Domain Authority

Domain authority, often abbreviated as DA, is a search engine ranking score developed by Moz that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search engine results pages. The score ranges from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating a greater ability to compete for top positions. Although not an official ranking factor used by Google, DA is widely used by marketers and SEO professionals as a comparative tool to evaluate site strength and link-building potential.

DA is calculated based on multiple factors, including the number and quality of inbound links, the trustworthiness of linking domains, and the overall link profile of the website. A site with many high-quality backlinks from reputable sources will generally have a higher DA. New websites typically start with a low score and increase over time as they gain authority through consistent content publishing, earned media and strategic outreach. DA is best used as a relative measure, compared against competitor sites targeting the same keywords or audience.

Improving domain authority takes time and sustained effort. Key tactics include creating high-value content that earns backlinks naturally, guest posting on trusted websites, participating in digital PR, and fixing broken or toxic links. While DA itself does not directly affect rankings, it reflects the same link-based factors that search engines use to assess authority and relevance. Monitoring DA, along with related metrics such as page authority, organic traffic and keyword rankings, helps marketers track SEO progress and identify opportunities to improve visibility.