🔍 Overview
You may add a website to Publication Media and see a Domain Authority (DA) score that is lower than the one shown in another SEO tool. For example, a third-party tool may show 40 while Publication Media shows a lower number that does not meet the site requirements. This is a common question, and it usually has a simple explanation.
This article explains why the numbers can differ, how to check them fairly, and what to do if a site is still not accepted.
🧠 Why the Numbers Are Different
Domain Authority is not a single, official score. Every SEO tool estimates it with its own data and formula. Two tools can look at the same website on the same day and show different numbers. The most common reasons are:
- Different metrics: Some tools show Domain Authority (DA), while others show Domain Rating (DR), Authority Score (AS), or Domain Score. These names look similar but are not the same measurement and are not directly comparable.
- Different data sources: Each provider builds its own index of the web and its own database of backlinks. A site may look stronger in one database than in another.
- Different update schedules: Scores are refreshed at different times. One tool may show a recent value while another still shows an older one.
- Different scoring methods: Each tool weighs link quality, link quantity, and other signals differently, so the final number varies.
- Different versions of the domain: A score for the root domain, a www version, or a subdomain can differ from the others.
✅ How to Compare the Numbers Correctly
Follow these steps to make sure you are comparing like with like.
- Confirm the metric. Check whether the third-party tool shows DA or a different metric, such as DR or AS. If the names differ, the numbers are not expected to match.
- Check the exact domain. Make sure the domain you add to Publication Media is the same one you checked in the other tool. Compare the root domain (example.com) rather than a subdomain or a specific page.
- Check the protocol and www version. Confirm that you entered the domain in the same format in both places.
- Note the date. Look at when each tool last updated its data. A recent change in one tool may not yet be reflected in the other.
- Take a screenshot. Save an image of the score in the third-party tool, including the tool name, the metric name, and the date. This helps our team review your case faster.
⏳ Allow Time for Scores to Refresh
Authority scores are not live. They are recalculated on a schedule, so a recent change to a website, such as new backlinks or a new domain, may take time to appear. If your site's score in another tool has recently increased, Publication Media may need time to reflect the same improvement.
If you added the site very recently, wait a short time and check the score again before taking further action.
📋 Why Publication Media Uses Its Own Score
Publication Media applies a consistent authority standard to every site on the platform. Using one data source for all sites means every website is measured the same way, instead of mixing numbers from several tools that each calculate authority differently. As a result, a score shown elsewhere may not be used when checking whether a site meets the requirements.
This means the score shown inside Publication Media is the one that counts for eligibility, even if another tool shows a higher number.
🛠️ What You Can Do If Your Site Does Not Meet the Requirement
- Re-check later: Scores change over time. Review the site again after the next data refresh.
- Build quality backlinks: Earning links from relevant, trusted websites is the most reliable way to raise authority across all tools over time.
- Improve content and site health: Fix broken pages, publish useful content, and keep the site active and well maintained.
- Review the domain version: If your site uses multiple versions, make sure you are submitting the main one.
- Try other sites: If one site does not meet the criteria yet, you can continue adding other websites that do.
💡 Quick Tips
- Do not rely on a single number from a different tool as proof of eligibility.
- Always compare the same metric from the same date when possible.
- Remember that a score of 40 in one tool does not mean 40 in another.
- Keep screenshots of any score you want our team to review.
💬 Still Seeing a Problem?
If the score in Publication Media still looks wrong after you have checked the points above, our team can review it with you. Please have the website URL, the third-party tool name and metric, and a screenshot ready.
If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be instantly connected with a member of our team.