If you’ve been trying to get your website to rank higher on Google, you’ve probably heard of “domain authority.” But what exactly is it — and does it really matter for SEO?
While domain authority isn’t a direct Google ranking factor, it’s a useful metric for comparing your site against competitors. The strategies that improve domain authority — earning high-quality backlinks, publishing valuable content, and improving trust signals — are the same strategies that improve rankings.
Think of domain authority like a reputation score for your website. A new blog won’t carry the same trust as an established news site, just like a small coffee shop doesn’t have the recognition of Starbucks. ☕ But by consistently publishing optimized content and earning links, you can strengthen your site’s credibility and improve your chances of ranking well.
This article explains what Domain Authority is, how it’s calculated, how it compares to Domain Power, and why Domain Power is a more accurate measure of real SEO strength.
▶ What Is Domain Authority?
▶ What Is Domain Authority?
Domain Authority (DA) is a metric created by Moz that estimates how likely a website is to rank in search results. It’s scored from 1 to 100, with higher numbers suggesting a stronger ability to rank.
It’s best used as a comparative tool rather than an absolute ranking signal. A higher DA can indicate a stronger site, but it’s just one piece of the SEO puzzle. 🧩
Think of DA like a credit score for your website: the better your link profile and industry relevance, the higher your DA.
📊 Why Is Domain Authority Important?
📊 Why Is Domain Authority Important?
DA is not a Google ranking factor, but it can help in:
Competitive benchmarking: Compare your site against industry competitors to set realistic goals.
Backlink prospecting: A link from a high-DA site usually carries more value than one from a random forum.
🔗 How Is Domain Authority Calculated?
🔗 How Is Domain Authority Calculated?
DA uses a machine learning model to evaluate:
Link profile: Both internal and external links. Trusted sites linking to you build credibility.
Root domains: The number of unique domains linking to you matters more than total links.
Spam score: Moz’s system checks whether your backlinks resemble spammy patterns.
Because it’s a relative metric, DA can fluctuate as larger sites (like Facebook) gain backlinks.
🧠 What Is a Good Domain Authority?
🧠 What Is a Good Domain Authority?
A “good” DA depends on your industry, but general ranges include:
70+: Dominant authority sites (e.g., Forbes, TechCrunch).
50–70: Well-established businesses with solid link profiles.
30–50: Growing sites building credibility.
Under 30: Newer or smaller sites working on backlink strategy.
▶ How to Check Domain Authority
▶ How to Check Domain Authority
You can check DA (and other SEO metrics) with tools like Site Explorer in Search Atlas. This provides:
Domain Power (Search Atlas’ proprietary metric, more accurate than DA).
Organic traffic trends.
Backlinks and referring domains.
Top competitors and ranking keywords.
📅 How Often Should You Check Domain Authority?
📅 How Often Should You Check Domain Authority?
Check DA monthly. It changes slowly, so 30-day intervals allow new backlinks to register without tracking meaningless short-term fluctuations.
5 Ways to Increase Your Domain Authority
5 Ways to Increase Your Domain Authority
Earn high-quality backlinks
Reach out to industry sites for links. Use tools like Backlink Analyzer, Link Gap Analysis, and Bulk DA Checker to identify opportunities.
Create shareable, high-value content
Publish guides, research, and posts that attract natural backlinks. Use Content Genius or Scholar to optimize for clarity, factuality, and user intent.
Audit and remove harmful links
Toxic backlinks can drag your score down. Audit regularly and disavow spammy links. Use OTTO to find and fix broken or redirected links automatically.
Optimize site structure and user experience
A clean structure, fast load times, SSL, and mobile optimization make your site easier to crawl and more trusted. Use the Domain-Level Audit in Search Atlas to fix Robots.txt and sitemap issues.
Improve internal linking
Internal links spread authority across your site. Use OTTO to identify missing link opportunities and automatically deploy them.
❓ Why Domain Authority Alone Doesn’t Provide Accurate SEO Insights
❓ Why Domain Authority Alone Doesn’t Provide Accurate SEO Insights
DA and DR (Domain Rating) can be manipulated with spammy link-building. While these may inflate scores temporarily, they don’t deliver sustainable SEO value.
That’s why Search Atlas created Domain Power — a metric built to resist manipulation and reflect true search performance.
▶ What Is Domain Power?
▶ What Is Domain Power?
Domain Power (DP) is Search Atlas’ proprietary metric that:
Uses Google Search Console data for accuracy.
Accounts for organic traffic and ranking keywords.
Goes beyond backlink quantity to measure real SEO strength.
It offers a more reliable view of authority than DA or DR.
📊 Why Domain Power Is More Accurate
📊 Why Domain Power Is More Accurate
Unlike DA, DP incorporates:
Page quality: Content relevance and optimization.
Topical authority: Strength in your specific niche.
Real-world traffic signals: Visibility in Google search.
Testing showed DP correlates more closely with rankings than DA or DR.
🧠 What Is a Good Domain Power Score?
🧠 What Is a Good Domain Power Score?
65–100: Giants (e.g., Google, Forbes, SpaceX).
35–65: Industry leaders with strong visibility (e.g., HTC, Saucelabs).
0–35: Up-and-comers building presence (e.g., niche sites gaining traction).
Even smaller sites with a DP in the 30s can be valuable backlink partners if they serve niche markets well.
🔍 Domain Power vs Domain Authority
🔍 Domain Power vs Domain Authority
Example 1:
DA 48 site with 723 backlinks.
Ranks for only 2 keywords, gets no traffic.
DP score: 4 (inflated DA, but no real authority).
Example 2:
DA 20 site with 4.4K ranking keywords and strong traffic.
DP score: 40 (low DA but real authority in practice).
❓ FAQs
❓ FAQs
❓ Is Domain Authority a Google ranking factor?
❓ Is Domain Authority a Google ranking factor?
No. Google does not use DA in its algorithm. It’s a third-party comparative metric.
❓ Can DA be manipulated?
❓ Can DA be manipulated?
Yes. Spammy backlinks can inflate DA, but this won’t help SEO long-term.
❓ Why should I use Domain Power instead?
❓ Why should I use Domain Power instead?
Domain Power reflects real search performance based on GSC data and can’t be gamed by low-quality links.
❓ How often should I monitor my Domain Power?
❓ How often should I monitor my Domain Power?
Monthly, just like DA, but you’ll get more accurate insights on your actual SEO progress.
✅ Final Takeaway
Domain Authority is a useful comparative metric, but it’s limited and easily manipulated. Domain Power is a stronger, more accurate measure of your site’s real authority and ranking potential.
Stop chasing inflated DA scores — focus on the metrics Google actually values. Try Search Atlas today to measure and grow your true SEO strength.