Domain Authority
Also known as: DA
A third-party score, popularized by Moz, that predicts how well a website will rank on a 1 to 100 scale based largely on its backlink profile. It is not a metric Google uses or recognizes; it is a comparative estimate created by SEO tool vendors to gauge relative site strength.
Key Takeaways
- Domain Authority is a third-party score, popularized by Moz, that predicts ranking strength on a 1 to 100 scale.
- It is based largely on a site's backlink profile.
- Google does not use or recognize Domain Authority as a ranking factor.
- It is a comparative estimate, useful for benchmarking sites against each other.
- Chasing the score itself, rather than earning links and content, optimizes for a vendor metric.
How It Works
Domain Authority is a model built by an SEO tool vendor to estimate how well a site might rank relative to others. It leans heavily on the quantity and quality of a site's backlinks, compressing that into a single number from 1 to 100 on a logarithmic scale, so moving from a high score to a higher one is much harder than climbing at the low end.
Because it is a prediction and not a Google signal, its value is comparative. It gives a quick read when sizing up competitors or vetting a potential link partner. The underlying inputs are what actually matter to search engines. A quality Backlink from a relevant, trusted site moves real rankings, and the Anchor Text of those links helps engines understand context.
Authority in Google's own framing is better captured by E-E-A-T, which weighs experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trust rather than any single vendor score.
Why It Matters
Domain authority offers a quick benchmark for comparing your site against competitors and for vetting potential link partners. Used as a directional guide rather than a target, it helps prioritize link-building outreach.
Example
An SEO consultant vetting guest-post opportunities uses domain authority as a quick filter to spot obviously weak or spammy sites before deeper review. Rather than treating the score as a goal, the consultant then checks each site's relevance, real traffic, and the quality of its existing backlinks. The final decision rests on those signals, not on the domain authority number alone.
Common Mistake
Treating domain authority as an actual Google ranking factor or obsessing over the number. Chasing the score instead of earning relevant links and useful content optimizes for a vendor metric, not real rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Domain Authority a Google ranking factor?
No. Domain Authority is a third-party metric created by Moz to predict ranking potential. Google has stated it does not use a domain authority score, so treat it as a comparative estimate, not an actual ranking signal.
What is a good Domain Authority score?
Good is relative, since the scale is comparative and logarithmic. What matters is how your score compares to direct competitors in your niche, not hitting a universal number. Use it directionally, not as a target.
How do I increase Domain Authority?
The score rises as you earn quality, relevant backlinks and publish useful content. Focus on the real work of link building and content, and the vendor score tends to follow, rather than chasing the number directly.
Which tools measure site authority?
Several SEO vendors offer their own authority-style scores, each using its own crawl and model, so numbers differ between tools. Compare sites within a single tool rather than across different ones.