability to reach your audience.
Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA) are two important metrics in SEO, but they measure different aspects of a website’s performance. Domain Authority assesses the overall ranking potential of an entire domain or subdomain, predicting how well it might rank on search engine results pages. On the other hand, Page Authority focuses on the individual strength of specific pages within that domain, offering insights into how well a particular page may perform.
Both metrics are critical for understanding your website’s SEO potential, but they measure ranking power on different levels—DA looks at the big picture, while PA hones in on specific pages. By improving both, you can significantly boost your overall SEO performance.
Domain Authority (DA) is a powerful metric for assessing a website’s potential to rank in search engine results. While it’s not a direct ranking factor for Google, it offers valuable insights into a site’s SEO performance and competitive standing. By focusing on acquiring high-quality backlinks, producing engaging content, and monitoring your DA score regularly, you can enhance your website’s overall authority and visibility. Keep in mind that DA is a comparative metric, so the key to success lies in improving your score relative to your competitors. Integrating DA into your SEO strategy can help you make informed decisions and optimize your website for better search engine rankings.
Domain Authority (DA) gauges both the quality and quantity of backlinks, which continue to be one of the most significant (arguably the top) factors in Google’s evaluation of a website’s authority. While DA isn’t the ultimate measure of anything, it provides a handy shorthand for assessing a site’s link-based authority. I’ve found it especially useful in two areas: A) evaluating how difficult it will be to rank for a specific search engine results page (SERP), and B) assessing the value of a backlink from a particular website.
Domain Authority (DA) is often considered to correlate with a page’s ability to rank, but in my experience, the connection between high DA and high rank is only moderate—DA is not a “critical” ranking factor. Additionally, it’s important to note that Domain Authority can be easily manipulated.
As a media and news site, you have a prime opportunity to build genuine authority and rankings through ethical practices. Focus on creating in-depth, authoritative content that attracts attention from respected websites and influencers in your chosen niches. Engage with these influencers, share your articles, and request backlinks to your content. For further insights on this strategy, check out Brian Dean’s website, Backlinko.
It’s interesting that Google representatives, like John Mueller, have recently discussed the role of certain sitewide elements in the ranking process. However, these elements are not a “score” that you can quantify with something like domain authority. Instead, they are broad assessments of the site’s overall quality and trustworthiness. Notice, I didn’t say “authority.” These factors act more as tie-breakers, tipping the scale in one direction when other ranking signals are equal for a page.
John Mueller recently shared an example explaining why plagiarized content might rank higher, even if Google “knows” it’s not original. The reason is that Google perceives the site hosting the copied content as more trustworthy and of higher quality overall.