What is Domain Authority?
A search engine ranking score developed by Moz that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search engine results, scored on a 1-100 scale.
Domain Authority Explained
Domain Authority (DA) is a metric developed by Moz that estimates a website overall ranking potential on a 1-100 logarithmic scale. It is calculated based on the number and quality of external backlinks pointing to the domain, the linking domains diversity, and other factors. While DA is not a Google ranking factor, it serves as a useful comparative benchmark for evaluating link-building efforts and competitive positioning. A new website starts with a DA of 1, while sites like Wikipedia and Google score near 100. Because the scale is logarithmic, moving from 20 to 30 is much easier than moving from 70 to 80.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Domain Authority a Google ranking factor?
No. Domain Authority is a third-party metric created by Moz. Google does not use it in their ranking algorithm. However, DA correlates with ranking ability because it measures backlink strength, which is a factor Google does consider.
What is a good Domain Authority score?
DA is relative to your competition. A DA of 30-40 is reasonable for a small business. 40-60 is competitive for most industries. 60+ puts you among well-established sites. Compare your DA to direct competitors rather than chasing an absolute number.
How do you improve Domain Authority?
Earn high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites through valuable content, guest posting, digital PR, and thought leadership. Remove toxic backlinks, improve internal linking, and create content that naturally attracts citations. DA improves gradually over months.
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