Understanding Domain Authority
Domain Authority (DA) is a metric developed by Moz that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search results. Scored on a scale of 1-100, higher DA indicates stronger ranking potential. While not a Google ranking factor itself, DA correlates strongly with actual search rankings.
How Domain Authority Is Calculated
DA is based primarily on your backlink profile: the number and quality of websites linking to yours. Links from high-authority sites (major publications, government sites, established brands) contribute more than links from low-authority sites.
What’s a Good Domain Authority?
DA is relative to your competitors. New websites start around DA 1. DA 20-30 is typical for small businesses. DA 40-50 is strong for most local or niche businesses. DA 60+ puts you in elite territory. Compare your DA to direct competitors rather than industry giants.
How to Improve Domain Authority
- Earn quality backlinks from reputable websites through content marketing, digital PR, and outreach
- Create linkable content that others want to reference: original research, comprehensive guides, tools
- Remove toxic backlinks that drag your profile down
- Improve technical SEO to ensure your site is crawlable and indexable
- Be patient — DA builds slowly over months and years
DA vs Other Metrics
Similar metrics include Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR) and Semrush Authority Score. Each uses different algorithms but measures similar concepts. Don’t obsess over any single metric — focus on building genuine authority through quality content and links.
Build Your Domain Authority
Brandastic helps businesses build domain authority through strategic SEO and content marketing. Get a free SEO consultation.
